President Trump’s efforts to overturn the will of the voters are a troubling sign for future elections. Even though the federal government’s cybersecurity arm declared the election “the most secure in American history” and the Justice Department found no evidence that fraud would change the election’s outcome, Trump has found allies willing to support his claims and adopt his tactics. “A number of people have shown themselves willing to go along or at least being perceived of going along instead of just condemning the entire operation,” Wendy Weiser said. “It was not written off as it should have been.” // AP

With oral arguments in Collins v. Mnuchin on Tuesday, we’ll have our first look at how the Supreme Court’s new 6–3 conservative majority might expand the power the president has over independent government agencies, increasing the potential for political interference in work those agencies do to protect public health, safety, and general welfare. The lawsuit challenges the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s leadership structure, a single director appointed by the president who can’t be fired without cause. If the Court were to find the removal-for-cause protection unconstitutional, it would make it easier for the president to terminate independent agency heads for insubstantial reasons. Martha Kinsella writes that the prognosis isn’t good. // Just Security

2020 was rife with stories of how our political system prioritizes wealthy interests over the needs of the public. From campaign finance crimes to dark money getting darker, Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy shares examples from the past year that demonstrate why we need to reform money in politics. // Read More

On the brighter side, campaign finance reform ballot initiatives passed in several states, demonstrating that voters are keen on limiting the influence of wealthy interests and increasing transparency in elections. Oregon voters overwhelmingly supported amending the state’s constitution to create caps on contributions to candidates, and voters in Baltimore County, Maryland, supported a measure creating a public financing program for local candidates. Reforms like these “will empower citizens to hold politicians accountable,” writes Ian Vandewalker. // Read More

• Terry-Ann Craigie and Ames Grawert on the economic impact of imprisonment // Off-Kilter podcast
• Michael German on the government’s xenophobic targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists // China Initiative Series
• Michael Li on upcoming redistricting battles // Mother Jones
• Taryn Merkl on bail reform in New York // Law360
• Faiza Patel on ICE and surveillance // Guardian
• Hernandez Stroud on how Covid-19 has changed the justice system // Crime Report
• Michael Waldman on Trump’s pardon power // NECN