Protect Democracy

In Trump's own words, SCOTUS's decision in Trump v. Slaughter was "the greatest increase in presidential power in the last 100 years."

He's not wrong.

Here's what the ruling could mean for all of us.⬇️

The New York Times @nytimes.com

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that President Trump could fire independent regulators for any reason. But the justices carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve, preventing the immediate removal of Lisa Cook. nyti.ms/4p2XiKo

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Reports of Trump's planned Thurs. speech about 2020 signal a textbook example of a WH strategy to undermine our elections that we've been tracking.

Get the full record of the strategy in action, plus concrete steps we can all take to defend our elections. https://protdem.org/override-july-update

Hungary’s reformers implemented a post-Orbán anti-corruption playbook, and those of us here in the U.S. should be taking notes.

@amandacarpenter.bsky.social lays out the plan: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/undoing-trump-golden-age-of-corruption-grift-justice-accountability-clawbacks

A group of retired judges, lawyers, and civic leaders have just begun a week-long journey through PA, OH, and MI to talk with people about why the rule of law matters to the American way of life.

This isn't a lecture tour. They're listening and sharing common values with their fellow Americans.

Justice In Motion

Trump’s speech spreading false claims about foreign interference in our elections tells us everything we need to know about his intentions for the midterms: use every lever of the federal government to override the will of voters.

We saw this coming, and we’re prepared. Here’s how to join us:

Deceive, Disrupt, Deny in full effect

The last four months have seen the president's election interference strategy accelerate, even as resistance to that strategy has kept pace.

Not watching Trump’s address tonight? @amandacarpenter.bsky.social has thoughts on the real motivation behind the White House’s election lies.

Amanda Carpenter @amandacarpenter.bsky.social

Why is Trump going to lie about our elections from the Oval Office tonight in a prime-time speech? There's 2.2 billion reasons. He has turned the presidency into the most lucrative grift in political history, and he doesn't wanna to lose his MAGA protectors in Congress. From me, pass it on.

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VICTORY: SCOTUS upheld Mississippi’s mail ballot grace period on Watson v. RNC—affirming states can count ballots postmarked by Election Day even if arrived shortly after.

This is a win for millions like U.S. military service members overseas who rely on this commonsense safeguard to vote. 🗳️⬇️

Former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter took her fight to SCOTUS because she knew the stakes were much bigger than her own job.

Either independent agencies are free to protect Americans, or they're at the mercy of whoever occupies the WH.

Read her new interview with @vanityfair.com:

'I Would Rather Go Down On the Right Side of History Than the Winning side of Any Supreme Court Case'

The former FTC commissioner challenged Donald Trump’s decision to fire her all the way to the Supreme Court. She lost, but she thinks the American public lost more.

"It is an abuse of power...and we need to make him and his enablers own the consequences of it."

Trump's actions to remake our nation's capital should be taken as serious autocratic abuses of power, @amandacarpenter.bsky.social joined @deadlinewh.bsky.social to explain.

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Attn. parents, educators, and community members: Nearly 50 million young Americans are eligible to vote, but only about half are registered.

Learn how @donutsndemocracy.bsky.social is closing that gap — one donut and one conversation at a time — and how you can help: https://protdem.org/3T5cr1z

Proportional representation would put an end to the redistricting wars for good. It works by ensuring that if a party gets, say, 40% of the vote, they get 40% of the seats. It’s that simple.

Read our report on how PR would finally end gerrymandering here: https://protectdemocracy.org/maps

“You can’t keep what you stole.”

@amandacarpenter.bsky.social lays out a plan for Americans to get their money back and undo the damage of Trump-era corruption. Read her piece for @thebulwark.com

Undoing Trump’s Golden Age of Corruption

He’s made the presidency into a profitable grift. Here’s how some of his ill-gotten gains might be clawed back.

On National Youth Takeover Day, we’re passing the mic to our own Lara Hicks to explain the obstacles and opportunities facing Gen Z this election.

Get Gen Z Election Defense Toolkit here
🔗 https://protectdemocracy.org/gen-z-toolkit/

#CivicSeason

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Over 500 scholars — including the country’s leading democracy, voting rights, and redistricting experts — just sent a letter to Congress calling for a new electoral system that effectively ends gerrymandering for good: proportional representation.

Read it here: https://protdem.org/pr-is-the-fix

“Members of Congress concerned about preserving the constitutional Separation of Powers should warn Vought and agency officials to reverse these lawless actions or else face consequences.”

Our own Cerin Lindgrensavage & Georgetown's David A. Super on preserving Congress's power in the Trump era.

Congress rejected some of Trump’s proposed budget cuts. OMB is making them anyway.

President Trump and the Office of Management and Budget are accused of violating the separation of powers by attempting to unilaterally withhold funds that Congress specifically appropriated.

Sitting and retired judges are traveling to talk with people about why the rule of law and judicial independence matter to our everyday lives.

Their message is clear: No matter who you are, the #RuleofLaw must ensure equal justice and fairness for all.

🔗 Follow the #JusticeInMotion journey ⬇️

Justice In Motion

Celebrating 250 years of Self-Governance

Deploying the National Guard on U.S. soil must remain a measure of last resort. Several states are ending their deployments to D.C. — others should do the same. In this broad coalition letter to Gov. Whitmer, we highlight reasons to bring home the MI Guard.

Our letter: https://protdem.org/4f23v4n

NEW: The president has re-engaged in active war with Iran while ignoring the fact that the Executive branch must seek Congressional authorization, a startling reminder of how much war powers have consolidated inside the White House.

Stay informed about threats to our democracy. Full analysis here:

Authoritarian Action Watch Threat Tracker

How's American democracy doing? This tool gives us a way to understand how authoritarian actions and pushback against them add up.

Trump has been recycling lies to cry foul in this year's midterms if his preferred candidates lose. What we’ve been hearing is exactly that — a desperate attempt to dig up tired election conspiracy theories to cast doubt on elections that could hold him accountable.

Spot the strategy, call it out.

Today, we filed suit to ensure the funds Congress appropriated for the Institute of Education Sciences and Comprehensive Centers, are spent to help states and school districts improve educational outcomes and implement federal education programs.

Our filing: protdem.org/3QzE8it

Reports about Trump’s planned speech tonight suggest he’ll cite newly declassified intelligence about the 2020 election. It’s 2026, why is he still talking about it?

Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s primetime address, whether you're watching or tuning out. https://protdem.org/4wL1IrR

“I'm not gonna succumb to this disillusionment and I'm gonna take agency and have an impact.”

As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Alison Hirsh and Justin Florence grapple with the frustration and the opportunity of this moment for us all, in our latest newsletter: https://protdem.org/4oWRiCA

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Nearly 50 million young Americans are eligible to vote in the 2026 midterms, but only about half are registered. Donuts + Democracy works with young organizers across the country to close that gap.

Find out how to get involved through our latest action: https://protdem.org/3T5cr1z

How you can protect democracy - Protect Democracy

These concrete actions are a tangible way to push back against abuses of power and create something better.

Benjamin Franklin left one question unsaid about our republic: kept by whom?

If you want to take action but the task feels daunting, know that democracy doesn't require a hero — it only asks for our steady, local habits.

Join us in these practical steps to get involved: https://protdem.org/4vMVTKu