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

▶

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

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

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

▶

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

“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.

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

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

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.

▶

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.

Looking for ways to help keep our elections free, fair, & safe?
🤝 Volunteer w/groups like VoteRiders.org to help others get to the polls
📞 Save the Voter Protection # at 866ourvote.org
🕊️ Join local Election Observer/Peacekeeper programs like TurnoutSunday.com

More: protdem.org/community-resilience

“There is no real problem that it solves.”

@rachelegoodman.bsky.social breaks down what’s really behind efforts to advance the SAVE Act.
If passed, millions of eligible voters will face significant barriers to vote. If not, Trump will use that as a pretext to cast election results as illegitimate.

▶

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.

“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

Regardless of how much time you have or where you stand in your community, there is a role for you in ensuring free and fair midterms.

Our Community Resilience guide is designed for all of us to spot intimidation and know how to push back. Get the guide: protdem.org/community-resilience

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

As Pride month comes to an end, we revisit how authoritarians scapegoate the LGBTQ community to chip away at democracy *for all.*

"If we fail to reckon with the ways autocrats are weaponizing LGBTQ scapegoating to build out the scaffolding of their movements, our democracy will pay the price."

Why are autocrats so fixated on trans people?

LGBTQ scapegoating and the authoritarian playbook

Attn. Community members and leaders. Help your neighbors spot voter intimidation and interference and get the tools to push back.

Read our new guide published with Over Zero to help us all ensure free and fair midterms.

Join us here: protdem.org/community-resilience

BREAKING: We filed a comment alongside @democracyforward.org and a coalition of nonprofits against OPM’s proposed rule to institute a standardized NDA that could be a requirement for federal workers to sign as a condition of employment.

Here's what our coalition had to say 🔗 protdem.org/4v1eql1

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.

Essential reading before Trump’s speech tonight, whether you’re tuning in or sitting this one out.

Here’s what to look out for ahead of Trump’s primetime address. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/here-he-goes-again

Our own Emily Rodriguez tells SBS News that the "biggest shift" this election cycle is that the federal government "is now being weaponised against our elections, instead of fulfilling their role of protecting them..."

'An all-out assault': How Donald Trump is trying to reshape American elections

Amid Donald Trump's sweeping efforts to change voting rules, the midterms could have lasting consequences for US elections.