My 2 cents: Block Trumps Big Beautiful Bill by electing write in Candidates in every State to Represent you! ( There are 7 states where Write in Candidates aren’t allowed. Change the Law before 2026 & allow write-in votes. Those states are: Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi[8], Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.)
Stop the Power Grab over Elections. More from the Brennan Law Center.
The Power Grab Over Elections
Last week, President Trump announced he would issue another executive order aimed at rewriting election rules, including by getting rid of mail voting and dictating how states may count ballots. Such an order would be blatantly unconstitutional: Only Congress and the states have the power to run elections. Although the White House has since walked back the threat, it forms part of the administration’s broader effort to undermine elections. Still, Bart Gellman writes in The New York Times, “there are reasons to hope Mr. Trump will fail to subvert next year’s midterms.” READ MORE
Voting Rights in the States
The upcoming Supreme Court term may further weaken the already battered Voting Rights Act. In State Court Report, Alicia Bannon previews two cases that could limit the 60-year-old civil rights law’s protections and explores how state laws and constitutions have the potential to fill the voting rights gap. “But as important as state law would be, it’s no substitute for a strong national standard that protects all voters,” she writes. READ MORE
The Racist Foundations of the Big Lie
New Brennan Center research shows that racist attitudes are linked to distrust in the 2020 election results and support for the January 6 insurrection. As influential voices continue to push false narratives about Americans of color, Chelsea Jones writes, “we should be vigilant to how this work might seed the next Big Lie and further erode democratic values.” READ MORE
Scholars’ Influence on the Bench
In gun cases, more than in other areas of constitutional law, Supreme Court justices are increasingly relying on legal scholarship — and sometimes requesting more of it. “Exploring why may offer lessons for those seeking to influence outcomes in other areas of constitutional law,” Brennan Center fellow Eric Ruben and the Duke Center for Firearms Law’s Andrew Willinger write. In a new piece, they examine how this trend shaped the Court’s 2023–2024 term and consider the reasons behind this distinctive judge–scholar collaboration. READ MORE
Podcast: The Past, Present, and Future of the Voting Rights Act
Our latest episode examines the Voting Rights Act, known as the legislative crown jewel of the civil rights movement. This summer, a lower court ruling in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe blocked voters in seven states from using the law to challenge racially discriminatory voting practices. The Supreme Court put the decision on hold. But the very fact that we are celebrating a pause on the near destruction of the last remaining protection of the Voting Rights Act shows how bad things have gotten in the courts. Thankfully, the Supreme Court doesn’t have the only say. The Constitution gives Congress the power to protect the right to vote with legislation. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform, or watch on YouTube.
Coming Up
VIRTUAL EVENT: The Next Phase of the Fight
Thursday, September 4, 3–4 p.m. ET
Challenges to democracy intensified over the summer. The National Guard deployed in California. The Supreme Court ruled on presidential power using the shadow docket. In Texas, an egregious gerrymander has set off a partisan war nationally.
Now the fall will mark the next phase of the fight for the Constitution. Will the rule of law hold? How will the 2026 election unfold? Join us for a virtual event highlighting some of the biggest news stories of the past three months. Brennan Center experts will break down what’s happened and what will come next in the struggle to uphold democratic values. RSVP TODAY
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