Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 8h

James Comey’s indictment is as far as it could be from the facts and the law. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance explains why: bit.ly/46TyPOR

Comey Indictment Shows Danger of Subservient Prosecutors

The political prosecution of a presidential enemy has left the government with a seemingly unwinnable case — and a justice system tainted by politics.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 9h

Trump’s rationale for sending the military into American cities keeps shifting. But the purpose remains constant: intimidation. The Supreme Court and Congress must push back. bit.ly/3IWUMED

There Is No Insurrection

Troops are for national defense, not displays of presidential power.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 10h

The Trump administration is engaging in an unprecedented strategy to undermine elections. From rolling back the federal role in protecting the electoral process to threatening local election officials, our new interactive timeline is tracking it all: bit.ly/3IZMSdG

Timeline of the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Undermine Elections

Together, these actions form a concerted strategy to interfere with elections.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 11h

Our debut Money in Politics Roundup looks at trends in federal super PAC giving, record-breaking spending in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, and more: bit.ly/42wEcSM

Money in Politics Roundup — October 2025

Our new recurring feature covers key stories from the world of campaign finance and influence buying, from the AI industry to super PAC support for a lame-duck president.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 12h

Existing laws give the president great latitude in combating threats to national security — but Trump’s orders purporting to designate antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization” are an obvious abuse of this authority. bit.ly/4330Su2

Trump’s Orders Targeting Antifascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition

Purporting to go after “domestic terrorism,” the president presents an imagined left-wing conspiracy and authorizes punishments for even tenuous connections to speech the administration doesn’t like.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Connecting the dots, our new resource shows the scope and impact of the current administration’s unprecedented attempts to undermine the country’s elections — threatening the 2026 midterms. Learn more: bit.ly/4l1lUPP

The Trump Administration’s Campaign to Undermine the Next Election

The executive branch is interfering in U.S. elections in unprecedented ways.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Jane Manners, a constitutional historian & member of the Brennan Center’s Historians Council, filed an amicus brief in Grundmann v. Trump, a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s removal of the chair of an independent federal agency as unconstitutional www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The first edition of our Money in Politics Roundup details spending to influence the government’s decisions to regulate (or not) the burgeoning AI industry: bit.ly/42wEcSM

Money in Politics Roundup — October 2025

Our new recurring feature covers key stories from the world of campaign finance and influence buying, from the AI industry to super PAC support for a lame-duck president.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The Trump administration is attempting to undermine elections. Efforts have included rewriting election rules to burden voters, threatening to prosecute election officials, and supporting election deniers. Keep track and learn more with our new interactive timeline:

Timeline of the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Undermine Elections

Together, these actions form a concerted strategy to interfere with elections.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The political prosecution of a presidential enemy has left the government with a seemingly unwinnable case and a justice system tainted by politics. bit.ly/46TyPOR

Comey Indictment Shows Danger of Subservient Prosecutors

The political prosecution of a presidential enemy has left the government with a seemingly unwinnable case — and a justice system tainted by politics.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Not only is Trump’s use of the term “insurrection” a wild exaggeration of protests in Portland, but it’s also an obvious wink to the Insurrection Act, which can unlock great presidential powers. bit.ly/3IWUMED

There Is No Insurrection

Troops are for national defense, not displays of presidential power.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Here’s a suggested comment to get you started:

Half of all Americans don’t have a passport, and if you make this change, you’ll make it harder for eligible citizens like me to vote — and block millions of other Americans from voting too. Do not go through with this!

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Here’s a suggested comment to get you started:

Half of all Americans don’t have a passport, and if you make this change, you’ll make it harder for eligible citizens like me to vote — and block millions of other Americans from voting too. Do not go through with this!

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The anti-voter SAVE Act failed in Congress thanks to widespread opposition. Now, its proponents are pressuring the Election Assistance Commission to enact a similar “show-your-papers” requirement for voting. Will you speak out against this attack on the freedom to vote?

Regulations.gov

www.regulations.gov

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Purporting to go after “domestic terrorism,” Trump is authorizing punishments for even tenuous connections to speech the administration doesn’t like. bit.ly/4330Su2

Trump’s Orders Targeting Antifascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition

Purporting to go after “domestic terrorism,” the president presents an imagined left-wing conspiracy and authorizes punishments for even tenuous connections to speech the administration doesn’t like.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

The career federal prosecutors who conducted both the Comey and James investigations found insufficient evidence to bring charges. This pattern of retaliation by the administration is dangerous and wrong. 2/2

Comey Indictment Shows Danger of Subservient Prosecutors

The political prosecution of a presidential enemy has left the government with a seemingly unwinnable case — and a justice system tainted by politics.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

President Trump is using the Justice Department as a weapon against his political enemies. Today NY Attorney General Letitia James was indicted after the president demanded her prosecution. Yesterday James Comey pled not guilty to charges brought against him at the president's request. 1/2

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

The Pentagon already wastes billions of dollars on overpriced, subpar weapons. Congress is considering changes to the acquisition and testing process that would only make the problem worse. bit.ly/43ddfnj

How Acquisition Reform Could Make Military AI More Expensive and Less Safe

Proposed changes to how the military acquires and tests weapons expose taxpayers to more wasteful spending while undermining the delivery of safe and effective capabilities.

www.lawfaremedia.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

Using military lawyers as immigration judges further erodes the line between the military and civilian government. bit.ly/3Ipkr8Z

Using Military Lawyers as Immigration Judges is Ill-Advised and Potentially Illegal

It violates individual rights and is an inappropriate use of the military.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

TAKE ACTION: The Election Assistance Commission is accepting public comments on the request for a “show-your-papers” requirement in order to register to vote. Will you speak out against this attack on the freedom to vote? www.regulations.gov/document/EAC...

Regulations.gov

www.regulations.gov

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

Outdated laws from the 1700s and 1800s give the president tremendous power to use the military at home. It’s past time for Congress to repeal the Alien Enemies Act, close loopholes in the Posse Comitatus Act, and reform the Insurrection Act. bit.ly/4oxXJLN

Outdated and Dangerous

Antiquated laws from the 1700s and 1800s give the president tremendous power to use the military at home to quash protests and order mass arrests in times of war and domestic upheaval.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

If the government carries out Trump’s orders targeting antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization,” it would violate free speech rights. Here’s why: bit.ly/4330Su2

Trump’s Orders Targeting Antifascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition

Purporting to go after “domestic terrorism,” the president presents an imagined left-wing conspiracy and authorizes punishments for even tenuous connections to speech the administration doesn’t like.

www.brennancenter.org

9 82 150

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

The Supreme Court has been reluctant to constrain the imperial presidency, but if it fails to act now, it could put American democracy itself at great risk. bit.ly/3IWUMED

There Is No Insurrection

Troops are for national defense, not displays of presidential power.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

“Election officials take great care to ensure that, at every step, voters are safe and ballots are secure,” @gowriramachandran.bsky.social writes in @calmatters.org ahead of California’s special election this fall.

Californians should ignore the federal government's false claims about our elections

Californians can count on their elections. That hasn't changed. What has changed is the volume of false claims from the federal government.

calmatters.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 3d

The Voting Rights Act — the crown jewel of the civil rights movement — is under attack. The Brennan Center’s Kareem Crayton explains why this law is essential for protecting equal access to the ballot. Watch the latest podcast episode of The Briefing with Michael Waldman: bit.ly/4gWs4QQ

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