Michael A. Sandoval
@misandoval.bsky.social
Impact Comms @protectdemocracy.org • Past: @JBPritzker, @MISenDems + @jimananich • Michigander & Spartan Grad • RTs ≠ Endorsement / Opinions Are My Own
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
We are proud to stand with partners in this lawsuit Loevy + Loevy, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois. Read more about the case here: protdem.org/437OR6z
Protecting protesters and the press from unconstitutional federal force in Illinois
Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.
protdem.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
We are proud to stand with partners in this lawsuit Loevy + Loevy, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois. Read more about the case here: protdem.org/437OR6z
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Journalists, clergy, and residents have been gassed, attacked, and brutalized while exercising their rights. Take, for example, a declarant in our case, running with a baby in hand as DHS agents shoot tear gas. The government must be held accountable and we must bear witness.
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Journalists, clergy, and residents have been gassed, attacked, and brutalized while exercising their rights. Take, for example, a declarant in our case, running with a baby in hand as DHS agents shoot tear gas. The government must be held accountable and we must bear witness.
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Tomorrow, we’re seeking a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the gov’s violent and unconstitutional actions in the Chicago area after agents violated our previous temporary restraining order. As Rev. Black highlights, there is a real human impact of the Trump admin's abuse of power.
Rev. David Black is speaking out after ICE agents shot him in the head with a pepper ball during a peaceful protest in Chicago in September: ‘If this is what they’re doing to pastors, journalists, mothers, and elders, what are they doing to our neighbors in detention?’
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Tomorrow, we’re seeking a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the gov’s violent and unconstitutional actions in the Chicago area after agents violated our previous temporary restraining order. As Rev. Black highlights, there is a real human impact of the Trump admin's abuse of power.
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
The First Amendment contains the most cherished and fundamental rights of our democracy — it is vital that we defend it. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis affirmed that the government cannot use violence as a means to silence dissent. ⬇️
October 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The First Amendment contains the most cherished and fundamental rights of our democracy — it is vital that we defend it. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis affirmed that the government cannot use violence as a means to silence dissent. ⬇️
Absolutely amazing news for the First Amendment, our plaintiffs, and our democracy.
VICTORY: Today, together with our partners, we won an emergency order stopping federal agents from using violent force against protestors in Illinois. Federal ICE/DHS agents are now blocked from using tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawful assembly. protdem.org/474KWsA
October 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Absolutely amazing news for the First Amendment, our plaintiffs, and our democracy.
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
The court also found enough evidence for a jury to conclude “that Defendants worked together, not just to make and promote the Movie, but to do so for the purpose of advancing a knowingly false narrative about criminal ballot mules that intentionally defamed Andrews”
October 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The court also found enough evidence for a jury to conclude “that Defendants worked together, not just to make and promote the Movie, but to do so for the purpose of advancing a knowingly false narrative about criminal ballot mules that intentionally defamed Andrews”
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Judge Steven D. Grimberg was clear:
October 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Judge Steven D. Grimberg was clear:
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
🚨BREAKING: A federal judge just ruled that the makers of 2000 Mules made false statements when they accused our client of voter fraud and that no reasonable jury could find those statements were truthful. Read the decision here
🔗 protdem.org/andrews-MSJ
🔗 protdem.org/andrews-MSJ
October 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
🚨BREAKING: A federal judge just ruled that the makers of 2000 Mules made false statements when they accused our client of voter fraud and that no reasonable jury could find those statements were truthful. Read the decision here
🔗 protdem.org/andrews-MSJ
🔗 protdem.org/andrews-MSJ
Attn. democracy defenders: "Democracy Atlas" is a new series from @protectdemocracy.org pulling lessons and inspiration from others around the world who have navigated what we’re going through.
Read the first edition and subscribe to join the conversation: share.protectdemocracy.org/s/gJiwu6ej
Read the first edition and subscribe to join the conversation: share.protectdemocracy.org/s/gJiwu6ej
Rule 1: Resist. Then adapt
share.protectdemocracy.org
August 7, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Attn. democracy defenders: "Democracy Atlas" is a new series from @protectdemocracy.org pulling lessons and inspiration from others around the world who have navigated what we’re going through.
Read the first edition and subscribe to join the conversation: share.protectdemocracy.org/s/gJiwu6ej
Read the first edition and subscribe to join the conversation: share.protectdemocracy.org/s/gJiwu6ej
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
The costs of capitulation are higher than they might initially seem, write Conor Gaffney and Janine Lopez on the just-approved Paramount-Skydance merger. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/something-...
Something is rotten in the FCC
Paramount gave in to Trump. What they get in exchange might not be what they expect
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
July 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The costs of capitulation are higher than they might initially seem, write Conor Gaffney and Janine Lopez on the just-approved Paramount-Skydance merger. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/something-...
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
NEW RESOURCE: The threat to civil society is real—and growing. Our Nonprofit Investigations Toolkit has information to help orgs prepare for politicized government investigations. Start here: protdem.org/NonprofitInv...
July 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NEW RESOURCE: The threat to civil society is real—and growing. Our Nonprofit Investigations Toolkit has information to help orgs prepare for politicized government investigations. Start here: protdem.org/NonprofitInv...
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
"I spent the last four years at, as they say, Mr. Jefferson’s university. I am one of those supposedly “oppressed” campus conservatives...And I have not been brainwashed, silenced, or intimidated. I’ve seen a place that is animated by debate, and dissent."
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/thomas-jef...
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/thomas-jef...
Thomas Jefferson would be horrified
The Trump administration just robbed my alma mater of its independence
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
June 30, 2025 at 9:20 PM
"I spent the last four years at, as they say, Mr. Jefferson’s university. I am one of those supposedly “oppressed” campus conservatives...And I have not been brainwashed, silenced, or intimidated. I’ve seen a place that is animated by debate, and dissent."
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/thomas-jef...
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/thomas-jef...
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Research funding should be merit-based, not political. Today’s ruling against NIH’s ideologically driven research cuts means more than just restored funding — it’s a restoration of life-saving research. Learn more in our deep-dive on the ruling: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/breaking-n...
June 16, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Research funding should be merit-based, not political. Today’s ruling against NIH’s ideologically driven research cuts means more than just restored funding — it’s a restoration of life-saving research. Learn more in our deep-dive on the ruling: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/breaking-n...
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Read more about how the Trump Administration's recent action threatens civilian control of the military and sets a troubling precedent: bit.ly/43VMYtg
June 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Read more about how the Trump Administration's recent action threatens civilian control of the military and sets a troubling precedent: bit.ly/43VMYtg
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
This weekend’s troop deployment in LA, made against the wishes of California’s governor, wasn’t about public safety — it was about presidential power.
It wasn’t a move to keep the peace. It was a deliberate show of force — and a dangerous escalation.
It wasn’t a move to keep the peace. It was a deliberate show of force — and a dangerous escalation.
June 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
This weekend’s troop deployment in LA, made against the wishes of California’s governor, wasn’t about public safety — it was about presidential power.
It wasn’t a move to keep the peace. It was a deliberate show of force — and a dangerous escalation.
It wasn’t a move to keep the peace. It was a deliberate show of force — and a dangerous escalation.
A sobering and much-needed assessment on the state of higher education at this uncertain moment.
The Trump administration is at war with higher education in the United States. The question is not “will universities resist or submit” — it is: “will they survive the onslaught?”
There’s no negotiating with an annihilation attempt: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/universiti...
There’s no negotiating with an annihilation attempt: www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/universiti...
June 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A sobering and much-needed assessment on the state of higher education at this uncertain moment.
Thankful to my colleagues @protectdemocracy.org and the great folks at CIRCLE @civicyouth.bsky.social for working on this much-needed research. This piece is possible because of their tenacity and willingness to ask big questions about Gen Z and our place in American democracy. 1/2
Young Americans aren’t turning away from our democratic system because they don’t care, but because they’re unsure if it cares about them. Michael Sandoval covers what young people are saying about their relationship with democracy and what it means for us all. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-do-you...
How do young voters really feel about democracy?
It’s probably not what you think
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
April 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Thankful to my colleagues @protectdemocracy.org and the great folks at CIRCLE @civicyouth.bsky.social for working on this much-needed research. This piece is possible because of their tenacity and willingness to ask big questions about Gen Z and our place in American democracy. 1/2
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
The heroes at @protectdemocracy.org had taken the OMB apportionment website and turned into a really easy to use public website.
Well, now they're suing.
bsky.app/profile/prot...
Well, now they're suing.
bsky.app/profile/prot...
We filed suit today to compel the Office of Management & Budget to resume disclosing key federal spending plans called “apportionments,” which tell federal agencies how and when to spend federal funds. The law requires this disclosure—and the public has a right to know: protdem.org/4ijKGJV
April 15, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The heroes at @protectdemocracy.org had taken the OMB apportionment website and turned into a really easy to use public website.
Well, now they're suing.
bsky.app/profile/prot...
Well, now they're suing.
bsky.app/profile/prot...
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Jair Bolsonaro charged over alleged far-right coup plot to seize power in Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro charged over alleged far-right coup plot to seize power in Brazil
Former president has denied breaking the law after police report accused him of organising a conspiracy to stop Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva taking power
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been charged with allegedly helping to mastermind a…
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Jair Bolsonaro charged over alleged far-right coup plot to seize power in Brazil
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
A recent executive order from President Trump claims to “restore free speech.” But his administration is already silencing journalists, restricting press access, and threatening critics—just as he did in his first term.
📖 Read more here: https://buff.ly/4jNqcuQ
📖 Read more here: https://buff.ly/4jNqcuQ
February 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
A recent executive order from President Trump claims to “restore free speech.” But his administration is already silencing journalists, restricting press access, and threatening critics—just as he did in his first term.
📖 Read more here: https://buff.ly/4jNqcuQ
📖 Read more here: https://buff.ly/4jNqcuQ
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Looks like there is only one person interested in suppressing the truth, and it’s not the Jan 6 committee
January 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Looks like there is only one person interested in suppressing the truth, and it’s not the Jan 6 committee
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
Now this is something I can get behind
I recommend no fewer than 4 copies of any beloved book. A paperback for traveling and lending to friends, an eBook for reading with greasy snack fingers, an audio book so you know how the characters' names are actually pronounced, and a pristine hardcover to be buried with you like a pharaoh
December 20, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Now this is something I can get behind
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
"The decision by a re-empowered Trump to appoint Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to be his terminally online enforcers adds a completely new vector of chaos. Also, Vice President-elect JD Vance is there, too. Somewhere."
They Like The Chaos. They Want The Chaos.
This week gave us a preview of the coming Trump presidency. It felt like a horrible rerun of the first.
www.thebulwark.com
December 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM
"The decision by a re-empowered Trump to appoint Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to be his terminally online enforcers adds a completely new vector of chaos. Also, Vice President-elect JD Vance is there, too. Somewhere."
Reposted by Michael A. Sandoval
the clear sign that they just don’t see these kids as real people is the endless concern over hypotheticals and the indifference to the reality that actual children are more likely to kill themselves because of these bans
Kavanaugh also brings up "detransitioners," people who "regret" their decision to transition genders. Like Alito, he cites European countries that are "pulling back" from gender-affirming care for minors, saying it's a "yellow light" or "red light" for the court that Europe is "pumping the brakes."
December 4, 2024 at 4:01 PM
the clear sign that they just don’t see these kids as real people is the endless concern over hypotheticals and the indifference to the reality that actual children are more likely to kill themselves because of these bans