Protect Democracy
@protectdemocracy.org
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit group working to prevent authoritarianism. This account is owned and operated by Protect Democracy United.
Follow us on other platforms ➡️ https://protdem.org/m/stay-connected
Follow us on other platforms ➡️ https://protdem.org/m/stay-connected
"When justice answers to a single will, it becomes indistinguishable from vengeance." Trump aims to destroy a principle that is older than our country itself - the separation of law enforcement from personal political gain. @ianbassin.bsky.social explains how we got here: https://protdem.org/3LSKnv5
November 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
"When justice answers to a single will, it becomes indistinguishable from vengeance." Trump aims to destroy a principle that is older than our country itself - the separation of law enforcement from personal political gain. @ianbassin.bsky.social explains how we got here: https://protdem.org/3LSKnv5
What we're reading: UCLA law professor Rick Hasen has a helpful explainer on why civil society will be needed to protect the 2026 elections. https://democracyproject.org/posts/making-civil-society-great-again-to-protect-the-2026-elections
Making Civil Society Great Again to Protect the 2026 Elections
A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.
democracyproject.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
What we're reading: UCLA law professor Rick Hasen has a helpful explainer on why civil society will be needed to protect the 2026 elections. https://democracyproject.org/posts/making-civil-society-great-again-to-protect-the-2026-elections
Congress isn’t delivering for the American people and our two party system is the problem. Our team writes how embracing the parties’ internal divisions could actually make Congress work better — and make the parties themselves more popular.
The counterintuitive way to fix Congress
Internal divisions are good, actually
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Congress isn’t delivering for the American people and our two party system is the problem. Our team writes how embracing the parties’ internal divisions could actually make Congress work better — and make the parties themselves more popular.
Invoking crime is a tried-and-true vehicle for authoritarians to consolidate and hold onto power. @michaelangeloni.bsky.social pulls lessons from abroad on how autocratic leaders exploit genuine concerns about crime to advance their own agendas. https://protdem.org/4ipCNEq
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Invoking crime is a tried-and-true vehicle for authoritarians to consolidate and hold onto power. @michaelangeloni.bsky.social pulls lessons from abroad on how autocratic leaders exploit genuine concerns about crime to advance their own agendas. https://protdem.org/4ipCNEq
Reposted by Protect Democracy
NEW: We teamed up with @protectdemocracy.org to demand the Trump admin release the names of all nonprofit and philanthropic groups it has labeled "Antifa.”
The Trump administration failed to respond to multiple FOIA requests on who it is targeting, so we sued.
americanoversight.org/protect-demo...
The Trump administration failed to respond to multiple FOIA requests on who it is targeting, so we sued.
americanoversight.org/protect-demo...
Protect Democracy Sues for Records on Reported Trump Administration Efforts to Investigate and Target Nonprofits - American Oversight
Represented by American Oversight, group seeks transparency on executive actions that could punish perceived political opponents
americanoversight.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:07 PM
NEW: We teamed up with @protectdemocracy.org to demand the Trump admin release the names of all nonprofit and philanthropic groups it has labeled "Antifa.”
The Trump administration failed to respond to multiple FOIA requests on who it is targeting, so we sued.
americanoversight.org/protect-demo...
The Trump administration failed to respond to multiple FOIA requests on who it is targeting, so we sued.
americanoversight.org/protect-demo...
Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and his masked raiders have now left not one, but *two* American cities they sought to terrorize. Their lawlessness was simply no match for the public's commitment to the Constitution. @raders.bsky.social lays out lessons from Charlotte and Chicago.
The antidote to lawlessness is the law
Anti-legalism, Charlotte, and why the Constitution is winning
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and his masked raiders have now left not one, but *two* American cities they sought to terrorize. Their lawlessness was simply no match for the public's commitment to the Constitution. @raders.bsky.social lays out lessons from Charlotte and Chicago.
Today, Protect Democracy is going to court with @weareoversight.bsky.social to demand that the Trump admin release the "enemies lists" it is using to target nonprofits for investigation based on their political views and advocacy work. Full details: bit.ly/49yD2uk
Protect Democracy Sues for Records on Reported Trump Administration Efforts to Investigate and Target Nonprofits
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Today, Protect Democracy is going to court with @weareoversight.bsky.social to demand that the Trump admin release the "enemies lists" it is using to target nonprofits for investigation based on their political views and advocacy work. Full details: bit.ly/49yD2uk
We're hiring! Legislative & Advocacy Specialist to develop integrated advocacy approaches using policy & comms strategies. Seeking candidates with 3+ yrs of experience, at least 1 yr working on the Hill or fed legislative advocacy. Hybrid position based in D.C. Details: https://protdem.org/3LVQP4q
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We're hiring! Legislative & Advocacy Specialist to develop integrated advocacy approaches using policy & comms strategies. Seeking candidates with 3+ yrs of experience, at least 1 yr working on the Hill or fed legislative advocacy. Hybrid position based in D.C. Details: https://protdem.org/3LVQP4q
Must read: Senior national security leaders warn of the significant risks that politicizing the military poses to our national security. ⬇️
A politicized military erodes bipartisan trust, undermines civilian control, and risks long-term damage to an institution essential to our democracy. Read our latest paper authored by retired four-star general and flag officers who have led at the highest levels. https://bit.ly/4o1S4w4
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Must read: Senior national security leaders warn of the significant risks that politicizing the military poses to our national security. ⬇️
RESOURCE: We published toolkits with concrete ways for religious leaders and communities to push back on authoritarianism. Get all of the Faithful Fight toolkits here: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/the-faithful-fight
The Faithful Fight: Toolkits for countering authoritarianism - Protect Democracy
The Faithful Fight brings together strategies from religious leaders across denominations to help communities mobilize against authoritarian actions.
protectdemocracy.org
November 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
RESOURCE: We published toolkits with concrete ways for religious leaders and communities to push back on authoritarianism. Get all of the Faithful Fight toolkits here: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/the-faithful-fight
Cambodia’s civic leaders harnessed leadership from all backgrounds to make important moves toward restoring their democracy, even in the face of continued repression. Read their lesson for the U.S. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
Democracy Atlas rule 4: Leadership lives in everyone
Cambodia demonstrates the value of leaders from all backgrounds
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Cambodia’s civic leaders harnessed leadership from all backgrounds to make important moves toward restoring their democracy, even in the face of continued repression. Read their lesson for the U.S. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
Congress isn’t delivering for the American people and our two party system is the problem. Alex Tausanovitch and Cyrena Kokolis write how embracing the parties’ internal divisions could actually make Congress work better — and make the parties themselves more popular. protdem.org/4o74W42
The counterintuitive way to fix Congress
Internal divisions are good, actually
protdem.org
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Congress isn’t delivering for the American people and our two party system is the problem. Alex Tausanovitch and Cyrena Kokolis write how embracing the parties’ internal divisions could actually make Congress work better — and make the parties themselves more popular. protdem.org/4o74W42
What we're reading: Retired four-star general and flag officers have outlined the urgent risks of politicizing the U.S. military and steps lawmakers can take to safeguard an apolitical military, via @counteveryhero.org
The Perils of Politicizing the U.S. Military
counteveryhero.org
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
What we're reading: Retired four-star general and flag officers have outlined the urgent risks of politicizing the U.S. military and steps lawmakers can take to safeguard an apolitical military, via @counteveryhero.org
ICE and Border Patrol are now targeting people who have legal status. It's a moral outrage—but it's also counterproductive. The government is sending the signal to all of us that obeying the law will put you in harm's way. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/arrested-for-following-the-rules-immigration-ice
Arrested for Following the Rules
The danger of ICE’s strategy of targeting immigrants fulfilling their legal responsibilities.
www.thebulwark.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ICE and Border Patrol are now targeting people who have legal status. It's a moral outrage—but it's also counterproductive. The government is sending the signal to all of us that obeying the law will put you in harm's way. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/arrested-for-following-the-rules-immigration-ice
At a time when the president and his allies embrace lawlessness as a key part of their agenda, the rest of us must redouble our commitment to the law, writes Ben Raderstorf. Chicago and Charlotte have shown that it’s not just morally right — it’s a winning strategy.
https://protdem.org/44kC811
https://protdem.org/44kC811
November 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
At a time when the president and his allies embrace lawlessness as a key part of their agenda, the rest of us must redouble our commitment to the law, writes Ben Raderstorf. Chicago and Charlotte have shown that it’s not just morally right — it’s a winning strategy.
https://protdem.org/44kC811
https://protdem.org/44kC811
America’s longest shutdown showed us once again that Congress isn’t working. The two major parties are trapped in a tug-of-war that has hurt all of us, but the solution is simpler than one might think: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-the-parties-can-fix-congress
The counterintuitive way to fix Congress
Internal divisions are good, actually
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
America’s longest shutdown showed us once again that Congress isn’t working. The two major parties are trapped in a tug-of-war that has hurt all of us, but the solution is simpler than one might think: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-the-parties-can-fix-congress
Nigeria's impressive story of democratic resilience amid setbacks and decades of military dictatorship serves as a lesson in transparency. We dive into the lesson of how civil society groups built public trust in elections to move their democracy forward. Read it here:
Show — don’t tell — how things work and what is trustworthy
Nigeria’s civil society groups leverage transparency to build public trust
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Nigeria's impressive story of democratic resilience amid setbacks and decades of military dictatorship serves as a lesson in transparency. We dive into the lesson of how civil society groups built public trust in elections to move their democracy forward. Read it here:
Why are we tracking the Trump admin’s retaliatory actions? We need a clear accounting to assert the truth: the actions are designed to intimidate and chill the speech of anyone who would oppose the admin.
Tracking retaliatory use of arrests, prosecutions, and investigations by the Trump administration
How to tell if the Trump Department of Justice is enforcing the law or retaliating against political enemies.
protectdemocracy.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Why are we tracking the Trump admin’s retaliatory actions? We need a clear accounting to assert the truth: the actions are designed to intimidate and chill the speech of anyone who would oppose the admin.
ICE & Border Patrol are targeting legal immigrants who are complying with their obligations to authorities. The repercussions will be felt by all of us, writes @ansleyskipper.bsky.social. Rather than instituting a new regime of "law and order," this strategy only serves to incentivize law-breaking.
Arrested for Following the Rules
The danger of ICE’s strategy of targeting immigrants fulfilling their legal responsibilities.
www.thebulwark.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ICE & Border Patrol are targeting legal immigrants who are complying with their obligations to authorities. The repercussions will be felt by all of us, writes @ansleyskipper.bsky.social. Rather than instituting a new regime of "law and order," this strategy only serves to incentivize law-breaking.
Fixing Congress doesn’t require amending the Constitution, electing a different president, or Supreme Court approval. Alex Tausanovitch and Cyrena Kokolis explain how Members of Congress can break the two-party gridlock by embracing divisions within *their own* party. https://protdem.org/4o74W42
The counterintuitive way to fix Congress
Internal divisions are good, actually
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Fixing Congress doesn’t require amending the Constitution, electing a different president, or Supreme Court approval. Alex Tausanovitch and Cyrena Kokolis explain how Members of Congress can break the two-party gridlock by embracing divisions within *their own* party. https://protdem.org/4o74W42
Concerns about lawlessness and disorder are why we have the legal immigration process — and why we have laws in the first place. Now, immigration enforcement is targeting people who follow the law. It will make all of us less safe, writes @ansleyskipper.bsky.social for @thebulwark.com
Arrested for Following the Rules
The danger of ICE’s strategy of targeting immigrants fulfilling their legal responsibilities.
www.thebulwark.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Concerns about lawlessness and disorder are why we have the legal immigration process — and why we have laws in the first place. Now, immigration enforcement is targeting people who follow the law. It will make all of us less safe, writes @ansleyskipper.bsky.social for @thebulwark.com
NEW: A brief in our case, Trump v. Slaughter, from former GOP White House lawyers and senior officials says that no president should have the power to fire independent watchdogs at will. Read their message to SCOTUS below: protdem.org/3JX8JmK
protdem.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
NEW: A brief in our case, Trump v. Slaughter, from former GOP White House lawyers and senior officials says that no president should have the power to fire independent watchdogs at will. Read their message to SCOTUS below: protdem.org/3JX8JmK
Our two-party system creates zero-sum politics, drives gerrymandering, voter disillusionment & a system vulnerable to authoritarians. @jrdresden.bsky.social explains how fusion parties could revive the pathway to a better (and achievable!) system. Read about it here: https://protdem.org/44aIuQq
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Our two-party system creates zero-sum politics, drives gerrymandering, voter disillusionment & a system vulnerable to authoritarians. @jrdresden.bsky.social explains how fusion parties could revive the pathway to a better (and achievable!) system. Read about it here: https://protdem.org/44aIuQq
Retired four-star general and flag officers warn of escalating risks of politicizing the U.S. military. They write, “even the perception of politicization weakens confidence and strains readiness.” @counteveryhero.org https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/17/trump-politicizing-military-report
Trump has ‘blurred’ line between military and politics, ex-officers warn
Former leaders’ report cautions against politicizing armed forces as national guard deployments raise tensions in US
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Retired four-star general and flag officers warn of escalating risks of politicizing the U.S. military. They write, “even the perception of politicization weakens confidence and strains readiness.” @counteveryhero.org https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/17/trump-politicizing-military-report
Today, a federal court holds a hearing on the motion to dismiss James Comey’s indictment for vindictive prosecution.
As we’ve been tracking, this is part of a clear pattern of weaponizing the DOJ to punish the President’s political enemies. Our amicus brief in Comey's case argues exactly that ⬇️
As we’ve been tracking, this is part of a clear pattern of weaponizing the DOJ to punish the President’s political enemies. Our amicus brief in Comey's case argues exactly that ⬇️
We filed an amicus brief in support of James Comey in his criminal case to connect the dots showing his indictment is one part of a sweeping pattern by the Trump administration to weaponize the DOJ and if allowed to proceed, endangers our democracy. Read our brief: protdem.org/4qvfZX9
November 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Today, a federal court holds a hearing on the motion to dismiss James Comey’s indictment for vindictive prosecution.
As we’ve been tracking, this is part of a clear pattern of weaponizing the DOJ to punish the President’s political enemies. Our amicus brief in Comey's case argues exactly that ⬇️
As we’ve been tracking, this is part of a clear pattern of weaponizing the DOJ to punish the President’s political enemies. Our amicus brief in Comey's case argues exactly that ⬇️