Ari Berman
@ariberman.bsky.social
41K followers 130 following 130 posts
National voting rights correspondent Mother Jones. Author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It and Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America
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Reposted by Ari Berman
clarajeffery.bsky.social
“California, and the country, cannot await the outcome of the midterms to repel Trump’s siege on democracy. More drastic action is required.”

My piece exploring "soft secession": www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s time for soft secession
How blue states can use their economic clout to stand up to Trump’s agenda—starting with California.
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Trump DOJ:

-overruling career prosecutors to indict Trump's political opponents

-suing states to get sensitive voter data

-urging SCOTUS to gut Voting Rights Act

-helping GOP states gerrymander mid-decade

A 5 alarm fire on every front www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Justice Department is ramping up Trump’s election-rigging efforts
DOJ officials have sued six more states to demand sensitive voter data.
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
As Trump threatens to prosecute his political opponents, DOJ files new lawsuits against CA, MI, MN, NY, NH & PA to get their full unredacted voter lists to further Trump's voter suppression agenda. Chilling abuse of power www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
DOJ Sues Six States, Escalating Campaign to Seize Private Voter Data
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
ariberman.bsky.social
ICYMI: DOJ this week also went after states and election officials who are resisting Trump's crackdown on democracy
motherjones.com
The Justice Department this week sued two blue states, Maine and Oregon, to attempt to gain access to their full, unredacted voter registration lists, intensifying President Trump’s anti-voting efforts. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Trump administration’s latest power grab: your voter data
The Justice Department sued Oregon and Maine to gain access to their full voter registration lists.
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
One thing I wish more stories noted: Trump is more unpopular now than at any point in his second term. He‘s intensifying his authoritarian tactics not because he’s strong, but because he’s weak
ariberman.bsky.social
As Trump admin plans chilling crackdown on liberal orgs following Kirk’s death, DOJ now suing Maine & Oregon, two blue states, to get sensitive voter data to advance Trump’s voter suppression agenda. Straight up authoritarianism www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Trump administration’s latest power grab: your voter data
The Justice Department sued Oregon and Maine to gain access to their full voter registration lists.
www.motherjones.com
Reposted by Ari Berman
motherjones.com
Before Charlie Kirk's murder, @ariberman.bsky.social predicted Trump's rigging plans for the 2026 midterms would include ramping up plans to expand investigations into groups they view as a threat.

Now, in the wake of Kirk's death, Trump & his inner circle have ratcheted up this rhetoric even more.
ariberman.bsky.social
I predicted Trump's election rigging plans would include "ramping up plans to expand investigations into groups they view as a threat, including pro-democracy orgs, voter reg efforts and gotv initiatives"

Exactly what they’re planning after Charlie Kirk's death www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favo...
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
@aclu.org @campaignlegal.org filed suit against Missouri's new gerrymandered map, calling it "an unconstitutional mid-decade redraw of the State’s congressional districts with the goal of preventing Kansas City voters from electing their preferred candidate to Congress” www.aclu.org/press-releas...
ariberman.bsky.social
In addition to gerrymandering Missouri's congressional map, Republicans also gerrymandering ballot initiatives to require majority in every House district rather than statewide majority to pass. 5% of voters could block initiative

“It's minority rule on steroids” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
On Trump’s orders, Missouri Republicans plan to gerrymander a Black lawmaker out of office
“It’s minority rule on steroids."
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
In other news Missouri Republicans just passed new gerrymandered US House map giving GOP 90% of seats in state Trump won with 58%. Destroys district held by Black Rep Emanuel Cleaver, one of 2 Dems in state

Texas was just start of Trump’s plan to rig midterms www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favo...
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Huge protests at Missouri Capitol right now against GOP plan to gerrymander state on Trump's orders AND gerrymander citizen-led ballot initiatives
ariberman.bsky.social
Really important convo with @wajali.bsky.social on 10 ways Trump already rigging midterms

Democracy being destroyed right before our eyes & Dems need much more urgent response to combat this authoritarian takeover

thelefthook.substack.com/p/the-10-way...
ariberman.bsky.social
In addition to gerrymandering Missouri's congressional map on Trump's orders, Republicans also gerrymandered ballot initiatives to require majority in every congressional district rather than statewide majority to pass

“It’s minority rule on steroids”

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
On Trump’s orders, Missouri Republicans plan to gerrymander a Black lawmaker out of office
“It’s minority rule on steroids."
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Breaking: Missouri House passes new gerrymandered US House map giving GOP 90% of seats in state Trump won with 58% of vote. Destroys district held by Black Rep Emanuel Cleaver, one of 2 Dems in state

Texas was just start of Trump’s sweeping plan to rig midterms www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favo...
www.motherjones.com
Reposted by Ari Berman
motherjones.com
There is a very real prospect that President Trump could lose the midterms.

It’s ahead of this threat of defeat that he and his allies are working overtime to sway the elections before a single vote is cast.

@ariberman.bsky.social reports on the unprecedented moves.
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their…
www.motherjones.com
Reposted by Ari Berman
ariberman.bsky.social
SCOTUS allowing ICE to racially profile will embolden Trump to use ICE & military against his political opponents, potentially demanding citizenship checks at polls & intimidating Dem voters in 2026. Already seeing such tactics with occupation of LA, DC & Chicago www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favo...
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
SCOTUS allowing ICE to racially profile will embolden Trump to use ICE & military against his political opponents, potentially demanding citizenship checks at polls & intimidating Dem voters in 2026. Already seeing such tactics with occupation of LA, DC & Chicago www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favo...
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Missouri Republicans beginning special session today to gerrymander state on Trump’s orders & eliminate seat of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, one of two Dems in US House. Plan would give Republicans 90% of seats even though Trump only won MO with 58% of vote in 2024 www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
On Trump’s orders, Missouri Republicans plan to gerrymander a Black lawmaker out of office
“It’s minority rule on steroids."
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Minority rule on steroids in Missouri:

GOP gerrymandering on Trump’s orders to give Rs 90% of seats in state where Trump got 58% AND gerrymandering ballot initiatives to require majority support in every House district instead of statewide majority to pass

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
On Trump’s orders, Missouri Republicans plan to gerrymander a Black lawmaker out of office
“It’s minority rule on steroids."
www.motherjones.com
ariberman.bsky.social
Washington DC has 702,000 people, is 45% Black and has 0 senators

Wyoming has 590,000 people, is 86% white and has 2 senators

DC needs a state with proper representation, not a military takeover
ariberman.bsky.social
“The short-term game is getting five seats to retain the gavel of the House. The long-term game is to repeal the Voting Rights Act.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
ariberman.bsky.social
Full on authoritarianism on every front in Texas:

-Stealing five seats to help Trump rig midterms

-Threatening to arrest/expel democratically elected reps opposing election rigging

-Weaponizing federal law enforcement to illegally target elected reps

-SCOTUS preparing to kill Voting Rights Act