Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 10h

The Supreme Court’s campaign finance interventions since Citizens United have wrongly second-guessed Congress’s policy judgments and sharply diverged from the preferences of the American public — which supports reasonable limits on the role of money in politics. 2/2

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 10h

NEW: The Brennan Center and Steptoe LLP filed a brief in
National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, urging the Supreme Court to reject the argument that limits on coordinated party expenditures violate the First Amendment. 1/2
bit.ly/46UPiST

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 11h

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.

There Is No Insurrection

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

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Brennan Center

Douglas Keith @douglaskeith.bsky.social · 1d

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's jurisprudence is... complicated! But with nearly half the court up for retention election next month, the money is still pouring in. More @statecourtreport.org: statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Everything You Need to Know About Next Month’s High-Stakes Supreme Court Elections in Pennsylvania

Three justices will face an up or down vote in November, the outcome of which is likely to impact the midterms.

statecourtreport.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 14h

@citizensunionny.bsky.social new report shows that moving local NYC elections to presidential election years would greatly improve voter turnout and representation, including in down-ballot races. This Nov., NYers can vote to jump-start this move.

citizensunion.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 14h

In recent years, state high courts have become "front and center in major policy fights over things like abortion...and voting rights," @douglaskeith.bsky.social told @kywnewsradio.bsky.social. This has caused unprecedented amounts of money to pour into normally sleepy races.

November’s judicial retention election is the most expensive in Pa. history

In 50 years of retention elections, only one Supreme Court justice has lost. That’s why the money being poured in by Citizens for Term Limits, associated with the conservative Commonwealth Partners, a...

www.audacy.com

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 16h

Crime prevention works when it builds on community trust and evidence-based solutions, not performative displays of force. bit.ly/4neYVD1

What Actually Works to Fight Crime

The administration’s plans to fight crime by dictating state bail policy or deploying the National Guard won’t build long-term safety, but there are many evidence-based ways to reduce crime.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 16h

Across the country, a wave of redistricting has prompted new state litigation. But are state courts the best forum for determining fairer maps? Subscribe to the free weekly State Court Report newsletter to learn more. bit.ly/45IXZ0M

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 17h

This term, the Supreme Court justices will have no choice but to confront directly and publicly the big questions about presidential power.
bit.ly/4757OJq

New Supreme Court Term Pits Presidency Against Constitutional Values

As the justices take their seats, our system of checks and balances tilts precariously.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 17h

When can the president invoke the Insurrection Act? What does invoking it allow the military to do? Is it the same as declaring martial law? A Brennan Center explainer has the answers. bit.ly/3GsFBhL

The Insurrection Act Explained

The law, which lets the president deploy the military domestically and use it for civilian law enforcement, is dangerously vague and in urgent need of reform.

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Brennan Center

Mireya (Mia) Navarro @mireyawrites.bsky.social · 18h

Terrific resource. Potential dangers here: more federal government surveillance of voters, more voter information vulnerable to hacking, more federal government interference in elections. #elections

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 24d

The Trump administration is pressuring states to hand over sensitive information about voters. The Brennan Center is tracking the DOJ’s requests and how states respond. bit.ly/3JFbKaB

Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information

The Trump administration is pressing state officials to provide sensitive information about voters.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 18h

PODCAST: This year's Supreme Court term will be a historic one for the future of presidential power and our system of checks and balances. Listen to The Briefing with Michael Waldman to learn more about the major cases on the docket. youtu.be/9Cwe-DVrQrg

Supreme Court Preview

This year’s Supreme Court term will be a historic one for the future of presidential power and our system of checks and balances. The Court has steadily chip...

youtu.be

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 18h

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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Reposted by Brennan Center

Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 20h

Last night, historians weighed in with SCOTUS to set the record straight: Since the beginning, everyone understood that voters can use Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to challenge discriminatory maps.

Their brief: www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
@alexkeyssar.bsky.social @brennancenter.org

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The appellate court said voters cannot sue to challenge discriminatory maps under the Voting Rights Act. The brief explains that's wrong, showing that courts, Congress, the Dep't of Justice, private attorneys, and others have long understood that Section 2 allows voters to do just that. 2/2

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Today, a group of historians, including Brennan Center Historians Council member @alexkeyssar.bsky.social, filed a brief urging SCOTUS to hear Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe. 1/2 bit.ly/4gUM8mK

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Reposted by Brennan Center

Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

A core principle of this nation is that the military should not be asked to turn its weapons against fellow Americans. We cannot allow this unprecedented militarization of American cities to become normalized. Read: wapo.st/4mQhNHq

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

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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Reposted by Brennan Center

State Court Report @statecourtreport.org · 1d

NEW: Nearly half of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court—which could decide important cases about election rules ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections—is up for reelection next month. @douglaskeith.bsky.social explains this high-stakes retention election that might have flown under your radar.

Everything You Need to Know About Next Month’s High-Stakes Supreme Court Elections in Pennsylvania

Three justices will face an up or down vote in November, the outcome of which is likely to impact the midterms.

statecourtreport.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

We are living through a new era of corruption, where legal guardrails have crumbled. What will end the culture of kleptocracy?

Join us for a live virtual event with @janemayer.bsky.social, @mawaldman.bsky.social, and @danw329.bsky.social on Wed., Oct. 15, at 3pm ET. RSVP:

Corruption in America

Experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy.

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Brennan Center

Liza Goitein @lizagoitein.bsky.social · 1d

President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Portland is off — for now. Last night, Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the deployment of ANY federalized National Guard forces in Portland. 1/7

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

The Trump administration is escalating its surveillance of tens of millions of *legal* immigrants, forcing them to refrain from expressing opinions that someone might deem “anti-American.” It’s a clear attack on free speech and the First Amendment. bit.ly/4823Brc

“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech

Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.

www.brennancenter.org

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

There are many effective crime-fighting strategies with bipartisan support. Sending National Guard troops into American cities isn't one of them.

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

This term, the Supreme Court justices will have no choice but to confront directly and publicly the big questions about presidential power.
bit.ly/4757OJq

New Supreme Court Term Pits Presidency Against Constitutional Values

As the justices take their seats, our system of checks and balances tilts precariously.

www.brennancenter.org

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