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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · 13d

"President Trump is intentionally sidelining the nation’s campaign finance watchdog. Restoring quorum is a fundamental necessity to safeguard against corruption.” - Former FEC Commissioner and ECU Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social

Federal Election Commission Loses Another Commissioner

Republican Trey Trainor confirmed he’s resigning, leaving the nation’s hobbled campaign finance enforcement agency even further from a quorum.

www.notus.org

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · 18d

Looking forward to a spirited conversation tomorrow about money, politics, the First Amendment, and the state of our democracy!

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · 19d

TOMORROW: ECU's Senior Fellow and former FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social is joining @eisendrath.net on @wcpt820am.bsky.social at 1:15pm CT / 2:15pm ET! Make sure to tune in!

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · 20d

There’s nothing funny about using government power to silence comedians. Authoritarians hate being mocked. But the right to criticize the government lies at the very heart of the 1st Amendment.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Aug 27

Empowered by the Supreme Court, tech titans appear poised to deploy their vast wealth to try to buy a government that will impose no guardrails on their already powerful industry. What could go wrong?

Silicon Valley Pledges $200 Million to New Pro-A.I. Super PACs www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...

Silicon Valley Pledges $200 Million to New Pro-A.I. Super PACs

www.nytimes.com

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jul 16

Alarming story about federal attempts to interfere with election administration. Kudos to state and local officials who are resisting, fulfilling their duty to run a secure election.

wapo.st/3IvgS0s

DOJ hits states with broad requests for voter rolls, election data

Election clerks in both parties, who have been subject to harassment and lawsuits over Trump’s 2020 false election claims, worry about efforts to examine their voting machines.

wapo.st

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · Jul 10

Out of the 64 complaints filed against Donald Trump with the Federal Election Commission, the nonpartisan staff recommended investigations into Trump 32 times—which Republican Commissioners voted against every single time.

WATCH ECU's Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social break it down 👇

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jul 3

Where's a good federalist when you need one? The Constitution leaves the running of elections to the states. Yet here seems to be a new effort to threaten election administrators with criminal prosecution, based on nothing but conspiracy theories. Alarming. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/u...

Justice Dept. Explores Using Criminal Charges Against Election Officials

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · Jul 2

"Without a quorum, the agency [Federal Election Commission] is left really hamstrung in all of its decision making. This just emboldens people who seek to violate the law." - Former FEC Commissioner and ECU Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jul 1

As I said, still ugly for many reasons. Mostly because it’s an unconscionable wealth transfer from the poor and middle classes to the wealthy. The removal of the AI provision doesn’t make the bill worthy of support, just makes it a little less awful.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jul 1

The Big Ugly Bill is still pretty ugly, but at least they stripped out the moratorium on regulating AI. It’s too powerful a technology to assume we know what kind of constraints might be needed in the next 5 or 10 years. States are way ahead of the feds in at least requiring transparency.

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · Jul 1

Whether it's Musk buying his way into government, or the GOP making deep cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts that benefit their donors, corruption has real life impacts.

Watch ECU President @tiffanymuller.bsky.social and @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social, one of ECU's Senior Fellows, break it down. 👇

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 27

There may well be circumstances in which a nationwide injunction would be inappropriate. A blatantly unconstitutional attack on citizenship is not one of them.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 27

Bravo. It is appalling how eager this royalist Supreme Court is to shred any semblance of checks and balances on this autocratic administration. As Justice Jackson stated in her fiery dissent, the Court's decision is "an existential threat to the rule of law.”

Katie Phang @katiephang.bsky.social · Jun 27

BREAKING:

CASA (plaintiff in Maryland birthright citizenship case) has now filed an amended complaint seeking class certification for similarly situated individuals impacted by Trump’s EO.

www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-cont...

www.law.georgetown.edu

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · Jun 25

The third consecutive cancellation of an open Federal Election Commission meeting is further proof of the corruption deeply embedded in this administration.

No one knows the importance of transparency better than former FEC Chair and Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social.

Quote: “This is how democracy is hollowed out––through a series of quietly canceled meetings. With the FEC effectively shut down, tens of millions of dollars are flowing between donors and politicians with no oversight. It’s a gift to bad actors and lawbreakers. Every day the agency remains paralyzed, the more vulnerable our elections become to corruption.”

––Ellen Weintraub, former FEC Chair and Commissioner

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 22

Good news/bad news on the GOP budget bill: The attempt to make it harder to sue the Govt by making litigants post huge bonds ruled out of bounds for reconciliation. 👍 But the provision seeking to stop states from regulating AI can be passed on party-line vote. 👎
www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

More Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to Byrd Rule, Parliamentarian Advises | U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

The Official U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

www.budget.senate.gov

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 13

The First Amendment protects the right to challenge the government. When the government is violating people’s rights, protest is patriotic. The President thinks protesters are troublemakers who need to be silenced by force. Well, sign me up for some of that good trouble. See you on No Kings Day!

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 5

Another attempt to eviscerate checks and balances on the President.

Karen Tumulty @ktumulty.bsky.social · Jun 5

Pardon this interruption of the Trump-Musk feud, but here is something else you really need to know about: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | In their budget bill, Republicans show their contempt for courts

Hidden deep in the boilerplate? A get-out-of-jail-free card for the Trump White House.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Jun 3

Proud to join with Senator Jon Tester and @tiffanymuller.bsky.social at @endcitizensunited.bsky.social to continue the fight against corruption!

Tiffany Muller @tiffanymuller.bsky.social · Jun 3

As @endcitizensunited.bsky.social marks its 10-year anniversary, we're bringing on Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social and Senator Jon Tester as the organization's first-ever Senior Fellows.

As we confront Trump's corrupt administration, their leadership will be invaluable.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · May 27

No one voted for graft and corruption. This Memorial Day, I honor the veterans who fought to defend democracy and a government of, by, and for the people. Let us recommit to the fight.

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · May 25

Trump and his family have monetized the White House more than any other occupant, normalizing activities that once would have provoked heavy blowback and official investigations. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/u...

As Trumps Monetize Presidency, Profits Outstrip Protests

www.nytimes.com

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · May 26

“In the 2004 election, . . . billionaires gave $13 million in political contributions; 20 years later, the country’s richest families spent more than 200 times that much.” We’re seeing the result when pay-to-play becomes normalized and shameless grifters take power.

Evan Osnos @eosnos.bsky.social · May 26

Around D.C., the new going rate is well-known: $5 million for a one-on-one dinner with Trump, but gov-affairs execs have “no clue where the money is eventually going,” one said. Another told me it’s “outer-borough Mafia sh*t.” My new piece is out @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Donald Trump’s Politics of Plunder

The greed of the new Administration has galvanized America’s aspiring oligarchs—and their opponents.

www.newyorker.com

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Tiffany Muller @tiffanymuller.bsky.social · May 19

Thank you for a wonderful town hall this Saturday, Denver! Defending our democracy has never been more important, and I couldn’t ask for better friends and allies in this fight than CO Secretary of State @jenagriswold.bsky.social and FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social.

From Left to Right: ECU President Tiffany Muller, FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. They are smiling and standing together, with the town hall in the background.

ECU President Tiffany Muller in conversation with FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub and town hall attendees.

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

Colorado Secretary of State’s Office @cosecofstate.bsky.social · May 19

Secretary @jenagriswold.bsky.social was proud to join Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, and former FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social to discuss how important it is to defend American democracy. Thank you to all who came for this important discussion.

Secretary Griswold joined by Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, and former FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub for the "Defending Democracy" townhall in Denver, CO.

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Reposted by Ellen L. Weintraub

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · May 14

Speaking at #AmericanDemocracySummit, fired FEC Chair @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social says, "We need to look at who gets nominated because it matters. We need people who believe in the law to be serving in the government."

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · May 14

Why? Despite the FEC’s pleas, Congress won’t give the agency more funding, and there are not enough commissioners to form a quorum, leading to gridlock on high-profile issues, and it lacks the power to conduct audits or vote on investigation outcomes.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · May 1

And then there were 3. ICYMI: The FEC needs 4 commissioners to make enforcement and policy decisions. When I was removed from office without cause and without a replacement, I warned that the FEC could lose its quorum. Now that's happened. No cop on the money-in-politics beat, Day 1.

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Ellen L. Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social · Apr 21

$$ Millions more than the inauguration could have possibly cost, given by people and corps. with biz before the govt, & no duty to disclose where the $ goes. What could possibly go wrong?

Trump Raised $239 Million for Inauguration, More Than Doubling His Own Record www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...

Trump Raised $239 Million for Inauguration, More Than Doubling His Own Record

The staggering amount, disclosed in a filing with the Federal Election Commission, was driven by corporate America’s eagerness to win the president’s favor.

www.nytimes.com

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