The MEGA Act isn’t your average voter suppression bill.
It establishes strict provisions on how, when, and where ballots can be cast.
This disgraceful piece of legislation also places new anti-voter restrictions on mail-in ballots, ranked-choice voting, and ballot collection.
The 16 years since Citizens United vs. FEC has underscored the costs to families when corporations rule politics and corruption is left unchecked.
@endcitizensunited.bsky.social's new scorecard for the 119th Congress highlights the reformers fighting for real change. 👇
Talented state lawmakers are working to ensure tech works for American families vs just enriches Big Tech billionaires. And now those companies are trying to cash in on all the ways they've enriched this Administration at all of our expense.
The Trump family made over $3 billion this year alone, by the way.
Can't wait for this one! Join Rep. Grijalva, @aftynbehn.bsky.social, and I for a lively virtual town hall tomorrow at 6PM EST tomorrow. See you there.
"Did Women Ruin the Workplace?" - Ross Douthat & Victoria Chamberlin
me: no, really, latent misogyny & sexism is still a really big problem! even in elite spaces!
them: wanna post a lil misogyny & sexism in the paper of record?
but seriously - there are still big problems with professional men feeling entitled to harass, demean, & (negatively) stereotype women!
![UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ET AL.,
Plaintiffs,
V.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ET AL.,
Defendants.
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Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-13165-IT
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
October 31, 2025
TALWANI, D.J.
Pending before the court is Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order [Doc.
No. 3] seeking to enjoin, on an emergency basis, Defendants' November 1, 2025 suspension of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"). For the reasons stated
below, Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action and are likely to succeed on their claim that
Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is unlawful. Where that suspension of benefits rested
on an erroneous construction of the relevant statutory provisions, the court will allow Defendants
to consider whether they will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November, and report
back to the court no later than Monday, November 3, 2025.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiczapq36myqhzcrdp4jfodg5rkso7nuvlta4e5b5r4l5upce7b3le@jpeg)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ET AL., Plaintiffs, V. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ET AL., Defendants. * * * * * * * * * * * Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-13165-IT MEMORANDUM AND ORDER October 31, 2025 TALWANI, D.J. Pending before the court is Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order [Doc. No. 3] seeking to enjoin, on an emergency basis, Defendants' November 1, 2025 suspension of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"). For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action and are likely to succeed on their claim that Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is unlawful. Where that suspension of benefits rested on an erroneous construction of the relevant statutory provisions, the court will allow Defendants to consider whether they will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November, and report back to the court no later than Monday, November 3, 2025.
A. Likelihood of Success on the Merits Plaintiffs have demonstrated a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claim under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A), (C), that Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is contrary to law. At core, Defendants' conclusion that USDA is statutorily prohibited from funding SNAP because Congress has not enacted new appropriations for the current fiscal year is erroneous. To the contrary, Defendants are statutorily mandated to use the previously appropriated SNAP contingency reserve when necessary and also have discretion to use other previously appropriated funds as detailed below.
![As both parties acknowledge, Congress has not yet appropriated any new funds for SNAP
benefits for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025. Pls.' Mem. 6 [Doc. No. 4];
Defs.' Opp'n 7 [Doc. No. 18]. But Congress took steps to protect against the deprivation of
SNAP assistance. In the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 118-42, § 6, 138
Stat. 25, 93-94, Congress separately appropriated $6 billion to the SNAP program "to remain available through September 30, 2026" and "be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations." See also Pub. L.
No. 119-4, § 1101(a), 139 Stat. 9, 10 (2025). As Plaintiffs point out, given the mandatory nature
of SNAP benefits under 7 U.S.C. § 2014(a) and the appropriation of these funds to be available
10
Case 1:25-cv-13165-IT
Document 26 Filed 10/31/25
Page 11 of 15
through this current fiscal year, the government is obligated to use this contingent reserve
account to fund SNAP "as may become necessary to carry out program operations." 138 Stat. at
93-94; Pls.' Mem. 11 [Doc. No. 4].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiac7aa6icx44x5xjkilpwj7il5oriyttttnrslzrhkwvw6b32cbnm@jpeg)
As both parties acknowledge, Congress has not yet appropriated any new funds for SNAP benefits for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025. Pls.' Mem. 6 [Doc. No. 4]; Defs.' Opp'n 7 [Doc. No. 18]. But Congress took steps to protect against the deprivation of SNAP assistance. In the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 118-42, § 6, 138 Stat. 25, 93-94, Congress separately appropriated $6 billion to the SNAP program "to remain available through September 30, 2026" and "be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations." See also Pub. L. No. 119-4, § 1101(a), 139 Stat. 9, 10 (2025). As Plaintiffs point out, given the mandatory nature of SNAP benefits under 7 U.S.C. § 2014(a) and the appropriation of these funds to be available 10 Case 1:25-cv-13165-IT Document 26 Filed 10/31/25 Page 11 of 15 through this current fiscal year, the government is obligated to use this contingent reserve account to fund SNAP "as may become necessary to carry out program operations." 138 Stat. at 93-94; Pls.' Mem. 11 [Doc. No. 4].
Defendants argue out that a "suspension" is permitted under USDA's regulations, and that USDA "has consistently interpreted its authority to allow for the suspension or cancellation of benefits when necessary." Defs. Opp'n 6 [Doc. No. 18). The regulation at issue, 7 C.F.R. $ 271.7(a), sets forth procedures to be followed if monthly SNAP allowances "must be reduced, suspended, or cancelled to comply with section 18 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008" (emphasis added). But that the regulation allows for a suspension when there are no funds does not mean that Defendants may choose a suspension over a reduction while funds do remain. If the regulation did authorize such discretion, it would be inconsistent with the statutory mandate that benefits "shall" be paid unless funding is no longer available.
BREAKING: Federal judge rules that the Trump administration likely illegally suspended SNAP benefits, ruling that at least reduced distribution is required to go forward under law using the $6 billion reserve fund.
Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
The potential for corruption here - particularly from foreign influences - should be incredibly alarming. But when people don't know how they're going to afford healthcare or food its hard to properly elevate...
So not only will this Administration do nothing to protect consumers/actively work to harm them, they'll also actively work to ensure state lawmakers can't protect them either?
Q: How long does it take to build a new data center? A: Approximately one closed-door city council vote.
What To Know About Data Centers https://theonion.com/what-to-know-about-data-centers/
Excited that this week's democracy.news is looking at the risk monopolies present to our democracy. With last week's Anti-Trust Law/Oligarchy event at Fordham Law and reading yesterday's New Republic piece I'm looking forward to seeing this conversation build.
Need to catch up on the latest corruption and democracy news you might've missed this week?
Look no further. 👇
lol +1 to this
The antichrist being anti-capitalist seems like a weird pitch fwiw.
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.
I am not fearful — I am fearless.
We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
When we think about how much state elections matter (especially in potential trifecta states), Mark Zuckerberg really shouldn't be the person trying to decide who wins or loses via dark money.
I typically feel like some version of this meme when I think about the recently formed AI Super Pacs... but today's democracy.news lays out why we need to be paying attention to Big Tech's monetary investments in state elections. tinyurl.com/AISuperPacs
Big Money and bribes are fueling Trump and Homan’s corrupt deportation system.
Join End Citizens United and our incredible partners tonight to hear from Congressional leaders around the Shutdown and Democrat's fight to protect healthcare! www.mobilize.us/endcitizensu...
I'm the target demo for this (except for not living in NYC) and I'm obsessed lol
The idea that Trump is fighting for anyone other than himself/rich donors is so incredibly laughable when you see reporting like this. The harm being done to Americans by his Admin's policy decisions is remarkable. projects.propublica.org/trump-food-c...
Corrupt Trump is asking his corporate donors for their wish lists of consumer protection laws to kill.
It's exactly why we need to Unrig Washington and ban corporate PACs from meddling in our elections.
And instead of listening to this incredible advocacy, recognizing your humanity, and doing something about it, Republicans continue to lie about this being about health care for undocumented folks while Trump keeps building his ballroom and decorating with gold.
Instead of spending time with your loved ones, our gov makes you beg your representatives to care enough about your humanity to continue funding just a small portion of your healthcare while you’re facing stage-four thymic carcinoma.
We believe healthcare is a right for every American.
But starting today, millions of people will be notified that they are being priced out of their insurance thanks to Republican policies.
Enough is enough. The GOP may shut down the government, but we will stand tall for YOU.
Republicans chose to push us to the brink of government shutdown–all to protect the massive tax giveaways they enacted for their rich friends, billionaires and corporations. Join our national team of advocates and volunteers TONIGHT for a strategy session: app.sosha.ai/s/STcHAJph
This seems like a really terrible precursor for the next election cycle. And suggests lawmakers really should be taking action around AI deepfakes and election interference 🫠 www.politico.com/live-updates...
Truly wild how we now have entire agencies now providing spin vs. getting American families the information they need.
Rather timely...
