Boom! @democracydocket.com got the draft emergency executive order on declaring a national emergency to allow President Trump to take unprecedented control over voting.
And you can read it (and more about it) here.
After @mattdcohen.bsky.social got this legal memo for an executive order the White House just might issue, I took a quick look at it, the laws it cited, and -- you're not gonna believe this -- it's pretty dumb. (And we got a real lawyer to confirm my take)
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
The @washingtonpost.com's exclusive report that the White House may declare an emergency to take control of the US midterm elections made a big splash today.
One problem: The plan is flat-out illegal and would be struck down by courts, election experts say.
Trump's State of the Union comments on the SAVE America Act — the most restrictive anti-voting bill in U.S. history — don't just exaggerate the scope of voter fraud (actually very rare). Alarmingly, they also overstate the contents of the bill itself! #SOTU26
Seen Nick Shirley's latest video claiming voter fraud in California? Read this explainer by @democracydocket.com's @mattdcohen.bsky.social. He breaks down two previous videos by right-wing influencers and explains why their claims are intentionally deceptive.
Trump was jestergooning at the briefing after a group of SCOTUSoids spiked his Cortisol levels 😭
Is honoring the SCOTUSoids' ruling while respecting the Constitution more useful than tariff chadfishing at the podium? I think so.
Even state election officials who support voter ID aren't fans of the SAVE America Act. Why?
@jimsaksa.com spoke with some of them, including in solidly red areas, to find out. A must-read.
Between the Board of Peace meeting in DC and dancing the YMCA in Georgia, Donald Trump said Republicans will "never lose a race" if Congress passes the SAVE America Act and claimed election fraud in Fulton County in 2020.
By hanging this banner, the DOJ is making it explicitly clear that, above all, it now exists to carry out the petty grievances of one man.
This is not normal.
Fulton County, Georgia is making startling allegation: that the warrant that backed the voting hub raid last month was granted despite the FBI lacking probable cause that a crime had been committed.
“The Fourth Amendment demands ‘probable cause’—not ‘possible cause,’” county officials write.
NEW: Right-wing influencers are going viral claiming voter fraud in places like California and Georgia. Sometimes they're getting reposted by Trump himself.
The problem? Their claims are *really* easily debunked.
Trump, famously not a lawyer, says he has a novel legal argument for why he can pass an executive order imposing voter ID and ending mail in ballots, even though federal courts have already shot down his executive order last year imposing voter ID and mail-in ballots
He's a former Trump campaign staffer who the FBI subpoenaed over his role in the attempt to steal the 2020 election.
Now, he's claiming credit for writing much of a sweeping voter suppression bill passed by the House that could disenfranchise millions.
Big win for Virginia Democrats — albeit not without nuance. The state Supreme Court decided their redistricting referendum can go forward, despite still being litigated.
In theory, the court could later overturn the results. In practice? Not so likely.
My team at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman.bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) has shared a big data update, covering all recorded US protests through Jan 2026. Some key takeaways 🧵:
Heraskevych’s choice to forfeit the medal chance instead of give up the memorial helmet is the biggest story in Ukraine today. Everyone is heartbroken but there is a unanimous consensus that this was what had to happen rather than to give up.
As expected, a judge has blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to demote Sen. Mark Kelly for the video reminding troops they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders.
The fiery decision features colorful language, 12 exclamation points, and a Bob Dylan quote.
In the House Judiciary Committee hearing today, Attorney General Pam Bondi is dodging questions like she's in The Matrix and deflecting by glorifying Trump — extraordinary behavior for official who has traditionally been expected to act independently and in a nonpartisan manner in enforcing the law.
‼️More here on the newly released DOJ search warrant affidavit for the FBI's election hub raid in Fulton County, Georgia.
Who are the people behind the affidavit and its allegations? Some were named; others @democracydocket.com identified.
The DOJ has released the affidavit for the FBI raid on a Fulton County, Georgia election hub. It's bonkers.
Turns out, the search was largely predicated on debunked voter fraud claims pushed by election deniers since Trump’s 2020 loss — including some who now work in his administration.
In Fulton County, there had been a mystery as to what the evidence that the magistrate used to find probable cause would it look like. Now there’s a new mystery: how in the world did the magistrate approve this bunch of recycled and discredited allegations to find probable cause?
"The First Amendment protects the right to vote free from intimidation," the official said. "The seizure of all 2020 election records in a highly public and intimidating show of federal force... directly threatens that interest.”
"The GOP’s repeal campaign relied on Patriot Grassroots, a Wyoming-based petition firm paid more than $4.3 million to manage signature gathering in Utah. The firm’s contract was terminated as allegations of fraud and misleading practices mounted."
Also: We have a 'submit resume for future openings' now, and are going to be posting more jobs later this year.
We're funded by our 50K+ members paying $120/year, plus some YouTube ads, not a billionaire's whims. Legit, openly left-leaning, independent news outlet full of veteran journalists.
HAPPENING NOW: Democracy Docket’s Matt Cohen is reporting live from the National Secretaries of State conference.
Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem and Tulsi Gabbard will soon speak to the states’ top election officials.
Follow along for the latest updates👇
The massive government funding package just failed badly in the Senate, 45-55.
Needed 60.
Zero Democrats voted for it.
SEVEN Republicans opposed it:
Budd
Johnson
Lee
Paul
Moody
Rick Scott
Tuberville
(John Thune switched his vote to no for procedural reasons.)
North Carolina election officials are considering a plan to flag voters as “presumptive noncitizens” and potentially strike them from the state’s voter rolls.
There are no indications that rare, illegal "noncitizen voting" happens at a scale that could threaten election outcomes in NC.
🚨BREAKING: Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem and Tulsi Gabbard are slated to speak at the National Association of Secretary of States conference tomorrow.
Democracy Docket reporter @mattdcohen.bsky.social will be on the scene. Check back in then for more details.
NEWS: Mich SOS @jocelynbenson.bsky.social announced an update to an investigation into allegations made by Macombe Clerk that 15 noncitizens were registered to vote. Turns out 3 are actually U.S. citizens, 4 had voter registrations canceled. Background: www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
