Protect Democracy

Today's FBI Director Chris Wray's testimony to the House Judiciary Committee about the politicization of law enforcement was critical. We need more of it. New analysis from Anne Tindall and Kristy Parker. https://protectdemocracy.org/work/chris-wray-testifying-congress/

The piece builds on our recent report & analysis on key questions that can help assess whether a government-led investigation or prosecution is appropriate — or an abuse of power: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/how-to-tell-government-investigation-weaponized/

Find us on Bluesky! We created a "Starter Pack" so you can easily find our team of experts, board members, and advisors who've made the switch. https://go.bsky.app/UcEeG1b

NEW: Another victory in Jessica Denson's lawsuit challenging Trump Campaign’s illegal NDA — a federal court granted preliminary approval of class-wide settlement *freeing all signers*.

This is likely the beginning of the end for the 2016 Trump Campaign’s illegal NDA. Read more below ⬇️
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/court-grants-preliminary-approval-of-a-settlement-in-jessica-densons-class-action-lawsuit-challenging-the-2016-trump-campaigns-forever-ndas/

Major victory for accountability & religious freedom—a fed court ruled that DHS violated Pastor Kaji Dousa’s First Amendment rights by retaliating against her for ministering to migrants & refugees.

“CBP unlawfully retaliated against [Pastor Douša] for her protected First Amendment activity, violated her Free Exercise right to minister to migrants in Mexico, and violated the [Religious Freedom & Restoration Act] when [CBP official] Oliveri emailed Mexican authorities.”

https://protectdemocracy.org/work/in-a-win-for-first-amendment-rights-federal-court-rules-that-dhs-illegally-targeted-pastor-kaji-dousa-for-ministering-to-migrants-and-refugees/

New from Protect Democracy's Amanda Carpenter – A good Republican debate would challenge the dangerous idea that Trump’s alleged criminal behavior makes him stronger.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/22/opinions/trump-republican-debate-presidential-nomination-carpenter/index.html

As criminal investigations of fmr President Trump continue, we created a guide for understanding when investigations & prosecutions of political leaders further the rule of law vs. when they’re improperly politicized.

Read our guide below ⬇️
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/investigating-prosecuting-political-leaders/

TN legislators took the unprecedented step of expelling 2 colleagues. This tactic is new & alarming for the U.S. but not so for autocratizing govs like Russia, India, & Hong Kong.

Ben Raderstorf lays out the 3 things we should know about this tactic.
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/the-real-reason-why-autocrats-expel-their-legislative-opponents/

What is proportional representation, and how could it strengthen our democracy? What's the policy path to reform?

Join us at tomorrow's virtual event hosted by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences with Steven Olikara, Andrew Craig, Norm Ornstein, Alora Thomas & our own Grant Tudor.

https://www.amacad.org/events/proportional-representation

A new report by Lee Drutman at New America discusses how two reforms — fusion voting and proportional representation — can build more and better political parties.

Protect Democracy is working to expand access to fusion voting, which according to Drutman's report is "a powerful weapon against extremism in contemporary U.S. politics." We are also advancing research and policy options for proportional representation.

https://www.newamerica.org/political-reform/reports/more-parties-better-parties/

https://protectdemocracy.org/work/bringing-back-fusion-voting/

https://protectdemocracy.org/work/proportional-representation-uniform-congressional-district-act/

More from The Hill about our report with States United Democracy Center and Law Forward. We're sounding the alarm on partisan politicians seeking to undermine our elections across states.

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4040962-bills-that-increase-the-risk-of-of-election-subversion-seen-in-38-states-this-year-analysis/

Our team is growing! We're seeking an Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. Early to mid-career candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political/ideological spectrum are encouraged to apply. A passion for protecting and improving our democracy is a must.

The position is remote, w/preference for candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area.

https://protectdemocracy.recruitee.com/o/executive-assistant-to-the-executive-director/

NEW: 🎙️ Ian Bassin on a new episode of Spring Impact & Skoll Foundation's #MissiontoScale podcast to talk about how we've been working to strengthen our democratic institutions and to combat the 7 tactics authoritarians use to undermine democracy. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3oxqaz1

For more about the Authoritarian Playbook: https://protectdemocracy.org/the-authoritarian-playbook/

NEW ANALYSIS: As coverage unfolds about the investigations of former President Trump, how should the public at large weigh these investigations and possible indictments (or non-indictments)? Read our guide on the right questions and the key points the press and public should consider.

https://protectdemocracy.org/work/the-right-questions-to-ask-about-a-trump-prosecution/

We've moved!
📲 For the latest about our work & analyses, follow us across social media

Find it all at the link or QR code below.

https://protdem.org/m/stay-connected

NEW: Today’s political parties are exacerbating many of the country’s central political problems; and though at the core of our democracy crisis—parties should be fixed, not sidelined. Leading experts explain why and how in a report we published with the American Political Science Association.
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/more-than-red-and-blue-political-parties-and-american-democracy/

Countries w/ more than 2 parties tend to feature less severe polarization. That's because in multiparty systems, says our own Grant Tudor, "your enemies are never permanent. Your friends today might be your opponents tomorrow & maybe your friends the day after."

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/07/proportional-representation-house-congress/674627/

We built a tool for answering if a gov investigation of a political leader furthers the rule of law or is an abuse of power. Discerning the difference matters given mounting investigations in NY & GA, the Justice Department and on the Hill.

Our own Kristy Parker, longtime frmr DOJ prosecutor, authored this guide for assessing criminal & congressional investigations: "Investigating and Prosecuting Political Leaders in a Democracy"
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/investigating-prosecuting-political-leaders/

The North Carolina Supreme Court cleared the way for lawmakers to further gerrymander the state's districts. Our Grant Tudor & Beau Tremitiere explain why relying on the courts won't fix the problem — and what reform is ultimately needed.
https://thehill.com/homenews/3992810-theres-only-one-way-to-fix-gerrymandering-and-its-not-through-the-courts/

"The Fox Settlement Saved America From a Potentially Dangerous Situation"

NEW: John Langford, Rachel Goodman, and Rebecca Lullo analyze the relationship between the Fox News settlement & the actual malice standard, and what that means for democracy in today's New York Times Opinion.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/opinion/fox-dominion-actual-malice.html

We’re excited and grateful to be one of the winners of the 2023 Skoll Awards for Social Innovation. Thank you to the Skoll Foundation for this honor!

https://skoll.org/2023/04/04/meet-the-winners-of-the-2023-skoll-award-for-social-innovation/