Democracy Under Attack
For decades, those with power have weaponized the criminal legal system to prevent Black, brown, and poor people from participating in our democratic society. Every year, they incarcerate nearly 7.5 million people in jails and prisons in the name of public safety while divesting from preventative solutions that actually keep people safe, because incarceration takes people out of civic society and helps those who have power preserve it.
Those same officials are dramatically expanding their use of the legal system to solidify and expand power. They want to restrict who gets a say in how we live.
This newsletter breaks down the ways that the right is manipulating the criminal legal system to preserve and even expand its power over a growing bloc that opposes it. We often talk about these issues in silos, pointing separately to the criminalization of abortion as if those responsible for the rollback of Roe v. Wade have different motivations from those driving mass incarceration. These attacks are a coordinated effort to suppress democracy, and we must recognize this plan in order to harness our collective power.
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In each installment, we highlight the myriad ways elected officials are working to keep people from democratic participation.
We also highlight ways that people are fighting back. We hope to learn from the heroic efforts of organizers, elected officials, legal teams, and protestors as we work to preserve our right to say how this country functions.
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Federal Judges Targeted – Trump, Vance, and allies directly challenge judicial authority, with White House officials calling courts "tyrannical" after rulings against administration policies, leading to impeachment attempts and security threats against judges
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Immigration Judges Purged – At least 20 immigration judges fired without explanation, with DOJ memo suggesting judges can now be removed without cause, potentially to ensure deportation-friendly rulings amid a 4 million case backlog
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State Courts Undermined – Multiple state-level attacks include Texas punishing judges for bail decisions, Utah lawmakers seeking revenge against their Supreme Court by stripping powers, and Wisconsin experiencing record-breaking campaign spending by billionaires to influence judicial seats
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Corporate Pressure on Courts – Elon Musk leads corporate threats against Delaware's judiciary after an unfavorable ruling, promoting a "Billionaire's Bill" that would limit judicial oversight and accommodate corporate interests
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Election Results Challenged – In North Carolina, a Republican judicial candidate refuses to accept election results despite two recounts confirming his loss, seeking to throw out nearly 65,000 votes
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State Authority Under Attack – Trump revokes New York's congestion pricing approval and interferes with California's water management, contradicting traditional conservative support for states' rights
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Disaster Relief Used as Leverage – Administration threatens to withhold fire disaster funding unless California implements voter ID, using emergencies to force policy compliance
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Medical Research Funding Slashed – Cuts to NIH threaten critical research at major institutions, with smaller programs facing closure and local economies at risk
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Hospital Care Restricted – Healthcare facilities forced to choose between federal funding and providing gender-affirming care, compromising patient treatment
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D.C. Autonomy Threatened – Congress introduces bill to strip Washington D.C.'s self-governance while Trump plans executive order targeting local crime and homelessness
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Mass Deportation Machine Activates – Trump issues executive orders ending deportation safe zones and deploying military to southern border
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States Compete for Harshest Laws – Florida, Texas, Louisiana and others passing laws forcing local police to act as ICE agents, with criminal penalties for non-compliance
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Federal Threats Against Local Officials – DOJ orders prosecution of officials who don't participate in deportations, targeting 249 specifically named local leaders
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Surveillance Technology Expansion – AI-powered border surveillance grows unchecked while Meta ends fact-checking, enabling dangerous anti-immigrant misinformation
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Religious Leaders Speak Out – Bishop Budde uses inaugural prayer to directly ask Trump for mercy toward immigrants, LGBTQ individuals and vulnerable communities
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South Carolina Abortion Ban Expands – Republicans introduce bill to classify abortions as homicides with potential death penalty, in a state where residents cannot put issues on ballots
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North Carolina Power Grab – Republicans pass bill to strip election authority from incoming Democrats, threatening voting rights and democratic transitions
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Texas Christian Theocracy Push – School voucher fight intensifies with potential to create racial and economic school segregation while expanding AG's power over elections
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Louisiana Juvenile Justice Rollback – New law allows more children in adult prisons, while stripping local control of judges through appointed regional courts
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Biden's Death Penalty Commutations – President commutes 37 federal death sentences, marking largest single-day action before Trump's promised execution expansion
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Fossil Fuel Industry Suppresses Protest – Anti-protest laws funded by oil companies penalize climate activists, stifling free speech
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Financial Sector Under Attack – Lawmakers push anti-ESG bills, punishing banks that factor in climate risks, risking public pensions
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Climate Disasters Used to Limit Voting – Officials refuse to extend voter registration after hurricanes, blocking access for impacted communities
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Project 2025’s Environmental Rollback – Plans to defund climate research, dismantle the EPA, and prioritize fossil fuel interests
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Misinformation in Disaster Response – Politicians spread false claims, obstructing disaster aid and threatening relief workers’ safety
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Anti-Democratic Actions Escalate – Project 2025’s impact surfaces in policies targeting marginalized communities, as seen in recent attacks in Ohio and restrictive abortion laws in Georgia
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Voting Rights Threatened – Officials in states like Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania use legal tactics to suppress votes and limit access, reflecting Project 2025’s restrictive goals
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Legal Wins Bolster Democracy – Courts uphold voting rights in California and Mississippi, advancing reproductive rights ballot measures in several states, showing resilience against anti-democratic efforts
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Project 2025 -- Immigration and Reproductive Rights
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States Try to Create Their Own Immigration Enforcement Schemes In Unconstitutional Power Grabs
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Fighting Back -- Court Victories Protect Direct Democracy and Voting Rights, Citizen-led Efforts and Key Election Wins Push Back Against Anti-Democratic Actions
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Project 2025 -- Power Realignment and Criminal Justice
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Governors and Legislatures Removing Elected Officials
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Fighting Back -- Reproductive Rights Wins and Court Stops Forced Labor in Louisiana Prison​