For many young people, college is where they’re voting for the first time. If getting to the polls is difficult, unfamiliar, or time-consuming, the barrier isn’t a lack of civic interest—it’s access. Our new brief digs in.

Barriers to Youth Voter Engagement: Why On-Campus Voting Matters

Despite 89% of young people who say they are willing to vote, only 47% of young people voted in 2024. The question is th

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Davey Hearn was subjected to a wrongful arrest, 5hr detention, and felony indictment after the admin’s botched renovation. We’re calling for investigations into the DOJ + DOI’s gross incompetence, suppression of evidence, & misconduct. This clear abuse of power demands accountability.

DOJ, DOI Must Be Investigated for ‘Shocking and Indefensible Treatment’ of Davey Hearn

In a comprehensive letter to the DOJ and DOI Offices of Inspector General, Davey Hearn’s lawyers request concurrent inve

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For decades, an organized effort has reshaped the fed judiciary around a specific vision of economic power. The result: weaker worker protections, less competition, and less corporate accountability. From @wedemandjustice.bsky.social & @groundwork.bsky.social https://demandjustice.org/oligarchy/

Young people aren’t “future voters.” They’re eligible voters now. Their participation is essential to a healthy democracy—and making sure they can exercise their right to vote means paying attention to the barriers that can stand between young people and the ballot. Read our new brief:

Barriers to Youth Voter Engagement: Why On-Campus Voting Matters

Despite 89% of young people who say they are willing to vote, only 47% of young people voted in 2024. The question is th

democracydefendersfund.org

Yesterday, the court ordered DOJ to expedite our FOIA requests for the Epstein files. DOJ should have been moving already. Now they have a court order. We’ll keep the pressure on until the records are public.

Judge Grants Expedited Processing of FOIA Request for Epstein Files Mentioning Trump or Mar-a-Lago

A federal judge ordered the Department of Justice to expedite processing of Democracy Defenders Fund’s Freedom of Inform

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BREAKING: Vandalism charges against Davey Hearn are dismissed with prejudice, meaning DOJ cannot bring the case against him again. The DOJ's own records show there was no crime. The rule of law prevailed & the Trump admin's attempt to make an innocent American pay for its poor decisions failed.

Judge Edelman’s Decision a “Victory for the Rule of Law and for an Innocent American Seeking Justice”

"This was a miscarriage of justice, and what happened to Mr. Hearn is an outrage that should shock every American," Dave

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BIG WIN for making the Epstein Files public Judge Kollar-Kotelly grants summary judgment to us at @democracydefendersfund.org Orders DOJ to get busy giving us the docs. We will hold their feet to the fire!

“As illegal as it is heartless” Thousands of families are at risk of foreclosure following HUD’s illegal policy changes & sudden cuts to housing support. We & Jacobson Lawyers Group are fighting this injustice in a new lawsuit on behalf of National Urban League & 9 other nonprofits.

HUD Hit with Lawsuit After Withholding Tens of Millions of Dollars in Housing Grants

Democracy Defenders Fund and Jacobson Lawyers Group filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of 10 non-profit organizations that provide housing suppor...

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BREAKING: @democracydefendersfund.org & Jacobson Lawyers Group just sued HUD for 10 housing nonprofits Trump's HUD delayed their grants for months while they kept helping families facing foreclosure. Then it canceled $56M outright Unlawful & unkind in equal measure -- See you in court👇 -TN

Trump goes full-Orwell—using our tax dollars to run partisan propaganda ads. Congress has strict anti-propaganda clauses for a reason: to prevent "a government sponsored propaganda machine aimed at discrediting and neutralizing political opposition." Our team & @rwpusa.bsky.social dive in:

Trump Goes Full-Orwell

The administration’s propaganda hype-ads are an abuse of power.

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In June, SCOTUS confirmed the Constitution puts "the question of citizenship ‘once and forever [to] rest.'" But Trump is still trying to rewrite the Constitution and the 14th Amendment by executive fiat. We & partners just filed a lawsuit to challenge his latest attack on birthright citizenship.

Immigrants’ Rights Advocates File Federal Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Birthright Citizenship Executive Order

Immigrants’ rights advocates filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s new executive order targeting birthri

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The right to peacefully protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Counterterrorism expert @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social and DDF’s Allison Rice examine how the Trump administration's war on "domestic terror" threatens free speech, civil society, and First Amendment protections.

Standing Up for America’s Civil Society and the Right to Peacefully Protest

Through a series of official executive memoranda, the Trump administration has turned the machinery of federal law enfor

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The Trump administration tried to use a government shutdown to fire federal workers. Unions fought back—and won. Under the new settlement, federal agencies can’t include mass firings in their shutdown plans. Proud to have fought alongside partners to stop this unlawful scheme.

Unions Win Withdrawal of Shutdown Mass Firing Orders

A settlement agreement in a case brought by labor unions challenging the unlawful mass firing of federal employees durin

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We’re taking on Trump Media’s scheme to sell wealthy traders early access to the president’s market-moving posts. Today at 1 PM PT, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu will lay out the case against Truth API. Proud to fight alongside his office & WLG & Platkin LLP. Tune in live:

City Attorney Chiu Announces Major Legal Action

YouTube video by SFCityAttorney

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BREAKING: San Francisco is suing Trump Media over Truth Social’s scheme to sell wealthy trading firms early access to Trump’s market-moving posts. We’re proud to be fighting alongside the City Attorney & WLG & Platkin LLP to stop the monetization of public office—and protect a fair marketplace.

San Francisco Sues to Stop Early Access to Trump’s Truth Social Posts

The city attorney argued that the service, available for up to $100,000 a month, could allow wealthy traders to manipulate the market, while leaving out everyday investors.

nytimes.com

When we show up together and refuse to be silenced, we have the power to shape what happens next. #WeAreAmericaAndWeVote Check your registration and make a plan to vote. Find resources @ vote411.org

East Potomac Park was designated for “the recreation and pleasure of the people.” We’re back in court with @democracyforward.org & Abbe Lowell to challenge the administration’s ongoing actions at the historic park, including unlawful dumping of toxic debris.

Legal Challenge Highlights New Claims in Effort to Preserve East Potomac Park From Ongoing Unlawful Trump-Vance Administration Assault

The DC Preservation League and two local residents are seeking permission to file an updated complaint in their legal ef

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Federal law enforcement has no place at the ballot box. We and partners bringing a lawsuit challenging the administration’s threatened deployment of ICE and other federal agents at or around polling locations. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/u...

Civil Rights Groups Sue to Keep Armed Agents Away From Voting Sites

The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and suggestions that it could send agents to polling stations violate the Voting Rights Act.

nytimes.com

Today, civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the threatened use of ICE and federal law enforcement at polling places, arguing it violates the Voting Rights Act. We and our partners are proud to represent those standing up for every voter’s right to cast a ballot free from intimidation.

Civil Rights Coalition Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Threatened Use of ICE and Federal Law Enforcement at Polling Locations

Nine organizations representing immigrants, communities of color, and workers filed a federal lawsuit today challenging

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ICYMI: SCOTUS rejected Trump’s effort to impose new USPS restrictions on mail voting ahead of the midterms. Voting by mail remains safe, secure, and reliable. Your vote is your voice. Make a plan to vote. #GetReadyToVote

SCOTUS Upholds Block on USPS Rule That Would Have Impeded Mail Voting in the Midterms 

Today, in a victory for voters across the country, the United States Supreme Court declined to block an order issued by

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BREAKING: We’re suing the Department of Defense on behalf of The War Horse after the Pentagon refused to disclose how senior officials are using generative AI tools—including whether sensitive or classified information could be exposed. The American public deserves answers.

DDF Sues Department of Defense Over Failure to Disclose Senior Leadership’s Records on AI Use

Democracy Defenders Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of The War Horse News, an independent nonprofit news organization, ag

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BREAKING: SCOTUS Upholds Block on USPS Rule That Would Have Impeded Mail Voting in the Midterms The Constitution could not be clearer. The states and Congress run our elections. Not the president, and not the Postal Service. "Enough is enough. Let the people vote.” —Tianna Mays, DDF Legal Director

VICTORY: The Supreme Court blocks USPS mail ballot rule and makes clear that the 2026 midterms must not be disrupted. Voting has already started in several states. www.politico.com/news/2026/09...

Supreme Court blocks Trump mail-in ballot plan

Justices turn down administration’s bid to have Postal Service enforce new voting requirements before midterms.

politico.com

OMG! Supreme Court rebuffs Trump's attempt to break mail-in voting 7-2 We @democracydefendersfund.org were proud to file a brief in support of this outstanding outcome for LULAC & working with CLC Also a VERY important signal of how Trump's other election sabotage efforts will be treated

A big win for voters: A federal judge has blocked the USPS rule that would have injected chaos and confusion into mail voting and risked keeping eligible voters from having their ballots counted. We’re proud to have fought this EO alongside our partners @campaignlegal.org

Federal Court Blocks USPS Rule That Would Have Hindered Mail Voting

In a victory for voters, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia blocked a new USPS rule that woul

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BREAKING: Bipartisan ethics experts are calling for an immediate investigation into $155,000 cash gifts Trump gave to four White House aides. These payments raise serious questions about whether federal law was broken.

Bipartisan Ethics Experts: Cash Gifts to White House Aides Warrant Immediate Investigation

Former White House ethics officials and anti-corruption experts are calling for an immediate investigation into recent d

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Steve Witkoff made $250M+ in 2025. Nearly $107 million came from a holding company that invests in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto business which received a major UAE investment last year. Our senior ethics counsel Chris Swartz weighs in on why this “defies the norms.”

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy, Made More Than $250 Million While in Government

A disclosure shows that Steve Witkoff collected nearly $107 million in 2025 from a holding company that includes a crypto business owned by his family and President Trump’s.

nytimes.com

FL’s SAVE Act is facing 3 lawsuits over its citizenship documentation requirements. Senior counsel Andrew Warren explains how those requirements could put voters at risk of being blocked from the ballot. https://www.wfla.com/video/lawsuit-targets-floridas-upcoming-voter-registration-law/12153692/

New FBI records expose communications involving top Trump officials overseeing the Epstein files review that DOJ left out of its public release, along with inconsistent redactions. We’re demanding an investigation.

New FBI Disclosures of Missing Trump Administration Communications Expose Noncompliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act

In response to DDF’s FOIA request, the FBI recently released dozens of records that reveal that high-level FBI officials

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Transportation Sec Sean Duffy used an official appearance at a MAGA Inc. event to promote Republican candidates while touting his agency’s work. We’re demanding an investigation. This is another instance of Trump officials using their positions to push partisan politics.

DDF Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

DDF filed a Hatch Act complaint against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy following his remarks at a MAGA Inc. super P

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