tldr on Callais: protecting White officeholders from electoral competition is an unchallengeable state goal; protecting Black voters’ rights to elect a rep of their choice, not so much. Like J. Kagan (who wrote “I dissent” 6x), it is hard to disagree strongly enough with this travesty of a decision.

Proud that Common Cause, where I serve on the National Governing Board, is standing in solidarity with SPLC. Civil society must stand together in the face of politically-motivated prosecutions.

Common Cause@commoncause.org · 4mo ago

Common Cause stands firmly with the SPLC (@splcenter.org) in the face of yesterday’s attack by the DOJ. We are clear that this is a sham case built on illegitimate claims.

Excited to be at the Conference on World Affairs in beautiful Boulder, CO, talking about democracy, corruption, and civic engagement. Check it out online! www.colorado.edu/cwa/2026-sch...

Proud to be part of an organization that stands up for the Constitution, separation of powers, and the rule of law. @commoncause.org statement on the Administration's action in Venezuela below ⬇️: www.commoncause.org/articles/tru...

Trump’s Venezuela Action Is an Unconstitutional Abuse of Power That Endangers American Lives and Interests

Common Cause strongly condemns President Trump’s unilateral use of U.S. military and law enforcement forces in Venezuela.

commoncause.org

Thank you, @kateshaw.bsky.social, @profmmurray.bsky.social, & @leahlitman.bsky.social for having me on the pod (my bit starts at 57:16, if anyone is looking for it)! Good conversation with smart women is definitely one of my favorite things!

Strict Scrutiny Podcast@strictscrutiny.bsky.social · 8mo ago

It's our FAVORITE THINGS Ep! Our delightful intern Jordan Thomas joins to talk faves (things to want, need, wear, & ead). Then the amazing Ellen Weintraub @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social chats about why agency independence & campaign finance should be everyone's faves! crooked.com/podcast/our-...

Listening to the NRSC argument. Surreal. Don't know how they can argue there's a credible risk of FEC enforcement when there's been no quorum at the FEC for most of this year, and no nominations have been made.

The Federal Election Commission's death by decapitation is part of this Administration's broader attack on fair elections and checks against corruption. My piece in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I chaired the US Federal Election Commission. Now there’s no cop on the beat | Ellen L Weintraub

Democracy is under attack – and the watchdog agency has no quorum. It must be restored

theguardian.com

"President Trump is intentionally sidelining the nation’s campaign finance watchdog. Restoring quorum is a fundamental necessity to safeguard against corruption.” - Former FEC Commissioner and ECU Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social

Federal Election Commission Loses Another Commissioner

Republican Trey Trainor confirmed he’s resigning, leaving the nation’s hobbled campaign finance enforcement agency even further from a quorum.

notus.org

Looking forward to a spirited conversation tomorrow about money, politics, the First Amendment, and the state of our democracy!

End Citizens United@endcitizensunited.bsky.social · 12mo ago

TOMORROW: ECU's Senior Fellow and former FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social is joining @eisendrath.net on @wcpt820am.bsky.social at 1:15pm CT / 2:15pm ET! Make sure to tune in!

There’s nothing funny about using government power to silence comedians. Authoritarians hate being mocked. But the right to criticize the government lies at the very heart of the 1st Amendment.

Empowered by the Supreme Court, tech titans appear poised to deploy their vast wealth to try to buy a government that will impose no guardrails on their already powerful industry. What could go wrong? Silicon Valley Pledges $200 Million to New Pro-A.I. Super PACs www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...

Silicon Valley Pledges $200 Million to New Pro-A.I. Super PACs

nytimes.com

Alarming story about federal attempts to interfere with election administration. Kudos to state and local officials who are resisting, fulfilling their duty to run a secure election. wapo.st/3IvgS0s

DOJ hits states with broad requests for voter rolls, election data

Election clerks in both parties, who have been subject to harassment and lawsuits over Trump’s 2020 false election claims, worry about efforts to examine their voting machines.

wapo.st

Out of the 64 complaints filed against Donald Trump with the Federal Election Commission, the nonpartisan staff recommended investigations into Trump 32 times—which Republican Commissioners voted against every single time. WATCH ECU's Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social break it down 👇

Where's a good federalist when you need one? The Constitution leaves the running of elections to the states. Yet here seems to be a new effort to threaten election administrators with criminal prosecution, based on nothing but conspiracy theories. Alarming. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/u...

Justice Dept. Explores Using Criminal Charges Against Election Officials

nytimes.com

"Without a quorum, the agency [Federal Election Commission] is left really hamstrung in all of its decision making. This just emboldens people who seek to violate the law." - Former FEC Commissioner and ECU Senior Fellow @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social

The Big Ugly Bill is still pretty ugly, but at least they stripped out the moratorium on regulating AI. It’s too powerful a technology to assume we know what kind of constraints might be needed in the next 5 or 10 years. States are way ahead of the feds in at least requiring transparency.

Whether it's Musk buying his way into government, or the GOP making deep cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts that benefit their donors, corruption has real life impacts. Watch ECU President @tiffanymuller.bsky.social and @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social, one of ECU's Senior Fellows, break it down. 👇

Bravo. It is appalling how eager this royalist Supreme Court is to shred any semblance of checks and balances on this autocratic administration. As Justice Jackson stated in her fiery dissent, the Court's decision is "an existential threat to the rule of law.”

Katie Phang@katiephang.bsky.social · last yr.

BREAKING: CASA (plaintiff in Maryland birthright citizenship case) has now filed an amended complaint seeking class certification for similarly situated individuals impacted by Trump’s EO. www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-cont...

The third consecutive cancellation of an open Federal Election Commission meeting is further proof of the corruption deeply embedded in this administration. No one knows the importance of transparency better than former FEC Chair and Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social.

Good news/bad news on the GOP budget bill: The attempt to make it harder to sue the Govt by making litigants post huge bonds ruled out of bounds for reconciliation. 👍 But the provision seeking to stop states from regulating AI can be passed on party-line vote. 👎 www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

More Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to Byrd Rule, Parliamentarian Advises | U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

The Official U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

budget.senate.gov

The First Amendment protects the right to challenge the government. When the government is violating people’s rights, protest is patriotic. The President thinks protesters are troublemakers who need to be silenced by force. Well, sign me up for some of that good trouble. See you on No Kings Day!

Another attempt to eviscerate checks and balances on the President.

Karen Tumulty@ktumulty.bsky.social · last yr.

Pardon this interruption of the Trump-Musk feud, but here is something else you really need to know about: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Proud to join with Senator Jon Tester and @tiffanymuller.bsky.social at @endcitizensunited.bsky.social to continue the fight against corruption!

Tiffany Muller@tiffanymuller.bsky.social · last yr.

As @endcitizensunited.bsky.social marks its 10-year anniversary, we're bringing on Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social and Senator Jon Tester as the organization's first-ever Senior Fellows. As we confront Trump's corrupt administration, their leadership will be invaluable.

No one voted for graft and corruption. This Memorial Day, I honor the veterans who fought to defend democracy and a government of, by, and for the people. Let us recommit to the fight.

Peter Baker@peterbakernyt.bsky.social · last yr.

Trump and his family have monetized the White House more than any other occupant, normalizing activities that once would have provoked heavy blowback and official investigations. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/u...

“In the 2004 election, . . . billionaires gave $13 million in political contributions; 20 years later, the country’s richest families spent more than 200 times that much.” We’re seeing the result when pay-to-play becomes normalized and shameless grifters take power.

Evan Osnos@eosnos.bsky.social · last yr.

Around D.C., the new going rate is well-known: $5 million for a one-on-one dinner with Trump, but gov-affairs execs have “no clue where the money is eventually going,” one said. Another told me it’s “outer-borough Mafia sh*t.” My new piece is out @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Thank you for a wonderful town hall this Saturday, Denver! Defending our democracy has never been more important, and I couldn’t ask for better friends and allies in this fight than CO Secretary of State @jenagriswold.bsky.social and FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social.

Secretary @jenagriswold.bsky.social was proud to join Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, and former FEC Commissioner @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social to discuss how important it is to defend American democracy. Thank you to all who came for this important discussion.

Speaking at #AmericanDemocracySummit, fired FEC Chair @ellenlweintraub.bsky.social says, "We need to look at who gets nominated because it matters. We need people who believe in the law to be serving in the government."

OpenSecrets.org@opensecrets.org · last yr.

Why? Despite the FEC’s pleas, Congress won’t give the agency more funding, and there are not enough commissioners to form a quorum, leading to gridlock on high-profile issues, and it lacks the power to conduct audits or vote on investigation outcomes.

And then there were 3. ICYMI: The FEC needs 4 commissioners to make enforcement and policy decisions. When I was removed from office without cause and without a replacement, I warned that the FEC could lose its quorum. Now that's happened. No cop on the money-in-politics beat, Day 1.

$$ Millions more than the inauguration could have possibly cost, given by people and corps. with biz before the govt, & no duty to disclose where the $ goes. What could possibly go wrong? Trump Raised $239 Million for Inauguration, More Than Doubling His Own Record www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...

Trump Raised $239 Million for Inauguration, More Than Doubling His Own Record

The staggering amount, disclosed in a filing with the Federal Election Commission, was driven by corporate America’s eagerness to win the president’s favor.

nytimes.com