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Jess Marsden

@jessmarsden.bsky.social

Director of Impact Programs & Counsel @protectdemocracy.org. Opinions my own.

14 Posts2745 Follower191 Folgt
Alondra Nelson@alondra.bsky.social · 3w ago

“We show that elites have adopted a distinct narrative about breaking with Trump: public retaliation, an unwavering party base & harassment and threats from followers make dissent appear prohibitively costly. This anticipatory side of elite complicity…is central to understanding democratic erosion.”

complicity.is

Kristian Frederiksen@kristianvsf.bsky.social · 4w ago

New public pre-print with @aarslew.bsky.social and Martin Bisgaard 🧵 We introduce a perspective on democratic erosion that focuses on quiet anticipation among political elites: what do they think happens to those who cross a strongman that challenges democracy? www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Jess Marsden@jessmarsden.bsky.social · 4w ago

If you harbored any doubt that Trump will try his best to overturn this year’s elections (just like he did in 2020), this weekend’s FIFA shenanigans should disabuse you of that notion for good - he simply can’t tolerate accountability or the basic rules of fair play.

Amanda Carpenter@amandacarpenter.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Got a quick minute? Let's talk about the raid on the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. Oh, you haven't heard of it? That's the problem. The Trump Admin isn't just going after the high-profile names. It's widening its target.

Jess Marsden@jessmarsden.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Proud to join @anne-tindall.bsky.social and hundreds of parents in my community to support our schools and reject book bans.

Anne Harden Tindall@anne-tindall.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Nearly 400 CHCCS parents joined me to make clear that we value school libraries where all of our students feel included. None of the problems facing N.C. public schools are solved by bullying LGBTQ+ kids or kids who have 2 moms or 2 dads. They won’t be solved by book bans either. #ncpol

Protect Democracy@protectdemocracy.org · 4mo ago

VICTORY: The Commonwealth of Virginia agreed to stop its illegal voter purge program that impacted naturalized citizens on the eve of federal elections — a major victory for voters after SCOTUS permitted this potential disenfranchisement ahead of the '24 presidential election. protdem.org/41FQsj5

VICTORY: VA’s disruptive voter removal practice ended The Commonwealth agreed to end the program following a lawsuit by a pro-voter coalition “This rule was part of a national campaign to undermine the public’s trust in the election process. Federal law exists precisely to prevent this kind of last-minute, error-prone purging — and today's settlement affirms that those protections work,” said Anna Dorman, Counsel at Protect Democracy.
Jess Marsden@jessmarsden.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Meaning they could have been paying TSA this whole time - making the decision to send ICE to airports a performative show of force, just another step towards normalizing the idea of ICE as an all-purpose law enforcement force, available to go anywhere for any purpose at the president's whim.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 4mo ago

Breaking news: The White House is weighing unilateral action to pay TSA officers if Senate Democrats and Republicans cannot quickly agree to a deal on the DHS’s budget. The move would sidestep Congress as millions of travelers face record delays.

Protect Democracy@protectdemocracy.org · 5mo ago

NEW: 11 former military lawyers warn in new brief - the Trump admin using JAGs to fill gaps in US Atty offices: ⚠️ is illegal ⚠️ shatters historical norms ⚠️ threatens to erode faith in legal system & civilian<>military trust ⚠️ undermines our natl security Read their brief 🔗 protdem.org/4bfVl6B

[Quote graphic] The American tradition of separating the military from civilian law enforcement is foundational to our republic…In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson indicted King George III for ‘affecting to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power’ Former military lawyers Amici in U.S. v Johnson
Rachel Goodman@rachelegoodman.bsky.social · 6mo ago

This. Is. Why. We. Have. Grand. Juries. protectdemocracy.org/work/constit...

Constitutional gatekeepers: The history and role of grand juries

How grand juries serve as a vital shield against retaliatory prosecutions.

protectdemocracy.org

Adam Klasfeld@klasfeldreports.com · 6mo ago

Grand juries keep seeing through the Trump DOJ's naked attempts to intimidate critics and political rivals — this time for accurately stating that illegal orders must be disobeyed. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...

Kate Starbird@katestarbird.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Pay attention to this. The purpose of these investigations is not just to manufacture evidence to support Trump’s 2020 “voter fraud” accusations, but also to set the stage for another round of efforts to suppress votes and delegitimize election results in 2026 (which the GOP is likely to lose).

Doug Bock Clark@dougbockclark.bsky.social · 6mo ago

1/ NEW: @propublica.org has obtained a search warrant that the FBI is executing for records related to the contested 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., which has not yet been widely shared. It’s an extraordinary document. Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Protect Democracy@protectdemocracy.org · 7mo ago

Gov. Hochul just announced she will advance legislation that gives New Yorkers whose constitutional rights are violated by the fed gov, a clear path to seek justice. This is possible via a statute called the Universal Constitutional Remedies Act (UCRA). She said this about her state's proposal:

"No one, from the president on down, is above the law. That’s why I will move to have New Yorkers hold ICE agents and others accountable in court when they act outside of their scope of duty. We need accountability.""This does not interfere with local law enforcement or public safety. It simply affirms a core truth: power does not justify abuse. And if someone’s constitutional rights are violated here in the state of New York, I say, they deserve their day in court." Governor Kathy Hochul, State of the State Address
Governor JB Pritzker@govpritzker.illinois.gov · 8mo ago

There will come a time when people of good faith are empowered to uphold the law. When that time comes, Illinois will have the testimony and records needed to pursue justice to its fullest extent. The truth of what Trump and his masked agents are doing in Chicago will be told.

Illinois Department of Human Rights@illinoisdhr.bsky.social · 8mo ago

"They had done nothing wrong. They were not protesting. They were not chasing ICE vehicles. They were simply shopping." Matt DeMateo recounts how three U.S. citizens, including a toddler, were tear gassed in Cicero by federal agents.

Jess Marsden@jessmarsden.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Proud of the brave plaintiffs, cocounsel and my amazing colleagues @protectdemocracy.org for this important win!

Protect Democracy@protectdemocracy.org · 10mo ago

VICTORY: Today, together with our partners, we won an emergency order stopping federal agents from using violent force against protestors in Illinois. Federal ICE/DHS agents are now blocked from using tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawful assembly. protdem.org/474KWsA

Court Halts Unlawful Suppression of Speech by ICE DHS ordered to stop violating First Amendment rights of press, clergy, and protesters in Illinois
Jess Marsden@jessmarsden.bsky.social · last yr.

This is a victory for North Carolina voters — and an important development for future free and fair elections in this country.

Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social · last yr.

BREAKING: Judge Richard Myers rules that the N.C. Supreme Court's handling of the state supreme court election violated the U.S. Constitution. The win for Justice Riggs, a Democrat, is to be certified. Today's ruling stayed for 7 days for Judge Griffin, a Republican, to appeal "if he so chooses."

This consolidated action concerns an attempt to change the rules of the game after it had been played. The court cannot countenance that strategy, see Hendon, 710 F.2d at 182; Toney, 476 F.2d at 209, which implicates the very integrity of the election and offends "the law's basic interest in finality." United States v. Fugit, 703 F.3d 248, 253 (4th Cir. 2012). Permitting parties to "upend the set rules" of an election after the election has taken place can only produce "confusion and turmoil [which] threatens to undermine public confidence in the federal courts, state agencies, and the elections themselves." Wise, 978 F.3d at 105 (Wilkinson, J., dissenting). Accordingly, the court FINDS as follows: 1. Retroactive invalidation of absentee ballots cast by overseas military and civilian voters violates those voters' substantive due process rights; 2. The cure process violates the equal protection rights of overseas military and civilian voters; and 3. The lack of any notice or opportunity for eligible voters to contest their mistaken designation as Never Residents violates procedural due process and represents an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote. Therefore, the court ORDERS that: A. The State Board SHALL NOT take any action in furtherance of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court's orders in Griffin v. N. Carolina State Bd. of Elections, No. COA25-181, 2025 WL 1021724 (N.C. Ct. App. Apr. 4, 2025) and Griffin v. N. Carolina State Bd. of Elections, No. 320P24-3, 2025 WL 1090903 (N.C. Apr. 11, 2025); B. The State Board SHALL certify the results of the election for Seat 6 based on the tally at the completion of the canvassing period on December 10, 2024; C. Judge Griffin's petitions for judicial review [DE 1-4; DE 1-12] are DENIED;
Chris Murphy@chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 2y ago

The freezing of federal grants, the firing of all inspector generals, the immunization of political violence - does everybody not see what’s happening? In a blitzkrieg, Trump is trying to collapse our democracy - and probably our economy - and seize control. Call it what it is.