Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
Remember that an EO is not reality. Courts blocked his last effort to seize control of elections. But it’s an alarming escalation of the campaign to undermine the 2026 election. 3/3
President & CEO, @BrennanCenter. Author, The Supermajority, The Fight to Vote, etc. etc. Ex-speechwriter.
11,955 followers 833 following 29 posts
view profile on Bluesky Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
Remember that an EO is not reality. Courts blocked his last effort to seize control of elections. But it’s an alarming escalation of the campaign to undermine the 2026 election. 3/3
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
He’s taking Vladimir Putin’s advice - Trump proudly cited Putin as backing his voting stance given Putin’s interest in “honest elections.” 2/3
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Trump’s post saying he will sign an EO purporting to ban mail voting marks an appalling attack on free and fair elections. Flatly illegal and flagrantly unconstitutional. The Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections. Presidents have no lawful role. 1/3
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
Americans deserve fair congressional district maps no matter what state they live in. Congress can make that a reality if it chooses to.
Molly Jong-Fast (@mollyjongfast.bsky.social) reposted
Must listen to @brennancenter.org president Michael Waldman youtu.be/CeuDK6z1Ewo?...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
So as we watch with outrage let’s remember: all this makes the hard-nosed case, stronger than ever, for action to ensure real representation and a fair political process for all. 6/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
Congress can and must act. The Freedom to Vote Act banned mid-decade redistricting and barred partisan gerrymanders. It would stop what's happening today – cold. The John Lewis VRAA would restore protection against discriminatory maps. They came achingly close to enactment in 2022. 5/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
Now, the Supreme Court blew it - in Rucho and LULAC v. Perry, it walked away from policing gerrymandering & protecting voters. 4/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
It’s no surprise that Democrats in other states would respond as they have. But a partisan arms race on its own cannot be the ultimate solution. The answer must be effective national standards that apply to Red states and Blue states alike. 3/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
What Texas is doing is particularly egregious. Mid-decade (long after the census), explicitly to gain five Republican seats, at the expense of voters of color, on orders from the president. It’s a power grab, outrageous. 2/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Gerrymandering is really bad for representative democracy. Voters should choose politicians, not the other way around. Gerrymanders mean less choice, less representation, less accountability for politicians – and more polarization. 1/6
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
An important new analysis: we’re now seeing a strategy unfold to undermine the 2026 election. It’s unprecedented and often illegal. And it will be a big and growing story for the next year and a half. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
This is a summer of brute force and performative cruelty. Now the new budget includes an astonishing increase in the size of ICE - making it the largest federal law enforcement agency by far. There's a better way. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
The administration’s militarized immigration crackdown is eroding civil liberties. And it comes amid ICE’s resistance to congressional oversight. bit.ly/4eF7rYs
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Proud to sign this… www.weholdtruths.com
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
In every generation, the Declaration of Independence has stood for a more expansive promise of freedom and equality. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Bill Moyers lived a life committed to American democracy. At LBJ's side for civil rights (and Vietnam), he became a pioneering journalistic crusader on money and politics and voting. At @brennancenter.org we were honored to hear him over the years. In 2013 he spoke to our community:
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Trump "always chickens out." Will the Supreme Court chicken out? www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Does a President have the power to impose sweeping tariffs. No! That's our argument in a friend of the court brief we filed this week in a case brought by the conservative New Civil Liberties Alliance. We're proud to do it. The Constitution is clear and the law is unambiguous.
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Yes, Presidents do have to uphold the Constitution. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Fan fiction? Hardly. An important piece by my colleague Grady Short -- Canada's election is unfolding with a very different campaign finance system (no billionaires funded Super PACs, etc. etc. etc. etc.), robust public financing, and so on.
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
With the sweeping worldwide tariffs — and their myriad exceptions and complications — the new imperial presidency meets the new billionaire politics.
Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie (@audrelawdamercy.bsky.social) reposted
"They walked the full length of the train and questioned every single passenger about their citizenship status"
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
The problem of tariffs goes beyond stock market decline. They open the door to lobbying, favoritism, and graft.
Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) reposted
So many national emergencies to declare. So little time. 😔 @axios.com www.axios.com/newsletters/...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
www.axios.com/2025/04/18/t...
Larry Norden (@larrynorden.bsky.social) reposted
The 2020 election was secure thanks in part to the critical work of CISA. Chris Krebs, appointed by President Trump to head that agency, did his job and told the truth about the election. /1
David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf.bsky.social) reposted
Note to editors and producers: If an executive order demands action that is illegal or outside of the president’s authority, then you should not describe it as ordering something. You should say it seeks to achieve some outcome and then note it is illegal or beyond the power of the president.
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
abcnews.go.com/Politics/vid...
AYMAN on MSNBC (@ayman.msnbc.com) reposted
"I think people a few months ago were checked out. A month ago, they were stunned and depressed. I think people are getting angry." @mawaldman.bsky.social on the growing public backlash against Trump and Elon Musk's cuts to the government.
60 Minutes (@60minutes.bsky.social) reposted
President Trump says his administration is cleaning up a Justice Department corrupted by politics. https://cbsn.ws/3QRoCLr
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
That actually looked like The Clash circa 1977.
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social) reply parent
Where is George W. Bush? This is his proudest accomplishment.
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Tonight Donald Trump tried to fire the Democratic chair of the Federal Election Commission - the agency (weak as it is) charged with policing Elon Musk's unprecedented campaign spending on Trump's behalf. Wrong.
Katrina T. Lamia (@katrinathelamia.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
I'll look that up later. Prolly good for a decent laugh
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Rachel Levinson-Waldman (@rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social) reposted
For everything you ever wanted to know about the Alien Enemies Act but were afraid to ask, my @brennancenter.bsky.social colleague Katherine Yon Ebright’s brilliant explainer is a must read. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/pol...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Cecile Richards was a great leader for freedom and a generous colleague who inspired so many. May her memory be a blessing.
Norm Eisen (@normeisen.bsky.social) reposted
Too many in mainstream & new media aren’t standing up to Trump’s assault on democracy—we will Today, @jenrubin.bsky.social & I launch @contrariannews.bsky.social: bold, independent, pro-democracy journalism Join us in the fight 👇 contrarian.substack.com
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
On birthright citizenship, no president can end it "on day one" or any other day. It's in the Constitution - the 14th amendment. Indeed it was one of the key goals of that "new birth of freedom" - formerly enslaved people had parents who were not citizens. Media, please take note!
Pinky Weitzman (@pinkyweitzman.bsky.social) reposted
Citizens United, tech bro edition. amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Reform is an idea whose time has come. Widely supported across the political soectrum. Fox poll showed 79% support. (@brennancenter supports a statutory approach.) www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
@lizwish.bsky.social hi!
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
This is like Caligula appointing his horse proconsul, except his horse wasn't an election denier, under investigation for trafficking, or pushed via a recess appointment. And also the horse never happened - this just did.
Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) reposted
Follow the Brennan Center experts to keep up with the work that we are doing to protect and strengthen U.S. democracy.
Michael Waldman (@mawaldman.bsky.social)
Hello, BlueSky community!