Wednesday, July 9

Judge halts part of Florida law attacking direct democracy  In a win for Florida voters, a federal court temporarily blocked parts of a new state law that makes it much harder for residents to put citizen-led initiatives on the ballot.  Thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling, the court order only applies to some groups involved in the lawsuit, meaning that the rest of the state is still subject to the law, which went into effect July 1. Ballot initiatives are a powerful tool of direct democracy that voters in many states have used to get around the legislature and make changes to state law on their own. Republicans, in response, have sought ways to make them harder to pass.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

The ACLU is relentlessly challenging the Trump administration’s unconstitutional and dangerous attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, First Amendment rights, and more. But they still need your help. Join the ACLU to defend everyone’s rights.

SCOTUS may weigh in on private right of action Plaintiffs in a North Dakota case said they intend to take the question of private right of action (PROA) under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to the U.S. Supreme Court. Thanks to a 2023 ruling, there is no PROA under Section 2 in the 8th circuit, meaning only the DOJ can bring Section 2 claims. A win for Georgia voters A three-judge panel of the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling that election officials must certify election results by the legal deadline. Texas Republicans plan to redistrict again Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced a special legislative session agenda that includes “a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the Department of Justice.” Why El Salvador’s U.N. disclosure is damning for Trump El Salvador recently told United Nations investigators that the Trump administration retains control over the hundreds of Venezuelan men who were removed from the U.S. and flown to a Salvadoran megaprison earlier this year, a surprise court filing revealed this week. For months, senior officials have claimed in federal courts that the U.S. has no control over the men because they are in El Salvador’s custody. Justice Department officials, too, have told several federal judges that the government can’t comply with their orders for the same reason. Turns out, according to El Salvador, that’s not the case.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

The ACLU has filed 60+ lawsuits against the Trump administration to challenge their unconstitutional and dangerous attacks on immigrants, trans people, free speech, and more. However, the ACLU still needs your help to make sure that the President’s agenda does not go unchecked. Join the ACLU today to hold the Trump administration accountable.

IRS allows churches to endorse political candidates Marc joined Symone Sanders, Michael Steele and Alicia Menendez on MSNBC’s The Weeknight to discuss the IRS saying it will allow churches to endorse political candidates, the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a major new challenge to campaign finance restrictions and the Court’s ruling to allow the Trump administration to move forward with mass firings at federal agencies.