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☆ Opinion | Nancy Pelosi, on Reforms to Reinforce Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “The Constitution Won’t Save Us From Trump,” by Aziz Rana (Opinion guest essay, April 28):Mr. Rana makes a strong case for legislative solutions that will reinforce American democracy. To that end, many of the reforms he calls for were already passed by House Democrats in 2022. Our Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would take these steps:1) Aim to stop voter suppression and election subversion. 4) Curtail the harmful, anti-democracy Citizens United decision by enacting the Disclose Act, which curbs anonymous funders from suffocating the airwaves with misrepresentations. President Biden, a patriotic and determined champion for democracy, has been forceful in his support for these reforms.

Persons: ”, Aziz Rana, Rana, John R, Lewis, Biden, shamefully Organizations: House Democrats, Citizens, Republicans Locations: Trump

☆ Trump’s immunity case is another reminder that all roads now lead to the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

CNN —The Supreme Court’s hearing Thursday on former President Donald Trump’s immunity claim will underline a historic power shift. Trump’s relationship has been complex with the court’s conservative majority – despite his instrumental role in establishing it. In sharp contrast, the court’s conservative majority has exerted its influence year after year, without interruption. “There is just much more intense vetting of Supreme Court justices,” said Pierson. “You can tell by the results of the court decisions over the past several years that it is fundamentally different.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, “, ”, Jeff Shesol, Franklin D, John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Paul Pierson, –, Barack Obama’s, Roberts, Joe Biden, Trump, they’ve, Michael McConnell, Jack Smith, Gore, outvoted, George W, Bush, MAGA, Michael Waldman, ” Waldman, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Waldman, ” McConnell, McConnell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, David Souter, George H.W, Pierson, Obama, Brett Kavanaugh, Barrett, Cecilia Munoz, Biden, “ It’s, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Clinton, ” Shesol, FDR, Shesol Organizations: CNN, White House, GOP, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, University of California, Democratic, House, White, Constitutional, Center, Stanford University Law School, Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law, Senate, Republican, Federalist Society, Alabama, Electoral, Citizens, Constitutional Law Center, New, Great Society Locations: Berkeley, Manhattan, Florida, “, George H.W . Bush, Shelby County

☆ All of a sudden, Ted Cruz really doesn't want to talk about his podcast
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewWhen I approached Sen. Ted Cruz at the Capitol this week, he appeared upbeat, quipping that he was "living the dream" when I opened our conversation. iHeartMedia, which signed on as a corporate partner to the podcast in late 2022, has confirmed that the payments to the super PAC were derived from advertising revenue generated by podcast. The Campaign Legal Center and End Citizens United have also filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Cruz of violating campaign finance laws. "When you write a positive story on something I've accomplished here, on legislation I've passed, then I'll answer your questions," Cruz replied.

Persons: —, Sen, Ted Cruz, Cruz, iHeartMedia, Colin Allred, Allred, He's, Ron Johnson, JD Vance, Markwayne Mullin, I've Organizations: Service, Capitol, Texas Republican, Business, Democrat, Houston Chronicle, Democratic Rep, Legal, Citizens, Federal, BP, Capitol Hill, FEC, Sens Locations: Houston, BP America, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Oklahoma

☆ Opinion: The dangers in leaving TikTok at Beijing’s disposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —For many of the 170 million TikTok users in the United States, Wednesday’s vote in the House of Representatives to effectively ban the social media platform is worrisome. That’s just one reason why it’s laughable to hear China’s foreign ministry claim that the TikTok bill would disrupt market operations and undermine investor confidence. Most of the world’s most popular social media apps, incidentally, are banned in China unless they — or their user data — are locally based and thus easily overseen by the government. She has had multiple meetings with legislators and has spoken with Trump about protecting TikTok, according to the Washington Post. The government needs to develop oversight rules for all social media.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Donald Trump, TikTok, Shou Chew, “, Jack Ma —, Xiao Jianhua, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Trump, ” Trump, ”, Jeff Yass, Kellyanne Conway, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, ByteDance, Frida Ghitis CNN, Pew Research, Facebook, Oracle, National Intelligence, Rutgers University, Air Force One, Microsoft, Trump, Citizens United Locations: United States, Washington, Russia, TikTok, Beijing, That’s, China, Israel, Tibet, Hong Kong, USSR

Supporters of the state laws say they foster free speech, giving the public access to all points of view. One contrarian brief, from liberal professors, urged the justices to uphold the key provision of the Texas law despite the harm they said it would cause. “Social media platforms exercise editorial judgment that is inherently expressive,” Judge Kevin C. Newsom wrote for the panel. To the surprise of many, some prominent liberal professors filed a brief urging the justices to uphold a key provision of the Texas law. In the second case, Miami Herald v. Tornillo, the Supreme Court in 1974 struck down a Florida law that would have allowed politicians a “right to reply” to newspaper articles critical of them.

Persons: Samuel A, Alito Jr, ”, Scott Wilkens, Ron DeSantis, John Tully, Donald J, Trump, Greg Abbott of, —, Ken Paxton, “, Andrew S, Oldham, Kevin C, Newsom, Lawrence Lessig, Tim Wu of, Teachout, Mandel Ngan, Richard L, “ Florida’s, Moody, Paxton, Robins, William H, Rehnquist, Pat L, Tornillo, Warren E, Burger Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University, Big Tech, The New York Times, Gov, Republican, Computer & Communications Industry, New York Times, Fox News, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, ISIS, Harvard, Tim Wu of Columbia, Zephyr, Fordham, Twitter, Manchester Union, Citizens United, Agence France, University of California, Miami Herald, Florida, Representatives, Constitution Locations: Florida, Texas, Greg Abbott of Texas, Ukraine, Los Angeles, Campbell , Calif

But it is actually registered as a nonprofit with the IRS — not a formal political party. Both the FEC and the IRS have been hesitant in recent years to police groups that push the boundaries of campaign finance law. The IRS, meanwhile, has largely shrunk from enforcement ever since attempts to crack down on tea party groups during Barack Obama's presidency drew massive backlash. Still, campaign finance experts say many of the legal arguments made by the Democratic groups are solid. Under a widely held interpretation of IRS rules, political nonprofit groups are limited to making political activity 50% of their activity.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, ”, Tiffany Muller, “, Biden, Barack Obama's, Adav Noti, Ryan Clancy, Clancy, ” Noti, ___ Cooper Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, Trump, Democratic, Citizens United, End Citizens, Federal, Commission, IRS, FEC, Republicans, Citizens Locations: Washington, Colorado, Phoenix

☆ Josh Hawley’s Unoriginal Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: Pressure mounts on the Jewish state to 'pause.' Images: AP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellySince the Supreme Court unleashed independent political spending in 2010’s Citizens United v. FEC, progressives have forecast the ruin of American politics by corporate spending. More than a decade on, elections are competitive and no doom has come to pass, but the same false alarm is now making the rounds on the political right. Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has introduced legislation to reverse Citizens United as a way to punish corporations whose progressive politics he dislikes. He told RealClearPolitics that his “goal is to get corporate money out of our politics,” and to stop companies from “controlling our elections.”

Persons: Mark Kelly, Missouri Republican Sen, Josh Hawley, RealClearPolitics, ” Organizations: FEC, Missouri Republican Locations: Missouri

☆ Mel Sembler, Developer and G.O.P. Fund-Raiser, Is Dead at 93
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Trip Gabriel | More About Trip Gabriel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mel Sembler, a gregarious developer and major Republican fund-raiser whose largess was repaid with prize ambassadorships by two presidents, and who founded a controversy-courting “tough love” drug rehabilitation program, died on Oct. 31 at his home in St. Petersburg, Fla. Mr. Sembler, who developed more than 350 shopping centers and other retail projects in the Southeast, was a sought-after fund-raiser for Republicans, capable of shaking the money tree for $11 million at a single dinner. establishment who had an open lane to power in the era before the rise of Donald J. Trump. Mr. Sembler was candid about the role of money in politics. “Money gives you a voice,” he told The Tampa Bay Times in 2019.

Persons: Mel Sembler, Brent, Sembler, Donald J, Trump, Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Bush, “, ” Organizations: Republican, Tampa Bay Times, “, acme, Supreme, Citizens Locations: St . Petersburg, Fla

☆ Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators they’ll face ‘incoming’ if they back Hawley bill to limit corporate giving in campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to multiple sources familiar with the Tuesday lunch meeting, McConnell warned GOP senators that they could face “incoming” from the “center-right” if they signed onto Hawley’s bill. On that list of senators: Hawley himself, according to sources familiar with the matter. But there’s also no love lost between McConnell and Hawley, who has long criticized the GOP leader and has repeatedly called for new leadership atop their conference. In an interview, Hawley defended his bill and said that corporate influence should be limited in elections. “I think that’s wrong,” Hawley told CNN.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Sen, Josh Hawley, McConnell, Hawley, there’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, ” Hawley, “, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer of North, Marsha Blackburn of, Dan Sullivan, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Susan Collins of, Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham of, Katie Britt, Alabama, Lisa Murkowski, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Ted Budd of, JD Vance, Ohio, Ron Johnson Organizations: CNN, GOP, Kentucky Republican, Fund, McConnell, New, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Indiana Locations: New York, Ukraine, Israel, Colorado, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

☆ Ginni Thomas founded a nonprofit with funding from Harlan Crow weeks ahead of the Citizens United ruling to advance conservative causes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ginni Thomas laid the groundwork for a nonprofit two months before the 2010 Citizens United ruling, Politico reported. The nonprofit was started with the help of Leonard Leo and funding from Harlan Crow. The nonprofit became the start of a "billion-dollar" network that moved money to conservative legal causes. "Ginni really wanted to build an organization and be a movement leader," an unnamed person familiar with the two told Politico. Soloman told Politico.

Persons: Ginni Thomas, Leonard Leo, Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Leo, Ginni, Leonard, Laura Soloman, Soloman Organizations: Politico, Service, Citizens, Liberty, Liberty Central, Liberty Consulting, Judicial, Supreme, Education Locations: Wall, Silicon, Pennsylvania

☆ Opinion | Does Free Speech Protect Trump’s Election Lies?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Thomas B. Edsall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

But, Hasen argued:“Trump did not just state the false claims; he allegedly used the false claims to engage in a conspiracy to steal the election. There is no First Amendment right to use speech to subvert an election, any more than there is a First Amendment right to use speech to bribe, threaten, or intimidate.”Francesca Procaccini, a law professor at Vanderbilt, shares the view that in the contemporary political environment, there needs to be more regulation of speech. In an email, she wrote:The left is split on how to respond to misinformation precisely because the left is historically committed to free speech and also to uplifting marginalized voices. Now, many on the left have increasingly come to understand that speech itself (whether false speech or hate speech) is also detrimental to marginalized communities. It concluded that “states and public-sector unions may no longer extract agency fees (partial union dues) from nonconsenting employees.”

Persons: Hasen, Trump Will, ” Hasen, Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Trump, “ Trump, ” Francesca Procaccini, ” Procaccini, “, ”, ” Catherine MacKinnon, ” MacKinnon, misogynists, MacKinnon, Elena Kagan Organizations: “, Trump, Vanderbilt, Citizens, University of Michigan, . State, Municipal Employees Locations: “ U.S, Janus, ., County

☆ Some US cities are allowing corporations to vote in local elections in hopes of stimulating the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Seaford, Delaware is seeking to give business entities the right to vote in local elections. For a small town of about 8,500 people, that's a voter turnout of only 4%. A new bill now being considered in the small town, however, could help increase those numbers. Seaford's town leaders want to give corporations based there the right to vote. In April, Seaford Mayor David Grenshaw cast the tie-breaking city council vote to amend the city's charter, giving business entities — ranging from small businesses to large corporations — the right to vote in local elections.

Persons: It's, —, Seaford Mayor David Grenshaw, Grenshaw, WRDE, Claire Snyder, hasn't Organizations: Service, CBS, Seaford Mayor, CNN, Hall, Seaford, Corporations Locations: Seaford , Delaware, Delaware, Seaford, Delaware's, Newark , Delaware

☆ Opinion | Why the Supreme Court Is Blind to Its Own Corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Randall D. Eliason | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The landmark case is the court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. A five-justice majority — including Justice Thomas — struck down decades-old restrictions on independent campaign expenditures by corporations, holding that they violated the companies’ free speech rights. The government’s legitimate interest in fighting corruption, the court held, is limited to direct quid pro quo deals, in which a public official makes a specific commitment to act in exchange for something of value. In dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens accused the majority of adopting a “crabbed view of corruption” that the court itself had rejected in an earlier case. But the decision didn’t come out of nowhere: The court has often been unanimous in its zeal for curtailing criminal corruption laws.

☆ Lauren Boebert is being accused of illegal campaign spending and using her own leadership PAC 'as a personal bank'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The End Citizens United PAC has accused Boebert of failing to declare in-kind contributions properly. "Congresswoman Boebert used her leadership PAC as a personal bank," the ECU's president said. FEC filings by the ECU accuse Boebert, her campaign Lauren Boebert For Colorado, We The People Leadership PAC, and Taylor Moose, her PAC and campaign treasurer, of not reporting the calls and texts as in-kind contributions. In the FEC filing, the ECU accused Boebert of spending $4,623.22 on "text message advertising" on October 28, and her leadership PAC for spending $6,221.73 on "Voter Contact - GOTV Calls/Texts" on the same day. The ECU also said in the filing that on November 18, Boebert's leadership PAC disbursed another $53,760 to TTHM.

☆ The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision was a pain in the neck for Democrats. Now, it could be used to their advantage in the Disney v. DeSantis feud.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Democrats have criticized the ruling since 2010 but may now benefit from its power against the GOP governor. When the Supreme Court in 2010 handed down its ruling on Citizens United v. FEC, Democrats were scandalized. Liberals remain scandalized (albeit for different reasons) but now seek the protections the Citizens United ruling offers. A political reversalAs recently as 2020, a decade after the Citizens United decision, President Joe Biden lambasted the ruling: "It's not enough to just end Citizens United — we have to eliminate all private dollars from our federal elections." "Nor do I think, if DeSantis is about to launch a presidential campaign, will he likely want to settle," Dorf told Insider.

☆ DeSantis' tough words may come back to haunt him in Disney lawsuit, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Tom Hals | Thomson Reuters | Tom Hals Is An Award-Winning Reporter With Years Of Experience Working In Asia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Florida Governor and likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks as part of his Florida Blueprint tour in Pinellas Park, Florida, U.S. March 8, 2023. Disney on Wednesday sued DeSantis to prevent the state from ending the company's virtual autonomy in central Florida where it has its theme parks. Disney said DeSantis' actions amounted to a "targeted campaign of government retaliation." Disney claimed in its lawsuit that the state adopted a "targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech." DeSantis' tough talk toward Disney is cited throughout the lawsuit, including 18 quotes referring to some form of "woke Disney."

☆ Matt Gaetz says embattled GOP Rep. George Santos shouldn't be 'subject to shunning' before his ethics process: 'He deserves the chance to at least make his case'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Matt Gaetz said George Santos shouldn't be shunned in advance of a congressional ethics process. "I think he deserves the chance to at least make his case," Gaetz said of his embattled GOP colleague. "George Santos will have to go through the congressional ethics process. While speaking to Gaetz, Santos did not reveal the source of the money that used to give to his successful House campaign. And top Republicans in Nassau County — the suburban New York jurisdiction that anchors Santos' congressional district — have called on him to resign from Congress.

☆ George Santos repeatedly ducks Matt Gaetz's questions about the $700,000 he lent his campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Santos dodged questions from GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz about the origin of a $705,000 loan to his campaign. After being asked, Santos repeatedly brought up a slew of conspiracy theories. Recent reporting has also raised serious questions about Santos' campaign finances and spending. During the podcast interview, Gaetz asked Santos asked about the origin of the $705,000 he donated to his campaign, but Santos twice dodged the question. "It didn't come from Burisma, it didn't come from Ukraine, Russia, China, unlike some folks that we all know get money from those sources."

Two New York Democratic congressmen filed a House Ethics Committee complaint Tuesday against Rep. George Santos, the freshman New York Republican who recently was found to have lied about and embellished details on his resume. "At a minimum, it is apparent that he did not file timely disclosure reports for his most recent campaign," Torres and Goldman wrote. Goldman told reporters, "We hope that the House Ethics Committee will seriously investigate." The Hill reported that in response to the complaint, Santos said, "They're free to do whatever they want to do." OCE, which is an independent, non-partisan entity established by the House, is distinct from the House Ethics Committee.

☆ George Santos campaign paid staffer nearly $100k to pretend to be Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff and get money from donors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fundraiser for George Santos allegedly posed as Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff, per CNBC. According to FEC filings, the fundraiser was paid almost $100k by Santos' campaign. According to CNBC, Santos' campaign paid Miele almost $50,000 for fundraising during the embattled lawmaker's failed 2020 run for Congress. Meyer, McCarthy's office, and Santos' campaign did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. The non-partisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center (CLC) also filed a complaint with the FEC on Monday, alleging that Santos and his 2022 campaign violated campaign-finance laws by engaging in a "straw donor scheme."

☆ George Santos hit with 3 new ethics complaints over his campaign spending, fundraising, and financial disclosure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Santos was sworn into office on Friday despite a record of alleged fraud and lies about his background. Now, End Citizens United is filing complaints against Santos with the FEC, OCE, and DOJ. Santos faces a slew of other campaign finance-related complaints and is under investigation in 2 countries. The trio of complaints add to a barrage of other complaints the congressman is already facing. Santos' history and finances are also under investigation by prosecutors at the federal level, in New York state, and in Brazil.

☆ Tesla has been slapped with a $2 million fine in South Korea over claims it falsely advertised the range of its vehicles in cold weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Korea's antitrust regulator said it's fining Tesla $2.2 million for false advertising. The regulators said Tesla had exaggerated the driving range of electric vehicles in cold weather. Tesla's electric vehicle's driving range plummets by over 50% in cold weather, South Korea's regulator said. The driving range of Tesla's electric vehicles drops by 50.5% in cold weather, more than what was advertised online, the KFTC said. Tesla has winter driving tips on its website advising drivers to precondition their vehicles and to use its energy app.

☆ Trump won't be able to terminate the US Constitution but a Republican-led effort to rewrite it continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Advocates on both sides of a long-running effort to rewrite the Constitution will face off again in 2023. Meckler's organization is one of the largest players in the Article V push. Article V requires there to be 34 states for a convention to be formed. Convention of States is not alone in its pursuit of the Article V movement. Outside of Convention of States, efforts to call a convention to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment also continue.

☆ Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried hit with campaign finance complaint over GOP 'dark' money
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

An ethics watchdog group has asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried for alleged "serious violations" of election law, citing his admitted contributions of "dark" money to Republican-aligned groups during the 2022 primary season. Anyone can file a complaint with the FEC if they suspect a violation of federal election campaign laws. The complaint contains a link to the Nov. 16 interview Bankman-Fried gave to Tiffany Fong, who posted the discussion on her YouTube channel. "All my Republican donations were dark," Bankman-Fried went on to say, the complaint noted. In the interview, Bankman-Fried said that those contributions were "all for the primary."

☆ How almost $427 million in taxpayer money is locked away in a forgotten government fund — and lawmakers won't spend it or return it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The intended beneficiaries of the taxpayer-fueled Presidential Election Campaign Fund — presidential candidates — don't want it, as they're soured by its restrictions on their election fundraising and spending. An accounting of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, as of October 31, 2022. Several nonprofit leaders told Insider that Congress could use the Presidential Election Campaign Fund money to immediately ease suffering, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019-20 congressional session, two Republican lawmakers sponsored similar bills that attempted to kill the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Until that or any other repurposing decision comes down, the FEC continues to spend taxpayer resources keeping the Presidential Election Campaign Fund alive.

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