GOOD NEWS: California and Oregon federal district courts dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit against those states for their refusal to turn over state voter data—calling the Trump administration’s efforts “unprecedented and illegal.” 🧵
Since May 2025, the DOJ has sent demands to all 50 states for statewide voter registration data. If fulfilled, these demands could upend our constitutional framework, as we wrote in amicus briefs: .citizensforethics.org/legal-action/a…
Why? Because the states—not the federal government—are responsible for administering elections.
The National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act both confirm states’ authority over managing voter rolls and elections generally.
President Trump's invasion of Venezuela opens up unprecedented opportunities for corruption, is a startling escalation of his lawlessness and illustrates his administration’s deference to corporate interests over the American people and their representatives in Congress. 🧵
According to Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, President Trump did not even notify top congressional leadership, much less seek their approval for the operation in Venezuela. npr.org/2026/01/05/nx-…
In contrast, Trump claims to have tipped off oil executives, saying he was in contact with them “before and after” the operation.
Even a hint at the operation would have been more than he or his administration granted Congress. thehill.com/homenews/admin…
President Trump was just caught on a hot mic talking with the president of Indonesia.
He may have been talking about his business interests in the country–which would be exactly the kind of conflict of interest we’ve been warning about for years.
Just a reminder that Trump made $14 million from his business interests in Indonesia from 2015 to 2019, making it one of his most egregious conflicts of interest during his first term. citizensforethics.org/reports-invest…
With properties in two locations still under development in Indonesia during his second term, the conflicts have only intensified. citizensforethics.org/reports-invest…
Former FBI Director James Comey's indictment is more than a case—it's a warning.
It’s the most obvious instance yet of targeting political opponents, while letting allies off the hook. 🧵
Trump has openly cheered Comey's indictment—and it only came after a Trump appointee resigned rather than cave to pressure to bring charges, and was replaced by a loyalist. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Critics warn this is politically motivated and highly dangerous. The prosecution hinges on proving Comey intentionally lied to GOP senators during a 2020 hearing about events from 3+ years earlier—and his answers may not have even been factually wrong.
🚨Congress is back from recess today. If they’re serious about protecting democracy in this crisis and beyond, here’s what they *must* do—immediately. 🧵
1. End the militarization of DC.
Pass Rep. Raskin's resolution to end Trump’s federal takeover of the city and reform presidential emergency powers so he can't run the same playbook nationwide.
2. Rein in executive overreach and protect the separation of powers.
Congress must safeguard its constitutional power of the purse. They can’t just sit back while Trump hijacks budgets for his own agenda.
Big win in our case: the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Trump’s OMB to bring back its spending database by FRIDAY.
Transparency matters. Take it from the Bush-appointed judge who wrote the decision 🧵
“Benjamin Franklin’s view, shared by many Framers, that it is of central ‘importance that the people should know who had disposed of their money, & how it had been disposed of’ as ‘those who feel, can best judge’” citizensforethics.org/wp-content/upl…
Presidents are not kings—America’s founders made sure of that.
One way they did so is by giving Congress the power of the purse.