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Matthew Kupfer

@matthewkupfer.bsky.social
1.4K followers 367 following 298 posts

News editor, DemocracyDocket | Ex: Voice of America, San Francisco Standard, OCCRP, Kyiv Post, Moscow Times | Opinions mine | DM for Signal

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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 29/09/2026
NEW: A growing MAGA chorus has been pushing for Trump to declare a national emergency so he can seize control over elections from states. Voting rights advocates say doing so would be blatantly unconstitutional — but worry that such an order could suppress voting nonetheless.
democracydocket.com
Could Trump take over voting by declaring a ‘national emergency’?
Advocates agree such an attempt would be blatantly unconstitutional but still worry that such an emergency order could suppress voting nonetheless.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 25/09/2026
The ruling also deals a blow to voting and privacy groups challenging DHS' overhaul of the database as a violation of federal privacy laws and an unconstitutional attempt to usurp states' authority over elections. Read the full story:
democracydocket.com
Supreme Court revives DHS use of flawed immigration database for voter purges
The decision lets the administration move forward with a key provision of President Trump’s first anti-voting executive order.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 25/09/2026
🚨 BREAKING: In a major loss for voters, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow the Trump administration to initiate voter roll purges using a flawed database involving Americans' private data. The ruling will disproportionately impact naturalized citizens who've been wrongly flagged in the system.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
With lawsuits, legislation and state-level preparations, Democrats and civil rights organizations are going on the offensive against the threat that Trump could send ICE to the polls during the midterms. By @ajani_stella.
democracydocket.com
Democrats, voting advocates mobilize to stop Trump from sending federal agents to polls — or anywhere near them
Democrats and voting advocates are going on the offensive against the Trump administration’s threats to send armed federal agents to the polls as voters cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm election...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Important decision for the midterms: The #California Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco violated state law when he seized roughly 650,000 ballots from last year’s redistricting election.
democracydocket.com
California Supreme Court orders GOP sheriff to return seized ballots, affirms state’s power over local law enforcement
The twin rulings stand to make it significantly harder for local law enforcement to create election chaos and use unsubstantiated fraud claims to seize ballots outside California’s established electio...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Gobsmacking illustration of the Missouri gerrymander's scope: In SCOTUS briefs, Missouri officials and GOP candidates said more than 1.4 million people – or roughly 1 in 3 voters statewide – would shift districts, all in an effort to eliminate a single Democratic seat in Kansas City.
democracydocket.com
Scope of Republicans’ Missouri gerrymander revealed in latest briefs to Supreme Court
More than 1.4 million people – or roughly 1 in 3 voters statewide – would be affected by the 2025 gerrymandered map, the Supreme Court filings reveal.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 18/09/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Senate Democrats demanded DHS' internal watchdog to investigate new whistleblower claims that agency personnel unlawfully accessed state voting records. The call comes after agents were allegedly told they wouldn't be held "personally liable" for the legality of the voter fraud searches.
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: Senate Dems demand watchdog probe into new DHS whistleblower allegations
They said DHS's use of personal data to access voting records is "a political exercise that poses risks to national security."
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
‼️ @democracydocket.com exclusive: For over 20 years, the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has sent a mission to observe every U.S. federal election. This year, the Trump administration didn't invite them.
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: These international observers have monitored US elections for decades. This time, the Trump admin didn’t invite them
It’s the latest ominous sign that the U.S. is backsliding on democracy — and adds to concerns that the administration wants to undermine the vote.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The alternative to this was a lot of people losing the ability to vote by mail because there wasn't enough time to implement the restrictions.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🚨 NEW: In a major win for voters, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to reinstate its mail voting restrictions ahead of November’s pivotal midterm elections.
democracydocket.com
Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to revive mail voting restrictions ahead of midterms, in huge win for voters
Read more here.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 14/09/2026
NEW: Amid Trump's ongoing attack on voting is a push to make probing election crime a top priority — a message heard loud and clear by state prosecutors. This is the story of Joey Norris, an Iowa election worker who's facing five years in prison for trying to protect ballots in the 2024 election.
democracydocket.com
An election worker tried to protect mail ballots. Now he faces prison amid Trump's push for voting cases
The prosecution would be concerning during any administration, but it’s particularly alarming at a moment when Trump is engaged in an unprecedented nationwide assault on voting.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
‼️ NEW: When Joey Norris volunteered as an election worker in 2024, he couldn't have imagined it would get him arrested 2 years later. Now he faces up to 5 years in prison over a verbal disagreement with other election officials, who he said weren’t following the rules for counting absentee ballots.
democracydocket.com
An election worker tried to protect mail ballots. Now he faces prison amid Trump's push for voting cases
The prosecution would be concerning during any administration, but it’s particularly alarming at a moment when Trump is engaged in an unprecedented nationwide assault on voting.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Extremely important investigation by @propublica.org. My main question: Was the presence of Putin-linked Umar Kremlev and other #Russia nationals the real reason Trump did not attend Junior's wedding? www.propublica.org/article/dona...
propublica.org
Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
If the Supreme Court lifts the injunction against the new USPS mail ballot rule emanating from Trump's executive order, you're going to see a lot more crazy cases like this — where 0.014 inch can determine whether people are allowed to vote by mail.
democracydocket.com
In ominous sign, USPS initially rejected Florida county’s mail ballot over spacing issue
Read more here.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🚨BREAKING: In a big win for voters, the U.S. Supreme temporarily blocked a gerrymandered map that would eliminate a Democratic district in Kansas City while legal challenges are resolved. The decision means the gerrymander won’t be used in the midterms.
democracydocket.com
Supreme Court blocks gerrymandered Missouri map that federal judge revived
The decision means the gerrymander won’t be used in the 2026 midterms.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Within 24 hours of Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejecting #Missouri’s request to revive the state's Trump-backed gerrymandered map, the matter is back at SCOTUS. Why? Shortly after Kavanaugh's rejection, a federal judge blocked the *other* map in a separate case.
democracydocket.com
Gerrymander foes ask Supreme Court to block GOP map in Missouri
The year-long battle over a GOP congressional map drawn at President Donald Trump’s request has escalated into full-blown legal turmoil.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
#Missouri's Trump-backed gerrymander is dead for 2026 after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (!) refused to wade into a purely state matter. Now, voters will get the final say this November on whether the gerrymander can go forward.
democracydocket.com
In big win for voters, Supreme Court won’t revive Missouri gerrymander before midterms
The Court's order ends a year-long bid by Missouri Republicans to grab another congressional seat this fall.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 04/09/2026
BREAKING: In a win for voters, the First Circuit Court of Appeals refused to pause a lower court's block on New Hampshire's proof-of-citizenship voting requirement. Plaintiffs argued that the requirement was unconstitutional. Background 👉 demdock.com/4qUUxLX
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Another redistricting win today for Democrats: The #Maryland Supreme Court ruled that a constitutional amendment on redistricting proposed by state Democrats can appear on the ballot in November.
democracydocket.com
Maryland Supreme Court upholds Democrats' redistricting plan
Should voters approve the measure upheld by the court, it would clear the way for state Democrats to redraw congressional maps for the 2028 election.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
BIG NEWS out of #Missouri: It was a long shot and at times it looked hopeless, but the state Supreme Court has ruled that a Trump-backed pro-GOP gerrymander cannot go into effect for the midterms because Missouri voters have a right to vote on it first.
democracydocket.com
Missouri Supreme Court greenlights redistricting referendum for November ballot
Read more here.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Jim Saksa @jimsaksa.com · 03/09/2026
The hearing has just begun in Courtroom 9. As a preliminary matter, lawyer for DOJ just notified Judge Talwani that they intend, if a PI is issued, that they will immediately appeal to SCOTUS
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Matt Cohen @mattdcohen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
May be the single-most important court hearing of the midterms happening today. My colleague @jimsaksa.com is in the courtroom reporting live. Follow along 👇
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 03/09/2026
Follow live updates from the hearing on Trump's mail voting executive order here:
demdock.com
Mail voting live updates: Judge weighs fate of Trump’s anti-voting executive order
This morning's hearing may be the most consequential moment yet in the months-long legal fight over Trump's attempt to restrict mail voting before the midterms.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This morning, @democracydocket.com is reporting from Boston, where U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani will consider whether to issue a preliminary injunction blocking Trump’s dangerous anti-mail voting order from being carried out ahead of the midterms. Follow our live blog for updates.
democracydocket.com
Mail voting live updates: Judge weighs fate of Trump’s anti-voting executive order
This morning's hearing may be the most consequential moment yet in the months-long legal fight over Trump's attempt to restrict mail voting before the midterms.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
NEW: A whistleblower claims in a new report that the US Postal Service is rushing to implement President Trump’s mail voting order ahead of the midterms, against court orders. It could prevent millions of Americans from voting by mail.
democracydocket.com
USPS rush to implement Trump order could cause ‘catastrophic failure’ of mail voting, whistleblower claims
A whistleblower claims in a new report that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has embarked on a “secretive, rushed” effort to implement President Donald Trump’s mail voting order ahead of the midterms, e...
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 28/08/2026
📍HAPPENING NOW: Democracy Docket is on the ground in Washington, D.C., covering the March on Washington: Defend the Vote. With less than 70 days until the midterms, this is about more than one election. It’s about whether our democracy will protect all of us. Check back in for our recap below👇
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
‼️ EXCLUSIVE: Last year, @democracydocket.com reported that election conspiracy theorist Heather Honey was appointed to a senior post at Homeland Security. Now, we can reveal that Karen DiSalvo, her close associate in the election denial movement, was also hired by DHS.
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: Another election denial leader, hired by DHS, drafted letter threatening states over voting audits
The letter is the latest evidence that key figures from the election denial movement are helping drive, from the inside, the Trump administration’s efforts to assert control over voting as the midterm...
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 28/08/2026
BREAKING: A federal judge has once again blocked Trump’s anti-mail voting executive order — just a week before the first mail ballots go out for the midterms. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a 14-day hold on the directive, which could end up back in the Supreme Court.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Amid the SCOTUS mail voting decision yesterday, you may have missed #California's Supreme Court hearing a case on Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of 650,000 ballots. It got... a little weird.
democracydocket.com
California Supreme Court puzzled by GOP sheriff’s ‘bizarre’ defense for seizing ballots
The hearing also revealed that Bianco never sought a legal opinion before seizing the ballots, and included an embarrassing admission from Bianco’s lawyer that the use of AI had led to the inclusion o...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's dissent in yesterday's SCOTUS ruling on Trump's anti-mail voting executive order: "This ruling violates well-established precedents concerning this Court’s equitable discretion and needlessly injects chaos and uncertainty into the upcoming midterm elections."
democracydocket.com
Jackson slams Supreme Court majority for injecting ‘chaos’ into midterms as voting advocates blast mail ballot ruling
Jackson said the decision creates a new bind for states and voting rights groups seeking to challenge last-minute election changes. They can be told they sued too early before a final rule is issued, ...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The Supreme Court has lifted an injunction blocking implementation of President Trump's executive order that aims to restrict mail voting ahead of the midterms. But the legal battle isn't over. And another injunction remains. @democracydocket.com explains. ⬇️
democracydocket.com
Supreme Court lifts injunction blocking Trump’s attack on mail voting before midterms
"The Court sees fit to grant the Government equitable relief to proceed with implementing the challenged Order on the grounds that, because the Government had not yet issued a final rule at the time t...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
If you enjoyed hits like "ketchup is a vegetable" (1981), then you're gonna love "mail ballots are like fake bombs and cremated remains" (2026)!
democracydocket.com
USPS compares mail ballots to fake bombs, cremated remains
“Although ballot mail does not present precisely the same operational issues as cremated remains or replica explosives, it is unquestionably sensitive mail that raises unique operational consideration...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
‼️ @democracydocket.com Exclusive: Ten years ago, David Michael Levin was convicted of hacking into government election websites in #Florida. Now, he appears to have been hired by Trump's Justice Department and sent to monitor elections in #Minnesota.
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: Trump DOJ appears to have hired lawyer convicted of hacking election sites to check ‘integrity’
Levin’s involvement in election monitoring could offer a hint of the kind of personnel who will staff the operation this fall, when the DOJ has said it will send 1,000 monitors to the polls.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
For whatever reason, Scott Presler is probably the last person I would expect to run a well-organized, wholly by-the-rules political operation.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Convicted election denier Tina Peters has been out of prison for just over two months, but she may already have a new job lined up that would allow her to meddle with voting: assistant registrar of voters in Shasta County, California.
democracydocket.com
Election denier Tina Peters gets alarming new elections job in deep red California county
Peters’ new gig will once again give her dangerous influence over elections, including the critical ballot counting process.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Another day, another low in the politicization of the Justice Department. Just a week after his confirmation as attorney general, Todd Blanche spoke at a political rally and appeared to endorse Bruce Blakeman, the GOP's nominee for New York governor.
democracydocket.com
Attorney General Blanche appears to endorse GOP candidate in latest politicization of DOJ
Blanche praised Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Beyond horrifying. "The government had decided to punish my husband for being the son of a woman who was a translator for the Iranian hostage takers in 1979, before Eissa was even born."
thenation.com
One Woman’s Message From the Hell of ICE Detention
My husband, son, and I have been locked up for months—despite being permanent residents with no criminal record. It is an unendurable, unending nightmare.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Extremely on brand: Prominent election denier and pillow purveyor Mike Lindell predictably denies own double-digit election loss in Minnesota GOP governor primary, citing “a couple anomalies” in the vote tally.
democracydocket.com
Election denier Mike Lindell denies own double-digit loss in Minnesota GOP governor primary
Lindell — a towering figure in the election denial movement and founder of the company MyPillow — lost to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R) by more than 10 percentage points.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Unhinged voting rights story playing out in Texas right now: Galveston County wants to redraw its local voting map *between the primary & general election*. If allowed, it would embolden other counties to change maps after seeing primary results to boost partisan advantages in the general election.
democracydocket.com
Texas county defends plan to swap voting maps between primary and November election
A win for the county could embolden other Texas jurisdictions to tweak election maps after seeing primary results in order to boost partisan advantages in the general election.
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Jim Saksa @jimsaksa.com · 11/08/2026
Trump's high school pal, Peter Ticktin, filed a lawsuit on behalf of some January 6ers recently, and it is batshit insane. I have only read a 10th of this so far, look at these gems
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Reposted by Matthew Kupfer
Jim Saksa @jimsaksa.com · 10/08/2026
My colleagues published a lot of good stuff while I was lounging about on the beach last week that I'm catching up on now. Here's some of the best (🧵), starting with @yuniorarivas.bsky.social talking to Americans abroad facing GOP disenfranchisement efforts www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
GOP targets U.S. citizens living overseas in latest suppression scheme
In some cases, Republicans have made their motivation clear: they believe that overseas voters are more likely to be Democrats.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
They're "never resident" voters: They've lived their lives abroad, but are U.S. citizens with strong connections to particular U.S. states. Still, Republicans want to make it harder for them to vote — in part because they supposedly skew Democratic.
democracydocket.com
GOP targets U.S. citizens living overseas in latest suppression scheme
In some cases, Republicans have made their motivation clear: they believe that overseas voters are more likely to be Democrats.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Trump is attempting to take control of U.S. elections. So far, he hasn't succeeded. Now he appears to be looking to more extreme ways to stave off a GOP loss in November. Here's how an increasingly desperate Trump could try to interfere in the midterms. By @jaknutson.bsky.social
democracydocket.com
How could Trump rig the midterms?
Trump may try to undermine a fair vote this year. Here's how.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Woah! Galeveston County plans to change its local electoral map *between* the 2026 primaries and the general election. Opponents say it's a dangerous test that, if not stopped, could be repeated elsewhere in #Texas to undermine the will of the voters.
democracydocket.com
A Texas county is quietly planning to swap voting maps between its primary and November election
If allowed to proceed, it would likely be the first time Texas voting maps are changed between the primary and general elections.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Wow. DOJ is just flailing. After losing 20 consecutive lawsuits seeking states’ unredacted voter rolls, Trump's DOJ conceded Tuesday that its case against Washington is materially no different from the others, but still wants the federal court to accept the argument others have rejected.
democracydocket.com
After 20 straight losses, Trump DOJ struggles to defend demand for Washington state voter rolls
The concession left DOJ asking the Washington court to reject a judicial consensus that now includes 20 district court rulings and one federal appellate decision — without identifying any distinct fac...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
What did it take for Todd Blanche's AG nomination to make it through Senate Judiciary? GOP Sens. Cornyn and Tillis basically signed off on the Trump family's immunity from IRS audits — as long as Blanche said Trump's "anti-weaponization fund" was dead.
democracydocket.com
GOP senators sign off on corrupt immunity deal from IRS audits for Trump and sons
Todd Blanche appears to be on track to lead the DOJ after Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) agreed to the plan.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
NEW from @jenrice.bsky.social: Residents of a Latino neighborhood in Houston face an uphill battle to hold ICE accountable for the shooting death of a Mexican immigrant earlier this month. And Texas' Trump-backed gerrymander means they will lose the congresswoman ensuring their voice is heard.
democracydocket.com
ICE killed a man in Houston and residents want answers. But Trump’s gerrymander may take away their voice in Congress
After the November elections, the neighborhood will likely have a GOP congresswoman who has said almost nothing about Salgado Araujo’s killing.
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
It's primary election day in Arizona. Extremist anti-voting candidates are running for the GOP nominations for governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, raising the danger that the 2028 elections could be run by officials eager to erect barriers to the polls and undermine a fair vote.
democracydocket.com
Election deniers are running for Arizona’s most powerful offices in high-stakes primaries. Here’s what we’re watching
Extremist anti-voting candidates are running for the GOP nominations for governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, raising the danger that the 2028 elections could be run by officials eager ...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
NEW: President Trump used a primetime address to resurrect debunked claims about the 2020 election, allege sweeping foreign interference and pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. Democratic lawmakers and voting advocates were unimpressed by Trump’s conspiracy-addled oratory.
democracydocket.com
Trump pushes debunked election lies, demands SAVE America Act in primetime speech
Despite years of claiming that the election was stolen, he presented no evidence that any entity, foreign or domestic, manipulated votes or registration records, or in any way altered the outcome of t...
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Matthew Kupfer @matthewkupfer.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Bipartisanship isn't dead! As Trump's DOJ seeks to gain access to state voter rolls, it has suffered a string of 15 defeats in court. Notably, 9 of the 15 losses — 60% — were handed down by Republican-appointed judges. And 6 of them were Trump-appointed judges.
democracydocket.com
Most of Trump DOJ’s voter roll losses have come from GOP-appointed judges
The numbers make it difficult for DOJ to portray its perfect losing record as the product of liberal “activist” judges or hostile jurisdictions. Judges with vastly different backgrounds and appointing...
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