Democracy Defenders Fund is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to stopping democratic backsliding and restoring American democracy. democracydefendersfund.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mmcsxfoxss2nTrump created a $1.776 billion fund — using taxpayer dollars — by settling a lawsuit he filed against an agency he controls. Our latest issue brief examines this unprecedented abuse of power and potential violations of the Constitution. 🧵 https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.20.26-pr20 May 2026 21:10 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcsxfoxss2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mm7qg2tpm22zOur federal lawsuit is taking direct aim at Trump's "Gold Card" visa program, demanding the records his admin doesn't want you to see. The @uaw.org has joined the fight. Selling priority access to visas Congress reserved for skilled workers is a pay-to-play scheme & we are fighting back. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.19.26-pr19 May 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7qg2tpm22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mm67gsd3m42sTrump’s so-called anti-weaponization fund is a weaponization of executive power. Forget morality. "If this settlement is allowed to stand, the only limit to Trump’s grift and power will be his own imagination," — @normeisen.bsky.social https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.18.26-pr19 May 2026 01:10 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm67gsd3m42shttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mlvtgzspps2eTODAY IS THE DAY. Your vision for the future of American democracy deserves to be heard. The Future of Democracy Prize closes at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight — essays, art, multimedia, all welcome. Don't let today pass you by. democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize https://democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize15 May 2026 17:14 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvtgzspps2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mltnamxygk2qInsider trading is illegal. Prediction markets shouldn't be the exception. Anonymous traders have made millions on things like military strikes, ceasefires, & foreign captures. The US OGE can & should ban fed employees from betting on govt actions. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.14.26-pr14 May 2026 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltnamxygk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mlqonv3dvs2vTrump sued the IRS—an agency he controls—for $10B. DOJ—another agency Trump controls—is considering a settlement. The terms? Our tax dollars and no more audits of Trump, his family, or his businesses. This should raise all sorts of alarms. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.13.26-pr13 May 2026 16:05 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqonv3dvs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mlm4h46q5c2xBREAKING: More than 5,000 filmmakers, actors, writers & crew members have signed the open letter opposing the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. People from every walk of life are saying the same thing: #BlockTheMerger. Gabe Lezra explains why. https://blockthemerger.com/#take-action11 May 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm4h46q5c2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mllpvze6ax2rYou've still got time! 4 days left to submit your essay, art, or video to The Future of Democracy Prize. Share your vision for U.S. democracy and you could win $1,000 and publication in a national anthology. Learn more ➡ democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize11 May 2026 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllpvze6ax2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mlepicx5b22pVirginia voters approved new maps less than a month ago. Today, the state Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision overturned the voter-approved redistricting plan on a technicality. Meanwhile, Republican gerrymanders in Texas, North Carolina, and elsewhere move forward without any voter input at all. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 May 2026 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlepicx5b22phttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3ml7gpn3yyk24We know Howard Lutnick's ties to Epstein go far deeper than he first claimed in 2025. This alone is reason enough he shouldn't be a gov official, but he also brings serious financial conflicts of interest. We've said it before, we'll say it again: Lutnick must resign. He cannot be trusted. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 May 2026 19:28 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7gpn3yyk24https://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3ml4d54lfd22zBREAKING: We and partners filed suit to strike down Gov DeSantis' unlawful congressional map. More than 60% of Florida voters banned exactly this when they passed the Fair Districts Amendments in 2010. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.05.26-pr05 May 2026 13:46 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4d54lfd22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3ml23xvt25c2fThis morning, a federal judge ordered a stop. Trump's administration must get court approval before cutting down more than 10 trees — with "serious consequences" for any effort to circumvent the court. Public land belongs to the people, NOT the president. [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 May 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml23xvt25c2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3ml23thrh5s2fYesterday — alongside Democracy Forward and Lowell & Associates — we filed an emergency motion to stop the illegal reconstruction of East Potomac Golf Course, a beloved public space being hijacked by Trump for private use. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.03.26-pr04 May 2026 16:30 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml23thrh5s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mksslutikc2mMe knowing I still have time to submit to The Future of Democracy Prize. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 May 2026 18:56 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksslutikc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mksfyqvghk25Good news! We’re giving you two more weeks to empty your drafts and share your vision for U.S. democracy. You could win $1,000 honorarium and publication in a national anthology. FINAL DEADLINE: MAY 15. www.democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize01 May 2026 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksfyqvghk25https://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mkqh73hm2s2rBREAKING: Bipartisan ethics lawyers urge the CFTC to ban prediction markets tied to government actions. These kinds of bets pose significant risks, including national security threats and insider trading. The CFTC must act. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/04.30.26-pr30 Apr 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqh73hm2s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mknnkcolle2rToday, SCOTUS gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—erasing one of the most powerful tools protecting Black and brown voters from discriminatory maps and election practices. “A dark day for our country” — @normeisen.bsky.social “Devastating and profoundly ahistorical” — Susan Corke29 Apr 2026 17:42 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknnkcolle2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mkimaxfgyc2gBREAKING: We're demanding answers from the DOD about targeting decisions made during the Iran War—and asking the Inspector General to investigate whether those decisions violated DOD policy. The law is clear: threats against civilian populations are prohibited. We're not letting this go unanswered. https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/04.27.26-pr27 Apr 2026 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkimaxfgyc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mkav4vudx22fThe DOJ’s own watchdog launched an audit into failed handling the Epstein files, including redactions and post-release concerns (like revealing names of survivors who were supposed to be protected). Pressure is working.24 Apr 2026 15:53 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkav4vudx22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mk6sjzluqk227 days left to submit to The Future of Democracy Prize! Share your vision about where democracy goes from here—and you could win $1,000 and publication in a national anthology. Written and artistic ideas welcome. Deadline to submit: April 30! Learn more @ democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize http://democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize23 Apr 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk6sjzluqk22https://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mk4n3764722xTrump’s DOJ indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center—a legendary civil rights organization—for paying informants to expose hate groups and prevent violence. The DOJ and FBI used to work with SPLC on countering extremism. Now they’re prosecuting them for it.22 Apr 2026 23:19 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk4n3764722xhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mk3tarhtmk2kActing AG Todd Blanche must recuse himself from the Epstein investigation immediately. It has been over 150 days since the Epstein Files Transparency Act became law. And DOJ is still withholding millions of pages.22 Apr 2026 15:36 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3tarhtmk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mjuad4yjtc2eThis administration is trying to control who votes, how they vote, and whether their vote is counted. Our Deputy Director of Litigation Pooja Chaudhuri joined @deanobeidallah.bsky.social to talk about what's at stake and how DDF is fighting back in court. [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Apr 2026 15:09 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjuad4yjtc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mjn7tz5u422hIn Oct 2025, EAC Commissioner McCormick claimed Democrats "need the votes" of "illegal citizens." In December, DDF filed a Hatch Act complaint — and now, @democracydocket.com reports McCormick's conduct is being investigated. Our Senior Policy Counsel Jonathan Barry-Blocker weighed in:16 Apr 2026 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjn7tz5u422hhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mjmyflgr5c2zBREAKING: We filed a FOIA demand on $220M in sole-source DHS advertising contracts awarded under former Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem's termination does not end the public's right to know—it makes transparency more urgent.16 Apr 2026 17:59 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmyflgr5c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mjkag3oaos2cThe assault on democracy is coming from every direction — voter data grabs, mail ballot control, birthright citizenship. Watch our Deputy Director of Litigation Pooja Chaudhuri break down the full assault — and how DDF is fighting back. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Apr 2026 15:44 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkag3oaos2chttps://bsky.app/profile/democracydefendersfund.org/post/3mjibqblc3s2mA SCOTUS ruling on mail ballot grace periods could drop weeks before 2026 primaries, leaving millions at risk with almost no time to respond. This is part of a coordinated assault on mail-in voting. And why we are already in court fighting Trump's EO doing the same thing. [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Apr 2026 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:ihs6fek6wryhzkcpn2nubi4e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjibqblc3s2m