Democracy

• Protester Sonam Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar on Saturday, an event that sparked an increase in crowd sizes as students, activists, and citizens gathered to show support. • The demonstrators are demanding government accountability regarding the examination system and have strongly condemned the official response to their grievances. • This escalation has triggered a fresh wave of discourse both on the ground and across online platforms, highlighting concerns that "democracy doesn't die overnight."

• Leaders from the Congressional Hispanic, Progressive, Black, and Asian Pacific American Caucuses introduced a House resolution on Wednesday calling for urgent democratic reforms. • The resolution seeks to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. • Key proposals include eliminating the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate and implementing structural changes to the Supreme Court to protect voting rights.

• A federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed against the IRS by plaintiffs associated with Donald Trump, ruling that the parties "acted in bad faith." • The judge described the legal action as a "sham lawsuit" designed to fleece taxpayers rather than address legitimate legal grievances. • The case centered on challenges to OMB rules regarding federal funding, which critics argued could destabilize nonprofits and allow political pressure over $1 trillion in annual funding.

• Chief Justice John Roberts and the U.S. Supreme Court are accused of undermining American democracy through recent judicial decisions. • The author argues that Roberts is facilitating a massive expansion of presidential powers and pushing the legal system toward autocracy. • These shifts are described as fundamental departures from the founding principles that governed the United States for its first 250 years.

Ed Davey voices concern about the Musk family foundation taking the far-right activist on a visit to MoscowThe UK must do more to defend its democracy after it emerged that Elon Musk’s family foundation had taken the far-right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia, Ed Davey has said.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was brought to Russia by the Musks, the billionaire tech mogul’s father told the Guardian. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court addressed critical election and redistricting issues in cases including Malliotakis v. Williams, LULAC v. Abbott, and Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections. • Rulings on redistricting cases from New York and Texas indicate that state legislators maintain significant leeway to pursue partisan advantages when drawing district lines. • In the Bost case, the Court examined the legal standing of political candidates to challenge state laws governing the administration of elections.

• Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, is set to import Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and technical expertise from India's Election Commission (ECI). • The move aims to support Indonesia's massive electoral process, which involves approximately 200 million voters. • This partnership positions the ECI as a global consultancy for democratic infrastructure, challenging the traditional dominance of Western institutions and UN bodies.

• The Center for American Progress argues that the Supreme Court's 2025–2026 term advanced a far-right agenda that undermines the U.S. Constitution and democratic interests. • The analysis claims the Court has prioritized powerful special interests over the American people and has become unbound by ethical standards. • To counter this perceived judicial activism, the report suggests implementing disempowering legislation and removing the Court's jurisdiction over specific cases.

• Rep. Greg Casar and the Congressional Progressive Caucus are criticizing Donald Trump's assertion that a pro-democracy resolution would "destroy" the GOP. • The resolution is a Democratic response to a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. [Case Name], which allowed Republican states to redraw congressional maps and eliminate majority-minority districts. • Casar argues that the Supreme Court's actions are an attempt to rig elections in favor of Republicans by attacking voting rights.

• The Atlantic Council's Freedom and Prosperity Center released a report outlining a democracy assistance agenda for 2026-2028 to combat anti-US regimes. • The publication serves as the conclusion to "The future of democracy assistance" series, focusing on actionable policies to promote global democratic governance. • It draws parallels to the U.S. role three decades ago in transforming former Soviet bloc nations through the establishment of free elections and multiparty systems.

• Two leading U.S. historians called on citizens to take personal responsibility for safeguarding democracy during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. • The historians emphasized that the United States has historically overcome its deepest internal divisions through resilient leadership and active civic engagement. • This appeal matters as it encourages Americans to draw strength from national history to address current political polarization and instability.

• Political scientist Sophie Fullerton warns that U.S. democracy has reached a "point of no return" as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. • Fullerton highlights the increasing politicization of national celebrations and the unpredictable, confrontational nature of governance under President Donald Trump. • Despite the "America First" movement's goal of isolationism, the U.S. has remained deeply involved in foreign conflicts, specifically citing tensions with Iran and Venezuela.

• Experts are reflecting on the evolution of American democracy as the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since its founding. • Stella Rouse, a professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies and director of the Hispanic Research Center, is providing insights into how various identities shape political behavior. • The analysis focuses on the intersection of representation and attitudes across Latino, African American, gender, and generational identities.

• Police and fire authorities have launched an investigation into an online community following threats to install explosives at a baseball team's facility. • The security threat emerges amidst an ongoing controversy surrounding the team's connection to the May 18 pro-democracy movement. • Authorities are conducting searches to identify the suspects and ensure public safety at the venue.

• POLITICO consulted 11 historians to analyze whether Donald Trump's political influence has permanently altered the trajectory of American democracy. • The experts highlighted a critical decline in public confidence regarding the integrity of elections, the judiciary, and local government institutions. • This shift is significant because democratic stability relies on active civic engagement and the fundamental belief that citizen participation is effective.

• Richard Haass appeared on "Morning Joe" to warn that American democracy may not survive the next 5 to 10 years. • The discussion took place shortly before the Fourth of July, coinciding with the United States' 250th anniversary. • Haass expressed grave concerns regarding the stability of the political system, specifically citing risks such as the declaration of martial law or the cancellation of elections.

• The U.S. Supreme Court issued two decisions this week affirming the authority of states to manage their own election processes and uphold the rule of law. • Specifically, the justices ruled that states may continue counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by the deadline. • This ruling protects the voting rights of citizens in 14 states that utilize similar policies, ensuring that delivery delays do not disenfranchise voters.

• Robert Amsterdam argues that the European Union must apply the same democratic and rule-of-law standards to its foreign policy as it does to its own member states. • The author highlights how Brussels has previously withheld funding and launched legal proceedings against member states like Poland (Warsaw) and Hungary (Budapest) to protect democratic institutions. • This critique suggests a contradiction in the EU's global positioning, asserting that "selective" democracy undermines the bloc's credibility as a defender of human rights.

• The Supreme Court has shifted significant political power away from Congress and minority groups toward the presidency and the judiciary. • In the April 29 case *Louisiana v. Callais*, the court effectively dismantled key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. • This ruling allows states to gerrymander communities of color, potentially preventing racial minorities from electing their preferred representatives.

• Pakistan's democratic system continues to struggle under the influence of military rule and judicial intervention, a pattern persisting since its independence in 1947. • The current political climate is highlighted by the prolonged incarceration of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, signaling a deepening crisis for civilian leadership. • This instability matters as it reflects a systemic weakness where elected governments are frequently undermined by non-civilian power structures.

• A reader from Sherman Oaks, Richard Z. Fond, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times criticizing the current U.S. Supreme Court for its judicial direction. • The author argues that the court's adoption of the "unitary executive theory" effectively grants presidential powers akin to those of a king, undermining democratic principles. • The letter expresses deep concern over how these legal interpretations may empower a "criminally abusive" president and expand executive authority.

• The Supreme Court narrowly upheld birthright citizenship, ruling that being born on U.S. soil grants citizenship regardless of the parents' legal status. • In her opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that the case reflects a broader political effort to rewrite history to serve specific ideological aims. • Dissenting justices argued that the 14th Amendment is ambiguous and should not grant citizenship to children of parents present only temporarily or unlawfully.

• A parliamentary inquiry has warned that Australian democracy is "under assault" from significant third parties ahead of the 2025 federal election. • To combat these threats, the inquiry is recommending the implementation of new laws to strictly police and regulate behavior at polling booths. • The Coalition has rejected these findings, with Liberal senator Jess Collins labeling the inquiry a "hyper-partisan witch-hunt" targeting church members.

• The European Union is facing legal action following allegations that it is "dismantling democracy" within one of its member states. • The crisis centers on Armenia, where the Prime Minister failed to secure a majority of votes in a recent election. • Tensions have escalated due to reported attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world's oldest Christian institutions.

Parliamentary inquiry recommends new laws to police behaviour at polling boothsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew laws are needed to police behaviour at polling booths after Australia’s democracy came “under assault” at last year’s federal election – including from third parties such as Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members and rightwing lobby group Advance – the chair of a parliamentary inquiry has said.The proposed new code of conduct for campaigners was among several recommendations in the interim report from the Labor-led committee reviewing the 2025 ballot, which was tabled on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading...

Citizens in Minnesota using lessons learned from migrant crackdown to protect elections from president’s threatsWhen thousands of immigration agents flooded Minnesota earlier this year, a loose network of neighbors sprang into action. They fed each other. They got kids to and from school safely. They tracked the surge that tore through their communities.After organizing, block by block, to monitor Donald Trump’s extraordinary crackdown on their state, the same neighbors are shifting their focus to a different threat. What if the US president tries to steal an election? Continue reading...

• Leaders from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and CAPAC have introduced a new resolution calling for urgent reforms to protect American democracy. • The initiative focuses on leveraging federal constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources to safeguard voting rights and democratic processes. • This effort is specifically designed to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities have equitable access to the "American Dream" and political participation.

Trump-admiring Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to ‘disembowel’ the left and kill criminals like ‘rats and cockroaches’When more than 20 women accused a Colombian evangelical pastor in 2012 of sexually abusing them, the defendant’s lawyer sought to discredit the allegations by telling the court that they were “trepadoras” – a pejorative term meaning social climbers.He ultimately secured his client’s acquittal – although the case remains under review by the supreme court – but footage of the remark resurfaced during Colombia’s presidential campaign, sparking outrage among many progressive voters. Continue reading...