Brief #3—Media Blog
By John McCabe
With just two weeks until the General Election, coverage of the Amy Coney Barrett hearing has dominated the web.
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The Corruption of Steve Bannon
Brief #21—Corruption Blog
By Sean Gray
Steve Bannon’s arrest on Wednesday marks yet another arrest on fraud-related charges of someone connected to President Trump.
With NRSC v. FEC, SCOTUS Topples Another Bulwark Against Corruption (Elections & Politics Brief #206)
There are a lot of cases that the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Roberts since 2005, loves to take on; cases involving the First and Second Amendments, executive power overreach, and voting protections. But one of the most consistently targeted topics by SCOTUS is the issue of campaign finance.
California (2026 Democratic Primary Preview Series #29)
In California, voters approved a mid-decade redistricting plan that replaced the state’s independent redistricting commission with a map expected to net Democrats as many as five additional House seats. The move by the Golden State came in response to a similar effort by Republicans in Texas, setting the stage for one of the most consequential redistricting battles in recent history. As it stands today, Democrats appear well-positioned to capitalize on the new map.
United States Supreme Court Upholds Mail Ballot Receipt Grace Periods (Civil Rights Policy Brief #254)
Civil Rights Policy Brief #254 | July 5, 2026 | Rodney A. Maggay Policy Summary: In 2024 prior to the United States elections the Republican National Committee and the Trump Campaign filed numerous legal challenges that sought to invalidate mail voting ballot receipt...
Tech Bros Fail to Advance in California Elections (Elections & Politics Policy Brief #205)
Wealthy tech executives have been ratcheting up their political activism in California, sponsoring ballot measures and backing candidates up and down the ticket, often with great success. In the recent primaries, several of them tried for office themselves. Despite spending millions more than their opponents, they failed to win votes.
Crony Diplomacy Is Failing U.S. Foreign Policy (Foreign Policy Brief #233)
At a recent press conference, U.S. Defense Secretary and Christian nationalist Pete Hegseth justified the Trump administration’s unconstitutional act of starting the war with Iran by saying that before launching missiles, “We sent our best people to negotiate — Steve and Jared.”
Michigan (2026 Democratic Primary Preview Series Brief #16)
Michigan will be one of the most competitive Democratic Senate primaries of the 2026 cycle following Senator Gary Peters’ decision to retire and not run for re-election. As a battleground state that has flip-flopped in recent federal elections, Michigan’s Senate seat is a top priority for the Democrats. In order to win, Democratic nominee will need to garner support from the party’s urban voter base, perform well in suburban areas, and furthermore perform well with working-class voters all across the state.
Kentucky (2026 Democratic Primary Preview Series Brief #14)
In Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, voters will decide one U.S. Senate race and all six U.S. House seats in 2026. The marquee contest follows the retirement of Mitch McConnell, ending decades of Republican leadership in Washington. McConnell’s tenure included serving as Senate Majority Leader and playing a central role in shaping the modern federal judiciary. His relationship with former President Donald Trump deteriorated following the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, limiting his standing within the party’s populist wing, but his institutional influence remained significant through the end of his career.
Louisiana (2026 Democratic Primary Preview Series Brief #13)
For a state that is often considered a Republican stronghold, Louisiana has more political complexity than a surface-level glance. It certainly leans red; that much is sure given the state has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 2000 and Republicans hold nearly every statewide elected office and a majority in the statehouse. With Republican Governor Jeff Landry elected in 2023, the state has pushed further and further right on issues regarding abortion, education, and immigration. However, there is an interesting political divide between Republican rural areas and urban Democratic strongholds like New Orleans. Notably, there is a 37%-35% split when it comes to registered Democrats and Republicans respectively, meaning that in most recent elections, some registered Democrats are voting for Republican candidates.










