NEW on MS NOW: A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia has barred Lindsey Halligan from continuing to identify herself as a U.S. attorney in all legal matters in a fiery 18-page order. Judge David Novak, a Trump appointee, says Halligan has "no legal basis" to hold the position.

2,256 threats against federal judges have been recorded since 2022, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Threats against judges are a threat to our democracy. They must be able to do their jobs without fear. Read the latest statement by the @americanbar.org: abcnews.go.com/US/indiana-j...

More than 40 former military leaders are backing Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) lawsuit against the Pentagon, saying they are “deeply concerned” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s threats against the retired naval officer could chill the speech of other former service members.

NEW >> States United & @protectdemocracy.org have filed an amicus brief on behalf of 41 retired national security leaders, with @vetvoicefoundation.bsky.social, urging a federal court to block the U.S. Defense Department’s attacks on Navy veteran @captmarkkelly.bsky.social's free speech rights.

@statesunited.org has spent years fighting back against election denial and Trump’s “Big Lie” from 2020. The harms of the lie, and the mistrust it sowed in our elections, never went away. Quite the opposite. www.ms.now/opinion/trum...

Due process is a constitutional right that applies to everyone in this country—not just U.S. citizens. It’s a foundational American principle, and the government cannot arbitrarily deprive anyone of their basic rights. abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...

“The election denial that defined Trump in 2020 doesn’t just live on,” said @joannalydgate.bsky.social. “It’s now embedded across a federal administration that also rejects the rule of law.” https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-big-lie-2020-election-fraud-jan-6

Despite numerous court rulings, Trump continues his threats to withhold funding from states over policy differences. It’s up to the states to determine what policies work best for their residents. www.npr.org/2026/01/17/n...

Have you RSVP'd yet for our Federal Oversight & Accountability Town Hall in Portland on Wednesday? We're hosting 4 state AGs to talk about our work holding the federal administration accountable - and our plans for 2026. Join us: https://bit.ly/Jan21-TownHall #orpol

TODAY: We helped 41 retired admirals, generals, & service secretaries file an amicus brief supporting Navy veteran and US Senator Mark Kelly’s suit challenging the Defense Department’s efforts to penalize him for exercising his First Amendment right. They said this about the impact on our democracy:

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. On #MartinLutherKingJrDay, we’re proud to celebrate the legacy of a leader whose courage and conviction inspires us all in the ongoing fight to protect the freedom to vote.

The criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is the latest example of the Justice Department targeting the president’s political enemies. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doj-launches-criminal-investigation-fed-chair-jerome-powell/story?id=129114228

The Insurrection Act is a rarely-used law with sweeping domestic powers. If abused, it sets a very dangerous precedent for our country. Learn the history and key takeaways of the Insurrection Act: https://statesunited.org/resources/facts-about-insurrection-act/

“The justice department’s enforcement authority has limits – it does not extend to hijacking state election authority.” – Dax Goldstein, States United Election Protection Program Director https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/california-sensitive-information-voters

This week, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against protestors in Minnesota. Get the latest news and more in our weekly newsletter: https://statesunited.org/access-denied/

The misuse of federal law enforcement power for political retaliation is dangerous and a threat to the rule of law. The Justice Department is the People’s law firm—not the president’s. It shouldn’t be used as a political tool to intimidate public officials from doing their jobs.

What is the Insurrection Act, and why is Trump threatening to invoke it in Minnesota?

Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act is a clear and dangerous abuse of presidential power. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-i...

 "unnerving" "fruitless exercise" "the craziest thing I've heard" NYT obtained transcripts of secret grand jury testimony from the Georgia election interference case against Trump and his allies — show just how alarmed senior Republicans felt about Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

One year into President Trump's second term, our updated report shows 228 executive orders issued to date—highlighting a governing style driven by unilateral action. Read the report: https://statesunited.org/resources/executive-order-report/

33 former federal prosecutors in Minnesota are asking the Trump administration to reconsider its decision to exclude the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal agent www.startribune.com/33-ex-federa...

The DOJ has sued 20 states over their voter roll data. Today, a court granted CA's motion to dismiss the DOJ's case—the first final ruling on the matter. Per the ruling: "There cannot be unbridled consolidation of all elections power in the Executive without action from Congress and public debate."

Today, the court sent a clear message: states run elections, not the administration. It reinforces what states have been arguing for months: There's no legal basis for the federal government’s sweeping demands for voters’ sensitive information. wapo.st/45ODdyT

From my former colleague Sam Trepel and me. Will it be hard? Yes. But states can play a huge role in preserving the rule of law.

NEW in @us.theguardian.com: US former federal prosecutors Samantha Trepel from @statesunited.org & our own @kristyparker.bsky.social write about why incidents like the Minneapolis shooting must be followed by a credible inquiry and how states should prepare to hold ICE accountable. Read their piece:

Members of the National Guard are citizen soldiers who signed up to serve their communities in their greatest time of need. Taking them away from their families and jobs to serve as political pawns for the president is a threat to public safety and the rule of law. www.opb.org/article/2026...

As Minnesota officials pursue their own investigation into the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, a new op-ed by former DOJ prosecutors weighs in on the role state leaders can play in holding federal immigration officers accountable. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"State and city officials in Minnesota and Illinois filed federal lawsuits against the Trump administration on Monday, claiming that the mass deployment of immigration agents to the Minneapolis and Chicago regions violated the U.S. Constitution and infringed on states’ rights."

ICYMI: We fought in court to protect voting in Oregon – and we won. Voting by mail is a safe, secure, and beloved Oregon value, and we’ll continue to fight for Oregon values every day. Read more: https://ow.ly/48AX50XVLWZ #orpol Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read

"The law takes precedent over the political whims of one man, and we will continue to fight to make sure that remains the case," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha @peterneronha.bsky.social said after securing a preliminary injunction against the Trump admin. riag.ri.gov/press-releas...

We can either let the abuses of Donald Trump's administration become our new normal.   Or we can pursue real justice, accountability, and transparency.   Illinois has chosen our path — those who believe in the Constitution and the promise of America should join us in doing so.

Attorney General Neronha, Attorney General Tong, Ørsted secure preliminary injunction against Trump Administration, preserving Revolution Wind project: www.riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-attorney-general-tong-orsted-secure-preliminary-injunction

@peterneronha.bsky.social said, “Their approach to governing is well-worn: attack any policy or project the President doesn’t like, without regard for the law, Congress, or the American people, and leave it to the lawyers to present disingenuous, often illogical arguments to defend these decisions."

On Friday, a federal judge blocked the Trump admin from enforcing most of his executive order on elections against Oregon and Washington, finding it exceeded the President’s authority. apnews.com/article/trum...

Hard to overstate what a remarkable statement this is from a Republican senator — even a retiring one — accusing thte Trump White House of weaponizing DOJ to control the Fed: "It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."

We will continue to be prolific in our work upholding the Constitution and defending Oregon from federal overreach – and we’re grateful to do so alongside our multistate coalition. Oregonians shouldn’t pay the price for unlawful decisions coming out of DC. Read more: https://ow.ly/UWy850XUtgG

We’re expanding our legal fight against the Trump Admin’s illegal effort to dismantle the Department of Education.   California will continue to defend our children’s access to transformative learning from the Trump Administration’s illegal overreach. oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...

We won a court order protecting over $10 billion in funding for critical social services as we continue our lawsuit.

From childcare to shelter services for survivors of domestic violence, I’ll keep fighting to protect New York from losing funding and essential services.

Americans care about an accurate vote count. In Texas, the Dallas County Republican Party announced plans to abandon hand counting ballots in its March 3 primary, instead opting to use machines. Full hand counts can lead to errors, delays, and higher costs. www.votebeat.org/texas/2025/1...

Americans care about an accurate vote count. In Texas, the Dallas County Republican Party announced plans to abandon hand counting ballots in its March 3 primary, instead opting to use machines. Full hand counts can lead to errors, delays, and higher costs. www.votebeat.org/texas/2025/1...

ICYMI: The Department of Justice is requesting Arizona's unredacted voter files. Here is an explanation on why their request is illegal and a direct threat to Arizona voters. (1/2)

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we thank every law enforcement professional across New Jersey for the sacrifices you make to protect our communities. Your dedication to public service and the safety of others is deeply appreciated, today and every day.

A new op-ed by our Rule of Law Program Director, Sam Trepel, raises serious constitutional concerns about immigration agents’ use of excessive force and the U.S. Department of Justice’s responsibility to investigate and charge those who violate the law. www.justsecurity.org/128353/doj-s...

The fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis did not occur in isolation. It follows months of documented uses of potentially unlawful force by federal immigration agents. As Samantha Trepel (@statesunited.org) explains, DOJ has clear authority to investigate and its silence leaves communities at risk.

I am furious and heartbroken over the killing of Renee Good. This is both a tragedy and a deeply predictable outcome, following months of aggressive escalation from federal agents.

In the wake of January 6, 2021 -- 5 years ago today -- we put out a challenge to all lawyers that we repeat today. We need lawyers to stand up for our democracy. This is even more true today than it was 5 years ago. Why? ⬇️ 1/2 ldad.org/letters-brie...

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In this 2022 podcast ep, @rickhasen.bsky.social (@law.ucla.edu), examines the role of disinformation in January 6, its impact on U.S. elections, and what can be done to counter it. Listen: scholars.org/podcast/elec...

Five years ago, we saw what happens when a President refuses to accept the results of a free and fair election. We now have a federal administration full of people willing to do the same. It's on all of us to make sure the past is neither erased nor repeated. www.ms.now/opinion/janu...

In a closed-door deposition with the House Judiciary Committee, former Special Counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers that his team found “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...