Democracy Defenders Fund

TODAY 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

Insider 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. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.14.26-pr

Trump 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. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.13.26-pr

You'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-prize

Virginia voters approved new maps less than a month ago. Today, the state Supreme Court 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.

We 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.

BREAKING: 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. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.05.26-pr

This 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. washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/05…

Yesterday — 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. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/05.03.26-pr

Me knowing I still have time to submit to The Future of Democracy Prize

Good 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. democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize

Take a U.S. service member who profited $400K on the capture of Maduro or the more than $2B wagers on the Iran War. When government decisions become financial contracts, it opens the door to corruption. npr.org/2026/04/23/nx-…

BREAKING: 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. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/04.30.26-pr

@NormEisen Full statements regarding today’s Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais 👇 democracydefendersfund.org/prs/04.29.26-pr

Today, 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 “Devastating and profoundly ahistorical” — Susan Corke

The law is clear: threats against civilian populations are prohibited. We're not letting this go unanswered. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/04.27.26-pr

BREAKING: 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.

Earlier this year, we launched What We’ve Learned So Far, an analysis and summary of the limited tranche of files released and providing insight into what the DOJ had not yet produced: democracydefendersfund.org/epstein-files

The 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.

7 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