@democracytalk
We can renew democracy by re-thinking democracy. I wear 4 hats: Director, Demoptimism Project http://demoptimism.org // Professor, Melbourne Law School // Director, Electoral Regulation Research Network // Convenor, Constitution Transformation Network
Effective summary of a study finding that Reform UK’s supporters are a very diverse and fragile coalition whose defining shared trait is a collapse in the belief that mainstream parties can improve their lives
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Two Illinois National Guard soldiers refuse to comply with dictator Trump's plans to use the military against US citizens: "I won't turn on my neighbors." Portland activist Angela Baker packs 20 minutes of news into 10 minutes of video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaRz...
The 9th Cir opinion and the Chicago case in the Sup Ct are HUGE--if through principles of deference they green-light Trump, he's off to the autocratic races. Catch my special youtube www.youtube.com/@TalkingFeds & harrylitman.substack.com/Substack live w/ @klasfeldreports.com that lay out the stakes
The Trump regime’s constant onslaught of cruelty and mounting threats can be scary and demoralizing. That’s their intent.
But the people won’t bow down. On Saturday, we’re gonna speak out on a grander scale than Trump has ever seen. Find a peaceful protest: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
By contemporary far-right standards, this is rare good news for democracy.
One week from right now, millions of Americans will gather in every state for the biggest day of peaceful protest in American history. Join your local No Kings Day event to make it clear that We The People won’t cower in response to Trump’s authoritarian takeover: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...
⚡️ NEW WORKING PAPER
Can constitutional courts resist autocracies on the rise worldwide? What factors boost or impede their resilience? These are the questions addressed by this NB new Demoptimism Working Paper by Gábor Halmai, Ágnes Kovács and Max Steuer
➡️ www.demoptimism.org/working-paper-series
Czech Election: Babis’s Search for Majority Puts Fringe Parties in Driver’s Seat
https://www.byteseu.com/1424200/
The populist ANO party, led by billionaire Andrej Babis, won the recent Czech election with 34.5% of the votes but did not secure a majority. This leaves ANO needing coalition …
"Members of the far-right Patriots for Europe group are celebrating the victory of populist right-winger Andrej Babiš and his ANO party in the Czech parliamentary elections." www.politico.eu/article/patr...
This federal judge appointed by President Trump found his claims of “chaos“ in Portland, Oregon “untethered to the facts.“
The next phase of post-Assad #Syria - #elections
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Barbra Streisand is joining Jane Fonda and 600+ entertainment figures in re-launching the Committee for the First Amendment. Fonda announced the revival of the organization, initially founded by her father, Henry Fonda. The organization was founded in the 1940s to defend free speech against fascism.
What’s your favourite symbol of liberation?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
#democracy #protest #liberation
After Charlie Kirk's shooting, X's Grok and Google's AI Overviews spread false claims. Varsha Bansal explores how misinformation is laundered by AI during breaking news, and the challenges of moderating and regulating AI systems.
"I have spent the last few weeks addressing and preparing for a military invasion by the President of the United States. No, I’m not a soldier or a foreign adversary. I’m the Governor of Illinois"
ICE denies using excessive force in Broadview, Illinois.
Never mind the videos…
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
