Center for Media and Democracy

The Project 2025 Administration resource highlights the concrete risks posed by potential Trump appointees to reproductive freedoms, clean air and water, LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence prevention, and voting rights. Learn more about these threats at https://project2025admin.com

Project 2025 The Project 2025 Administration stands ready to execute a set of drastic, feasible, and specific plans that would remake America's federal government, and in turn, American life.

In the latest issue of Mother Jones, CMD researcher Juliana Broad wrote about how the Right is seizing on the Biden administration's embrace of indigenous knowledge as "'an unholy alliance of "white guilt" virtue signaling, and political correctness.'"

DC regulators are finally weighing Indigenous knowledge—and the right is freaking out Anti-DEI forces have opened a new front in their battle against the "woke agenda."

RAGA — which represents conservative state attorneys general and has coordinated attacks on unions, reproductive rights, and consumer protections — pulled in over $6.3 million in the 2nd quarter of 2024, according to tax filings we obtained and reviewed.

Heavy Hitters and Big Business Bankroll RAGA - EXPOSEDbyCMD The Republican Attorney Generals Association, which represents conservative state attorneys general and has coordinated attacks on unions, reproductive rights, and consumer protections, received over $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, according to tax filings obtained and reviewed by CMD.

At least 16 delegates invited to this year’s convention signed fraudulent Electoral College documents in their states in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2024/07/17/election-deniers-have-taken-over-the-rnc/

A new investigation shows that the Foundation for Government Accountability — a right-wing group based in Florida — has had extensive communication with Wyoming’s secretary of state in its pursuit of severely curtailing voting access across the country.

How a Right-Wing Florida Group Influenced Wyoming’s Election Laws - EXPOSEDbyCMD A right-wing think tank in Florida put its thumb on the scales of Wyoming’s election reform efforts, an investigation by CMD reveals.

This week, the Freedom Foundation is expecting to bring together hundreds of public school teachers from across the country to teach them how to decertify their unions and keep “the socialist dogma of their leadership [out of] our children’s classrooms.”

Teaching Teachers to Bust Unions - EXPOSEDbyCMD A right-wing group is expecting to bring together hundreds of public school teachers from across the country this week to teach them how to decertify their unions and keep “the socialist dogma of their leadership our children’s classrooms.”

RFK Jr.'s biggest donor just gave $50 million to Trump.

Timothy Mellon, Secretive Donor, Gives $50 Million to Pro-Trump Group The cash from Mr. Mellon, a reclusive billionaire who has also been a major donor to a super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is among the largest single disclosed gifts ever.

One of the largest right-wing foundations in the U.S. is planning to award a significant sum of money to a prominent opponent of public health efforts to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus.

Covid Contrarian Doctor Scores Big With Far-Right Funding - EXPOSEDbyCMD Stanford’s Dr. Jay Bhattacharya just won a major prize from one of the most powerful right-wing foundations in America.

This April, the right-wing Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) hosted a School Board Summit outside of Milwaukee for the state’s school board members and candidates.

Wisconsin Right-Wing Litigation Center Grooms School Board Members - EXPOSEDbyCMD The Bradley Foundation’s “MVP” is positioning itself to be the ALEC of school boards.

ALEC is helping the for-profit bail industry push legislation in four states to restrict or outright eliminate charitable bail funds, which provide those unable to afford bail with enough cash to avoid being imprisoned while awaiting their day in court.

The commercial bail industry sees the growth of charitable bail funds as a threat. Its national trade group, the American Bail Coalition, which opposes bail reform efforts across the country, is one of ALEC’s key corporate members.

Read more:

For-Profit Bail Industry Teams Up with ALEC to Target Charitable Bail Funds - EXPOSEDbyCMD ALEC is helping the for-profit bail industry push legislation in four states to restrict or outright eliminate charitable bail funds, which provide those unable to afford bail with enough cash to avoid being imprisoned while awaiting their day in court.

State lawmakers seeking to dismantle unions and implement anti-worker laws have just been handed a new state-by-state roadmap by ALEC.

ALEC Pushes Anti-Union Playbook - EXPOSEDbyCMD State lawmakers seeking to dismantle unions and implement anti-worker laws have just been handed a new state-by-state roadmap by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the corporate-funded bill mill popular with Republican legislators.

NEW Guardian investigation finds growing number of countries passing anti-protest laws as part of playbook of tactics to intimidate people peacefully raising the alarm

How criminalisation is being used to silence climate activists across the world Guardian investigation finds growing number of countries passing anti-protest laws as part of playbook of tactics to intimidate people peacefully raising the alarm

After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever

After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever The American Legislative Exchange Council is where corporations and far-right groups go to buy government policy.

ALEC celebrates its 50th anniversary on Oct. 4 in DC.

ALEC — Unhappy Birthday Find out who ALEC is, and just how much damage they have done over the past 50 years.

If you missed the webinar yesterday on "The Imminent Threat of a Constitutional Convention," it is now available for streaming.

The Imminent Threat of a Constitutional Convention September 26, 2023Co-sponsored by the Center for Media and Democracy and Common CauseThe Far Right is waging a dangerous, dark money campaign to force a cons...

Did you know that the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala in DC on Oct. 4?
Yep, for five decades ALEC has been attacking our communities, environment and democracy.
Think that’s wrong? Join us on Oct. 4 for a rally to expose ALEC. Together we can build an inclusive multiracial democracy.
RSVP:

ALEC (slow) Extinction Watch Party and Rally · Greenpeace USA For five decades, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has shamelessly served as a conduit for large corporations seeking to swiftly advance their self-serving agendas through statehouses across the nation. ALEC's model bills go far beyond financial gains for these corporate entities - t...

NEW: In the past year, at least 684 state lawmakers affiliated with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have voted to make it illegal for pregnant people across the country to access the right to an abortion, according to a new analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).

Nearly 700 ALEC Lawmakers Have Voted to Ban Abortion. Is One of Them Yours? - EXPOSEDbyCMD In the past year, at least 684 state lawmakers affiliated with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have voted to make it illegal for pregnant people across the country to access the right to an abortion, according to a new analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).

NEW: Investment firm cofounded by Vivek Ramaswamy holds shares in BlackRock. The presidential candidate still owns 50–75% of Strive Asset Management’s shares according to a June 15 SEC filing. Ramaswamy has lambasted Blackrock for pushing a “woke” leftist agenda that prioritizes sustainable investing, social justice, and racial equity in their business and investment practices.

Investment Firm Cofounded by Vivek Ramaswamy Holds Shares in BlackRock - EXPOSEDbyCMD Ramaswamy’s own conflict of interest in attacking BlackRock shows just how difficult it is for public pension managers to avoid ESG investments if they own any ETFs — as do most pension funds — since they represent the most significant stocks bought and sold on the market every day.

We hope those of you in the DC area can join us for this special event on Oct. 2 with Common Cause, JustVision, & Greenpeace to learn more about anti-boycott laws, ALEC’s role in undermining our ability to organize and voice dissent, and why it’s imperative that we work across issue areas.

NEW: Far-right House Republicans and related groups have some pretty tall demands for approving a stopgap budget bill and averting a government shutdown. There’s only one catch: Their demands have nothing to do with the federal budget.

Who's Bankrolling the Shutdown Showdown? - EXPOSEDbyCMD Far-right House Republicans and related groups have some pretty tall demands for approving a stopgap budget bill and averting a government shutdown. There’s only one catch: Their demands have nothing to do with the federal budget.

Minnesota Judge Rules That Criminalizing Enbridge Line 3 Water Protectors Would Be a Crime - EXPOSEDbyCMD In a remarkable ruling last Thursday, a Minnesota judge summarily dismissed misdemeanor charges against three Anishinaabe water protectors who had protested at a pipeline construction site in an effort to stop the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. “To criminalize their behavior would be the ...

Wisconsin Republicans Are Starting to Panic Over Crooked Maps Democracy in Wisconsin continues to be held hostage by a GOP-controlled legislature that is losing popular support and is willing to do almost anything to cling to power.

NEW in collaboration with True North Research:
Democracy in Wisconsin continues to be held hostage by a GOP-controlled legislature that is losing popular support and is willing to do almost anything to cling to power.

Wisconsin Republicans Are Starting to Panic Over Crooked Maps Democracy in Wisconsin continues to be held hostage by a GOP-controlled legislature that is losing popular support and is willing to do almost anything to cling to power.

NEW: In a remarkable ruling last Thursday, a Minnesota judge summarily dismissed misdemeanor charges against three Anishinaabe water protectors who had protested at a pipeline construction site in an effort to stop the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. “To criminalize their behavior would be the crime,” she concluded.

Minnesota Judge Rules That Criminalizing Enbridge Line 3 Water Protectors Would Be a Crime - EXPOSEDbyCMD In a remarkable ruling last Thursday, a Minnesota judge summarily dismissed misdemeanor charges against three Anishinaabe water protectors who had protested at a pipeline construction site in an effort to stop the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. “To criminalize their behavior would be the ...

You are invited! Please join Arn Pearson, CMD Executive Director (moderator); Russ Feingold, ACS President; co-author of The Constitution in Jeopardy; Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe Distinguished Professor of History and Public Policy, Duke University and author of Democracy in Chains; and Jonathan Mehta Stein, Executive Director, California Common Cause for a conversation on the lurking dangers of a constitutional convention on Sept. 26 at 2:30 pm ET.

Upcoming Event: The Imminent Threat of a Constitutional Convention - EXPOSEDbyCMD Join the Center for Media and Democracy, the American Constitution Society, and Common Cause for a conversation on the lurking dangers of a constitutional convention.

At last, some mainstream media recognize a critical climate restoration strategy that CMD's roving reporter Alex Carlin has been covering for years.

Opinion | Iron Dust Could Reverse the Course of Climate Change The oceans may be our best shot at addressing the climate catastrophe.

Please join Arn Pearson, CMD Executive Director (moderator); Russ Feingold, ACS President; co-author of The Constitution in Jeopardy; Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe Distinguished Professor of History and Public Policy, Duke University and author of Democracy in Chains; and Jonathan Mehta Stein, Executive Director, California Common Cause for a conversation on the lurking dangers of a constitutional convention on Sept. 26 at 2:30 pm ET.

The Imminent Threat of a Constitutional Convention | ACS The Far Right is waging a dangerous, dark money campaign to force a constitutional convention that could radically rewrite the U.S. Constitution and severely hamper the federal government’s ability to address some of today’s most pressing problems. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent pur...

NEW: Six of the most vulnerable first-term congressional Republicans represent districts that are benefitting from new renewable energy facilities made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, one of President Biden’s most significant legislative achievements to date.

Vulnerable House GOP Freshmen Voted to Kill Funding for Clean Energy Projects in Their Own Districts - EXPOSEDbyCMD Six of the most vulnerable first-term congressional Republicans represent districts that are benefitting from new renewable energy facilities made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, one of President Biden’s most significant legislative achievements to date.