This week began with the news that Donald Trump planned to accept a $400 million dollar luxury jet from Qatar, and it ended with the Supreme Court ruling 7-2 against his efforts to send migrants to foreign gulags without due process. As Republican attacks on Democracy continue to ramp up nationwide, the week was defined by the stark contrast between Trump’s craven greed and a court system trying to defend a semblance of rule of law.

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May 17, 2025

This week began with the news that Donald Trump planned to accept a $400 million dollar luxury jet from Qatar, and it ended with the Supreme Court ruling 7-2 against his efforts to send migrants to foreign gulags without due process. As Republican attacks on Democracy continue to ramp up nationwide, the week was defined by the stark contrast between Trump’s craven greed and a court system trying to defend a semblance of rule of law.

Yet several other storylines merit attention, none more important than the oral argument that took place on Tuesday in the 11th Circuit. At issue is a lawsuit the pro-voting group Fair Fight brought against the right-wing voter suppression group True the Vote. In 2020, True the Vote and others challenged the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgians to vote — making it the largest mass voter challenge in modern history. After the election, Fair Fight sued under an important, but less used portion of the Voting Rights Act.

After a trial, the court ruled in favor of True the Vote. But, this week, an appeals court panel heard arguments in the case and signaled it might reverse all or part of that decision.

Mass challenges have grown and spread since 2020, and the need to reign them in is more important now than ever before. Yet, with the Department of Justice under the control of Pam Bondi, the burden to protect voting rights is falling entirely on private litigants. Making matters worse, as Big Law capitulates to Trump, there are fewer legal resources available.

I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t pay attention to Trump’s greed and corruption. Nor should you ignore what is taking place in the Supreme Court. But if you believe, as I do, that the midterm elections are the single most important tool to limit the damage Trump will do, then we also need to focus on the events that will define whether those elections are free and fair.

Here are my picks for this week.

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YOUR READING LIST

- DOJ Voting Section Has Just Three Lawyers Left, Watchdog Estimates ([link removed] )

- Appeals Court Could Crack Down on Anti-Voting Group’s Dangerous Mass Voter Challenges ([link removed] )

- New Ruling Cuts Off Key Tool to Protect Minority Voters ([link removed] )

- What Could Go Wrong? Texas May Allow Guns at the Polls ([link removed] )

- This is a “Dangerous Moment” for All of Our Civil Rights | Sen. Chris Van Hollen ([link removed] )

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