Conservative activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to pay $1 million to the New York attorney general’s office and others for running a voter suppression campaign targeting Black voters during the 2020 election. The settlement deal, announced by state Attorney General Letitia James, stems from a campaign that used robocalls to spread election-related misinformation to discourage voting. The pair will pay the judgment to the attorney general's office, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and individual plaintiffs. They face increased penalties if they fail to pay by December 31, 2024. This is the latest punishment for Wohl and Burkman, who have previously faced penalties for similar schemes during the 2020 election.
Dozens of conservative activists, including truckers, set off in a convoy named 'Take Our Border Back' to protest the overwhelming surge of migrants at the southern border, criticizing the Biden administration for leaving the frontiers 'wide open.' The convoy plans to travel to three migrant hotspots across three states, aiming to pressure the White House into addressing the worsening crisis. The protest has sparked concerns about potential violence and has drawn support from those convicted for participating in the January 6 riots, while also attracting bipartisan attention in Congress for tougher anti-immigration measures.
The Biden administration's executive order on AI, utilizing the Defense Production Act to compel tech companies to provide information, is facing opposition from the tech lobby, GOP lawmakers, and conservative activists who argue that it constitutes executive overreach. Critics are pushing for reforms to the Defense Production Act and have raised legal challenges against the new reporting requirements, while also seeking to slow down AI regulation in Congress. The use of emergency powers to regulate AI is sparking broader political disagreements over the regulation of private enterprise, with the Supreme Court also considering a related lawsuit that could impact federal agencies' regulatory authority.
Conservative activists, fueled by doubts about the 2020 election, are targeting eligible voters in an effort to purge voter rolls ahead of the 2024 presidential election. These activists are scrutinizing state voter lists for registration errors to file voter challenges, which tend to affect minority or younger voters who are statistically more likely to vote Democrat. The challenges, often based on administrative errors and technical violations, have resulted in the removal of thousands of voters from the rolls. Critics argue that these challenges are meritless and disproportionately impact marginalized communities, while activists claim they are protecting the integrity of the voter rolls.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to subpoena Republican donor Harlan Crow and conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo as part of an ethics probe into allegations that Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito failed to disclose luxury vacations paid for by conservative friends. The hearing became contentious, with Sen. John Cornyn accusing Chairman Dick Durbin of destroying the committee and setting a dangerous precedent. Democrats argue for more stringent ethics standards for the Supreme Court, while Republicans criticize the move as an infringement on the judiciary's independence. Leo has refused to cooperate with the Senate Democrats' investigation.
The influential Koch network, associated with billionaire Charles Koch, has announced its support for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary. This endorsement could have a significant impact on the race as Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the Koch network, deploys its vast resources and conservative activists on behalf of Haley. The decision comes as prominent Republican donors rally behind Haley, who has seen a surge in support since South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out of the race. The Koch network has pledged to back a single contender in the primary and bypass former President Donald Trump, seeking a candidate who represents a new chapter. The effort will begin with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in early voting states, and the network's extensive grassroots reach will be utilized.
Conservative activists in Virginia are using the upcoming tossup elections in the state as a dry run for their efforts to influence the 2024 elections. Inspired by Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud, these activists are recruiting supporters to serve as poll watchers and election workers, while also working to tighten voting laws. They are taking cues from the "Virginia Model," a memo that detailed ways to protect election integrity. Critics argue that these efforts could potentially disenfranchise voters and interfere with election outcomes.
Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and conservative activists strategically created a non-profit group to exploit the Citizens United ruling, which designated money as political speech. Thomas collaborated with Federalist Society leader Leonard Leo to advance the conservative agenda, including overturning laws on abortion and affirmative action. The funding for their efforts came from Harlan Crow, a billionaire known for his fascination with Nazi memorabilia. Thomas faced scrutiny for her relationship with Crow, who provided initial donations for their group, Liberty Central. Thomas later created a for-profit consulting business, and Leo used a dormant tax-exempt group to pay her. Questions have been raised about the nature of Thomas' services and the financial reporting of the tax-exempt group.
Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, gathered in Philadelphia to rally conservative activists around restricting transgender rights and limiting discussions on race and LGBTQ+ issues in schools. DeSantis, who spoke at the event organized by Moms for Liberty, emphasized his legislative achievements in Florida and positioned himself as the candidate most likely to turn conservative priorities into law. The group, which started as a small organization of far-right suburban mothers, has gained national influence and has been critical of public health mandates and school materials on LGBTQ+ and race-related subjects. The conference faced backlash from critics, including scholarly groups and the mayor of Philadelphia, who found the group's beliefs and values problematic.
The Georgia GOP convention elected a slate of hardline conservative activists who support Donald Trump's election fraud lies to top party leadership posts. The new leaders include some of the more prominent conspiracy theorists in the state, as well as others who have joined pro-Trump lawsuits seeking to undermine President Joe Biden's victory. Despite evidence of Biden's victory, Trump's unfounded claims of a "rigged" election have seeped deeply into the minds of state Republican voters.
