Dan Weiner
danw329.bsky.social
Dan Weiner
@danw329.bsky.social
Director, Elections and Government Program, Brennan Center for Justice @ NYU Law. Previously, Senior Counsel, FEC. Husband. Dad. 🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈✡️
Reposted by Dan Weiner
“Gunboat diplomacy, coupled with a systematic lack of regard for basic safeguards to prevent self-dealing, is very, very dangerous," says @danw329.bsky.social about Trump's designs on Venezuelan oil.
Trump is running a private equity playbook on Venezuela | CNN Business
Trump is running a private equity playbook on Venezuela
www.cnn.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Excellent reporting on how donors have benefited after giving to President Trump’s super PAC and other initiatives, like the WH ballroom. Money quote from a fmr WH staffer-turned-lobbyist: “These people are not getting coerced. They are making business decisions.” www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This was a great conversation, with excellent questions from the callers.
@danw329.bsky.social spoke to @cspanwj.bsky.social about SCOTUS's track record of harmful campaign finance rulings, how a bad ruling in NRSC v. FEC could create political bribery loopholes, and why the Court should defer to Congress on campaign finance policy questions.
Daniel Weiner on the Supreme Court and Campaign Finance Limits
Daniel Weiner talked about the Supreme Court oral arguments on the constitutionality of limits on the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with a candidate.
www.c-span.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:41 PM
In NRSC v. FEC argument Marc Elias warns of a nationalized fundraising “arms race” if the Court strikes down party coordinated spending limits, one that will weaken many state parties as grassroots organizations. Interesting prediction from someone who has repped one of the major parties for decades
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Interesting to see the justices in the NRSC oral argument press Noel Francisco on future challenges to campaign finance law. This is making explicit how the dynamic at the Court works. Each law is considered in isolation, but the reality it’s a progressive chipping away of the rules.
December 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Powerful point from Justice Sotomayor in today’s oral argument in NRSC v. FEC: “every time we tinker with Congress’s design [for campaign finance law] we make things worse. Indeed.
December 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
On 12/9, SCOTUS is set to weigh in on a campaign finance policy limiting how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. But evaluating policy is Congress's job, not the Court's, @danw329.bsky.social told @slate.com.
The Supreme Court Is Poised to Revive a Key Feature of Nixon-Era Corruption
The justices will hear arguments on Tuesday in NRSC v. FEC, a case cooked up by the GOP itself.
slate.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Trump’s net worth has grown by $3 billion since he took office. That’s not a coincidence.
A New Era of Crony Capitalism
Washington hasn’t seen graft like this for at least a century.
www.brennancenter.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
In President Trump’s second term, the need for action against corruption has never been clearer. Join @danw329.bsky.social and @eepetry.bsky.social for a Reddit AMA: 
November 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Corruption is hardly a new problem, but the abuses taking place now are unlike anything seen in generations. Here’s what Congress can do about it: bit.ly/43MmpHM
How Congress Can Rein in Surging Political Corruption
Federal lawmakers can protect the American public by passing a new law to fully implement the Constitution’s oldest anticorruption safeguards.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
President Trump has already made well over $1B off the presidency in his 2d term. Many of the deals he is profiting from appear to violate the Constitution’s foreign and domestic emoluments clauses. But Congress needs to codify them. Our new paper explains how: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
How Congress Can Rein in Surging Political Corruption
Federal lawmakers can protect the American public by passing a new law to fully implement the Constitution’s oldest anticorruption safeguards.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
President Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao who pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2023. Binance is also reportedly a major supporter of the Trump family's World Liberty Financial. www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
Trump Pardons Convicted Binance Founder
The pardon follows months of efforts by Changpeng Zhao to boost the Trump family’s own crypto company.
www.wsj.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Why should you care that the president’s appointees at DOJ, including his former personal attorneys, could decide whether he gets a $230M payout directly to him? Because that money is coming directly from all of us, the U.S. taxpayers.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Corruption isn’t new, but what we are seeing today is like nothing in recent memory. Listen as we discuss on Michael Waldman’s weekly podcast.
We are living in a new era of political corruption, marked by unprecedented self-dealing at the highest levels of the presidency. Watch Dan Weiner and Jane Mayer discuss how to end the kleptocracy on The Briefing with Michael Waldman: bit.ly/4oeS7WB
October 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
PODCAST: We are living in a new era of corruption, where legal guardrails have crumbled. Listen to The Briefing with Michael Waldman to hear experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy. bit.ly/3W64x6C
Paying for Power
Listen to this episode from The Briefing with Michael Waldman on Spotify. We are living in a new era of corruption, one that combines personal self-dealing and vast funds pouring into the political process. Whether it’s the crypto industry dominating Congress, the world’s wealthiest man bankrolling the winning presidential campaign, regulatory decisions used to pressure businesses, or the government quashing the bribery investigation of a top official, public power and private gain are fusing into one. Experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy. Speakers:Jane Mayer, Staff Writer, The New YorkerDaniel I. Weiner, Director, Elections and Government Program, Brennan CenterHost, Michael Waldman, President and CEOIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on October 15, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center’s work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.
open.spotify.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Curious about recent campaign finance trends and key stories? Check out our first Money and Politics Roundup, featuring analysis of record-breaking off-year fundraising, a deep dive on AI industry political spending + important legal and policy developments. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Money in Politics Roundup — October 2025
Our new recurring feature covers key stories from the world of campaign finance and influence buying, from the AI industry to super PAC support for a lame-duck president.
www.brennancenter.org
October 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Reposted by Dan Weiner
We are living through a new era of corruption, where legal guardrails have crumbled. What will end the culture of kleptocracy?

Join us for a live virtual event with @janemayer.bsky.social, @mawaldman.bsky.social, and @danw329.bsky.social on Wed., Oct. 15, at 3pm ET. RSVP:
Corruption in America
Experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy.
www.brennancenter.org
October 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Congress is stuck, and incoming reformers have less and less space to unstick it. Here are some ways to grease the wheels for them:
Can Newly Elected Politicians Shift a “Stuck” Congress?
Mounting forces of violence and fundraising pressure have made Congress increasingly inhospitable to change.
www.brennancenter.org
September 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Eight months into the second Trump administration, there are profound concerns for the rule of law in the U.S. Our new resource outlines the legal and ethical responsibilities of government lawyers that serve as vital checks on abuse of power. bit.ly/4g3hO9f
Legal Ethics and the Rule of Law
All practicing lawyers within and outside the government are bound by ethical rules, standards, and commitments that protect against abuses of power.
www.brennancenter.org
September 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
Today’s murder of Charlie Kirk is outrageous. It is part of a dangerous pattern of violence that threatens the safety of all communities. This violence is unacceptable and tears at the social fabric, and we must find a way to work together to end it.
September 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
@danw329.bsky.social was on @mollyjongfast.bsky.social's Fast Politics to talk about why stock trading by lawmakers raises the potential for conflicts of interest, how existing safeguards fail to address the problem, and how stronger enforcement can produce real reform.
Stephanie Ruhle & Dan Weiner - Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast | iHeart
<p>MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle examines the disappointing job numbers the Trump administration just received. <em data-start='153' data-end='175'>The Brennan Center’s</em> Dan Weiner details the congressional stock ban now being reconsidered.</p><p>See <a href='https://omnystudio.com/listener'>omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
www.iheart.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Dan Weiner
The Pentagon is reportedly planning to mobilize thousands of National Guard forces and deploy them in Chicago for the purpose of crime control. Trump is on even thinner legal ice with this plan than he is in Los Angeles and D.C. 1/12 www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon plans military deployment in Chicago as Trump eyes crackdown
President Donald Trump said Chicago is his next likely target to crack down on urban crime. Military planning has been ongoing for weeks, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 24, 2025 at 12:40 PM
NEW from the @brennancenter.org: what is political corruption and what can we do about? And excellent new analysis by @eepetry.bsky.social and @lisadanetz.bsky.social.

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
What Is Political Corruption and What Can We Do About It?
It hurts ordinary Americans in concrete ways, and the risk has never been greater given today’s unprecedented mixing of private wealth with political power.
www.brennancenter.org
August 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Thread—important to understand how unprecedented this is.
The super PAC affiliated with Pres. Trump, MAGA Inc., has raised approximately $200 million since election day, almost entirely in donations of more than $1 million. This is completely unprecedented for a president 6 months into his term—it’s more than 6 times the prior record.
August 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM