Matt Vasilogambros
@mattvas.bsky.social
Democracy for @statesunited.org; hiker and diver; completed the Pacific Crest Trail; former bylines: Stateline, The Atlantic, National Journal, Outside
After 7 years at @stateline.org, this is my last day. It’s bittersweet to leave a place that provides well-reported state and local policy stories free for any publication. Here are my favorites of the 240+ stories I’ve written for Stateline, many on voting rights: stateline.org/2024/06/24/r...
Racist slurs and death threats: The dangerous life of a Georgia elections official • Stateline
Milton Kidd has a very dangerous job: He is the elections and voter registration director for Douglas County.
stateline.org
March 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
After 7 years at @stateline.org, this is my last day. It’s bittersweet to leave a place that provides well-reported state and local policy stories free for any publication. Here are my favorites of the 240+ stories I’ve written for Stateline, many on voting rights: stateline.org/2024/06/24/r...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
New York state’s highest court struck down a New York City statute that would have allowed 800,000 noncitizens to vote in mayoral, city council and school board elections.
from @mattvas.bsky.social:
stateline.org/2025/03/25/n...
from @mattvas.bsky.social:
stateline.org/2025/03/25/n...
Noncitizens cannot vote in New York City’s local elections, state high court rules • Stateline
New York state’s highest court struck down a New York City’s statute that would have allowed 800,000 noncitizens to vote in mayoral, city council and school board elections.New York City was one of ar...
stateline.org
March 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
New York state’s highest court struck down a New York City statute that would have allowed 800,000 noncitizens to vote in mayoral, city council and school board elections.
from @mattvas.bsky.social:
stateline.org/2025/03/25/n...
from @mattvas.bsky.social:
stateline.org/2025/03/25/n...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Important @stateline.org article on the expanding movement for state Voting Rights Acts -- among new states that may adopt them this year are Maryland and Colorado.
stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
The federal Voting Rights Act was gutted. States now want their own versions. • Stateline
Seeing federal courts slash away at the Voting Rights Act, some states are seeking to resurrect fallen protections for non-white voters with their own versions of the landmark law passed during the he...
stateline.org
March 23, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Important @stateline.org article on the expanding movement for state Voting Rights Acts -- among new states that may adopt them this year are Maryland and Colorado.
stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
An alternative view (from me) @mattvas.bsky.social
State VRAs Bring Problems of Their Own
Eight states have enacted their own local versions of the federal Voting Rights Act. These laws pose problems of fairness, practicality and constitutionality.
www.cato.org
March 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
An alternative view (from me) @mattvas.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Arizona is one of seven states where Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a state-level Voting Rights Act, via @mattvas.bsky.social stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
The federal Voting Rights Act was gutted. States now want their own versions. • Stateline
Seeing federal courts slash away at the Voting Rights Act, some states are seeking to resurrect fallen protections for non-white voters with their own versions of the landmark law passed during the he...
stateline.org
March 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Arizona is one of seven states where Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a state-level Voting Rights Act, via @mattvas.bsky.social stateline.org/2025/03/21/t...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Petitions filed across the states with red flag laws jumped by 59% in 2023 over the previous year, according to new data from Everytown for Gun Safety. @everytown.bsky.social
via stateline.org
@amandavhernan.bsky.social @mattvas.bsky.social
stateline.org/2025/03/11/r...
via stateline.org
@amandavhernan.bsky.social @mattvas.bsky.social
stateline.org/2025/03/11/r...
Red flag laws are increasingly being used to protect gun owners in crisis • Stateline
The use of red flag laws is on the rise, offering a powerful tool to prevent gun violence by temporarily removing firearms from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.
stateline.org
March 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Petitions filed across the states with red flag laws jumped by 59% in 2023 over the previous year, according to new data from Everytown for Gun Safety. @everytown.bsky.social
via stateline.org
@amandavhernan.bsky.social @mattvas.bsky.social
stateline.org/2025/03/11/r...
via stateline.org
@amandavhernan.bsky.social @mattvas.bsky.social
stateline.org/2025/03/11/r...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Testing constitutional limits, Republicans in at least 15 states have introduced legislation this year that would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/27/e...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/27/e...
Eyeing a friendly Supreme Court, Republicans push for the Ten Commandments in schools • Stateline
Testing constitutional limits, Republicans in at least 15 states have introduced legislation this year that would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms.
stateline.org
February 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Testing constitutional limits, Republicans in at least 15 states have introduced legislation this year that would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/27/e...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/27/e...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Federal programs that assist state and local election officials have been gutted
via @mattvas.bsky.social/@stateline.org
via @mattvas.bsky.social/@stateline.org
Election officials blast Trump’s ‘retreat’ from protecting voting against foreign threats
The Trump administration has begun dismantling the nation’s defenses against foreign interference in voting, a sweeping retreat that has alarmed state and local election officials
azmirror.com
February 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Federal programs that assist state and local election officials have been gutted
via @mattvas.bsky.social/@stateline.org
via @mattvas.bsky.social/@stateline.org
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
President & CEO Pam Smith on CISA and election security cuts:
“It is a retreat and it’s a really ill-advised one. It’s a little bit like saying the bank has a slow day on Tuesday, we’re going to let our security guards go home.”
stateline.org/2025/02/20/e... @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
“It is a retreat and it’s a really ill-advised one. It’s a little bit like saying the bank has a slow day on Tuesday, we’re going to let our security guards go home.”
stateline.org/2025/02/20/e... @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
Election officials blast Trump's ‘retreat’ from protecting voting against foreign threats • Stateline
The Trump administration has begun dismantling the nation’s defenses against foreign interference in voting, a sweeping retreat that has alarmed state and local election officials.
stateline.org
February 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
President & CEO Pam Smith on CISA and election security cuts:
“It is a retreat and it’s a really ill-advised one. It’s a little bit like saying the bank has a slow day on Tuesday, we’re going to let our security guards go home.”
stateline.org/2025/02/20/e... @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
“It is a retreat and it’s a really ill-advised one. It’s a little bit like saying the bank has a slow day on Tuesday, we’re going to let our security guards go home.”
stateline.org/2025/02/20/e... @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
“The Trump administration has made it quite clear that they intend to use the military to assist with immigration enforcement. States who are opposed to that would be wise to take what measures they can to protect themselves and their states.” stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
Blue states fear invasion by red-state National Guard troops for deportations • Stateline
There’s an emerging blue-state nightmare: Inspired by President Donald Trump’s call to round up immigrants who are in the country illegally, red-state governors might start sending their National Guar...
stateline.org
February 6, 2025 at 11:40 AM
“The Trump administration has made it quite clear that they intend to use the military to assist with immigration enforcement. States who are opposed to that would be wise to take what measures they can to protect themselves and their states.” stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Inspired by President Donald Trump’s call to round up immigrants who are in the country illegally, red-state governors might start sending their National Guardsmen into blue states without their permission.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
Blue states fear invasion by red-state National Guard troops for deportations • Stateline
There’s an emerging blue-state nightmare: Inspired by President Donald Trump’s call to round up immigrants who are in the country illegally, red-state governors might start sending their National Guar...
stateline.org
February 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Inspired by President Donald Trump’s call to round up immigrants who are in the country illegally, red-state governors might start sending their National Guardsmen into blue states without their permission.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/02/05/b...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation
In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation • Stateline
While officials in Southern California fought fire and falsehoods, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — announced it would eliminate its fact-checking program in the name of free expr...
stateline.org
January 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
From AI images of the famous Hollywood sign surrounded by fire, to rumors that firefighters are using women’s handbags full of water to douse the flames, LA wildfire misinformation has been rampant. What can states do about social media falsehoods? stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation • Stateline
While officials in Southern California fought fire and falsehoods, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — announced it would eliminate its fact-checking program in the name of free expr...
stateline.org
January 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
From AI images of the famous Hollywood sign surrounded by fire, to rumors that firefighters are using women’s handbags full of water to douse the flames, LA wildfire misinformation has been rampant. What can states do about social media falsehoods? stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Social media companies have fought efforts from the few states that have sought to regulate online speech in recent years, while courts have been skeptical of the legality of those limits.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation • Stateline
While officials in Southern California fought fire and falsehoods, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — announced it would eliminate its fact-checking program in the name of free expr...
stateline.org
January 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Social media companies have fought efforts from the few states that have sought to regulate online speech in recent years, while courts have been skeptical of the legality of those limits.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/23/i...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
I really wanna have some background calls with experts who have their ears to the ground on local #healthcare challenges, as well as researchers looking at healthcare costs, access to medicine, and social determinants of health, and equity. Who should I talk to? #medicine #businessofhealthcare
January 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I really wanna have some background calls with experts who have their ears to the ground on local #healthcare challenges, as well as researchers looking at healthcare costs, access to medicine, and social determinants of health, and equity. Who should I talk to? #medicine #businessofhealthcare
New Jersey joined at least five other states — California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington — that have passed legislation within the past two years that aims to preserve access to reading materials that deal with racial and sexual themes. My latest: stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
Librarians gain protections in some states as book bans soar • Stateline
Amid a national rise in book bans in school libraries and new laws in some red states that threaten criminal penalties against librarians, a growing number of blue states are taking the opposite appro...
stateline.org
January 7, 2025 at 11:55 PM
New Jersey joined at least five other states — California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington — that have passed legislation within the past two years that aims to preserve access to reading materials that deal with racial and sexual themes. My latest: stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
California is one of six states that have enacted laws to fight against book bans.
via @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/libr...
via @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/libr...
Librarians gain protections in some states as book bans soar
Karen Grant and fellow school librarians throughout New Jersey have heard an increasingly loud chorus of parents and conservative activists demanding that certain books — often about race, gender and ...
www.newsfromthestates.com
January 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
California is one of six states that have enacted laws to fight against book bans.
via @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/libr...
via @stateline.org @mattvas.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/libr...
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
New Jersey joined at last five other states that have passed legislation that aim to slow the surging tide of censoring reading materials that deal with racial and sexual themes, including those about the LGBTQ community. @mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
Librarians gain protections in some states as book bans soar • Stateline
Amid a national rise in book bans in school libraries and new laws in some red states that threaten criminal penalties against librarians, a growing number of blue states are taking the opposite appro...
stateline.org
January 7, 2025 at 1:51 PM
New Jersey joined at last five other states that have passed legislation that aim to slow the surging tide of censoring reading materials that deal with racial and sexual themes, including those about the LGBTQ community. @mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
stateline.org/2025/01/07/l...
Some scenes from this summer’s visit to the Carter presidential library
December 29, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Some scenes from this summer’s visit to the Carter presidential library
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
This morning, @missouriindependent.com published a months-long investigation by Clara Bates into the case of Kurtis Watkins, who has served a decade in prison for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. #moleg #mogov (1/6)
December 15, 2024 at 1:02 PM
This morning, @missouriindependent.com published a months-long investigation by Clara Bates into the case of Kurtis Watkins, who has served a decade in prison for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. #moleg #mogov (1/6)
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Via @mattvas.bsky.social and @stateline.org: Lower courts are still figuring out the limits of a historical test the U.S. Supreme Court created for gun regulations in 2022 and have not yet come to a broad agreement on key gun-related laws.
Judges topple gun control laws as courts chart an uncertain path forward • Alabama Reflector
Lower courts are still figuring out the limits of a historical test for gun regulations and have not yet come to a broad agreement on key gun-related laws.
alabamareflector.com
December 13, 2024 at 9:16 PM
Via @mattvas.bsky.social and @stateline.org: Lower courts are still figuring out the limits of a historical test the U.S. Supreme Court created for gun regulations in 2022 and have not yet come to a broad agreement on key gun-related laws.
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
More than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally altered its interpretation of the Second Amendment, federal courts throughout the country continue to strike down key state gun restrictions.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2024/12/13/j...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2024/12/13/j...
Judges topple gun control laws as courts chart an uncertain path forward • Stateline
More than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally expanded its interpretation of the Second Amendment, federal courts throughout the country continue to strike down state restrictions on ...
stateline.org
December 13, 2024 at 2:05 PM
More than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally altered its interpretation of the Second Amendment, federal courts throughout the country continue to strike down key state gun restrictions.
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2024/12/13/j...
@mattvas.bsky.social reports:
stateline.org/2024/12/13/j...
Heck yeah, follow our work at Stateline
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Stateline is the nation's first and best source for policy news across all 50 states and DC. Sign up for our newsletters here, to get the top stories every morning in your inbox.
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Subscribe • Stateline
stateline.org
December 11, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Heck yeah, follow our work at Stateline
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Election denialism has staying power even after Trump’s win stateline.org/2024/11/27/e... by @mattvas.bsky.social
Election denialism has staying power even after Trump’s win • Stateline
President-elect Donald Trump may have quieted his lies about widespread voter fraud after his win this month, but the impact of his effort to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections lingers ...
stateline.org
December 6, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Election denialism has staying power even after Trump’s win stateline.org/2024/11/27/e... by @mattvas.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Vasilogambros
Hi there👋🏽
Looking to get #news from all 50 states in one place?
Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local #policy stories from across the country. It's all curated (by me!) and delivered to your inbox each morning.
Subscribe today!
stateline.org/subscribe/
Looking to get #news from all 50 states in one place?
Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local #policy stories from across the country. It's all curated (by me!) and delivered to your inbox each morning.
Subscribe today!
stateline.org/subscribe/
Subscribe • Stateline
stateline.org
December 2, 2024 at 5:39 PM
Hi there👋🏽
Looking to get #news from all 50 states in one place?
Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local #policy stories from across the country. It's all curated (by me!) and delivered to your inbox each morning.
Subscribe today!
stateline.org/subscribe/
Looking to get #news from all 50 states in one place?
Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local #policy stories from across the country. It's all curated (by me!) and delivered to your inbox each morning.
Subscribe today!
stateline.org/subscribe/