@smcphail.bsky.social
Director of Campaign Finance Litigation at Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Today SCOTUS may well put an end to independent agencies (save for the Fed). In the process, it may very well end the independence of the FEC - the agency that policies campaigns, including a president’s. So what could that look like and what to do about it
December 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Today SCOTUS may well put an end to independent agencies (save for the Fed). In the process, it may very well end the independence of the FEC - the agency that policies campaigns, including a president’s. So what could that look like and what to do about it
Reposted
I think we underestimate how much of Republicans' signaling and decision-making is based not only on political expedience, but literal fear that angering Trump and his followers will endanger their — and their families'— safety.
A quick 🧵
A quick 🧵
November 21, 2024 at 2:42 AM
I think we underestimate how much of Republicans' signaling and decision-making is based not only on political expedience, but literal fear that angering Trump and his followers will endanger their — and their families'— safety.
A quick 🧵
A quick 🧵
Reposted
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted
New @rfunkfordham.bsky.social report on the 15th anniversary of Citizens United. The evidence is now clear, in part through Rachel's research, that CitUtd has:
-increased the influence of billionaires
-reduced state democratic performance
-made state governments more rightwing
-increased corruption
-increased the influence of billionaires
-reduced state democratic performance
-made state governments more rightwing
-increased corruption
NEW📝: A flood of billionaire money in elections started after the SCOTUS #CitizensUnited decision.
Since 2010, billionaire 💰💰 in elections has grown 160x, giving the wealthy huge power over policy while regular voters lose influence. 🧵1/3
Since 2010, billionaire 💰💰 in elections has grown 160x, giving the wealthy huge power over policy while regular voters lose influence. 🧵1/3
October 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
New @rfunkfordham.bsky.social report on the 15th anniversary of Citizens United. The evidence is now clear, in part through Rachel's research, that CitUtd has:
-increased the influence of billionaires
-reduced state democratic performance
-made state governments more rightwing
-increased corruption
-increased the influence of billionaires
-reduced state democratic performance
-made state governments more rightwing
-increased corruption
On Friday, @citizensforethics.org told the Supreme Court to stop substituting clear enforceable rules that can stop corruption for ineffectual, easily evadable, and ultimately unenforceable subjective standards that cannot.
www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action...
www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action...
CREW files SCOTUS amicus brief in support of coordinated expenditure limits for political party donations - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Earmarking rules and disclosure laws cannot prevent all quid pro quo corruption that could occur through coordinated expenditures.
www.citizensforethics.org
October 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
On Friday, @citizensforethics.org told the Supreme Court to stop substituting clear enforceable rules that can stop corruption for ineffectual, easily evadable, and ultimately unenforceable subjective standards that cannot.
www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action...
www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action...
Reposted
$201 million for the National Guard to patrol national monuments, pick up trash and shovel mulch in DC sure doesn't seem "efficient" to us...
DC National Guard deployment to cost $200 million, as soldiers pick up trash, blow leaves
National Guard troops have been spotted in Washington, DC, shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and pacing train platforms.
www.usatoday.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
$201 million for the National Guard to patrol national monuments, pick up trash and shovel mulch in DC sure doesn't seem "efficient" to us...
Will the Court that has adamantly insisted any incidental inhibition on spending on electioneering is unconstitutional agree Americans cant be taxed to watch, e.g., "Life is Beautiful"?
September 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Will the Court that has adamantly insisted any incidental inhibition on spending on electioneering is unconstitutional agree Americans cant be taxed to watch, e.g., "Life is Beautiful"?
Reposted
Speaking of instigating political violence, Colorado Supreme Court had some thoughts (based on actual evidence and after adversarial proceeding):
!["violent far-right extremists
understood that [President] Trump's calls to 'fight,' which most politicians would
mean only symbolically, were, when spoken by [President] Trump, literal calls to
violence by these groups, while [President] Trump's statements negating that
sentiment were insincere and existed to obfuscate and create plausible
deniability," id. at 9 84; and that (2) "[President] Trump's speech took place in the context of a pattern of [President] Trump's knowing 'encouragement and
promotion of violence' to develop and deploy a shared coded language with his
violent supporters,"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:svy36hcli2dtkebthtqcnods/bafkreidgwokjazehmgmy7ei4tgcuh327gp5yzfrouro23uw2mrd2eoeeaa@jpeg)
September 15, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Speaking of instigating political violence, Colorado Supreme Court had some thoughts (based on actual evidence and after adversarial proceeding):
The AZ Supreme Ct. will shortly hear arguments on a case that seeks to extend a recent enigma: the claim that the First Amendment actually requires less speech.
September 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The AZ Supreme Ct. will shortly hear arguments on a case that seeks to extend a recent enigma: the claim that the First Amendment actually requires less speech.
Reposted
NEW: Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in LA lacks justification from American history or judicial precedent.
We filed an amicus brief asking the 9th Circuit to affirm the lower court's temporary restraining order blocking these actions.
We filed an amicus brief asking the 9th Circuit to affirm the lower court's temporary restraining order blocking these actions.
CREW files historian amicus brief in support of California’s effort to block National Guard deployment to Los Angeles - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
The Ninth Circuit should affirm the district court’s temporary restraining order and block Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
www.citizensforethics.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
NEW: Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in LA lacks justification from American history or judicial precedent.
We filed an amicus brief asking the 9th Circuit to affirm the lower court's temporary restraining order blocking these actions.
We filed an amicus brief asking the 9th Circuit to affirm the lower court's temporary restraining order blocking these actions.
A court had this to say about those who attended the January 6 insurrection when disqualifying a state official under the 14th Amendment. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
August 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
A court had this to say about those who attended the January 6 insurrection when disqualifying a state official under the 14th Amendment. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted
On January 6th, Donald Trump took hours to send in the National Guard as insurrectionists threatened lawmakers and local police.
Now he's deploying federal law enforcement in DC on a random Monday.
This is about exerting power, not public safety.
Now he's deploying federal law enforcement in DC on a random Monday.
This is about exerting power, not public safety.
August 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
On January 6th, Donald Trump took hours to send in the National Guard as insurrectionists threatened lawmakers and local police.
Now he's deploying federal law enforcement in DC on a random Monday.
This is about exerting power, not public safety.
Now he's deploying federal law enforcement in DC on a random Monday.
This is about exerting power, not public safety.
Excellent piece by @joshchafetz.bsky.social. The Court thinks politics is hopelessly sordid all while it deprives the public of the legal means to do anything about it.
The final version of my "Corruption and the Supreme Court" has been published in the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities, and is available for download here: ssrn.com/abstract=497...
Corruption and the Supreme Court
Corruption is everywhere at the Supreme Court. The justices routinely rule on what is—and, more frequently, what is not—corrupt. Simultaneously, their off-the-b
ssrn.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Excellent piece by @joshchafetz.bsky.social. The Court thinks politics is hopelessly sordid all while it deprives the public of the legal means to do anything about it.
Reposted
With Colton's conviction, that makes FOUR pardoned January 6th insurrectionists who have faced charges for solicitation of a minor or child sex abuse of some kind.
July 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
With Colton's conviction, that makes FOUR pardoned January 6th insurrectionists who have faced charges for solicitation of a minor or child sex abuse of some kind.
Reposted
The country will lose an estimated $500 billion in incoming revenue this year alone due to cuts at the IRS.
And that's just one example of harm of DOGE's cuts. We compiled a whole lot more here:
And that's just one example of harm of DOGE's cuts. We compiled a whole lot more here:
DOGE’s big illusion: the heavy costs of the Trump administration’s so-called efficiency - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
CREW’s review of some of the programs targeted for cuts by DOGE and the Trump admin found that the elimination or reduction of these programs have directly cost over 50,000 people their jobs. DOGE’s c...
www.citizensforethics.org
June 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The country will lose an estimated $500 billion in incoming revenue this year alone due to cuts at the IRS.
And that's just one example of harm of DOGE's cuts. We compiled a whole lot more here:
And that's just one example of harm of DOGE's cuts. We compiled a whole lot more here:
Reposted
At least 10 pardoned Jan 6 insurrectionists have already been rearrested, charged or sentenced for other crimes—ranging from violent threats to child exploitation.
If Trump was serious about public safety, he wouldn’t have pardoned them. 🧵
If Trump was serious about public safety, he wouldn’t have pardoned them. 🧵
June 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
At least 10 pardoned Jan 6 insurrectionists have already been rearrested, charged or sentenced for other crimes—ranging from violent threats to child exploitation.
If Trump was serious about public safety, he wouldn’t have pardoned them. 🧵
If Trump was serious about public safety, he wouldn’t have pardoned them. 🧵
Reposted
NEW: We just filed our response to the government's appeal asking the Supreme Court to halt discovery in our DOGE Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
We'll keep fighting for the American people's right to transparency for as long as it takes. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
We'll keep fighting for the American people's right to transparency for as long as it takes. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
www.citizensforethics.org
May 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
NEW: We just filed our response to the government's appeal asking the Supreme Court to halt discovery in our DOGE Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
We'll keep fighting for the American people's right to transparency for as long as it takes. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
We'll keep fighting for the American people's right to transparency for as long as it takes. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted
NEW: Dark money spending in the 2024 federal elections hit $1.9 billion — nearly double the previous record.
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races
Spending by groups that do not disclose their donors has increased and become harder to trace.
www.brennancenter.org
May 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
NEW: Dark money spending in the 2024 federal elections hit $1.9 billion — nearly double the previous record.
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Notable that permanent residents are entitled to *contribute to political campaigns*, which even then judge Kavanaugh recognized.
March 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Notable that permanent residents are entitled to *contribute to political campaigns*, which even then judge Kavanaugh recognized.
Reposted
Justin Sun bought $75 million in tokens from the Trump family's crypto business, World Liberty Financial.
He's also an official advisor to the company.
What happened once Trump took office? The SEC decided to put its fraud case against Sun on hold.
He's also an official advisor to the company.
What happened once Trump took office? The SEC decided to put its fraud case against Sun on hold.
A crypto mogul who invested millions into Trump coins is getting a reprieve on civil fraud charges | CNN Business
A businessman who pumped $75 million into the Trump family-backed crypto token finds himself in a fortunate position this week as federal securities regulators are hitting pause on their civil fraud c...
www.cnn.com
March 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Justin Sun bought $75 million in tokens from the Trump family's crypto business, World Liberty Financial.
He's also an official advisor to the company.
What happened once Trump took office? The SEC decided to put its fraud case against Sun on hold.
He's also an official advisor to the company.
What happened once Trump took office? The SEC decided to put its fraud case against Sun on hold.
Reposted
As President Trump reshapes the government, firing watchdogs and bulldozing guardrails, a crucial campaign finance case at the D.C. Circuit raises the question of whether Americans can protect themselves against corruption in elections, or if they must rely on Trump allies. 🧵
February 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
As President Trump reshapes the government, firing watchdogs and bulldozing guardrails, a crucial campaign finance case at the D.C. Circuit raises the question of whether Americans can protect themselves against corruption in elections, or if they must rely on Trump allies. 🧵
Reposted
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
February 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
Presidents are not kings
On birthright citizenship - what do the EO proponents propose happen with 2d or 3d generation kids. What if a newly non-citizen child grows up and has their own kids. Still not citizens? What state are they citizens of? Are we to have a stateless permanent caste?
February 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
On birthright citizenship - what do the EO proponents propose happen with 2d or 3d generation kids. What if a newly non-citizen child grows up and has their own kids. Still not citizens? What state are they citizens of? Are we to have a stateless permanent caste?
Reposted
Donald Trump has taken unprecedented action by attempting to illegally fire Federal Election Commission Commissioner Ellen Weintraub. This is part of a continued attack on oversight and accountability.
Stand for the rule of law and show your support: actionnetwork.org/pe...
Stand for the rule of law and show your support: actionnetwork.org/pe...
February 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Donald Trump has taken unprecedented action by attempting to illegally fire Federal Election Commission Commissioner Ellen Weintraub. This is part of a continued attack on oversight and accountability.
Stand for the rule of law and show your support: actionnetwork.org/pe...
Stand for the rule of law and show your support: actionnetwork.org/pe...