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December 17, 2024

SLATE: The Only Way to Interpret ABC’s Trump Defamation Settlement

Norm Eisen reflects on the announcement that ABC News and its parent company Disney reached a dubious settlement of a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump, capping off an extraordinary stretch of capitulation by major players in old and new media since October.

December 5, 2024

NEWSWEEK: Pardons May Be Key to Protecting People From Political Persecution

Norm Eisen, Richard Painter and Kim Wehle encourage President Joe Biden to grant Trump critics and whistleblowers pardons to protect against unjust political prosecutions in the next administration.

November 22, 2024

SLATE: The True Lesson of the Matt Gaetz Nomination Crash

Norm Eisen, Diamond Brown and Gabe Lezra discuss Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from Attorney General Consideration and how this decision points to an optimistic future for our democratic pillars.

November 4, 2024

SLATE: Trump's Next Big Lie Has Already Begun

Norm Eisen and LULAC CEO Juan Proaño discuss the newest "Big Lie of 2024" espoused by Donald Trump and his allies about immigrants and voting.

October 22, 2024

AJC: Georgia Courts Continue to Put Rule of Law Over Politics

Norm Eisen and Richard Painter discuss the recent decision by Georgia courts to strike down rules crafted by the MAGA-aligned majority of the Georgia State Election Board – delivering a monumental victory for GA voters.

October 20, 2024

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: In a Pair of Legal Cases on the Validity of Pa. Mail-in Ballots, the Voices of Voters Must Prevail

Two cases remain active on appeal before the state Supreme Court that could help shape the 2024 election – and the future of voting in the commonwealth.

August 8, 2024

MSNBC: Trump and His Allies Are Previewing Their Election Sabotage Plan in Georgia

Norm Eisen, Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of Fair Fight, and Carol Anderson, Woodruff Professor of African American Studies at Emory University discuss the recent efforts in Georgia which could lay the foundation for obstructing the certification of the 2024 election.

DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION CONDEMNS THE HARASSMENT OF GOVERNOR PRITZKER

Press Release | September 12, 2025

Following is a statement from Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Action, regarding a right-wing extremist—who had previously been embedded in Chicago ICE operations—who harassed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at his home this week.

ON DAY FEDERAL CONTROL OF D.C. ENDS, HOUSE PUSHES BILLS UNDERMINING SELF-GOVERNANCE

Press Release | September 10, 2025

Following is a statement from Susan Corke, executive director of Democracy Defenders Action, regarding the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform markup of legislation on D.C. home rule.

33 GROUPS CALL ON CONGRESS TO HALT RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY CENSUS AND REDISTRICTING EFFORTS

Press Release | September 5, 2025

In a joint letter, 33 organizations are urging Congress to enact legislative safeguards and provide oversight to prevent state-level manipulation of the census and redistricting for racially discriminatory and partisan purposes.

GOP MEMBERS JOIN WITH DEMS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DEFEAT LAMONICA MCIVER CENSURE

Press Release | September 3, 2025

Following is a statement from Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action, regarding the failed U.S. House motion to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) and remove her from the House Homeland Security Committee.

DDA ENDORSES ETHICS REFORM BILL THAT WOULD BAN MOC FROM OWNING OR TRADING STOCKS

Press Release | September 3, 2025

Following is a statement from Virginia Canter, anticorruption and ethics chief counsel and director at Democracy Defenders Action on today’s introduction of the Restore Trust in Congress Act.

UNLAWFUL ATTEMPT TO REMOVE LISA COOK THREATENS FED’S INDEPENDENCE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

Press Release | August 26, 2025

Following is a statement by Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Action, regarding President Trump’s social media post announcing he was firing Lisa Cook, who was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in 2022.

TEXAS REDISTRICTING IS FUELED BY A LEGACY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION AND A GREEN LIGHT FROM THE SUPREME COURT

Press Release | August 21, 2025

Following is a statement by Tianna Mays, legal director at Democracy Defenders Action, regarding the Texas Legislature passing a mid-cycle electoral map on a party-line vote.

OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR BAN ON CRYPTO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Press Release | August 13, 2025

The signers contend that President Trump’s personal and political ties to the crypto industry create massive conflicts of interest and the possibility of enormous corruption.

TRUMP’S ATTEMPTED TAKEOVER OF D.C. IS AN AUTHORITARIAN POWER GRAB, NOT A ‘CRIME’ SOLUTION

Press Release | August 11, 2025

Following is a statement from Susan Corke, executive director of Democracy Defenders Action, on President Trump’s announcement that he will federalize Washington D.C.'s police force and deploy federal troops to the city.

DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION RESPONDS TO SENATE COMMITTEE’S REQUEST FOR INPUT ON CRYPTO LEGISLATION, URGES STRONG ETHICS GUARDRAILS

Press Release | August 8, 2025

Democracy Defenders Action calls for divestment, disclosure, and enforcement rules to block self-dealing in crypto policymaking.

THE CONTRARIAN: Publisher's Roundup, 11

“Have You No Sense of Decency,” Mr. Trump?

THE CONTRARIAN: Publisher's Roundup, 10

Trump is Lashing Out Because He’s Losing

THE CONTRARIAN: Why Donald Trump Is Attacking Me—and You

Publisher's Roundup, 9. "You may have seen that on Friday afternoon, Donald Trump lashed out at me over and over again during a speech at the Department of Justice. At me…and at you, dear Contrarians. He is doing this because we are successfully challenging his lawlessness together. For this week’s publisher’s note, I want to encourage you to perceive his targeted vitriol as a badge of honor."

THE CONTRARIAN: Here Comes the House

Publisher's Roundup, 8. "We know from the experience of other nations that have thrown off autocratic leaders that defeating tyranny requires a whole of society approach. My week was framed by two pro-democracy power-moves by the minority in the House of Representatives. They augur the major role that the minority in that body, led by Hakeem Jeffries, will play in the days and months ahead."

THE CONTRARIAN: The Oval Outrage—and The Contrarian Counter

Publisher's Roundup, 7. Norm Eisen writes about the infamous attack on President Zelensky of Ukraine by Donald Trump and JD Vance. To treat any foreign leader—any guest—visiting the Oval Office with such contempt, belligerence, and ignorance is utterly unacceptable.

THE CONTRARIAN: Spring training—for democracy!

Publisher's Roundup, 6. "Across the country, Trump’s illegal actions are being stopped by the courts, they’re being protested in the streets and questioned at increasing volumes in town halls. For every illegal action, pro-democracy lawyers and organizations (some bipartisan) are working to file multiple lawsuits and have multiple demonstrations against it. The coalition of pro-democracy forces has won many fights—but not all of them"

THE CONTRARIAN: Quid pro quo? Hell no! (aka Sassoon-er or Later Trump Will Go

Publisher's Roundup, 5. "Donald Trump’s full-on assault on law and decency just completed its fourth week—but so did the vigorous pro-democracy response that we highlighted here at The Contrarian."

NEW YORK TIMES: LULAC and State Democracy Defenders Action Push Back Against the "Big Lie" of Non-Citizen Voters

The League of United Latin American Citizens and State Democracy Defenders Action partner up in a new report providing a comprehensive analysis of Donald Trump and his allies' efforts to push a disinformation campaign based on lies about immigrants and voting.

Amb. Norm Eisen Testifies Before the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Manhattan District Attorney's Office

Ambassador Eisen explains why Trump's New York conviction for 2016 election interference and cover up matters as he limbers up to do the same thing in 2024.