Bright Line Watch

An initiative to monitor democratic practices in the U.S. and call attention to threats to American democracy.

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch report https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

Key findings:
-Experts view Trump immunity claim as profound threat to democracy, identify second term scenarios threatening democracy as likely.
-Public polarized on Trump legal claims and cases

Detailed findings in 🧵 (1/9)

[John Carey @johncarey03755]

New @BrightLineWatch report on “Courts, campaigns, and confidence in American democracy” with @BrendanNyhan , @GretchenHlmk, Sue Stokes, and @obboutin - https://t.co/axrCiDCVR6 1/n

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/uebjVmJRKf

Ratings of the performance of U.S. democracy overall are up slightly since last summer, but experts and the public both expect democratic decline in the future, especially if Donald Trump is re-elected. (9/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/uebjVmKpzN

If Trump wins, experts expect him to fire Jack Smith, pardon Jan. 6 insurrectionists, suspend ongoing prosecutions, pardon himself, and open criminal investigations into opponents. Rs overwhelming approve of these actions (6/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/uebjVmJRKf

Rs are confident that their own votes (79%) and votes in their state (77%) will be counted as intended in 2024. However, just 54% of Rs are confident in the national vote count in 2024. Democrats are much more confident. (8/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

A majority of the public believes Biden would have been prosecuted for his handling of classified documents if he’d been someone else, including 43% of Democrats and 88% of Republicans, but just one-fifth of experts agree (5/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch report https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

Key findings:
-Experts view Trump immunity claim as profound threat to democracy, identify second term scenarios threatening democracy as likely.
-Public polarized on Trump legal claims and cases

Detailed findings in 🧵 (1/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

Fewer than half of Americans think the prosecutions of Trump are politically motivated (Rs ~80%, Ds ~25%). Experts generally don't agree – but more (40%) think the NY hush money case is. (4/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

54% of the public trusts the Supreme Court to make impartial decisions in Trump-related cases. Confidence higher among Republicans (69%) than among Democrats (44%). (3/9)

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New @BrightLineWatch survey https://t.co/bp9rsPrY8p

Democrats and Republicans are polarized over disqualification from ballot and over Trump claim to criminal immunity. Overall support for immunity is lower. Experts regard immunity as a serious threat to democracy. (2/9)

[Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan on 🟦☁️) @BrendanNyhan]

NEW: @BrightLineWatch report featuring detailed public/expert survey data on Trump cases https://t.co/jG6IM5AYZL

-Few Rs think Trump broke law (unlike experts) but ↑ since docs charges
-Rs split on punishment for specific docs charges
-Experts still rate as benefit to democracy

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

Features our new @BrightLineWatch report https://t.co/WYcEv31llu

[The Globe and Mail @globeandmail]

Doubts over integrity of American politics remain in run-up to midterm contests https://t.co/NRLUHrt2bt

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

New report! https://t.co/HFSVh7uoa8

[Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan on 🟦☁️) @BrendanNyhan]

NEW: @BrightLineWatch on state of US democracy https://t.co/YtUEPDqc3Q

-R acceptance of Biden win/trust in natl. vote ↑ vs '21, but vote confidence still ↓ vs '20
-Pervasive candidate denialism
-Experts: Trump run profound democratic threat, prosecution major benefit

🧵 below

[Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan on 🟦☁️) @BrendanNyhan]

NEW: @BrightLineWatch on state of US democracy https://t.co/YtUEPDqc3Q

-R acceptance of Biden win/trust in natl. vote ↑ vs '21, but vote confidence still ↓ vs '20
-Pervasive candidate denialism
-Experts: Trump run profound democratic threat, prosecution major benefit

🧵 below

[Jennifer N. Victor @jenvictor.bsky.social @jennifernvictor]

Read the thread and the full report for this essential work from THE scholars studying the health and viability of US government. Mostly discouraging news, with a few bright elements of hope. Amazing work @BrightLineWatch!

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

More on threats to US democracy @newyorker, with commentary from @BrightLineWatch’s @BrendanNyhan here https://t.co/xDDxm6mmzw

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

Our new @BrightLineWatch report on the state of US democracy, including new findings on public confidence in the 2022 elections, perceptions of the opposition's commitment to democratic norms, and expert assessments of reforms to improve our democracy https://t.co/giHo0GKhZX

🧵

[Bright Line Watch @BrightLineWatch]

Coverage in the @latimes by @EliStokols here https://t.co/vtenMAmf3B