Ben Berwick

Counsel at Protect Democracy. Former DOJ. Father, husband, brother, son, uncle, Red Sox fan. Views are my own (though I hope shared by others).

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@samstein is absolutely right about this being the biggest news of the election cycle. It’s hard to overstate how catastrophic it would have been had the Supreme Court allowed this rule to be in effect for this election. This is a huge win for voters and our democracy.

[Sam Stein @samstein]

biggest news of the election cycle. That Alito and Thomas dissented is both not surprising and.... [insert your adjective of choice]

[Norman Ornstein @NormOrnstein]

The Supreme Court‘s opinion in the Virginia voter purge case is more deeply unsettling than it appears on the surface. It is about only 1600 voters, a significant portion probably perfectly legal. But right wing justices completely blew away the express language of the law. 1

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

I’m extremely proud to be a part of this case with @protctdemocracy colleagues and our amazing partners and clients. It’s just too bad that we have a Court that is willing to ignore clear law and facts in service of an agenda to make it harder for people to vote.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

There is a lot to be angry about here, but I’ll highlight one particular point. The 4th Cir wrote an extremely thorough and thoughtful opinion in less than 24 hours, and the Supreme Court couldn’t be bothered to provide a single sentence explaining its reasoning. Disgraceful.

[Protect Democracy @protctdemocracy]

BREAKING: Despite clear facts and law, SCOTUS overturned two carefully reasoned federal court rulings in our lawsuit challenging Virginia’s illegal voter-purge program w/o explaining their decision. Bottom line: We know this program removes eligible voters.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

My @protctdemocracy colleague @AnnaLovesVoting is absolutely right about this. More from the two of us on *why* we’re seeing this lie over and over and over again: https://t.co/WrPIpqGYr5

[Protect Democracy @protctdemocracy]

BREAKING: A court just ruled that VA illegally purged eligible voters before the election. This ruling will protect eligible Virginian voters’ right to vote. Suit filed on behalf of @VA_Immigrants, @LWVVA, @africansus.
Read more: https://t.co/pWg27L39zg

[Protect Democracy @protctdemocracy]

Yesterday’s SCOTUS decision *does not* preclude Trump from seeing trial before November, explains @KPNatsFan, former federal civil rights prosecutor at the @TheJusticeDept. Read why in this week's edition of
➡️ If you can keep it ⬅️

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[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

As someone who thinks about this stuff every day (as part of my job at ⁦@protctdemocracy⁩), this piece is the most lucid and insightful that I’ve read on the threat to our democracy. Not a fun read, but an absolutely essential one. https://t.co/QEumzumpgz

[Protect Democracy @protctdemocracy]

NEW: @Protctdemocracy + @CitizenData poll finds if we planned Thanksgiving like we elect Congress, we’d only have turkey and stuffing for dinner. Americans are hungry for reform, and there are other ways to plan the menu:

🔗https://t.co/xJ5U84bf9w

[Protect Democracy @protctdemocracy]

BREAKING: The city of San Marcos and its police dept have agreed to settle our case alleging they turned a blind eye to the so-called “Trump Train” engaging in political violence against passengers on the Biden-Harris bus in lead-up to the 2020 election. https://t.co/YOmJFS4SJh

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@catehall Very interesting. Thanks for engaging on this!

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@catehall What makes you say it probably came from a lab? I know very little about this, but found this thread pretty convincing: https://t.co/biGjRpibCl

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@KeithSmithNBA I only watch the Magic when they’re playing against the Celtics, but based on that I’m not sure how they ever lose.

[Jen Fifield @JenAFifield]

Federal judge orders ballot drop box watchers not to engage voters, no photos/video of voters, no visible guns/gear.

But also, orders founder of Clean Elections USA to post the truth on Truth Social: In AZ, it's legal to drop off others' ballots in some circumstances.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@lwvaz @protctdemocracy @rdanjuma @rachelfhomer Oh and a critical addition! I am in awe of the voters who came forward today to tell their stories. They are the real reason for this victory.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

It was such an honor to represent @lwvaz in this important case to protect the right of Arizona voters to vote free from intimidation, along with my unbelievable @protctdemocracy colleagues @rdanjuma, @rachelfhomer, and many others. A great win for democracy!

[League of Women Voters of the US @LWV]

🚨BREAKING NEWS! Federal Judge rules in LWV's favor. Voters in Arizona will not face intimidation at the drop box!

More to come once we have the judge's written ruling.

[@judgeluttig @judgeluttig]

Eminent constitutional scholars, Yale Law Professor Akhil Amar, his brother Dean Vikram Amar @Prof_Amar, and Northwestern Law Professor Steven Calebresi, filed an amicus brief today in support of respondents in Moore v. Harper.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@AdamKinzinger is 100% right. Our democracy is facing an existential crisis and some democratic operatives are elevating those who are responsible (and undermining reasonable Republicans) for marginal potential electoral gain. Incredible hubris and shortsightedness. Just stop.

[Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 @AdamKinzinger]

Between this, and Pritzker spending to promote election denier Darren Bailey, I continue to doubt if many dem operatives have a clue how threatened Democracy is. Play with fire.

House Dems try to sink pro-impeachment Republican in primary - POLITICO https://t.co/SrsH0hy9t5

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

@filmwritr4 But I don’t think they could give themselves the power now to overturn the results if they don’t like who the voters choose - that would still violate federal law.

[Ben Berwick @benberwick]

I'm a little late to this generally excellent @jbouie piece on the radical and dangerous "independent state legislature" (ISL) theory. I want to push back on one aspect of it. https://t.co/aJH6bRZUkZ 1/7