We hope you and your loved ones are taking care during this time of fear and instability.  

We are happy to bring you The People’s Bi-Weekly Watchdog Newsletter, delivered to your inbox every other Thursday. We bring you the news you need to know to hold power accountable from the nonpartisan source you can trust.  

This week’s Common Cause newsletter is just a 4.5 minute read at 650 words. 

🚨 The Trump Terror in Los Angeles

Early this week, The Trump administration ordered 700 U.S. Marines to join the 2,000 unrequested, federally activated National Guard troops in Los Angeles in response to this weekend’s protests over ICE’s presence and mass deportation efforts.

This is an aggressive, overextension of power to escalate tensions in a situation that this administration created. 

The right to peaceful protest is protected by the United States Constitution. If the military can be weaponized against citizens in Los Angeles exercising their rights, and the California governor’s leadership can be illegally undermined by the president, it can happen anywhere, in any state. 

This is a move straight from the authoritarian’s playbook. We reaffirm our peaceful fight for justice through due process – in the courts, in the legislature, and in the streets through organized, nonviolent action. 

Read our statement here.  

🔍 Calling for an Investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s Mayoral Campaign

Common Cause wants regulators to investigate mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo’s relationship with Tusk Strategies.

Tusk Strategies is giving Cuomo’s campaign free consulting — and failing to disclose those in-kind donations from the public, says Common Cause’s Susan Lerner, who filed a complaint with the city Campaign Finance Board. This appears to violate New York’s campaign finance laws, potentially allowing the campaign to skirt around contribution limits. 

Fairness and transparency in our elections is vital to public trust — and the people of New York deserve a campaign finance system that is worthy of that trust. That’s why we’re calling for a prompt and thorough investigation.

🥊 When Oligarchs Fight, Americans Lose

After Elon Musk departed from the Trump administration last week, they began the fight seen across the web — taking digs at each other and threatening to spill national secrets. 

This is what happens when unelected billionaires are allowed to meddle in our government. Since day one, we’ve called for the firing of Elon Musk. Because rewarding your friends with taxpayer-funded contracts and taking them away from your enemies is a massive problem — and it’s called corruption.

📱 Our Favorite Tweet 

👀 ICYMI 

We’re working so hard to protect our democracy, we could write you a novel instead of a newsletter. Instead, here are the top headlines you don’t want to miss: 

• Texas 🤠: A dangerous proof-of-citizenship law died in Texas, but is part of a larger national movement endorsed by President Trump. Anthony Gutierrez spoke to the Washington Post about how advocates helped defeat the bill, and what’s next. Read more here.
• Massachusetts 🍀: Legislation is moving to create more transparency around campaign ads for the Commonwealth. Geoff Foster speaks in support of the bill, so that big-money special interests won’t go undetected when they try to buy their preferred policies or candidates. Read more in the Commonwealth Beacon.
• Ohio 🎢: Common Cause advocates in Ohio are fighting state legislation that could damage Ohio’s initiative process, which allows citizens to organize for new initiated statutes or constitutional amendments. Read more in the Ohio Capital Journal.
• Wisconsin 🧀: Just like we saw in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the ultra-wealthy are dumping money into local races in an attempt to push states further right. It’s happening across America — Wisconsin Director Jay Heck, among other Common Cause leaders, detail exactly why this jeopardizes our democracy. Read more in Raw Story.
  

📊 By the Numbers

While the GOP’s proposed budget slashes benefits for hardworking Americans, the rich keep getting richer. Here’s a breakdown of how much Elon Musk benefited from our tax dollars — at the direct expense of the people. 

🗞️ Kicker Quote 

👕 Wear your values

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