Today’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturns Roe v. Wade and eliminates a constitutional right that was specifically enumerated a half century ago. Radical rightwing majorities in states across the country now have unchecked and absolute discretion to ban and criminalize people’s personal healthcare — and they are doing so with abortion […]
The role of state legislatures in Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the presidency was laid out for us all in excruciating detail during the January 6th Committee hearing on June 21st. We learned how state lawmakers were pressured by Trump’s legal team to ignore their own voters, ignore the constitution and the rule of law, […]
Read More… from What the January 6 Hearings are Actually About
This November, in every state where we choose to work, we’ll be fighting for our democracy and our country’s very future. We’ve already shared our first slate of states where we will be seeking to gain power this year. But, protecting against unchecked rightwing power in a state can also mean preventing a supermajority to […]
Read More… from New 2022 State Announcements: North Carolina and Nebraska
We’ve all been there. In a medical emergency you see a new doctor at your regular doctor’s practice. Or, your doctor refers you to another medical provider for a test or an outpatient procedure. Weeks later, you get a large bill in the mail, due to unexpected out-of-network costs. Well, no more! Thanks to a […]
Read More… from Ending Surprise Medical Billing: A Policy That Started in the States
What a tough week. The Freedom to Vote Act to protect voting rights is dead in Congress. The Supreme Court has kicked the Texas abortion law back to the Texas Supreme Court, which means it’s illegal for Texans to access an abortion, but it’s legal to sue anyone suspected of having or facilitating an abortion. […]
Read More… from Abortion Rights. Democracy. It Starts in the States.
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there “is” such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.” ―Dr. Martin […]
Last year, on January 6, we all watched with horror as the President encouraged a physical attack on our democracy. This year, we have to shift our attention from the U.S. Capitol to state capitols across the country. The onslaught on our democracy didn’t start last January 6 in the Capitol – and it certainly […]
In Give Smart’s first election in Virginia we helped shift the balance of power in the House of Delegates from a 51-49 rightwing majority to a new 55-45 majority. Unfortunately, now that recounts have concluded we know that control has shifted back in the chamber with a new 52-48 majority. While the result was a […]
Read More… from What Happened in Virginia: A Give Smart Recap
The work to overturn Roe v. Wade has been long coming, and it’s been slashed in state legislatures. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments over Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban — a law passed by state lawmakers in Mississippi with the specific goal of attacking a woman’s ability to make her own healthcare choices. Eleven […]
Read More… from Fight to Protect Abortion Access Where it’s Being Dismantled — In State Capitols
Over the weekend, news broke that in a rarely seen move, Trump has already endorsed state legislative candidates in Michigan and Arizona. Why endorse these candidates nine months ahead of the primaries? Because the radical rightwing’s strategy to hijack our democracy starts in state legislatures. State legislatures set the rules of the game for elections, […]
