Washington, D.C. September 26, 2020— Following Donald Trump’s nomination of Seventh Circuit judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court seat formerly held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement: “It is no surprise that Donald Trump has nominated another anti-health care, […]
People for the American Way
PFAW’s Right Wing Watch: Trump Embrace of Ukraine Theory Not as Inexplicable as it Looks
WAshington, D.C. Sept. 30, 2019 — Donald Trump’s fateful phone conversation with the president of Ukraine included references to a far-right conspiracy theory about Ukrainian links to the 2016 DNC hack that aides reportedly warned him had been thoroughly debunked. But according to researchers at PFAW’s Right Wing Watch, who continually monitor far-right web and media […]
People For the American Way Foundation Statement on Banned Books Week, Sept. 22-28
WAshington, D.C. SEPT. 23, 2019— As the nation observes Banned Books Week this week (Sept. 22-28), PFAW President Michael Keegan released the following statement: “People For the American Way Foundation is proud once again to sponsor Banned Books Week, an annual event dedicated to the freedom to read and freedom of speech. Unfortunately, this year’s Banned Books […]
Arn Pearson: The Power of Impeachment: Grounds, Modern Practice, and President Trump
To: Interested Parties From: Arn Pearson, Senior Fellow, People For the American Way Date: September 27, 2017 Re: The Power of Impeachment: Grounds, Modern Practice, and President Trump The power of impeachment—firmly embedded in American history—is the one tool our Constitution gives Congress to redress abuses of power and the public trust by the President of the United States. […]
PFAW Statement on Montana’s Special Election Results
WASHINGTON May 26, 2017 – In response to Greg Gianforte’s win in Montana’s special election for the state’s at-large congressional seat, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan released the following statement: “Greg Gianforte may have pulled out a win, but these results are very bad news for the GOP. In addition to winning […]
Diallo Brooks: Trump continuing to push his lies about widespread voter fraud
May 11, 2017 – In response to reports that Donald Trump will launch an election commission designed to pursue unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the United States, Diallo Brooks, Director of Outreach and Public Engagement at People For the American Way issued the following statement. Donald Trump has lied about Mike Flynn. He’s […]
Arn Pearson: Comey Firing Drives Home Need for Independent Russiagate Prosecutor
May 10, 2017 – President Donald Trump’s surprise firing of FBI Director James Comey makes one thing perfectly clear—Americans need an independent prosecutor to investigate and enforce the law in the growing Russiagate scandal. Comey’s firing came just hours after CNN learned that the FBI has issued grand jury subpoenas in the Russia investigation and […]
Michael Keegan: GOP’s Decision to Blow Up Rules to Ram Through an Extreme SCOTUS Nominee is a Betrayal of the American People
WASHINGTON, April 6, 2017—In response to the news that Senate Republicans have chosen to invoke the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules to require only a majority vote to confirm Supreme Court nominees, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan released the following statement: This is a sad day for the Senate, for the […]
PFAW: Supreme Court Confirmation Process Too Important to Rush
March 13, 2017 – After blocking confirmation of Justice Scalia’s replacement on the U.S. Supreme Court for a full year, the Senate Judiciary Committee is now preparing to take up the nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the post on March 20, barely seven weeks after President Trump announced his pick. However, too much has […]
Paul Gordon: Real People, Real Lives: The Harm Caused By Judge Gorsuch
Feb. 20, 2017 – Paul Gordon is senior legislative counsel, focusing particularly on matters relating to the federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Gordon specializes in analysis of the real impacts of important court decisions, including cases on money in politics, voting rights, religious liberty, LGBTQ equality, and the growing power of corporate interests. When […]
Drew Courtney: Gorsuch Standing Up To Trump Tweets? Puh-leeze!
Feb. 8, 2017 – Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch were atwitter today about reports that in a meeting with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Gorsuch had called President Donald Trump’s attacks on the federal judiciary “disheartening” and ‘”demoralizing.” Is Gorsuch distancing himself from Trump? As we say on the internet: LOL. To be clear: Donald […]
Brian Tashman: The Fact-Free White House: Donald Trump Assembles A Team Of Conspiracy Theorists
Dec. 12, 2016 – Donald Trump spent his presidential campaign promoting claims and wild conspiracy theories, a habit he hasn’t broken since becoming president-elect. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that as he builds out his Cabinet and administration Trump is choosing to surround himself with people who similarly gravitate towards fake news and baseless propaganda. Several of Trump’s […]
Elliot Mincberg: Why Jeff Sessions is the Wrong Choice to be the “People’s Lawyer”
Dec. 8, 2016 – History has long recognized that the Attorney General of the United States, a position established by Congress in 1789, is not the president’s lawyer but the “people’s lawyer.” As President Obama explained when he nominated Loretta Lynch to that important job: The person in this position is responsible for enforcing our […]
Nine Newly Elected Members of Congress Circulate Letter Backing Corporate Political Spending Disclosure and Clear Electioneering Guidelines for Non-Profits
WASHINGTON, D.C. November 29, 2016 – Congress must take the shackles off of federal agencies trying to drain the Washington swamp and fix government, nine newly elected members of Congress told their future colleagues in a letter (PDF) circulated yesterday. The letter singles out two campaign finance rules proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange […]
Diallo Brooks: People For the American Way Foundation Calls on Florida Governor Rick Scott to Extend Voter Registration Deadline
Oct. 7, 2016 – Given the severity of Hurricane Matthew, including the ordered evacuations of 1.5 million people, People For the American Way Foundation is calling on Florida Governor Rick Scott to reconsider his stance against extending the voter registration deadline for Floridians. People For the American Way Foundation Director of Outreach and Public Engagement […]