News Alerts
US Senate Sidestepping Rules Opens a Dangerous Door for Attacks on Checks and Balances
May 30, 2025
Last week, the US Senate majority officially obstructed the ruling of the Senate Parliamentarian and weakened the filibuster rule by expanding the application of the Congressional Review Act in a vote intended to undo California’s electric vehicle mandate. This action could have ramifications for other bills the Senate is considering. In response, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, released the following statement:
“Senate Republicans ignored Senate rules to advance their own political agenda, most recently undermining the body’s parliamentary process to block a state-specific environmental rule. Parliamentarian processes are in place to ensure fair, orderly, and efficient decision-making, which makes this action problematic. If this behavior continues, all bets are off for how Congress operates, and the Republican majority could force any agenda item, no matter how extreme the impact to the American people.
"The US Senate has a responsibility to voters and constituents. Undermining the parliamentary process is a dangerous step that further erodes our democratic norms and Americans’ trust in our government to serve the public and protect democracy.”
Federal Court Approves a Consent Agreement To Protect Citizens from the Use of AI Technology to Intimidate, Threaten, Coerce, or Deceive Voters
Court-Approved Settlement Resolves League of Women Voters’ Robocall Lawsuit Against Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation
May 29, 2025
Concord, NH — On May 29, 2025, the US District Court in New Hampshire approved a consent judgment resolving claims brought by the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire (LWVNH), the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), and three individual voters against Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2024 by plaintiffs represented by Free Speech For People, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, and local counsel Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, Chartered, LLP, alleged that thousands of New Hampshire voters received robocalls using artificial intelligence to mimic then-President Biden’s voice. The calls, which spoofed a prominent New Hampshire Democrat, falsely warned voters that participating in the primary would forfeit their right to vote in the general election, urging them to “save” their vote. The complaint named political consultant Steve Kramer and three corporations, including Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation, as orchestrating and disseminating the message.
Under the consent judgment, Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation acknowledge that the robocall, orchestrated by their former client Steve Kramer, “had the potential to intimidate voters.” The companies have agreed to refrain from intimidating, threatening, or coercing voters in connection with U.S. elections and will implement a compliance plan to prevent the transmission of such messages in the future.
For more information about the consent judgment, click here.
To learn more about the case, click here.
League of Women Voters Files Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
May 29, 2025
Yesterday, the League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to invalidate an illegal executive order issued by President Trump seeking to revoke birthright citizenship. This brief, identical to one filed in April by the same organizations in Washington v. Trump, is being filed in New Jersey v. Trump – another case challenging the executive order.
Represented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, this filing reinforces that birthright citizenship is a right rooted in the purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were established to end slavery, ensure due process, and fortify voting rights. Collectively, these amendments protect the full personhood and civil rights of Black Americans and other historically excluded communities.
The brief also makes the case that the executive order would erode American democracy by diminishing the ability for Black Americans and other communities of color to meaningfully participate in democracy. The order would drastically reshape the electorate and reimpose a racial hierarchy previously abolished by the Reconstruction Amendments.
“The Fourteenth Amendment is unequivocal and clear: any person born in the United States is a US citizen,” said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The intent of the Fourteenth Amendment laid the groundwork for civil rights advancements in this country while securing a legal framework for equality in America. The League of Women Voters of the US will continue pushing this administration to honor the Constitution, push back on direct attacks on Black Americans and fight to ensure the promise of American democracy and personhood.”
Read the press release from Washington v. Trump, here.
Take Action to Protect Our Constitutional Rights
A Constitutional Convention — an “Article V Convention” — can be called for by a state for any reason. BUT – even a convention called for a specific purpose could spin out of control. There are no rules to limit what can be proposed or changed, giving powerful special interests free rein to rewrite the Constitution behind closed doors. Former Chief Justice Warren Burger warned: “There is no way to effectively limit or muzzle the actions of a Constitutional Convention.”
Tell your state Senator to vote YES on SJR-1
Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Wiener), sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California, would rescind all of California’s prior calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention. In today’s political climate, where extremist forces are actively seeking to undermine democracy, California’s open calls for a convention offer a direct pathway to chaos. California has seven open calls on the books—each one an open invitation to dismantle the Constitution. SJR-1 is our chance to close that door before it’s too late.
ACT NOW! STAND WITH THE LEAGUE. STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY. SUPPORT SJR-1
Read more about SJR-1 by taking a look at the bill’s fact sheet here.
League of Women Voters Responds to Arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
May 10, 2025
Today, the League of Women Voters of the United States and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey released the following joint statement in response to the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka outside an ICE detention facility in New Jersey:
“We are deeply alarmed over the arrest of Mayor Baraka while attempting to investigate the condition and treatment of detainees in his city. Mayor Baraka was joined by Members of Congress, who are lawfully able to visit detention centers. Efforts to expose injustice should never be met with obstruction or criminalization by the government.
“As a nonpartisan pro-democracy organization, we are deeply alarmed by the ongoing ICE detentions, which fly in the face of due process and human rights. These actions undermine the democratic values of fairness, accountability, and equal treatment under the law.
“In a democracy, holding institutions accountable should be protected — not punished. The League of Women Voters will continue to defend our country’s principles and speak out when there is executive overreach and whenever people's rights are denied — especially by the government. We believe silence in the face of injustice is not an option. We call on the President to immediately stop these unlawful actions and for Congress to stand up for fellow members of Congress impacted by this event."
Are You a Target of Fake News? Learn how to be a DIGITAL DETECTIVE
In the past few years, internet browsers have been bombarded with so many articles spewing out disinformation that it has become increasingly difficult and time-consuming to discern the truth. The web has become the lawless Wild West of fake news - false claims, outright lies and half-truths. How do we navigate through all the claims on the internet? Educators around the world have stepped up and are training their students to be skeptical of what they read on the internet. Here are some helpful tips on how to approach any news article:
Determine first: Who has written this? Are they a reputable or reliable source?
Is this written by a real person with a long history commenting on diverse topics or a fictitious-person created by an internet troll who targets conspiracy theories - over and over and over?
Where has the article been published? Can I find the same information from another source, a more reliable one?
Examine claims found in YouTube videos and social media posts. Are they “clickbait” articles that spew out disinformation meant to prey on your emotions?
Think twice before you like or share an article on social media.
Don’t buy into hate, educate!
Avoid cynicism but be skeptical.
Be Web Literate - Fact check everything.
SIFT: Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace:
SIFT is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert Michael Caulfield (Washington State University Vancouver) to help you judge whether or online content can be trusted for credible and reliable information. The SIFT strategy is quick, simple, and can be applied to various kinds of online content: social media posts, memes, statistics, videos, images, news articles, scholarly articles, etc.What is SIFT? Read more Here: https://guides.lib.wayne.edu/sift
Some Reputable Fact-Checking Organizations:
The following organizations are generally regarded as reputable fact-checking organizations focused on U.S. national news:
Respected specialty sites cover niche areas such as climate or celebrities. Here are a few examples:
How to use your phone to spot fake images:
Contact Us
League of Women Voters ® of Torrance Area
Email: League@LWVTorranceArea.org
Phone: (310) 223-6897
Mailing address: P.O. Box 964
Torrance, CA 90508
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