Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 13h

I spoke to @dahlialithwick.bsky.social the morning after my oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais. It was all still a blur, but, I do recall having the best belly laugh in a long time with Dahlia just before we got into the serious stuff. Have a listen.

Dahlia Lithwick @dahlialithwick.bsky.social · 13h

Thank you for your patience, Amicus listeners. This week's episode is now up and running. Listen! It's an important conversation with Janai Nelson about probably the most important case of the term. (and pls let us know if you're still having trouble accessing it) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

Voting Rights, But Mainly for White People

Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 10/18/2025 · 51m

podcasts.apple.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 1d

This is the literal picture of partnership. I’m so proud to call Anthony Romero a friend and colleague.

LDF x ACLU =

FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR JUSTICE

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

The Weekend: Primetime @theweekendprime.bsky.social · 2d

TONIGHT AT 6: @gtconway.bsky.social joins as enormous
No Kings protests erupt nationwide against Trump. Plus, Legal Defense Fund President @janainelson.bsky.social on her high-stakes defense of the Voting Rights Act before the Supreme Court.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 2d

January 20, 2025 reprise.

Happy NoKingsDayOct18th!

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 2d

Happy #NoKingsDayOct18th! Sharing this helpful resource from the Democracy Security Project for everyone participating in demonstrations today. Peaceful protest is our right. democracysecurityproject.org/protest

protest — Democracy Security Project

democracysecurityproject.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 2d

In my #NoKingsDayOct18th yellow, I joined ⁦‪@CapehartJ‬⁩ @jelani9‬⁩ @EugeneDaniels2‬⁩ ⁦‪@JackieAleman24‬⁩ on ⁦‪@TheWeekendMSNBC‬⁩’s to discuss why we all win with fair maps & the importance of the SCOTUS argument in Louisiana v. Callais.

youtube.com/shorts/jdBK9...

Louisiana v. Callais Is About Racial Discrimination

YouTube video by The Legal Defense Fund

youtube.com

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 5d

Didn’t have a chance to listen to @janainelson.bsky.social’s brilliant argument before the SCOTUS? You can listen here: www.c-span.org/program/publ...
Here’s a moment of her opening. Your welcome!

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

The Weeknight on MSNBC @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social · 5d

Voting rights are about giving “Black voters a fair shot – not even a fair share! – just a fair shot at electing representatives of their choice”: @janainelson.bsky.social, president and director-counsel of the @legaldefensefund.bsky.social, who defended voting rights before the Supreme Court today.

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

The Weeknight on MSNBC @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social · 5d

“Justices should be concerned about the gross imbalance of political power that exists in this country along the lines of race,” says @janainelson.bsky.social, president and director-counsel of the @legaldefensefund.bsky.social, who defended voting rights before the Supreme Court today.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 4d

Many thanks to @theGrio for this wonderful profile. It was an honor to argue Louisiana v. Callais at the Supreme Court of the United States in defense of the Voting Rights Act, democracy, and fair maps for all voters. thegrio.com/2025/10/16/m...

Meet Janai Nelson, the attorney who just argued her first Supreme Court case to protect Black voting rights

Nelson's crucial oral arguments on Wednesday sought to preserve the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

thegrio.com

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Reposted by Janai Nelson

The Weeknight on MSNBC @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social · 5d

Voting rights take center stage as the Supreme Court takes up a case that could give Republicans up to 19 more House seats. @janainelson.bsky.social joins The Weeknight after arguing the case before the court, to discuss the stakes for voting rights and the balance of power heading into the midterms

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 10d

The political prosecution of A.G Leticia James is yet another example of the Trump admin’s alarming pattern of attacking and punishing Black public servants, esp Black women, who it personally and politically opposes. Read our statement below.

www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Resolutely Denounces the Indictment of New York Attorney General Leticia James

Legal Defense Fund (LDF) President and Director-Counsel Janai S. Nelson issued the below statement in response to the indictment of New York Attorney General Leticia James. Reportedly, the indictment ...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 11d

I hope the prosecutor stamped “witch hunt” on the indictment because it could not be more plain. Seems like a good time to remind folks—especially lawyers in the administration—that the immunity SCOTUS gave Trump will not protect them from collusion or other charges when it all comes to light.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 11d

Breaking News: Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, is said to have been indicted after President Trump pushed the Justice Department to seek charges against her. James, who is accused of committing mortgage fraud, brought a civil case against Trump in 2022. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Attorney General Letitia James of New York is in front of a microphone. A headline reads: "New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Pressure From Trump."

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 18d

Congratulations to the Gullah-Geechee community on this historic win for land preservation. Georgia’s highest court sides with slave descendants fighting to protect threatened island community apnews.com/article/gull...

Georgia's highest court sides with slave descendants fighting to protect threatened island community

Georgia's highest court is siding with Black landowners in a zoning dispute affecting a historic Gullah-Geechee community.

apnews.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 19d

Well, isn’t this great? Yet? Again? Asking for the millions of tax-paying Americans who will suffer needlessly because of this circus called an administration.

Government Shuts Down After Senate Spending Votes Fail
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Trump Administration Live Updates: U.S. Begins Shutdown That Could Lead to Mass Layoffs and Service Cuts

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 21d

LDF is proud to join this important effort to denounce the baseless targeting of civil society.

Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump's targeting of George Soros and his foundations apnews.com/article/atta...

Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump's targeting of George Soros and his foundations

Dozens of progressive nonprofits condemned President Donald Trump’s general attacks on his political opponents and a specific report of a potential investigation into billionaire George Soros’ philant...

apnews.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 21d

Powerful new piece by Nikole Hannah Jones on the mainstreaming of extremism via collective tragedy and trauma.

What the Public Memory of Charlie Kirk Revealed www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/m...

What the Public Memory of Charlie Kirk Revealed

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 22d

Still heartbroken over the passing of freedom fighter Assata Olugbala Shakur who died in exile in Cuba. Assata means “she who struggles” and she never left the struggle even during her decades of asylum. May she rest in peace and power—and as an example of undaunted resistance & resilience.

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 24d

Former Fed Chairs Urge Supreme Court to Protect Fed Independence in support of Lisa Cook

www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

Former Fed Chairs Urge Supreme Court to Protect Fed Independence

Leading U.S. economic policymakers over the last 35 years, including every living former chair of the Federal Reserve, urged the Supreme Court to allow Fed governor Lisa Cook to rem

www.wsj.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 25d

The Comey indictment coupled with today’s executive order targeting so-called antifa groups and supporters is another significant acceleration in our descent as a nation to one marked by overt political retribution and absolute abuse of executive power.
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Develops New Strategy to Counter Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence

COUNTERING DOMESTIC TERRORISM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) establishing a comprehensive

www.whitehouse.gov

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 25d

BREAKING: Despite the lack of clear evidence and ethical concerns about bringing a case without clear probable cause,per sources, Halligan sought an indictment of FMR FBI Director James Comey days after Trump demanded DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies. abcnews.go.com/US/former-fb...

Former FBI Director James Comey indicted days after Trump demanded his DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted just days after President Trump issued a public demand for the DOJ to act "now" to prosecute him, sources say.

abcnews.go.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · 28d

Trump-known violator of housing discrimination laws-forced HUD employees to discriminate on taxpayers' dime according to whistleblowers. Housing discrim exacerbates segregation & concentrated poverty. LDF's fight for fair housing just got turbocharged.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/r...

Trump Appointees Roll Back Enforcement of Fair Housing Laws

www.nytimes.com

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · Sep 20

Legacy Civil Rights Organizations Condemn House Resolution Glorifying Charlie Kirk’s Record and Call for Meaningful Action to Address Hate - www.naacpldf.org/news/legacy-...

Legacy Civil Rights Organizations Condemn House Resolution Glorifying Charlie Kirk’s Record and Call for Meaningful Action to Address Hate

Read a PDF of our statement here. A coalition of leading civil rights organizations issued the following statement in response to recent developments, including the passage of House Resolution 719. Wh...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · Sep 20

LDF Mourns the Loss of Agnes Gund, Devoted Philanthropist and Advocate for Social Good - www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

LDF Mourns the Loss of Agnes Gund, Devoted Philanthropist and Advocate for Social Good

Read a PDF of our statement here. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is deeply saddened by the passing of Agnes Gund, a devoted philanthropist whose enduring commitment to racial and social justice left a l...

www.naacpldf.org

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Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social · Sep 19

Members of the House just passed H.Res.719 by a 310-58 vote including the following CBC members: Minority Leader Jeffries (NY), Rep. Don Davis (NC), Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY).

clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282

Roll Call 282 Roll Call 282, Bill Number: H. Res. 719, 119th Congress, 1st Session

VOTE QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution, DESCRIPTION: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, VOTE TYPE: Yea-And-Nay, STATUS: Passed

clerk.house.gov

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