Author | Lightnews

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 28d

💯! That's why at @represent.us we've been working to fix corruption and build a govt accountable to the people.

Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 29d

I’m starting to notice a trend in the polling data…

—Top Public Worry: Corruption

—Biggest problem in Fed Gov: Corruption

—Top fear: Corruption

—What one word would you use to describe American government?: “Corrupt”

It’s almost like voters are trying to tell us something.

Top 10 American Fears of 2024 (Chapman Survey)
Horizontal bar chart ranking the top fears of Americans (percentage “afraid” or “very afraid”):
1. Corrupt government officials (65.2%, top fear for years).
2. Loved ones becoming seriously ill (58.4%).
3. Cyberterrorism (58.3%).
4. Loved ones dying (57.8%).
5. Russia using nuclear weapons (55.8%).
6. Not having enough money for the future (55.7%).
7. U.S. becoming involved in another world war (55.0%).
8. North Korea using nuclear weapons (55.0%).
9. Terrorist attack (52.7%).
10. Biological warfare (52.5%).
Red bars display percentages; small arrows indicate change from 2023 rankings.

Top Public Worries in the U.S. (Yale & GMU poll, May 2025)
Stacked bar chart of worries among U.S. adults. Categories ranked by share “very worried”:
• Government corruption (54% very worried, top issue).
• Other leading concerns: cost of living (48%), the economy (47%), state of democracy (44%), disruption of federal services (44%), cultural/social divisions (36%), treatment of immigrants (35%), global warming (29%), crime (26%).
• Lower worries include job security (17%), health (16%), and being targeted because of identity/beliefs (15%).
Green shades show “very/somewhat worried,” yellow/orange shades show “not very/not at all worried.

Perceptions of Federal Government Problems (AP-NORC poll)
Bar chart showing the percentage of U.S. adults who consider various issues in the federal government to be a major problem, minor problem, or not a problem.
• Corruption: Overall 70% major, 22% minor, 7% not a problem. Higher among Republicans (78%) than Democrats (63%).
• Inefficiency: 65% major overall, with Republicans (81%) much higher than Democrats (55%).
• Red tape (bureaucracy): 59% major overall, with Republicans (73%) higher than Democrats (47%).
• Civil servants unwilling to implement president’s agenda: More partisan split—Republicans 56% major problem, Democrats 20% major problem; overall 34% major, 36% minor, 28% not a problem.
Title: “Majority of the public believe corruption, inefficiency, and red tape are major problems in the federal government.

Word Cloud of How People Describe American Government (Berkeley Democracy Policy Lab)
Large central word: “Corrupt.” Other prominent words: Broken, Chaotic, Dysfunctional, Shit, Clueless, Divided, Inefficient, Crooked, Hijacked, Justice, Woke, Bloated, Untrustworthy, Hopeless, Frustrated, Disastrous, Messy, Sneaky, Turmoil, Delusional. Smaller scattered words include both negative and neutral terms such as Crap, Important, Poder, Resilient, Unfocused, Needs Help. Visual emphasizes “Corrupt” as the dominant public perception.

It’s Not about Comey, Letitia James, or Soros. It’s about You.

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 28d

It's not about getting back at Comey, Letitia James, or Soros. It's about silencing you. My latest post: open.substack.com/pub/mariamcf...

Political prosecutions silence dissent and enable corruption

open.substack.com

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

We the people can put pressure on Congress. Yes, a bunch of them are scared or on board with this corrupt agenda, but they still have to face constituents. The people need to use that influence while we can. 8/8

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

Congress has the authority and duty to exert oversight. When a prosecutor resigns under pressure to file politicized charges, and another is installed to carry out the president's will, that's clear abuse of power. The Judiciary Committees should be grilling AG Bondi. 7/8

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

The lower federal courts have not yet been taken over, and we've seen lots of independent decisions there--though that doesn't save targets from having to deal with an investigation or prosecution. 6/8

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

But there are still ways to push back in the US. The fact that even a Trump-appointed prosecutor resigned rather than file the charges under pressure suggests not everyone is always going to go along with this. 5/8

New Report on Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office Calls for Actions to Prevent Abuse of Power, Ensure Accountability | Cyrus R. Vance Center For International Justice

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

And once politicized, it can be hard to reestablish the rule of law and remove abusive actors, as we've seen in Guatemala. 4/8
www.vancecenter.org/press-releas...

Leer en español October 8, 2024 – The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice of the New York City Bar Association, alongside the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School, today issued a ...

www.vancecenter.org

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

Politicizing law enforcement is a tried and true tactic of corrupt, autocratic leaders, from Erdogan in Turkey to Maduro in Venezuela. The threat, even implicit, of criminal prosecution is a powerful tool to silence dissent. 3/8

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

When Trump fired Comey in 2017, many viewed it as an effort to derail the Russia investigations. But I warned then in @voxdotcom that Trump's "admission that he called Comey to inquire whether he was under investigation... reveals an effort to exert political influence." 2/8

Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · 29d

Whatever you think about Comey, his indictment yesterday indictment under Trump pressure is cause for alarm. It builds on years of Trump efforts to take over the FBI/DOJ, starting with his firing of Comey in 2018. But this is not a hopeless situation. 1/8 www.bbc.com/news/article...

James Comey says he is innocent and the charges are politically motivated, as they follow Trump pressure on prosecutors to act.

www.bbc.com

I’ve Lived Through Political Violence--We Don’t Want It Here

Reposted by Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Sep 19

STEWART: “Comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether— we’re the banana peel in the coal mine… authoritarians are the threat to comedy, music, art, thought… progress.”

Nailed it.

510 11K 32K

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Sep 12

In Colombia, a single assassination triggered more than 50 years of war. I documented the resulting horrors, which did nothing to solve the country's problems. My reflections on rising political violence in the US, and the way forward: open.substack.com/pub/mariamcf...

We Need to Double Down on Democracy, not Give Up on It

open.substack.com

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Sep 10

I grew up in a country devastated by political violence, and decades later, the scars are still there. Nobody should want or support that for the US. Part of the point of genuine democracy, rule of law, etc, is to resolve differences peacefully and fairly.

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Aug 12

The US political system has long been corrupt. But this administration is taking corruption to a new level. Thanks to #MichaelDouglas for explaining, and calling on YOU to join the nonpartisan movement for a US govt that works for the people, not just the powerful. m.youtube.com/watch?v=64Wn...

THIS IS NOT THE CHANGE WE NEED | RepresentUs

YouTube video by RepresentUs

m.youtube.com

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Aug 4

The conviction of Colombia’s once-untouchable ex-president is a sign of hope amid autocracy’s rise—my latest in @theguardian.com today.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The conviction of Colombia’s ex-president is a sign of hope amid autocracy’s rise | Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno

Álvaro Uribe was convicted of bribery in a development that would have seemed inconceivable a decade ago

www.theguardian.com

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Aug 3

Corruption is at peak levels in the US. But calling that out without tackling the corruption already in the system sounds hypocritical to many. We need real action, on both today's corruption and the ways the system has long been rigged. My latest: open.substack.com/pub/mariamcf...

The Deep Roots of US Corruption

And what we can actually do about it

open.substack.com

Trump’s Efforts to Control Information Echo an Authoritarian Playbook

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Aug 3

"Firing the top statistical official... puts us in dangerous territory far from an accountable and reality-based government.” says
‪@gretchentg.bsky.social‬ of Union of Concerned Scientists. Agreed! www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...

www.nytimes.com

Senate confirms Emil Bove to Third Circuit, as Dems fail to thwart Trump pick

Reposted by Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno

RepresentUs @represent.us · Jul 30

🚨 BREAKING: The Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee just advanced a bill to ban members of Congress, the President, and VP from trading stocks. The vote was 8–7. All Democrats voted yes, Josh Hawley (R-MO) was the only Republican to join them.

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Jul 30

The Senate's confirmation to the 3rd Circuit of Emil Bove, despite not only three whistleblower complaints, but also his role in the appalling Eric Adams dropping of charges, is an alarming step toward radical politicization of the judiciary. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Two Republicans voted against Bove, but it wasn't enough to tank his nomination.

www.politico.com

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Jul 30

“I’d rather die... than to keep living through this experience," said one of the men (most of whom had no criminal records) Trump sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison. Powerful @propublica.org reporting on the men's experiences of torture there: www.propublica.org/article/vene...

Now That They’re Free, Venezuelan Men Want the World to Know What They Endured in CECOT

Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration say they endured months of physical and mental abuse inside a Salvadoran prison. Though happy to be home, they say the fact that they were released ...

www.propublica.org

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Jul 29

For more, check out There Are No Dead Here: www.mariamcfarlandsanchezmoreno.com/projects 5/5

There Are No Dead Here: A Story of Murder and Denial in Colombia — Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno

www.mariamcfarlandsanchezmoreno.com

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Jul 29

The bribery charges came about in the context of broader investigations of some of these events. It's striking to see such a powerful politician in Colombia being held to account in a court of law, and a great reminder that work for truth and justice matters. 4/5

Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno @mariamcfarlandsm.bsky.social · Jul 29

As president, he ran a sham paramilitary demobilization process that got many of their leaders off the hook, and a smear campaign against the Supreme Court, which was investigating paramilitary ties to about 1/3 of congressmembers, many of whom were elected through fraud. 3/5