The argument of our time comes down to one question: Are we going to have the rule of law in America or not? The rule of law requires an active defense. We're making that case in Checks & Balances, our new newsletter: chkbal.substack.com

When John McCain made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, his political advisers told him voters didn't care. McCain believed they should, and refused to back down. On Checks & Balances, @thetrevorpotter reflects on what McCain taught him about challenging conventional wisdom and standing by your principles. 🎧 chkbal.substack.com/p/can-tr…

⚖️ What role should courts play in our elections? Join us Thursday, Oct. 15 at 12 PM ET for Judicial Oversight of Elections from Purcell to Callais, a timely discussion on: 🗳️ Gerrymandering & redistricting 🏛️ State vs. federal judicial oversight 📜 The Voting Rights Act & Elections Clause ⚖️ Purcell, Rucho & Callais 🇺🇸 Federalism, separation of powers & democratic participation Featuring @AmitAgarwalLaw and Judge Paul W. Grimm, moderated by @greggnunziata. CLE credit available for live viewers in VA, IL & TX. 📺 Watch here on X.

What happens when an “outside” political group isn’t really outside at all? On the latest Checks & Balances episode, former FEC Chairman @thetrevorpotter explains how the lines between candidates and super PACs have blurred, creating a system that's strayed far from the independence it was supposed to require. Watch the clip, then listen to the full conversation: chkbal.substack.com/p/can-tr…

🗳️ What does the rule of law look like in practice during election season? Join us October 28 at @DistrictWinery for two timely conversations examining the legal and political institutions that shape our elections: ⚖️ Election Law: Leading experts will discuss the laws governing our elections, the challenges facing election administration, and the importance of maintaining public trust in a free and fair electoral process. 🇺🇸 Campaigns & the Rule of Law: Political leaders and campaign veterans will explore the responsibilities candidates and campaigns have to our constitutional system and why respect for democratic institutions must come before partisan victory. At a moment of intense political competition, we’re bringing together voices from across the political spectrum to discuss the principles that should endure no matter who wins. 🎟️ Join us: eventbrite.com/e/the-rule-of…

🇺🇸 How can America recultivate faith in our democratic institutions and ideals? In a new letter to the editor in @WSJ, SRL Board President Alan Raul (@acraul) argues that renewing respect for constitutional checks and balances, our founding principles, and the rule of law must be a national priority. Read more: wsj.com/opinion/jamie-dimons…

Join us Wednesday, October 28 at District Winery in Washington, D.C. for The Rule of Law in Elections, featuring two expert panels on election law, campaigns, and the institutions and norms shaping the 2026 midterms. 📅 Oct. 28 | 6–9 PM 📍 District Winery 🍷 Open bar + appetizers 🎟️ Tickets: $25 Grab your ticket and join us! 👇 eventbrite.com/e/20012362424…

A generation of young conservatives has come of age without understanding the movement’s historic commitments to liberty, virtue, and classical liberal institutions. On Checks & Balances, Stephanie Slade (@sladesr) explains why recovering those arguments matters and what happens when politics becomes simply about acquiring power. Listen to the clip, then the full conversation: chkbal.substack.com/p/is-the…

The government cannot exclude journalists from the White House because it dislikes their reporting. SRL filed an amicus brief in CNN v. Trump, arguing that barring CNN, Politico, and MS Now from the White House violates fundamental First Amendment protections. Invoking “national security” cannot give the government carte blanche to retaliate against disfavored viewpoints. Read more: chkbal.substack.com/p/srl-ur…

At a moment when politics increasingly feels like a battle over who can wield power against the other side, is there another way? On Checks & Balances, Stephanie Slade (@sladesr) makes the case for a classical liberal alternative: mutual forbearance, pluralism, and equal rights under law - even when we deeply disagree. Watch the clip and listen to our full conversation: chkbal.substack.com/p/is-the…

This weekend, we welcomed our inaugural class of Rule of Law Ambassadors to Washington, D.C.! Representing 10 law schools across the country, our Ambassadors spent the weekend learning from leaders in law and public service, visiting the National Archives, and building a community committed to defending the Rule of Law. Now, they’re bringing that commitment back to their campuses. Read our recap of an inspiring weekend and meet the 2026–27 Rule of Law Ambassadors 👇 chkbal.substack.com/p/kickin…

The California Supreme Court recently ruled that state law prevents law enforcement from using search warrants to seize ballots. What does that mean for the DOJ? In a new piece, SRL Board Member Richard Bernstein argues that a highly similar federal election custody law likewise prohibits the DOJ from seizing ballots, even with a search warrant. Read his analysis: chkbal.substack.com/p/parall…

We’re excited to announce that renowned election lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg will join us for our Rule of Law in Elections event on October 28! He will bring decades of experience to our Election Law panel, including serving as national counsel to multiple presidential campaigns and playing a central role in the 2000 Florida recount. Join us at @DistrictWinery for a timely conversation on election law, election administration, and the rule of law. 🎟️ Get your tickets (they include an open bar and generous appetizers): eventbrite.com/e/the-rule-of…

What does it take to uphold the rule of law when the pressure to win is at its highest? We’re excited to add Brittany Martinez (@_Britt_Martinez), Executive Director of @Principles_1st, to our October 28 event, The Rule of Law in Elections! With experience on Republican campaigns, at the RNC, and in Speaker McCarthy’s office, Brittany brings an inside perspective on the choices campaign teams and political leaders face and what it means to put principles first. Join SRL for two panels exploring the laws, institutions, and political choices that shape our elections and public trust in the results. October 28 | 6–9 PM District Winery | Washington, D.C. Tickets: $25 Reserve your spot: eventbrite.com/e/the-rule-of…

“I think I’ve just signed my own death sentence.” On this episode of Checks & Balances, historian Timothy Ryback tells Gregg Nunziata about the prosecutor who brought murder charges against a Nazi camp commandant, and what defending the rule of law meant as democracy collapsed. Watch the clip, then the full conversation: chkbal.substack.com/p/how-hi…

Happy Birthday to the Supreme Court of the United States! For 237 years, the Court has played a defining role in interpreting the Constitution and shaping the law of our nation. We mark this anniversary by reflecting on its enduring place in American civic life and the Rule of Law.

What are the limits on a president’s power to deploy the military on American soil, and who gets to decide when those limits have been crossed? Our latest webinar brought together John Malcolm, Bernadette Meyler, and Joseph Nunn for a timely discussion of the Insurrection Act, the Posse Comitatus Act, National Guard deployments, and the legal questions surrounding presidential authority. Read our full recap of the conversation and watch the webinar here: chkbal.substack.com/p/webina…

Our elections event lineup is growing! We’re excited to announce that Walter Olson of @CatoInstitute will join Jonathan Diaz of @CampaignLegal and @stephen_richer, former Maricopa County Recorder, for our election law panel. Join us October 28 at District Winery for The Rule of Law in Elections, an evening bringing together leading voices in election law, public service, journalism, and political commentary to discuss the legal and institutional issues shaping our elections. Our other panel will feature former Rep. Barbara Comstock, @BillKristol of @BulwarkOnline, and @joshgerstein of @politico. 🎟️ Get your tickets: eventbrite.com/e/the-rule-of…

Our Executive Director @greggnunziata argues in @TheUnPopulist that court packing would do far more than change the composition of the Supreme Court: it risks weakening judicial independence, fueling political polarization, and distracting from more urgent constitutional reforms. The better path? Strengthen Congress, rein in executive power, and restore the checks and balances at the heart of our constitutional system. Read his full piece: theunpopulist.net/p/a-scheme…