In our last post, Fifty Ways to Leave For Trumpers, I wrote about Trump’s vision to turn back the clocks to the 1950s. It turns out the day before it hit your inbox, the Supreme Court did exactly that for voting rights. In the kind of 6-3 decision we have come to dread, the Court, in Louisiana v. Callais, threw out the protections of minority voters found in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Jen Rubin, Editor-In-Chief of The Contrarian, writes, “In Louisiana v. Callais, the U.S. Supreme Court demolished 60 years of progress in voting rights, robbed Black and Hispanic communities of the power to elect representatives of their own choosing, and aimed to decimate the ranks of non-white U.S. House members, state legislators, and local officials.”
It was a play straight out of Jim Crow when states and local governments used loopholes like poll taxes and reading tests that didn’t overtly mention race but effectively kept many Black Americans from voting. Bear with me while I give you a very brief history lesson before I go on to disabuse you of the notion that John Roberts is the ‘normie’ in the conservative majority of the Court who cares about its reputation. Then, in my never-ending battle to provide rays of hope in a dark time, I’ll let you know what we can do about it.
The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, causing a huge backlash throughout the South that culminated in Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965, when state troopers viciously attacked peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama on their march from Selma to Montgomery. The brutality shocked the rest of the nation (apparently, this was a time when our nation could still be shocked) and enabled the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), signed into law by President Johnson on August 6, 1965. It has been described as one of the most effective pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history.
What I didn’t know until researching this piece is that dismantling the VRA has been the life’s work of Chief Justice John Roberts. He has finally succeeded.
But first, let’s talk about the legislation. Robin Nicole Sanders writes in Slate that “[t]he modern version of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act…was written for a world in which discrimination rarely announces itself cleanly, a world in which it can be diffuse, embedded, cumulative, and still devastating in its effects.”
Early in my HR career, I was introduced to the concept of "disparate impact." It’s a simple but game-changing rule: discrimination isn't just about someone’s hidden bias; it’s about the actual effect of a policy or practice. If a company's actions result in fewer minority hires or lower pay for women, those actions are illegal. You don't have to get inside a manager's head to find a "bad motive"—you just have to look at the data.
That is precisely the logic that the SCOTUS majority threw out in the Callais decision. It didn’t come out of the blue. When the VRA was first passed in 1965, there was a fierce battle about requiring a determination of intent to discriminate. It was ultimately dropped. It was hotly debated again with each subsequent re-authorization of the Act in 1970, 1975, 1982, and most recently, by a unanimous vote in the Senate in 2006 under a Republican President, George W. Bush.
The Roberts Court ignored all of that history, in part because John Roberts was very much on the wrong side of that history from the very beginning. David Daley and Lisa Graves posit in another article in Slate that “[M]aybe it’s as simple as this: Roberts was raised in the 1960s amid lily-white affluence in a tiny Indiana beach town where property deeds long forbade selling homes to Black or Jewish people.”
It didn’t help that this was Indiana, a place where the Ku Klux Klan flourished. Or that he attended a posh private Catholic high school located on a former lakefront estate that didn’t admit its first Black student until 1970 when Roberts was a Junior.
After graduating Harvard and Harvard Law in 1979, he clerked for Justice William Rehnquist (before he was appointed Chief Justice). Before joining the Court, Rehnquist had run a group of Arizona Republicans that used a technique called ‘voter caging’ to harass and intimidate minority voters at the polls. Later, he worked on the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign and coached the candidate to talk about ‘colorblindness’ as a way of overcoming the Civil Rights Act. That is precisely the argument used in the Callais decision.
Daley and Graves go on to point out that Roberts leveraged the connections from his clerkship with Rehnquist to land a job in President Ronald Reagan’s Department of Justice, where he was one of a group of Young Guns that included himself, Ken Starr and Samuel Alito. One of their primary tasks was to work on eviscerating the Voting Rights Act.
Chief Justice John Roberts isn’t a moderator of Justice Alito; he is a lifelong compatriot and kindred spirit. Woe is us.
But I promised you silver linings, and I fully intend to deliver. The Callais decision clearly moves the redistricting wars from a tie to a Republican advantage. But Nate Cohn lays out several ways the Dems can overcome that disadvantage.
First, the Republicans are not likely to win all of the new districts they are creating. Many of them rely on 2024 numbers when Trump was on the ballot, Republican voters were turning out in droves and Black men and Latino voters came along with them. That was before $6.00 gasoline, record-high beef prices, a surge in inflation, a pointless foreign war, a frightening domestic war against foreign-born residents, and polls showing that 77% of voters blame Trump’s policies for their increased cost of living. (You read that right!) That was before Trump said the quiet part aloud: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody…” (Click the link to see the actual video.)
At the same time, Democrats are -as a rather prominent Chicagoan used to say- fired up and ready to go. The Callais decision is pouring gasoline on the fire. Plus, Independents are right with us this time around. So will the R’s get a net gain from redistricting? Sure, but not the number of seats they think they’ll get.
Second, Nate Cohn looks at the kinds of seats that Republicans will need to win to stave off electoral disaster. The most common yardstick, he says, “is the median congressional district — the district that would serve as a tipping point for House control.” He estimates that after the Southern states redraw their 2026 maps, the median congressional district will have voted for Trump by 5.5 points in 2024. Democrats currently lead generic polling by 6 points, and the actual results of all the mid-term races have been substantially higher than that. In other words, a blue wave will overcome the redistricting shenanigans.
Then, there’s SCOTUS. I’m not a fan of stacking the Court. I don’t think history was kind to FDR for doing it, and I’m old enough to prefer playing the long game. But there is a quick fix we can enact when Democrats are back in power. Ganesh Sitaraman explains it in The Atlantic.
The Congressional Review Act (CRA), passed in 1996, allows Congress to overturn rulings by government agencies through a fast-track process. If Congress doesn’t think the agencies are staying true to the intent of the laws they passed, Congress can pass laws to undo the agency’s approach.
Congress could create a similar process to review and override SCOTUS decisions about legislation they have passed. We’re not talking about interpretations of the Constitution - that is solely in the realm of SCOTUS. But most of the cases that come before the Court do not concern constitutional matters. Sitaraman notes that the vast majority of cases the Court decides are interpretations of statutes, not constitutional matters.
Of course, there’s a rub. In order to pull this off, we would need a trifecta of the House, the Senate and the White House. But let’s dream big! I don’t think it’s unreasonable for us to do so.
My one word of caution in all of this is the crazy amount of money Trump has at his disposal to pour into races. Everyone knows that the way to curry favor with this completely corrupt regime is to pour money into Trump-aligned causes or business ventures. We won’t win this money war, but we have to keep it competitive.
The highest and best use of your political contributions is to give to races that are carefully selected for candidates who are vetted and whose campaign tactics and messaging are continually monitored and adapted using sophisticated ongoing data collection and analysis. I strongly recommend you give to Project 218 early and often. It’s never going to matter more.
DNC in Chicago. We had a fantastic time when the Democratic National Convention came to Chicago in 2024. We were surrounded by friends, cheering for our heroes on stage, waving signs nonstop… and yes, even taking home a case of Covid (thanks to the persistent cougher at the end of our row). Why not bring it back in 2028 or 2032?
The Democratic National Committee was in town this week, touring the United Center and meeting with local leaders, led by Governor JB Pritzker, as part of its site-selection process. Chicago is the mix with Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Denver. Get the low-down from Tina Sfondeles at the Chicago Sun-Times.
So stupid. Thomas Edsall lays out Trump’s war on clean energy in a characteristically sharp NYT essay, noting the “all-out assault” began on Day One. Now, with $90 gas fill-ups, the consequences are hitting home.
He cites NRDC statistics showing that in 2025, 61 clean energy projects were canceled or scaled back—$34.8 billion in investment and over 38,000 jobs lost—while aging coal plants are propped up instead.
All of this lands as Trump visits China, which dominates the global EV market (outside the U.S., thanks to 100% tariffs). Speaking of EVs—I’m in the market for an all-electric car to share our charger with Art’s beloved Kia EV6. Any good non‑Tesla recommendations?
Tone deaf to the nth degree. While we’re discussing bad ideas and cars, how about Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launching a reality show about his family on a cross-country road trip paid for by donations solicited from companies that are regulated by DOT, including Toyota, United Airlines, and Boeing? At a time when Americans are struggling to afford gas just to get to work! Read about it (and cringe) in this piece from The Atlantic by Will Gottsegen.
Axe at the Humanities Festival. It was a real treat to see David Axelrod in conversation with NYTimes Opinion Page writer David French last weekend at the Atheneaum Center. Here are a few great quotes that will give you an idea of their wide-ranging, topical, enjoyable, and sometimes frightening conversation:
Social media is where our views are affirmed, not informed.
Families of pardoned felons are funding Republican PACs.
If you’re talking about democracy at the kitchen table, you’re probably not worried about the cost of the food on the table.
Trumpism will fracture after Trump is no longer President.
In elections, people choose the remedy, not the replica.
I choose to believe that decency will have its day.
Obama Center. I enjoyed an early tour of the Obama Presidential Center this week. What a treat to relive the hope of his campaign and the accomplishments of his presidency. We were asked not to post pictures yet, but Shia Kapos shared this short video that gives you a taste of what to expect. You can reserve tickets to visit here.
Worth it: First, some lists. The Atlantic is out with their Summer Reading List. The NYTimes has published The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City 2026.
Did you love the series Madame Secretary as much as I did? Maybe you will enjoy the book Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray about the first woman member of the President’s Cabinet. Guess her name! Answer below with a summary of her many accomplishments.
JAC’s 2026 Power of Women Luncheon. This year featuring one of our favorites, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY) and Sami Sage (Author and Co-founder, Betches Media). Join co-chairs Linda Schottenstein Fisher (one of Nancy’s mah jongg buddies) and Shana Greenberg on Monday, June 1st, in Highland Park. More details here.
Be a champion. At a time when antisemitism and hate are rising across Chicago, Alderwoman Debra Silverstein has been one of the few leaders willing to speak clearly and directly about what the Jewish community is facing. Please join Alderwoman Debra Silverstein at her Annual Summer Reception with special guest Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Tuesday, June 2nd, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Summer House Santa Monica. RSVP here.
Lois Frankel event in D.C. A reception in support of Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) with special guests Rep. Julia Browley, Hon. Cheri Bustos, and Hon. Ann Kuster, will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar in Washington, D.C. Click here to RSVP or donate.
Melissa Bean for Congress. Please join hosts Hon. Cheri Bustos, Leonard Cannata, Mike Cassidy, Jessica Fuentes, Zach Koutsky, Billy Lawless, Donovan Pepper, Mike Ruemmler, Matt Sanchez, Jay Stieber, Chuck Swirsky, Sean Tenner, Sam Toia, Mark Zipperer and Jason Molchanow as they welcome Melissa Bean in support of her run for Congress in IL-08. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Gage. Click here to RSVP or to donate.
Chicago History Museum. Art Johnson and Jim Alexander invite you to join them in honoring Fred Eychaner, philanthropist and long‑time civil‑rights activist, as he receives the Daniel H. Burnham Making History Award in Visionary Leadership from the Chicago History Museum at its annual Making History Awards. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. The reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. You can RSVP here.
Pride Kick-Off Brunch. Please join Equality Illinois for its annual brunch celebration to kick off 2026 Pride celebrations. They will be honoring Aisha N. Davis, Antonio King, and Hon. Kevin Morrison. A big shout-out to brunch co-chairs Justin DeJong and Liz Stovall. The brunch will be held on Sunday, June 7th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Venue West in Chicago. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Women Rock 2026. IWIL alum Jaemie Neely will receive the President’s Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and impact on the Federation of Women Contractors and the construction industry. The award will be presented on Wednesday, June 10th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Offshore Rooftop on Navy Pier. The event brings together 500+ industry and government leaders to celebrate impact, connection, and progress across construction and economic development. Tickets and sponsorships are available here.
NCJW Gala. The NCJW Chicago North Shore Women of Moral Courage Gala will honor U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky with the Hannah G. Solomon Award on Tuesday, June 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hilton in Skokie. The evening will showcase a conversation between Jill Wine Banks, author of The Watergate Girl, MSNBC legal analyst, and co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw, and Lynn Sweet, prominent journalist with the Chicago Sun-Times. Click here for tickets and tributes.
Margaret Croke & Eva-Dina Delgado. There will be a Summer Soirée in support of Margaret Croke for IL State Comptroller and Eva-Dina Delgado, State Representative for the 3rd District and Assistant Majority Leader. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 24th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the home of Hon. Lucy & Matt Moog in Lincoln Park. Click here for tickets or sponsorships.
Robyn Gabel & Anna Moeller. There will be a summer reception in support of State Representatives Robyn Gabel, Majority Leader from the 18th District, and Anna Moeller, Chair of the Human Services Committee from the 43rd District, on Tuesday, June 30th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at O’Brien’s Riverwalk Cafe in Chicago. Click here for more information or to donate.
NEW! All Chicago Making Homelessness History (All Chicago) offers targeted emergency funds that fill gaps, works with community partners across the city to help diverse populations, and ensures these partners are informed and prepared to meet old and new challenges. They are seeking a President and CEO who brings strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and operational discipline, along with a deep commitment to their mission. Get more information here. (5/15/2026)
The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is a leading nonprofit organization in Chicago dedicated to preserving and interpreting the design legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Since 1974, the Trust has operated four Wright-designed sites, including two nationally accredited museums and a UNESCO World Heritage site, welcoming over 135,000 visitors annually from around the world. The Trust is seeking a CEO to serve as its strategic leader and continue strengthening the Trust as a respected institution of cultural distinction. Get more information and application instructions here. (5/1/2026)
Ellen Sherratt has dedicated her career to making sure that kids get a great education. She is a nationally and internationally recognized subject-matter expert on education policy and a passionate advocate for recruiting and retaining excellent teachers for every child. She’s running for the Chicago Board of Education (i.e., CPS School Board) and is seeking an intern to work three hours a week on her campaign. Send a letter outlining your experience and availability to ellensherratt@gmail.com (4/17/2026)
Family Rescue is a Chicago organization that serves victims of domestic violence through direct services, governmental agency advocacy, and community education and prevention. They are seeking a Development Director who will lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to increase private, unrestricted, and flexible funding. This role is critical in strengthening the organization’s financial sustainability and expanding its impact. For more information, reach out to the Executive Director, Latreece Sanders, at l.sanders@familyrescueinc.org (4/17/2026)
Just Cause Consulting is seeking a very part-time data whiz to help organize donor research. Send a letter outlining your skills, availability, and salary expectations, along with your resume, to Nancy Kohn, nkohn@justcauseconsulting.com. Please no calls.
The Obama Presidential Library is preparing to open in June and is now accepting applications for a wide variety of roles. Click here and remember to check back frequently for openings. (1/9/2026)
The Woods Fund Chicago has links to job openings at various organizations it funds. Check out their newsletter and scroll down for the job listings.
Know someone looking for an internship? Send them to Brandon’s Hillternship Hub to track opportunities on the Hill. And then they should subscribe to brandonsbulletin.substack.com to learn about internships in progressive politics, nonprofits, and foreign policy/international affairs.
Finally, here are some useful links to check out if you’re searching for a job in politics, policy, or advocacy:
Daybook is a valuable resource for individuals seeking political, policy, and government jobs nationwide.
Want to work with progressive organizations or nonprofits doing good? Check out the listings at Democracy Partners, Grossman Solutions, and NPAG.
Here are two good sites to land campaign jobs at the entry level and beyond: Emily’s List and GainPower.
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Who are we? Since 2003, we’ve been sharing our news, views and to-dos. The NKC Occasional Update is brought to you by Nancy Kohn, a seasoned political consultant in Chicago, and Art Friedson, a dedicated political enthusiast. We enjoy hearing from our readers, so feel free to post directly on this article or send us an email. Thank you for your support!
Nancy Kohn nkohn@kohnconsulting.com Art Friedson art.friedson@gmail.com
Answer: Frances Perkins, U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945.
During her tenure, she was a central architect of the New Deal and helped shape many of the nation’s most important labor and social welfare policies. Her accomplishments include helping advance the minimum wage and maximum workweek, restricting the employment of children under 16, supporting the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and playing a key role in establishing unemployment insurance, the Social Security Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.
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