Democratic-Institutions

Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Husband Assassinated, Senator John Hoffman and Wife Wounded

| Importance: 6/10

In the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, Vance Boelter (57) of Green Isle, MN attacked two Democratic lawmakers’ homes. At 2 AM, posing as police, he shot State Senator John Hoffman and wife Yvette at their Champlin home (both survived). At 3:35 AM, he killed Speaker Emerita Melissa …

Melissa Hortman (victim, killed) Mark Hortman (victim, killed) John Hoffman (victim, wounded) Yvette Hoffman (victim, wounded) Vance Boelter (perpetrator) +1 more political-assassination stochastic-terrorism political-violence democratic-institutions domestic-terrorism +1 more
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DC Bar delivers 91% rebuke to Trump-allied candidates

| Importance: 6/10

DC Bar delivered historic rebuke as 38,600 members (43% turnout, up from 9% last year) rejected Trump allies. Diane Seltzer defeated AG Pam Bondi’s brother Bradley 35,000 to 3,500 (91% margin). Amanda Molina defeated DOJ’s Alicia Long 75% to 25% for treasurer. Triple previous 1990 voting …

DC Bar Association Bradley Bondi (Paul Hastings, brother of AG Pam Bondi) Diane Seltzer (employment attorney, winner) Alicia Long (DOJ attorney) Amanda Molina (Microsoft attorney, winner) +1 more professional-resistance judicial-independence democratic-institutions legal-profession
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Mansion Set on Fire, Family Forced to Flee

| Importance: 5/10

Arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion forced his family to flee as attacker who “hated Shapiro” set fire to their home. Attack demonstrates how gubernatorial mansions and state capitols have become frontline targets in escalating political violence. Part of …

Josh Shapiro (Governor, victim) Unknown arsonist political-violence arson gubernatorial-attack state-government domestic-terrorism +1 more
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Obama Criticizes Citizens United at State of Union, Alito Responds 'Not True'

| Importance: 8/10

President Obama directly criticizes Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision during State of the Union Address, with Justice Samuel Alito visibly shaking his head and mouthing ’not true’ in unprecedented breach of judicial protocol

Barack Obama Samuel Alito John Roberts Ruth Bader Ginsburg Stephen Breyer +2 more constitutional-crisis separation-of-powers judicial-independence campaign-finance presidential-criticism +2 more
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