Daily Digest

Supreme Court Overturns California’s Donor Disclosure Rule

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned California’s mandate that charities must disclose their contributors’ names.

Chief Justice John Roberts noted that donors’ First Amendment rights should be respected and requiring donors’ information might only be relevant for a “small number of cases involving filed complaints.” He went on to call such impositions on so-called “charitable fraud” as a “widespread burden.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who sided with the minority in the case, said that the ruling could, even if unintentionally, encourage more anonymous money into the political sphere.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The suit against the state law originated with right-wing organizations like the American For Prosperity Foundation and the Thomas More Law Center.

The California rule mandated that non-profit charities that solicit donations disclose the identities of their most substantial donors to the California Attorney General. The information already went to the IRS, specifically on IRS Form 990 with the Schedule B attachment. Failure to comply could lead to a charity’s registration being revoked.

Just in 2020, $1 billion came in through anonymous spending in federal elections, according to a tally from OpenSecrets.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote in a statement to the court, “Freedom of speech and association deserve the same rigorous protections in the context of elections as they do in other contexts.”

Gabrielle Guz

Recent Posts

Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration To Implement Its Transgender Military Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump's administration to place a ban on transgender…

1 hour ago

Israel Approves Plan To Reoccupy Gaza Strip Indefinitely

On Monday, Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to reoccupy the Gaza Strip for an indefinite…

1 day ago

Trump Administration Offers Undocumented Migrants $1000 To Self-Deport

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new program offering undocumented immigrants a…

1 day ago

Trump Says He ‘Doesn’t Know’ Whether He’s Obligated To Uphold The Constitution In Startling Interview

President Donald Trump raised eyebrows after answering he was unsure whether he is obligated to…

2 days ago

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Slams Trump Plan To Reopen Alcatraz As ‘Unserious’

President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous maximum-security prison in San…

2 days ago

Trump Organization Is Selling $50 ‘Trump 2028’ Hats In Its Online Store

The Trump Organization is selling “Trump 2028” hats for $50 on its online store. “The…

3 days ago