Elections
Voting access, administration, certification, redistricting.
70/100
14d +2.6Today's assessment
D2
U.S. democracy is at acute.
Acute backsliding; constitutional risk; EIU 'Hybrid Regime' band. Six lanes — elections, institutions, civil liberties, violence, information, and economy — are scored daily from primary legal records, watchdog and academic data, and corroborating reporting.
Updated How is this scored? →
The six lanes
Where the strain is showing
Institutions
Courts, civil service, separation of powers, oversight.
37/100
14d +1.2Civil Liberties
Speech, assembly, protest, due process, minority rights.
0/100
14d flatViolence
Political violence, intimidation, paramilitary activity.
70/100
14d +0.2Information
Press freedom, disinformation, government transparency.
25/100
14d -3.8Economy
Independence of regulators, kleptocracy risk, market trust.
68/100
14d +0.5Latest events
What changed in the last 72 hours
Civil LibertiesSevere
Final rule: Rescinding Portions of DHS Title VI Regulations To Conform More Closely With the Statutory Text and To Implement Executive Order 14281
Agencies: Homeland Security Department, Office of the Secretary, Federal Emergency Management Agency — By this rule, DHS amends its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) consistent with a recent rule issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Like the DOJ rule, this rule aligns the DHS regulations more closely with Title VI's original public meaning, avoids constitutional concerns, reduces compliance costs, and serves the public interest. — [topic:civil rights+agency:epa]
-2.0
InformationSerious
At Paramount, criticism is a conflict of interest. Corruption isn't
Dear Friend of Press Freedom: This week, Paramount suddenly discovers a “conflict of interest,” New Jersey courts drag their feet on an unconstitutional prior restraint against a local newspaper, and Indiana dresses up execution secrecy as dignity. Plus, a birthday wish for the Espionage Act’s 109th: a complete overhaul. At Paramount, criticism is a conflict of interest David Ellison’s Paramount rejected an anti-merger ad from Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) last week, citing a conflict of interest. Paramount sure has a strange definition of “conflict of interest.” Its executives see no conflict in agreeing with the Trump administration to hire a right-wing “bias ombudsman” to police CBS’ journalism, promising President Donald Trump “sweeping changes” at CNN if he allows them to buy…
-3.0
InstitutionsNotable
SCOTUS: Hunter v. United States
(Slip Opinion) OCTOBER TERM, 2025 1 Syllabus NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber Original document [scotus_case]
InstitutionsNotable
SCOTUS: T. M. v. University of Md. Medical System Corporation
(Slip Opinion) OCTOBER TERM, 2025 1 Syllabus NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber Original document [scotus_case]
InstitutionsNotable
SCOTUS: United States v. Hemani
(Slip Opinion) OCTOBER TERM, 2025 1 Syllabus NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber Original document [scotus_case]
InstitutionsSerious
Proposed rule: Request for Information: Identifying Regulations To Facilitate Innovation and Competition to Financial Products and Services for Fintech Firms
Agencies: Commodity Futures Trading Commission — Pursuant to its obligations under Executive Order 14405, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission") is requesting information (this "RFI") from relevant market participants that will assist the Commission in identifying Commission regulations, guidance documents, orders, no-action letters, and other items that may unduly impede fintech firms from entering into partnerships with financial infrastructures and intermediaries regulated by the Commission (including, whether or not registered with the Commission, futures commission merchants ("FCMs"), introducing brokers ("IBs"), swap dealers ("SDs"), commodity pool operators ("CPOs"), commodity trading advisors ("CTAs"), designated contract markets ("DCMs"), swap execution facilitie…
-1.5
Close to home · New Jersey
What's happening in NJ right now
Civil LibertiesCrisis
‘We’re doing it all for them’: Radio Jornalera NJ exposes conditions faced by immigrants in detention
Delaney Hall — triggers: hunger strike [NJ]. <p>Grassroots outlet reports from New Jersey’s Delaney Hall – and helps family members connect with loved ones inside</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campai
-5.5
Civil LibertiesSerious
Protests, chaos and arrests as tensions rise at Delaney Hall ICE detention Center in Newark, N.J.
Delaney Hall — triggers: unsanitary conditions [NJ]. This compilation features raw video of protests from NJ.com outside Delaney Hall in Newark New Jersey, between May 25 and June 7, 2026. The detention center has been the focus of weeks of demonstrations over reports of poor and unsanitary conditions inside the facility. Delaney Hall Protests in Newark, NJ Key Moments &
-1.5
Civil LibertiesCrisis
Headlines for June 8, 2026
Delaney Hall — triggers: hunger strike, solitary confinement [NJ]. Iran Says It’s Halting Attacks on Israel After Both Countries Exchange Fire, Israeli Strikes Hit Beirut Despite a U.S.-Brokered So-Called Ceasefire, Israeli Strikes Kill at Least Seven Palestinians in Gaza, Russian Drone Hits Nuclear Fuel Facility Near Chernobyl, Killing 3 People, Hegseth Uses D-Day Anniversary to Atta
-5.5
Edited from Leonia, NJ. The Delaney Hall hunger strike, ICE facility oversight, and state-level pushback get extra attention on ICE Watch and Local NJ.
Editorial posture
Major media is corroboration, not the verdict.
Democratic backsliding is documented in court filings, agency orders, and academic indices long before it dominates a news cycle. Democracy on the Line weights those primary sources highest. Wire services and national dailies appear here as confirmation, never as the trigger for a severe alert.
Read the full methodology →Institutions, 14-day
14d ago37today