Case Studies

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the fight over abortion rights moved back to the states. Ohio was already passing some of the country’s most restrictive abortion laws, including a six-week abortion ban. With Republicans controlling state government and little possibility of legislative action, reproductive rights advocates turned to one of the few remaining options…

In April 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing federal agencies to investigate Miles Taylor, the former Department of Homeland Security official who revealed himself in 2020 as the anonymous author of a 2018 New York Times op-ed criticizing Trump’s leadership. The action represented an extraordinary escalation: using the power of the federal government to target a private citizen for previous political dissent.

When DEFIANCE.org launched in October 2025, Americans opposed to the Trump administration faced a growing problem. There was no shortage of political news, commentary, outrage, or organizations asking people to donate and sign petitions. What was often missing was a clear answer to a much simpler question: What can I actually do? DEFIANCE.org was founded by former Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff…

For more than seven years, the off-camera employees at Portland’s KOIN-TV worked without a contract while attempting to negotiate with their new owners, Nexstar Media. During that time, workers went years without raises as negotiations repeatedly stalled. The dispute eventually became one of the most significant labor battles in broadcast television. The National Labor Relations Board sought a 10(j) injunction in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals…

When Congress introduced a $9 billion rescission package that threatened federal funding for public broadcasting, advocacy organizations nationwide mobilized to stop it. With the legislation moving under a rarely used 45-day rescission process, there was only a narrow window to influence the outcome. Working with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA), Scott Goodstein and Catalyst Campaigns analyzed the broader advocacy landscape before recommending a strategy.

In early 2026, courtesans at Sheri’s Ranch, one of Nevada’s oldest and best-known legal brothels, launched a historic effort to become America’s first unionized brothel workers. The organizing drive began after management introduced a new independent contractor agreement that workers said dramatically expanded the brothel’s control over their professional lives. Among other provisions, the contract granted the company broad authority over workers’ names, images, likenesses, and intellectual property…

As Major League Rugby (MLR) expanded across North America, the professional players responsible for growing the sport faced increasing concerns about healthcare, player safety, contract security, and their ability to have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their careers. The United States Rugby Players Association (USRPA), already the recognized bargaining representative for players on the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, began organizing Major League Rugby players around…

Following the October 7 attacks in Israel, one of America’s most reliable voting blocs entered a period of profound political uncertainty. Although Jewish Americans represent less than two percent of the U.S. population, they have historically voted at exceptionally high rates and have been among the Democratic Party’s most consistent supporters. By the fall of 2024, however, polling suggested meaningful erosion within the community as debates over Israel, antisemitism…

Over five years, Whistleblower Aid has established itself as the leading advocacy organization for whistleblowers. They have successfully represented over 45 high-profile cases, won 18 legal battles against multinational corporations, and challenged 12 additional major companies. Their work has saved taxpayers millions while providing critical support to individuals speaking out against wrongdoing. Comprised entirely of whistleblowers, their team brings a unique understanding of the challenges faced by..

Although women’s soccer is one of the most successful professional women’s sports in the United States, approximately one-third of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) players are paid the League’s minimum salary, just $22,000 per year; three-fourths of the League’s athletes reportedly make under $31,000. In 2017, the players formally unionized as a means to combat these pay inequities and work towards fairer contracts, more transparency, and safer working conditions.

In 2021, the world learned that National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) players received such low levels of compensation that many could neither afford basic living expenses nor the additional costs associated with critical mental health services. While these professional athletes are among the top professional soccer players globally, the vast majority do not earn a living wage. This fact, combined with the systemic abuses which women’s soccer players… 

In the lead-up to the US presidential election in 2020, the political environment was incredibly hostile. President Trump’s words and deeds on a range of issues, from COVID-19, immigration reform, criminal justice reform, and police brutality, had greatly divided the country. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party’s primary process only seemed to amplify division amongst key constituency groups that were vital to their victory in the November election. African American, Latinx..

As the for COVID-19 pandemic forced most Americans into home quarantine, it became clear that certain crucial resources were not available for the elderly or immunocompromised people. While there were plenty of hot-meal delivery services and indigent meal programs, there was no real option for immunocompromised people to deliver groceries, medication, or other vital supplies. Simone Policano, a college student at the time, created a Facebook post offering to …. 

As Amazon grows and moves into new markets, they are rapidly changing the logistics and delivery industry. Warehouse workers and delivery drivers – once high-paying jobs that prioritized safety and quality — are now being automated, commoditized, and dehumanized.  As Amazon monopolizes these sectors, job security and wages suffer. Iowa is becoming the newest battleground in this war on delivery drivers. In 2020, Amazon opened warehouses in the Hawkeye State and increased…

Prior to his 2016 presidential election campaign, Senator Bernie Sanders had little national name recognition and no major lists of supporters. He was polling at 3% and preparing to run against Hillary Clinton, one of the biggest brand names in Democratic politics. Unlike the other candidates entering the Democratic Primary contest, Sanders’ campaign would not have a traditional high-dollar finance team, an inside the Belway political-action fundraising firm, or any…

In December of 2006, Barack Obama was a rising star in a crowded field of potential primary candidates but was relatively unknown amongst general election voters. He was only polling at 17% amongst Democratic primary voters. Nonetheless, excitement was brewing for a new kind of candidate. Obama was young, Harvard educated, and quickly moving up the political ranks from the state senate to the US Senate. But the pundits and… 

In 2018, writer, actress, and activist Heather Thomas was nervous. Few organizations were talking about the unethical practices that several right-wing Republican Secretaries of State were initiating to tilt elections in their party’s favor. These elected officials were not using new campaign tactics to persuade prospective voters, they were abusing their power over the election process to quietly remove, or “purge,” tens of thousands of legally registered African American voters…

In early April of 2020, just three weeks into the Covid-19 pandemic’s shutdown, the National Independent Venue Association was created to help music venues, comedy clubs, festivals, & theater owners share resources, current information, and best practices in dealing with uncertain times. While these venues often competed against each other, they decided to work together and build a grassroots lobbying effort for federal assistance. They were in dire need, not… 

By late August 2024, the presidential election had a growing gender gap. Kamala Harris was struggling with male voters, particularly young men, while Donald Trump was aggressively courting them through podcasts, sports appearances, and digital media. At the same time, Trump allies were promoting Project 2025, which called for pornography to be criminalized and threatened imprisonment for people who produce and distribute it. Yet the issue had received relatively…