VALOR Institute https://valor-institute.org Independent, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to government accountability, constitutional liberty, and institutional reform. en-us Invalid Date © 2026 VALOR Institute Sixty-Four Members, Four Bills, Zero Markups: A Coordination Architecture https://valor-institute.org/reports/coordination-architecture-four-bills-zero-markups-2026-04-21/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/coordination-architecture-four-bills-zero-markups-2026-04-21/ A congressional caucus operating on a steady enrollment curve without a single committee markup presents a case study in how external publications pipelines substitute for regular-order legislative advancement. Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk INVESTIGATION Three Days, Three Branches, Three Boundaries of Executive Power https://valor-institute.org/reports/constitutional-tracker-2026-04-17/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/constitutional-tracker-2026-04-17/ A stalled surveillance reauthorization, a skeptical federal trade court, and a Supreme Court signaling its hand — a constitutional week framed by three days until sunset. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk LEGISLATIVE TRACKER $127 Million, 322 Races, and the Shell PACs That Hide the Money https://valor-institute.org/reports/aipac-spending-network-democratic-primaries-2026-04-14/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/aipac-spending-network-democratic-primaries-2026-04-14/ AIPAC and its super PAC spent $127 million in the 2024 cycle with a near-perfect win rate, then deployed anonymous shell groups to spend $14 million in Illinois's 2026 primaries — raising fundamental questions about donor disclosure and primary democracy. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute INVESTIGATION Three Constitutional Collisions in Six Days https://valor-institute.org/reports/legislative-tracker-2026-04-14/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/legislative-tracker-2026-04-14/ A surveillance law sunsets April 20, a federal court weighs presidential tariff authority, and the Supreme Court signals its hand on citizenship. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk LEGISLATIVE TRACKER Who Speaks for Religious Liberty? The Commission's Final Report https://valor-institute.org/reports/religious-liberty-commission-final-report-2026-04-10/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/religious-liberty-commission-final-report-2026-04-10/ As the Religious Liberty Commission prepares its final report, unresolved questions about its statutory compliance and representational scope raise concerns about whether its recommendations will reflect the full breadth of American religious life. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk POLICY BRIEF The Government Is Picking Which Faiths Get Religious Liberty https://valor-institute.org/reports/interfaith-signal-2026-04-07/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/interfaith-signal-2026-04-07/ A commission tasked with defining religious liberty for all Americans excluded almost every minority faith from its membership. The lawsuit to stop its report is already in court. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute COALITION INTELLIGENCE Your State Laws Arrived Pre-Written. Nobody Said From Where. https://valor-institute.org/reports/model-legislation-think-tank-pipeline-2026-04-07/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/model-legislation-think-tank-pipeline-2026-04-07/ Most Americans assume state legislators draft the bills they vote on. A documented pipeline of anonymously funded think tanks suggests otherwise. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk INVESTIGATIONS $21.3 Million Moved in Secret. Here's Where It Went. https://valor-institute.org/reports/opposition-watch-2026-04-07/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/opposition-watch-2026-04-07/ DonorsTrust funneled $21.3M to the executive branch's external legal arm. No donor names. This week's full influence map. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute ACCOUNTABILITY MONITOR Four States. Six Bills. One Constitutional Question. https://valor-institute.org/reports/state-battleground-2026-04-07/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/state-battleground-2026-04-07/ Tennessee advanced two First Amendment tests this week. Texas faces its most consequential school choice ruling April 24. Oklahoma moved to protect property from warrantless seizure. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute STATE WATCH A Court Already Blocked This. Florida Signed It Anyway. https://valor-institute.org/reports/state-terrorist-designation-first-amendment-2026-04-07/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/state-terrorist-designation-first-amendment-2026-04-07/ A Florida law taking effect July 1 lets a single official label any domestic organization a terrorist group — no conviction required, no judicial review, evidence never disclosed. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Research Desk CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Follow the Money https://valor-institute.org/reports/follow-the-money-dark-money-pipeline/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/follow-the-money-dark-money-pipeline/ This investigation documents how $1.4 billion in donor-advised funds flows through a largely opaque network of policy organizations, enabling anonymous donors to influence American legislation while maintaining both donor anonymity and tax-deductible donations. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Dark Money Pipeline VALOR Legislative Tracker https://valor-institute.org/reports/legislative-tracker-april-2026/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/legislative-tracker-april-2026/ Congressional Status: House is in District Work Period. Senate in recess. Legislative activity resumes the week of April 14. Track accountability and constitutional liberty measures in the 119th Congress. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Legislative Intelligence Brief Shadow Architects https://valor-institute.org/reports/shadow-architects-dark-money-think-tanks/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/shadow-architects-dark-money-think-tanks/ American foreign policy is being shaped in significant part by think tanks that accept millions of dollars from foreign governments, defense contractors, and undisclosed private donors — while testifying before Congress as objective experts, without disclosing those financial relationships to lawmakers or the public. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute Funding Investigation Congress Left Town. The White House Didn't Stop. https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-legislative-tracker-2026-04-06/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-legislative-tracker-2026-04-06/ House in recess through April 13. Executive orders on voter rolls, immigration enforcement at churches, and more — all signed while Congress was away. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute LEGISLATIVE TRACKER $1.4 Billion. Zero Names. Your Policy. https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-report-dark-money-pipeline-2026-04-06/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-report-dark-money-pipeline-2026-04-06/ A single donor-advised fund holds $1.4 billion and funneled $195 million to policy groups last year — with no requirement to disclose a single donor's name. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute INVESTIGATION Foreign Governments Gave $64 Million. Congress Didn't Ask. https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-report-dark-money-think-tanks-2026-04-06/ https://valor-institute.org/reports/valor-report-dark-money-think-tanks-2026-04-06/ Think tanks advising Congress on foreign policy accepted $64 million from foreign governments and $20 million from defense contractors. 89% disclosed nothing. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT VALOR Institute FUNDING INVESTIGATION