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What happened on January 21st?
The Supreme Court ruling that changed American elections forever
Matthew Jones
January 21, 2025
2010 US Supreme Court Rules on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
On January 21st, 2010, the US Supreme Court delivered a landmark 5–4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The ruling declared that laws restricting corporate and union funding for independent political advertisements violated the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. This decision reshaped campaign finance in the United States, allowing unlimited spending by corporations and unions in support of political candidates.
A person stands on a sidewalk holding a protest sign. After the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010, a coalition group was formed called Move to Amend to call for a US Constitutional amendment to abolish Corporate Personhood.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on January 21:
2017 — Demonstrations known as the Women's March took place worldwide, advocating for gender equality, civil rights, and other social issues under the presidency of Donald Trump.
1997 — The US House of Representatives formally reprimanded Speaker Newt Gingrich for ethics violations in a historic 395–28 vote.
1996 — Cleanup began for 1.8 million gallons of oil spilled near Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
1976 — The Concorde made its first commercial flight, marking a new era in supersonic passenger travel.
1793 — King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On January 21, we’re singing to:
Christian Dior (1905) — French fashion designer who revolutionized women’s fashion with his iconic New Look collection, shaping the post-war fashion industry.
Plácido Domingo (1941) — Spanish-born opera singer celebrated for his powerful tenor voice and versatility in both opera and concert performances.
Paul Allen (1953) — American investor, philanthropist, and co-founder of Microsoft, whose contributions transformed the tech industry and supported numerous charitable causes.
🪦Who Died Today?
On January 21, we’re saying goodbye to:
Yemelyan Pugachev (1775) — Russian rebel leader who led a major Cossack uprising against Catherine the Great in the 18th century.
Vladimir Lenin (1924) — Russian revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union, whose leadership profoundly shaped 20th-century global politics.
Georges Méliès (1938) — French filmmaker and illusionist, a pioneer of early cinema best known for his groundbreaking film A Trip to the Moon.
George Orwell (1950) — British author renowned for his dystopian novels 1984 and Animal Farm, which remain powerful critiques of totalitarianism.
How Am I Doing?
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