American Democracy Minute A 90 second radio news report & podcast on U.S. democracy issues %

Virginia Becomes the Latest State to Sign on to the National Popular Vote Compact. Committed States Now Represent 222 of the 270 Electoral Votes Needed.

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Virginia became the 18th state to join the National Popular Vote Compact April 13th, bringing the electoral votes of committed states and DC to 222 of the 270 needed for the Compact to go into effect. It would render the presidential electoral college moot, and ensure the candidate with the most popular votes wins.

Gerrymandering Arms Race Update: VA Voters Narrowly Approve Mid-Decade Redistricting; FL’s Delayed Special Session Starts April 28th

April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

By a narrow 51.6 to 48.4 percent margin, Virginia voters authorized their General Assembly April 21st to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. Now it’s the Florida legislature’s turn, after Governor Ron DeSantis had delayed a special session.

Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Suit Demanding RI’s Personal Voter Data. The Administration is 0-5 Against States Refusing to Comply.

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

A federal judge dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice demand that Rhode Island turn over its voter data, including sensitive personal information. April 17th’s decision is the fifth such defeat for the Trump DOJ.

The Trump DOJ Demands 2024 Voting Records from Detroit and Wayne County. Michigan’s AG Says the Justification is Baseless.

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

In a letter April 14th, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon gave 14 days for Wayne County, MI’s county clerk to produce ballots, ballot receipts and ballot envelopes from the 2024 election. As justification, DOJ cites a handful of closed investigations from 2020 and 2024 from the county with over 1.2 million voters.

Trump Campaign Lawyer John Eastman’s Disbarment Upheld in California Supreme Court, but an Appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is Likely

April 19, 2026April 22, 2026

John Eastman, the alleged architect of the effort to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election in Congress, had his disbarment upheld by the California Supreme Court April 15th. His attorney says Eastman, previously pardoned by President Trump, will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.