The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 14, 2025
Oct. 15th, a pivotal case in the future of the Voting Rights Act will be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. It pits the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause against 60 years of court precedent and 15th Amendment. Voting rights protections for minority Americans are at stake.
Since 2013, the Roberts court has struck down the VRA’s federal “preclearance” oversight of discriminatory states, and last year made it harder for minority voters to prove racial gerrymandering. Now, the VRA’s protections from racial gerrymandering could be eliminated entirely.
Louisiana v. Callais is a continuation of a racial gerrymandering case for which lower courts mandated two majority-minority Congressional districts under Section 2. Louisiana’s population is 33% African American, but as of 2022, in only one Congressional district out of six could Black voters have a realistic chance of electing a candidate of their choice.
QUOTE “Non-African American voters” claim the majority minority districts discriminate against THEM under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The clause says in part that states cannot “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The State of Louisiana argues that race-based redistricting, including under the Voting Rights Act is therefore unconstitutional.
We’ll discuss the 14th and 15th amendments and the Equal Protection Clause in our next report.
Oral arguments will be streamed beginning at 10 AM Eastern Time. We have a link at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice (2023) – The Voting Rights Act Explained
American Democracy Minute – In Puzzling Move, U.S. Supreme Court Orders More Arguments in Louisiana Redistricting Case Pitting VRA Against Equal Protections Clause
U.S. Supreme Court – Louisiana, Appellant v. Phillip Callais, et al.
American Democracy Minute – Louisiana’s Racial Gerrymandering Defense to SCOTUS Switches from ‘It was for Partisan Reasons’ to ‘The VRA is Unconstitutional’
SCOTUS Blog – Supreme Court to hear arguments in pivotal case on the Voting Rights Act
Center for American Progress – Louisiana v. Callais: The End of the Voting Rights Act?
U.S. Supreme Court – Listen to the live stream of oral arguments, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 10 AM Eastern.
Groups Taking Action:
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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