The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 19, 2026
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October 18, 2026 11:38 amCONCORD, NH — In state headlines, envelopes containing an unknown powder were sent to election officials around the country; the Trump Department of Justice sued the State of California after a 48-hour deadline to find noncitizen voters expired; and New Hampshire appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate its law ending use of student IDs for voting, blocked by two federal courts.
The FBI announced October 15th that over 100 election and other officials were sent letters containing a powder, later found to be inert by law enforcement officials. The recipients ranged from the secretary of states of New Hampshire and Arizona, to multiple U.S. Senators. Several envelopes were intercepted by authorities before reaching their destination. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspectors and state law enforcement are all involved in the investigation.
The Trump Department of Justice sued the State of California after providing an unsecured thumb drive of 20,000 DOJ-suspected noncitizen registered voters, and giving election officials 48 hours to verify them.
New Hampshire’s Secretary of State made an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a 1st Circuit appeals court upheld a ruling blocking a new state law ending student IDs for voting. The law contradicted other statutes allowing student IDs as secondary identification.
We’ve linked local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
Votebeat – Suspicious letters sent to election officials nationwide weeks before the midterms
Arizona Mirror – White-powder letter sent to Arizona Secretary of State amid national threat wave
CT Secretary of State’s Office – Secretary Thomas Responds to Suspicious Letters Sent to Election Offices
U.S. Department of Justice – United States Sues California After Determining More Than 20,000 Likely Noncitizens Are Registered to Vote in the Golden State
Gov. Gavin Newsom – Governor Newsom responds to unfounded Trump lawsuit that is desperate attempt to suppress California voters less than 3 weeks before election
New Hampshire Public Radio – Judge says NH Secretary of State went too far on student IDs for voting
InDepthNH – Legal Battle Over Use of Student IDs to Vote in NH Heads to U.S. Supreme Court
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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