The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 14, 2025

More Trump administration mass layoffs at CISA have experts raising concerns over U.S. readiness for cyber attacks on election infrastructure and federal agency networks.  An additional 100 inhouse and contracted cyber specialists were terminated in early March.  

The terminations raise the number of layoffs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to an estimated 300, though new CISA leadership has denied recent layoffs. The agency was created in 2017 to protect the U.S. from both foreign and domestic cyber attacks, and serves all agencies of the U.S. government.  

As we reported in February, a team assisting state election officials in improving and hardening election systems from foreign and domestic hackers was laid off.  Votebeat reported March 11th that CISA’s new leadership informed state election officials that it had suspended operations and funding for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center. 

In addition, a McCarthy-like effort is underway to purge CISA staffers who ran 2020 efforts to combat foreign and domestic disinformation in social media, some concocted by the Trump campaign and its allies.  

Reports in cybersecurity journals say the latest layoffs involve so-called “Red Teams” which pressure test the security of government networks.   CBS News quoted one cybersecurity expert let go in February as saying about U.S. infrastructure,  “We’re being targeted daily, hourly and every single minute.”

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute –  CISA Pauses All Election Security Programs for Full Review

The Register – CISA pen-tester says 100-strong red team binned after DOGE canceled contract
CISA – Statement on CISA’s Red Team
Infosecurity Magazine – Trump Administration Shakes Up CISA with Staff and Funding Cuts
TechCrunch – DOGE axes CISA ‘red team’ staffers amid ongoing federal cuts

CBS News – Cybersecurity agency’s top recruits decimated by DOGE cuts
Center for Internet Security – “Due to the termination of funding by the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Internet Security no longer supports the EI-ISAC.”

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause Election Disinformation, Protect Democracy, Election Worker Legal Defense Network,  Center for Internet Security/ISA, IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #CISA #DOGE #ElectionIntegrity

The post DOGE Cuts 300 Experts From CISA’s Election Security Team and U.S. Agency Cybersecurity; Funding for State Cybersecurity Also Suspended appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 17, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

The interim head of CISA, charged with protecting America’s critical cybersecurity infrastructure, including for elections, just issued a memo pausing all election protection operations, pending a review.  Hint:  It’s about countering Trump’s 2020 election claims.

WIRED Magazine reports the interim director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Bridget Bean, ordered a full review of the agency’s election programs since its inception in 2017, including programs countering misinformation and disinformation.  In 2020, this included correcting claims by President Donald Trump that the 2020 Presidential election was somehow rigged to benefit Joe Biden.  Far right Conservatives complained that CISA’s pressuring of social media companies to remove the bogus claims censored free speech.

We reported in July 2023 that under the Biden administration, CISA added staff as liaisons and consultants to state and local election officials.  They advised 8,000 jurisdictions on hardening election systems from very real and ongoing attacks by Russia, China and Iran prior to the 2024 election. February 7th, 17 CISA election staffers were placed on leave, 10 from the state election programs.  

In ordering the review, Bean said CISA would “correct any activities identified as past misconduct by the Federal Government related to censorship of protected speech,” according to WIRED’s reporting.

Vladimir Putin will be glad to hear it.  We’ve linked to the reporting and resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (2023) U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Head Announces Additional Election Security Advisors to Assist States in Securing Elections
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency  – (2024)  2024 Year in Review
Politico – Trump continues federal purge, gutting cyber workers who combat disinformation
Mother Jones – Trump Is Gutting Efforts to Combat Foreign Election Interference
WIRED – Top US Election Security Watchdog Forced to Stop Election Security Work
Cyberscoop – CISA election, disinformation officials placed on administrative leave, sources say

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause Election Disinformation, Protect Democracy, Election Worker Legal Defense Network,  Center for Internet Security/ISA, IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #CISA #ForeignInterference

The post CISA Pauses All Election Security Programs for Full Review.  Hint:  It’s Not About Election Integrity, It’s Reprisal for Telling the Truth. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 10, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

We’re in Wisconsin today, where a candidate for state supreme court had her image manipulated by AI in an opponent’s attack ad, and the state high court allowed the state’s embattled elections board administrator to stay, after three years of conspiracy-driven attacks by state GOP leaders.

The campaign of former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel has admitted it used AI to manipulate an image of his opponent, Dane County circuit court judge Susan Crawford.  An ethics complaint was filed February 5th with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.  The Schimel campaign manipulated a photo with Crawford smiling and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it used AI to make her look “ashamed.” Wisconsin Act 123 requires disclosure of such manipulation and has fines of up to $1000 dollars per instance. 

In a story we’ve followed since 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has allowed Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to stay in her job, despite not being reappointed by the GOP-dominated legislature.  Wolfe has been vilified by election deniers for recommending the mailing of absentee ballots to nursing home residents during pandemic, rather than putting residents and election officials at risk. Conspiracy theorists claim Wolfe attempted to sway the 2020 election results. A partisan deadlock on the Elections Commission and court precedents have prevented her from being replaced for almost two years.  

We have local reporting and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Wisconsin Legislative Council –  2023 WISCONSIN ACT 123
Schimel Campaign on X – Attack ad on WI Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Schimel campaign acknowledges altering photo in ad to make opponent Crawford look ‘ashamed’
Wisconsin Politics – Crawford campaign: Files ethics complaint, urges thorough investigation over manipulated image used by Brad Schimel
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Wisconsin Senate Election Deniers Vote to Oust the State’s Election Director for Recommending 2020 Pandemic Voting Accommodations
Wisconsin Watch – Meagan Wolfe can stay on as Wisconsin’s top election official, state Supreme Court rules

Wisconsin Examiner – Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously finds WEC administrator can stay in job

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #WINews #WisconsinElection #AIEthics #MeaganWolfe

The post In WI, State Supreme Court Candidate’s Image Altered by AI in Opponent’s Attack Ad; Election Commission Administrator Targeted by Conspiracy Theorists Allowed to Stay appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 31, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

Last April, federal cybersecurity agency CISA issued warnings to election officials on how to combat a Russian online scheme to mislead American voters in the 2024 election.  CISA is now under attack by its own administration.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act was signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, with part of its mission to protect election systems.  It played a vital role in hardening state and local computer systems prior to the 2024 election, supporting state election officials, and monitoring hacking and disinformation campaigns perpetrated by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.  

After the 2020 election, it refuted Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was manipulated. Trump fired its director, and CISA was targeted by both Project 2025 and the Heritage Foundation for a dramatic overhaul, with some conservatives calling for the agency’s elimination.

As foreign threats ramped up, so did CISA, doubling in size during the Biden administration. Just before the inauguration, President Biden issued an executive order requiring new CISA cybersecurity standards be implemented, but Trump immediately revoked it January 20th. CISA’s highly-qualified director, Jen Easterly, resigned on inauguration day. 

New Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in her confirmation hearing that CISA had “Strayed from its mission” by monitoring disinformation. As governor of South Dakota, she refused federal funding to harden cyber systems, calling it “wasteful spending.” 

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – Project 2025’s Plan for Cybersecurity Agency Threatens Election Security
Federal News Network – What will 2025 bring for CISA?
Democracy Docket – A Little-Known Federal Agency Helps Secure Elections. Trump Wants to Gut It.
Associated Press – US cyber agency’s future role in elections remains murky under the Trump administration
Wired –  Audio Story – Under Trump, US Cyberdefense Loses Its Head
Politico – Noem calls to shrink CISA, saying the cyber agency has gone ‘far off mission’
South Dakota Searchlight – After Noem turns down federal cyber money, lawmaker suggests using state funds

Groups Taking Action:

IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org,  Common Cause US,  Protect Elections, Center for Internet Security/ISAC

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionSecurity #CISA #CyberSecurity 

The post Federal Agency CISA Helps States Harden Election Systems.  It’s Now Under Attack by Its Own Administration appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 25, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

With a razor-thin statewide margin of 664 votes, ranked choice voting and open primaries weathered a repeal challenge in Alaska, one of the few democracy reforms to survive the 2024 Presidential election cycle.  

We reported in 2022 that over 80% of Alaska voters found ranked choice voting easy to use, and that the open primary system offered many more candidate choices.   It also implemented a “Top 4” Congressional race, where the top four vote-getters advance to the general election, again, in an effort to offer more choice to voters.  Republicans blamed the system for the election of Democratic Congresswoman Mary Peltola, who coincidentally lost her seat November 5th.

The right wing ballot measure to repeal it, marred by questionable funding and signature-gathering practices, was upheld by the Alaska Supreme Court.  The group formed to repeal it, Alaskans for Honest Elections, was fined $94,000 in June for violating the state’s dark money disclosure laws, after a nonprofit church organization contributed $90,000.  

Rural votes in Alaska take weeks to count, and it wasn’t until Nov. 20th that the race was called, 50.10% against the repeal, and 49.90% for it.  With the national GOP opposed to RCV and with such a close vote, expect future challenges.  Still don’t think your vote matters?    

We have links to more and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)

Alaska Beacon – Alaska chooses to keep ranked choice voting, Begich defeats Peltola, unofficial results show
Alaska Beacon – Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote
BallotPedia – Ballot Measure Which Established Alaska’s Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
American Democracy Minute – Fines Upheld for Alaska Pastor Using His Church Organization to Funnel ‘Free Speech’ Money to Political Groups Trying Repeal Ranked Choice Voting
Alaska Division of Elections – Ranked Choice Voting, Explained

Groups Taking Action:

Alaskans for Better Elections, Represent.Us, Open Primaries

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Alaska #OpenPrimaries #RankedChoiceVoting

The post Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting and ‘Top 4’ Open Primaries Survive Repeal Referendum – By a Whisker appeared first on American Democracy Minute.