The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 25, 2025

President Donald Trump launched a cryptocurrency “meme coin” with his likeness on January 17th, just before inauguration day.  April 21st, with its value plummeting, the company offered top buyers of the coin a dinner with Trump and a personal tour of the White House.  That likely violates the Emoluments Clause.

The website for the meme coin loudly promotes a dinner with Trump at his Washington golf club for the top 220 owners of the coin, and for the top 25 owners, an “exclusive reception” and a “special VIP tour.”  But as of April 24th, any reference to touring White House was scrubbed from the site.  

With its value having fallen from $74.00 to a low of $7.66 on April 17, the price jumped after the announcement to $14.54 on April 23rd.  But it’s not the price of the coin that should worry Americans, but that corporations, special interests or foreign governments could exploit the offer as an opportunity to channel money to the notoriously transactional Trump in exchange for access and favors.

Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington told  Mother Jones magazine, “This is about as unethical as you can get – essentially selling off access to the president.” 

We have a pre-scrubbing graphic,  and more on the Emoluments Clause, at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

April 23 – GetTrumpMemes.com via WaybackMachine.com – “Have Dinner With President Trump”

April 24 – GetTrumpMemes.com – “Have Dinner with President Trump” – Reference to White House Tour Scrubbed

American Constitution Society – (2019)  Profiting off the Presidency: Trump’s Violations of the Emoluments Clauses
Brennan Center for Justice – (2019)  How Will the Courts Handle the Trump Emoluments Cases?
American Democracy Minute – (2024) The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause was Intended to Stop Bribery and Corruption.  Recently, Not So Much
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – (2024)  The intensifying threat of Donald Trump’s emoluments
Mother Jones – Trump Crypto Coin Buyers Offered VIP Tour of White House
CoinStats – TRUMP Meme Coin Tumbles After Soaring on Exclusive Gala Announcement

Groups Taking Action:

CREW, Public Citizen

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Corruption #EmolumentsClause #DonaldTrump #TrumpMemeCoin

The post Trump ‘Meme Coin’ Cryptocurrency Scheme Selling Access to the President Raises Alarms for Emolument Clause Violations appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 22, 2025

In one of his most bone-chilling orders to date, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies to open an investigation of Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency. Krebs’ alleged crime? Publicly refuting Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Trump’s April 9th memorandum reads in part, “Krebs, through CISA, falsely and baselessly denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread election malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines,” UNQUOTE.

On November 12th, 2020, Krebs had posted a joint statement from the Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council & the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees, which said, “The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history,” and “There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” The two groups represent CISA, Secretaries of State, State Election Directors, and numerous election technology and cybersecurity organizations.

In addition to ordering the investigation, Trump stripped Krebs of his security clearance, and that of SentinelOne, the cybersecurity company where Krebs was Chief Intelligence and Public Policy Officer until his resignation April 16th.

We have Trump’s disturbing memo and the 2020 joint statement at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Associated Press – (2020) Repudiating Trump, officials say election ‘most secure’
CISA – (2020) Joint Statement from Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council & the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees
Voice of America – (2020)Trump Fires Security Chief Who Said 2020 Vote Was ‘Most Secure’ in US History
CBS News – Fired director of U.S. cyber agency Chris Krebs explains why President Trump’s claims of election interference are false
The White House – Addressing Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship
The White House – Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship
Votebeat – Election officials alarmed as Trump orders probe of former cybersecurity chief​
SentinelOne – An Official Statement in Response to the April 9, 2025 Executive Order, Updated with Krebs Resignation
Cyberscoop – Trump signs order stripping Chris Krebs of security clearance

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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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ExecutiveOrders #CyberSecurity #ChrisKrebs #CISA #Retribution

#Authoritarian

The post Chilling Trump Order Seeks Retribution Against Former CISA Head Who Pushed Back Against Trump’s Unfounded Claims of 2020 Fraud appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 21, 2025

A former Missouri Congressman and President Trump’s nominee for IRS Commissioner is under scrutiny for a sudden loan repayment for his failed U.S. Senate campaign.  He allegedly has ties to a company promoting nonexistent “tribal tax credits.”  

After former Missouri Congressman Billy Long ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2022, he was left with a $136,000 campaign loan debt, which investigative outlet The Lever reports remained largely unpaid since the campaign.  

In December 2024, President Donald Trump announced Long’s nomination as IRS Commissioner, though he was assigned a role as an “advisor” in the Office of Management and Budget until the current IRS Commissioner’s term ended.  From January 4th to the 18th 2025, his Senate campaign fund received an influx of cash totalling $136,900, mostly in $2900 increments,  according to Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports.   

But that’s not the only red flag.  Since his Senate campaign, Long has been associated with two firms doing business with White River Energy Corporation.  Four members of White River contributed to retire Long’s debt.  April 15th, U.S. Senate Finance Committee members, Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, called for the IRS to investigate the firm and its associates for peddling allegedly fraudulent “tribal tax credits.” 

We’ve linked to the campaign finance reports and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Missouri Independent – Donald Trump picks Missouri’s Billy Long to lead the IRS
The Lever – (Free Registration to Read) Trump IRS Pick Was Just Enriched By Tax Schemers
Missouri Independent – Billy Long’s bid to lead IRS under scrutiny over donations that paid off personal debt
Federal Election Commission –  Billy Long for Senate FEC Filing Summary
Federal Election Commission –  Billy Long for Senate FEC Itemized Receipts
U.S. Senate Finance Committee – Press Release – Wyden, Cortez Masto Call for Criminal Investigation into Evidence of Fraud by Promoters Affiliated with IRS Nominee Billy Long
U.S. Senate Finance Committee – Wyden-Cortez Masto IRS Tribal Tax Credits Letter 

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, End Citizens United, Issue One

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 #BillyLong #IRSNominee #Corruption #MoneyinPolitics #Missouri

The post Former Congressman and Trump Nominee for IRS Commissioner Under Scrutiny for Campaign Finances and Ties to Alleged Tax Credit Scheme appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

In 2024, a ballot measure to replace Ohio’s dysfunctional politician-led redistricting process with an independent citizen-led process had its description rewritten by state officials to sink it.  Now, Ohio officials are trying to sink two more measures they don’t like, and the U.S. Supreme Court is now involved. 

Some background.  Ohio’s “fair & truthful” ballot measure requirements allows the state to modify a ballot measure’s description to make it accurate for voters.  But can it use that authority to manipulate the process and block citizens from moving their ballot measure forward?

Organizers tried for two years to get the language okayed to gather signatures for the “Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights” measure, giving citizens the private right to sue the state and removing the “qualified immunity” that police and government officials are currently given.  

While organizers have acted in good faith, Federal District Court Judge Karen Nelson Moore wrote that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost found fault and rejected the proposed amendment language EIGHT TIMES, and found the reasons “dubious.” The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that Ohio was restricting the organizers’ speech and must approve the measure’s description.

But April 9th, Yost appealed to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh for an emergency stay of the 6th Circuit’s order, which Kavanugh immediately granted despite the sketchy circumstances. We’ll continue to watch this situation.  We have the 6th Circuit’s decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Statehouse News Bureau – Group behind qualified immunity amendment sues Ohio Attorney General over latest rejection
Ohio Attorney General –  Unapproved language of  “Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights” measure 

6th Circuit Court of Appeals –  Opinion in Brown v. Yost
U.S. Supreme Court – Yost’s Application to Justice Brett Kavanaugh for Emergency Stay
U.S. Supreme Court – Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s order, staying the 6th Circuit
Courthouse News Service – Supreme Court keeps Ohio’s qualified immunity ballot initiative on ice

Groups Taking Action:

Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

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 #Ohio #BallotMeasure #Suppression #DaveYost 

The post State of Ohio Embroiled in Another Fight Over Manipulating Citizen Ballot Initiatives It Doesn’t Like.  Now the U.S. Supreme Court is Involved. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 8, 2025

Americans unhappy with the draconian policies of President Donald Trump and his unelected advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, rallied in all 50 states April 5th. Over 600,000 had registered to attend, but organizers now estimate attendance for the over 1,400 rallies around the U.S. may have reached into the millions.

Events were held in big cities, state capitals and city plazas such as Albany, NY and Boston, MA, but also in rural towns such as Rib Mountain, WI, where over 600 people gathered, and an estimated 400 in Homer, AK.  

While there’s no solid figure, there’s no doubt it was the largest anti-Trump rally since his new term began.  Observers estimate Chicago’s rally at over 30,000, 100,000 in New York, 50,000 in Washington, DC, and 10,000 in Tucson, AZ. 

Signs condemned a range of Trump policies, including the slashing of civil service jobs, mishandling of immigrant deportations, Gaza and Israel, anticipated attacks on Social Security, and Trump’s often unconstitutional executive orders. 

One Phoenix, AZ protester quoted by the Arizona Mirror said, “I’m upset at our government, specifically our president, and all these executive orders he’s taken to destroy what I believe are core values of what America should be.”

Event organizer 50501 has announced another mass protest for April 19th, this time specifically directed at President Donald Trump.  

We’ve linked to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The Guardian – More than 1,000 ‘Hands Off’ anti-Trump protests hit cities across the US
CNN – ‘Hands Off!’ protesters across US rally against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk
AM New York – ‘Hands Off’ march in Manhattan sees tens of thousands protest Trump/Musk agenda and demand end to turmoil
Block Club Chicago – Massive Crowds March Downtown Against Trump, Musk At ‘Hands Off’ Protest
WSAW-TV – Hundreds rally in Rib Mountain to protest against Trump 
Homer News – Hundreds turn out in Homer, Soldotna to protest actions of Trump administration

Groups Taking Action:

50501, Indivisible, Declaration for American Democracy Coalition

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 #HandsOff #April5th, #ProVoter

The post ‘Millions’ of April 5th ‘Hands Off’ Protesters in 1,300 Locations and All 50 States Oppose Trump Policies & Cuts  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.