The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for April 24, 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.

STATES IN THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE COMPACT

• California (Joined 2011)
• Colorado (Joined 2020)
• Connecticut (Joined 2018)
• Delaware (Joined 2019)
• District of Columbia (Joined 2010)
• Hawaii (Joined 2008)
• Illinois (Joined 2008)
• Maine (Joined 2024)
• Maryland (Joined 2007)
• Massachusetts (Joined 2010)
• Minnesota (Joined 2023)
• New Jersey (Joined 2008)
• New Mexico (Joined 2019)
• New York (Joined 2014)
• Oregon (Joined 2019)
• Rhode Island (Joined 2013)
• Vermont (Joined 2011)
• Washington (Joined 2009)

In five U.S. elections, most recently George Bush in 2000, and Donald Trump in 2016, the candidate winning the electoral college had fewer popular votes.  Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote by almost 544,000 votes in 2000, and Hillary Clinton by over 2.8 million in 2016.

When activated – which could be years away – participating states would pledge their electors to support the candidate with the most votes nationally, neutralizing the electoral college.  A 2024 Pew Research poll found 63% of Americans support the popular vote as the means of electing the president. 

Not all constitutional scholars agree that this end run around the electoral college is constitutional, however. The Elections Clause grants the power of election administration and how electors are chosen to the states.  Justice Clarence Thomas argues the Constitution is silent on whether a state can dictate how an elector votes. Others say it requires Congressional approval.

We’ve linked to the National Popular Vote Compact’s explainer at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Popular Vote Compact – History of Virginia’s Path to Joining of the NPV Compact
National Popular Vote Compact (via YouTube) – NPVC:  What It Is – Why It’s Needed
NPR – Virginia joins a national effort to ensure only popular vote winners become president
American Constitution Society – (2017( The National Popular Vote Compact Via Direct Democracy
University of Chicago Law Review – Does Chiafalo v. Washington Bolster the Case for the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact? Not So Fast. 

Pew Research – (2024) Majority of Americans continue to favor moving away from Electoral College

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – (2024) Maine Becomes the 17th State to Join the National Popular Vote Compact 
American Democracy Minute – (2025) Among 2024 Electoral College Presidential Electors Were 13 Alleged 2020 Fake Electors, Some of Whom Await Trial on Fraud Charges

Groups Taking Action:

National Popular Vote, Common Cause

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

#NewsAlerts #AmericanDemocracy #NationalPopularVote #Virginia #EqualVote #OnePersonOneVote

The post 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. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for April 23, 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.

The Virginia measure returns redistricting to the state redistricting commission in 2031. In the meantime, the state assembly is expected to gerrymander as many as four additional liberal-leaning congressional seats in response to manipulation of GOP seats in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, requested by President Donald Trump. Democrats counterpunched in California, and gained a court-ordered map in Utah.

Florida’s response is more complicated.  Florida Politics reports that a reluctant legislature is expecting Governor Ron DeSantis to propose the map, who rejected the legislature’s maps in 2022.  A recent analysis by Civic Data & Research Institute suggests gerrymandering more GOP seats might backfire in Florida and make other GOP districts more competitive for Democrats.  Further clouding Florida’s path is the imminent Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision, likely to neutralize racial gerrymandering protections under the Voting Rights Act.  The special session is now scheduled for April 28 and May 1.

We’ve linked to local reporting on both Virginia and Florida redistricting, and more on the national gerrymandering arms race at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Virginia Mercury – Virginia voters back redistricting amendment after months of legal and political battles
Virginia Public Media – Yes: Virginia votes to redraw congressional maps, favoring Democrats
Virginia Dept. of Elections – 2026 April 21 Special Election Results 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Virginia’s Special Election is April 21, a Limited Constitutional Amendment Allowing Mid-Decade Congressional Redistricting; Polling Shows It’s Close

American Democracy Minute – (January) FL Governor Ron DeSantis Calls April Special Session to Gerrymander More GOP Congressional Districts, Escalating Redistricting Fight

American Democracy Minute – (Aug, 2025) Texas Senate Republicans Approve Gerrymandered Congressional Map; California Democrats Pass Bill to Put Retaliatory Maps on the Ballot

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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

#NewsAlerts #AmericanDemocracy #2026Midterms #Gerrymandering #Redistricting #TrumpGerrymandering #Virginia #Florida 

The post Gerrymandering Arms Race Update: VA Voters Narrowly Approve Mid-Decade Redistricting; FL’s Delayed Special Session Starts April 28th appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Rhode Island is among 30 states sued by DOJ in 2025 after refusing to turn over the voting and personal data of its citizens. The data demanded included Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and voter history.  The data was to be combined with the Trump administration’s SAVE Database, intended to prevent extremely rare instances of noncitizen voting.  

The ACLU and Common Cause sued, arguing that turning over such data would violate federal privacy and free speech protections, that states have constitutional jurisdiction over election administration, and that the DOJ had not met the federal statutory requirements to investigate the data.

April 17th, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy agreed, QUOTE, “Neither the National Voter Registration Act nor Help America Vote Act authorize DOJ to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here.” Her conclusion echos dismissals in Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and California. 

Two dozen cases remain pending. Twelve other states complied with the Trump administration’s request. 

We’ve linked to the Rhode Island decision and more at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Department of Justice – Justice Department Sues Six Additional States for Failure to Provide Voter Registration Rolls
U.S District Court for Rhode Island – (December 2025) DOJ Complaint Demanding Voter Data
U.S District Court for Rhode Island (Via ACLU RI) – April 17 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
ACLU Statement – Judge blocks Trump Administration’s attempt to access Rhode Islanders’ data
The Hill – Judge rejects DOJ push for Rhode Island voter information
Brennan Center for Justice – Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Federal Circuit Courts Block Trump DOJ from Obtaining California and Oregon Voter Data

American Democracy Minute – Class Action Suit by Voters Claims Personal Data Shared to the Trump Administration’s SAVE Database Violates the Privacy Act of 1974

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU RI, Common Cause RI

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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

#NewsAlerts #AmericanDemocracy #RhodeIsland #ACLU #VoterData #TrumpDOJ

The post Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Suit Demanding RI’s Personal Voter Data. The Administration is 0-5 Against States Refusing to Comply. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Shortly after the January FBI seizure of Fulton County, Georgia’s 2020 ballots, President Donald Trump said during a White House signing ceremony QUOTE, “But go to 2020, look at the facts that are coming out, rigged, crooked elections…Take a look at Detroit. Take a look at Pennsylvania. Take a look at Philadelphia. You go take a look at Atlanta,” UNQUOTE.  No widespread fraud was identified by city, county or state officials in any of those areas.   

In a reply to the demand, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel countered that the DOJ had not met the statutory requirements to turn over such voting records.  “I am dismayed that it appears you have decided to move forward on theories similar to those deployed in Fulton County, in Michigan. The courts, our officials and our legislature have all determined that these theories are baseless, and they certainly provide no support for a demand for 2024 election records,” UNQUOTE.

We’ve linked to both letters at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, and will follow this story. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division (via MI Attorney General’s Office) – Demand for Wayne County 2024 Federal Election Ballots and Records 
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel – Title III Demand for Wayne County 2024 Election Records
Michigan Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson – AG Nessel, Governor Whitmer, Secretary Benson Denounce DOJ Demand for 2024 Ballots
President Donald Trump – Speaking with reporters about nationalizing elections, Feb. 2026 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – (Feb. 2026) In Stunning Statement, a U.S. President Suggests ‘Republicans Ought to Nationalize the Voting.’

American Democracy Minute – New Expert Analysis Finds Fringe Report Apparently Used to Justify the Fulton County, GA 2020 Ballot Seizure is Not Credible

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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

#News #Democracy  #DonaldTrump #Detroit #WayneCounty #Elections #DanaNessel #JocelynBenson #TrumpDOJ

The post The Trump DOJ Demands 2024 Voting Records from Detroit and Wayne County. Michigan’s AG Says the Justification is Baseless. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for April 20, 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.

Vice Chair of the January 6th Committee, Rep. Liz Cheney, explained in a hearing, “But President Trump plotted with a lawyer named John Eastman to pressure Pence to do so anyway.     As a Federal court has explained, `Based on the evidence, the Court finds that it is more likely than not that President 

Trump and Dr. Eastman dishonestly conspired to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021.’” UNQUOTE.

Eastman was tried on 11 counts of misconduct in the State Bar Court of California in June 2023, arising from his activities surrounding his representation of President Trump and the 2020 presidential election.  He was disbarred, and appealed to the state Supreme Court.

While he was pardoned by the President in November 2025, that pardon doesn’t apply to the state disciplinary action.   A statement by Eastman’s lawyer to NBC 4 Los Angeles indicated Eastman would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Eastman had previously been disbarred in Washington, DC in 2024. 

We’ve linked to more on John Eastman’s alleged role in overturning the 2020 election at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Congress – (2022)  HEARING BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE JANUARY 6TH              ATTACK ON THE  UNITED STATES CAPITOL, JUNE 16, 2022   (Name search for ‘Eastman’) 
PBS – (2022)  Plot to Overturn the Election (full documentary) | FRONTLINE
CATO Institute – (2022)  John Eastman’s Unsupported Defense of His Jan. 6 Plan

National Archives – 2020 Presidential Election Unofficial Certificates Submitted to The Office of the Federal Register 
State Bar Court of California  (Via States United Democracy Center) –  (2024) DECISION AND ORDER OF INVOLUNTARY INACTIVE ENROLLMENT

State Bar of California – Attorney John Eastman Disbarred by the California Supreme Court
District of Columbia Court of Appeals – In re JOHN C. EASTMAN, ESQUIRE – A Member of the Bar of the
District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – President Donald Trump Pardons Many of His Accomplices Accused of Trying to Overturn the 2020 Election  

Groups Taking Action:

States United Democracy Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, 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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #JohnEastman #Disbarred #2020Election #StoptheSteal

The post Trump Campaign Lawyer John Eastman’s Disbarment Upheld in California Supreme Court, but an Appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is Likely appeared first on American Democracy Minute.