American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Thomas Jefferson Gets the Credit for the Declaration, but the ‘Independence’ Part Came from Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Thomas Jefferson is credited with most of the text of the Declaration of Independence. But the “independence” part came from a Virginian named Richard Henry Lee on June 7th, 1776.

New ProPublica Reporting Suggests DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Failed to Disclose $80,000 Payment from a Dark Money Group to Her LLC

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025

ProPublica is reporting an alleged $80,000 disclosure omission by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in her federal executive branch disclosure form, an ethics violation. Noem appears to have received a 2023 commission for fundraising for a dark money nonprofit group.

U.S. Supreme Court Takes Case Challenging Limits on Political Party Spending. It Could Open Up Another Flood of Money into Campaigns.

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Buckley vs. Valeo and Citizens United that unlimited money spent for campaigns equaled free speech, and enabled the rise of Super PACs. But it kept limits on certain types of spending by political parties. A case by Republicans heard in the high court this fall tests those limits.

Bill Moyers, Journalist and Keen Observer of Democracy, Dies at 91

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025

Distinguished television journalist Bill Moyers died June 26th at age 91. In his long career, he earned 30 Emmy awards, served as President Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary, helped found public broadcasting, and was a stalwart voice for democracy and democracy reform.

In Puzzling Move, U.S. Supreme Court Orders More Arguments in Louisiana Redistricting Case Pitting VRA Against Equal Protections Clause

June 28, 2025June 29, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court was expected to announce an opinion June 27th in Louisiana v. Callais, one of the most important voting rights cases of the year. Instead, in a highly unusual move, the court ordered new arguments in the case pitting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 against the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protections Clause.