American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

With His Corruption Charges Dropped by the Trump DOJ, NYC Mayor Eric Adams Sues NY Campaign Finance Board for Denying Matching Funds

May 29, 2025May 29, 2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams had his bribery and corruption charges dropped by the U.S. Department of Justice under questionable circumstances in April. Because of those charges, the New York State Campaign Finance Board denied Adams matching campaign funds. Adams is now suing to get those funds.

Federal Appeals Court Weighs Whether the Georgia Legislature-Drawn Majority-Minority Districts in Metro Atlanta Met Judge’s Order

May 28, 2025May 28, 2025

In a recent report from Georgia, we told you about voters contesting a mass voter eligibility challenge by election conspiracy group True the Vote. In another 11th Circuit courtroom that same week, a group of Black voters challenged the voting districts for metro Atlanta.

2020 Mass Challenges of 364,000 Georgia Voters Under Scrutiny by Federal Appeals Court

May 27, 2025May 28, 2025

Georgia law allows unlimited challenges by voters to the eligibility of other citizens registering or voting. Before a hotly-contested U.S. Senate runoff elections in 2021, an activist group challenged over 364,000 voters. The case is now before an appeals court.

Courts Use the ‘Gingles Test’ to Determine Whether Redistricting Violates the Voting Rights Act

May 25, 2025May 27, 2025

Five years into the redistricting cycle, we're still litigating racially gerrymandered voting maps. Today, we’re looking at a principle called the “Gingles Test” that federal courts use when determining whether a gerrymandered redistricting map is a violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. How that test is interpreted can determine whether minority voters can elect the candidate of their choice, or their vote is diluted by an anti-voter state legislature.

Meme Coins & 747s: Campaign Finance Reformer Doris “Granny D” Haddock’s Immortal Words on Memorial Day

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025

As the egregious violations of the emoluments clause add up, with unknown millions in dark money contributed during the transition, another $240 million in inaugural donations, and now peddling meme coins and receiving a Boeing 747, I wonder what Granny D would have said. My guess? She'd be circling the U.S. Capitol again.