American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Updates on Two Consequential State Supreme Court Cases in North Carolina and Pennsylvania

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025

We have updates on important state supreme court cases involving the outcome of a November 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court election, and whether Pennsylvania can count mail ballots with missing dates.

While We Were Distracted with DC Discord, States Advance New Voting Regulations

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025

While President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6th pardons and executive orders have dominated the news, state legislatures have been hard at work on both pro-voter and anti-voter legislation. Democracy legislation tracker Voting Rights Lab counts 432 election bills pending in 32 states, with 100 of those bills restricting voter access, while 205 expand it.

Executive Orders Can Also Terminate Previous Orders; One of Trump’s Day-1 Orders Ended a Federal Policy to Promote Voting

January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

We recently reported on presidential orders, including executive orders, and how they’re used. Executive orders can also be used to revoke previous orders, and among President Donald Trump’s day-one orders was removing a policy of the federal government to promote access to voting.

What is an Executive Order? What are the Limits of Its Power? Why Do Presidents Use Them?

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

New Presidents often use “Day One” executive orders to move their policy agendas forward. What are the different kinds of presidential orders, what are their limitations, and why do Presidents use them?

For MLK Day: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “March on Ballot Boxes” Speech in South Carolina, May 9, 1966

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025

On May 9, 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Kingstree, SC about the importance of voting on the eve of a state primary. Here are his words: “Let us on that glad day in June march on ballot boxes, for this is the way we’re going to straighten up the South and the nation."