American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Following Three Chaotic Years of Politician-Run Redistricting, Ohio Organizers Submit Ballot Measure Signatures for Citizen-Led Commission

July 4, 2024July 4, 2024

After three chaotic years with a politician-led commission and an anti-voter legislature failing to produce Ohio redistricting maps without gerrymandering, a ballot measure proposing a citizen-led redistricting commission will likely be put to the voters in November.

Would the Founding Fathers Have Embraced Having Unfettered Power for the Presidency? Not Likely.

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024

Anti-authoritarian feelings ran high in the years before and after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, as the Declaration’s litany of complaints against the King suggests. So it’s unlikely the founding fathers would have supported expansion of Presidential powers, and absolute immunity for “official acts.”

U.S. Supreme Court Majority Says Trump Immunity Hinges on ‘Official’ vs. ‘Private’ Actions, and Alarmingly Expands Presidential Powers

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled July 1st that former President Donald Trump has criminal immunity for his “official” acts as President, but not for “private” acts. The majority’s decision was not quite a “get out of jail free” card, but expanded the official powers of the President to near authoritarian levels.

North Carolina Senate Sends ‘Citizen-Voting-Only’ Ballot Measure to Voters, Fails Measure to Repeal Jim Crow-Era Literacy Test

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024

The North Carolina Senate endorsed a ballot measure June 25th prohibiting noncitizens from voting - for which there is already existing law. And the Senate declined another measure repealing a racist Jim Crow-era literacy test to vote, still enshrined in the state’s constitution.

What Are ‘Open’, ‘Brokered’, and ‘Contested’ Party Conventions, and Could We See One This Summer?

June 30, 2024June 30, 2024

President Joe Biden’s poor performance at the first debate with Donald Trump precipitated conversations about nominating another candidate at the convention. Can that happen? And what’s the difference between an ‘open’, ‘brokered’ or ‘contested’ party nominating convention?