American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Is Organized Labor the Campaign Money Bogey Man the Right Claims? The Data Shows Otherwise.

September 1, 2024September 2, 2024

For most of the last century, labor unions could be counted on for financial campaign contributions to state and federal Democratic candidates. That union support has also been vilified by Republicans as a thumb on the scale in elections. But is it the bogey man that the Right claims?

Will Alaska Keep Its Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting? An Upcoming Anti-RCV Ballot Initiative is a Critical Test

August 29, 2024August 29, 2024

Alaska implemented its Top 4 open primary and ranked choice voting system in 2022, after voters approved Ballot Measure 2 in 2020 in a close vote. A right wing ballot measure to repeal it, marred by questionable practices, was upheld by the Alaska Supreme Court on August 22nd will appear on the November ballot.

Special Counsel Submits Revised Criminal Conspiracy Indictment of Trump After SCOTUS Immunity Ruling on Presidential Powers

August 28, 2024August 28, 2024

Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted a revised criminal conspiracy indictment of former President Donald Trump Aug. 27th, adjusted to remove actions deemed “official acts” by the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.

Fallout from Georgia State Election Board Decisions; Accusations that Texas AG Paxton’s Raids of LatinX Democracy Activists Were ‘Intimidation’ Tactic

August 27, 2024August 27, 2024

We have updates on two state stories today. New reporting suggests Georgia officials may seek to remove State Election Board members for recent fringe rule changes. And the Texas attorney general is under scrutiny for raids on the homes of pro-democracy LatinX activists.

U.S. Supreme Court Restores Arizona Law Aimed at Disenfranchising Native Americans and College Students

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024

In a 5-4 vote August 22nd, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated part of an Arizona voter suppression bill requiring citizens to provide proof of citizenship in addition to other identity documents. The law targets Native American voters, who sometimes don’t have birth certificates, and college students, who may not have the documents available. Both groups skew liberal.