The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 6th, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Today, we’re taking a look at the numbers associated with the January 6th, 2021 insurrection, one of the most serious assaults on the American democratic process in the country’s history.

After then-President Donald Trump spoke at the Ellipse to an event he and his campaign promoted, a mob the FBI estimates at over 2,000 attacked the U.S. Capitol. Over 140 U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers were injured. Officer Brian Sicknick died of a stroke, and four officers later died from physical or mental health causes.  Three insurrectionists died, including one who was shot by police.

The U.S. Capitol sustained $2.9 million dollars in damage.  As of November 2024 the U.S. Department of Justice had charged 590 with assaulting or resisting law enforcement, and 169 with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing injury to an officer.  Among the weapons were pepper spray, a sword, axes, knives, bats, hockey sticks, and flagpoles.  All defendants were charged with federal trespass or disorderly conduct.  

Of the more than 1,500 charged, DOJ reports 979 guilty pleas, and 250 found guilty at trial or pleading “no contest.” Prison time has ranged from a few days up to 22 years for the most serious charge, seditious conspiracy.

Trump has promised to pardon the QUOTE, “Patriots.” In a December 8th NBC News interview, he said he would act quickly after taking office.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NPR – Read Trump’s Jan. 6 Speech, A Key Part Of Impeachment Trial
U.S. District Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia – (2024) 46 Months Since the Jan. 6 Attack on U.S. Capitol

U.S. District Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia – (2024) Four Men Sentenced for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

CBS News – U.S. attorney explains Jan. 6 Capitol riot prosecutions
NPR – The Jan. 6 attack: The cases behind the biggest criminal investigation in U.S. history
Associated Press – Lawmakers brace for Trump’s promised Jan. 6 pardons. Some are urging restraint
FactlCheck.org – How Many Died as a Result of Capitol Riot?
The Guardian –  ‘We have our country back’: convicted January 6 rioters anticipate Trump pardons
Reuters – Trump vows to pardon Jan. 6 defendants on Day One

Brennan Center for Justice – (Analysis) – Trump Pardoning Jan. 6 Insurrectionists Would Endorse Attacks on Democracy
Congressional Research Bureau – Fischer v. United States: Supreme Court Reads Federal Obstruction Provision Narrowly in Capitol Breach Prosecution

Groups Taking Action:
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, C.R.E.W., Protect Democracy

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpCriminalTrials #January6th #StoptheSteal #CapitolInsurrection

The post Assault on America’s Democratic Process:  The January 6th, 2021 Insurrection by the Numbers appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 6, 2023

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Politico – Liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz won a seat on Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court, flipping the body’s ideological majority.Wisconsin Public Radio – In the political powder keg of 2011, Wisconsin redistricting passed without protest
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – New election data highlights the ongoing impact of 2011 GOP redistricting in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Radio – How the 2011 political district map changed the game for Wisconsin
All About Redistricting:  Wisconsin – State Summary Data
Wisconsin Public Radio – Wisconsin Supreme Court chooses maps drawn by Republicans in new redistricting decisionRepublican Eagle – Court change could help proponents of new maps

Groups Taking Action:
Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition,  Common Cause Wisconsin, Fair Elections WI,  Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, League of Women Voters WI

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

While the historic arraignment of former President Donald Trump dominated the news April 4th, a historic Supreme Court election in Wisconsin may shift the state’s political landscape – and maybe even Congress.

In a 55% to 45% win, Judge Janet Protasiewicz soundly defeated former Justice Daniel Kelly, shifting the Wisconsin Supreme Court from conservative to liberal.   Her win may have a profound impact on pending issues with the court, most urgently, redistricting. If the state’s badly gerrymandered voting districts can be dismantled and a proper representative state assembly be elected in this almost 50/50 state, it could impact reproductive rights, gun legislation, voting rights and other important issues. 

In 2011, led by Governor Scott Walker & the national Red Map Project, Wisconsin’s legislature gerrymandered state assembly, senate and Congressional maps.  Despite receiving less than 50% of the vote, the 2011 maps engineered a 60 to 39 advantage in the State Assembly, and retained control of the State Senate in 2012. The further gerrymandered 2021 maps resulted in a 64-35 advantage in 2022.  Who upheld the 2021 map previously vetoed by Governor Tony Evers?   The Wisconsin Supreme Court.

It’s not clear whether the Protasiewicz win will have an immediate impact on fair redistricting, or if it will have to wait until 2031.   

We have links to articles, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews

The post Historic Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Shifts the State Supreme Court & Could Impact Critical Issues – Including Gerrymandering appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/americandemocracyminute/episodes/2022-06-07T08_46_46-07_00

Today’s Links:
Listen or watch the January 6th Committee Hearings.
ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, CNN, NPR, U.S. House of Representatives Stream
Articles:    Washington Post, CNN, Deadline, NPR,

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

There will be conspiracies, drama, betrayal, blood, death and a coverup during primetime this week.   But not of the HBO variety.  Thursday night, June 9th at 8 pm, the January 6th Committee hearings begin, laying out an enormous trove of information gleaned from over 1,000 interviews conducted in the 500 days since the January 6th 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

In reports from the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN and other reputable news outlets, members of the January 6th Committee have hinted that there will be new information released about the planning of the insurrection, and what senior Republican leadership knew, or did, before, during and after the event.  The event caused the deaths of two civilians, one police officer, was a factor in the deaths of others, and injured 138 police officers.   The insurrection also threatened the lives of members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence.

News reports suggest that the primetime hearings will include video from testimony by Trump administration officials, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.  Hearings may also include staffers of Vice President Pence and former Trump chief of staff, Mark Meadows.   

Thursday’s hearing will be the first of five to seven hearings which may stretch from now until September, likely winding up with details of what former President Trump’s role was in this major stain on American history.

ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and PBS will all carry the 8 pm Thursday hearing live.  Fox News will not.  Rather, Fox will carry it on its Fox Business cable channel.

Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.” 

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for June 8, 2022: Intrigue, Conspiracies & Cover-Ups in Prime Time – It’s Thursday’s Insurrection Hearings appeared first on American Democracy Minute.