The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 22, 2025

Two dozen Texas Democrats who fled the state to prevent a quorum in the Texas House returned to the chamber August 18th, resulting in the August 20th passage of further gerrymandered Congressional districts requested by President Donald Trump.  Passage by the Senate is expected by the weekend.

Over 50 legislators traveled to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, delaying passage of the bill for two weeks, and running out the clock on the special session.  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued arrest warrants and the FBI mobilized to find them, to no avail, protected by their host states.  State officials even petitioned the state supreme court to remove some from office.   

In a state known for embracing freedom, House  Speaker Dustin Burrows required the returning Democratic legislators to sign a permission slip and be escorted by an officer of the Texas Department of Safety, or not be allowed to leave the House chambers. State Representative Nicole Collier chose to sleep in the House chambers, saying in a statement, “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts.”  

Now that the manipulated maps gerrymandering five more GOP Congressional districts have cleared the Texas House, passage is expected in the state senate by the weekend, and the bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. 

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – Will Texas and Ohio Redraw Congressional Districts Before the 2026 Midterms? 
American Democracy Minute –  Texas Legislature Blocked From Enacting Manipulated Congressional Redistricting Maps as 50 Democrats Flee the State and Possible Arrest
KUT Public Radio – The Texas House just passed a new district map designed to give Republicans an edge in Congress
Texas Tribune – Texas House approves GOP congressional map after two-week delay from Democrats’ walkout
The 19th  – How Rep. Nicole Collier’s Capitol protest sparked solidarity among these Texas women
Seattle Medium – Texas Representative Rep. Nicole Collier Files A Writ of Habeas Corpus Saying Texas Republicans Detained Her At State Capitol

Groups Taking Action:

Fair Maps Texas, Common Cause TX,  Represent.Us Texas

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TexasGerrymandering #FairMaps #EndGerrymandering #DonaldTrump 

The post Texas House Passes Further Gerrymandered Districts After Democrats Stalling Quorum Return and are Placed Under Guard appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 28, 2025

A partial victory for pro-voter groups April 24th, as a federal judge blocked the proof of citizenship portion of President Donald Trump’s executive order  changing federal elections.  The judge did not address other sections, which she suggested were best challenged by states, rather than voters.

In a three page ruling and a 120-page opinion, DC Circuit Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly writes,  “no statutory delegation of authority to the Executive Branch permits the President to short-circuit Congress’s deliberative process by executive order.” 

The judge pointed out that Congress is currently considering the SAVE Act, which includes some of the same proof of citizenship requirements, and is within its jurisdiction to do so.  As we’ve reported, the SAVE Act is not likely to pass the Senate.

But she took pains to parse out the separations of powers in Trump’s March 25th order, and allowed the directive opening federal databases to states to identify noncitizen voters.  

She also concluded that the voter-groups in THIS case did not have standing to challenge the portions affecting states with the withholding of federal funding for noncompliance, and mandating all mail ballots be received by election day. Nineteen state attorneys general have filed a separate challenge to the same executive order.  

We have the judge’s opinion at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The White House – PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS
Brennan Center for Justice – The President’s Executive Order on Elections

American Democracy Minute – Pro-Voter Groups and 19 States Challenge Trump Executive Order on Voting Rules as Unconstitutional and Likely to Disenfranchise Millions
US District Court for DC – LULAC & League of Women Voters v. Donald Trump Opinion
US District Court for DC – LULAC & League of Women Voters v. Donald Trump Order
Reuters – Judge partly blocks Trump order that claimed greater control over US elections
NPR – Judge pauses parts of Trump’s sweeping executive order on voting

Groups Taking Action:
LULAC, League of Women Voters, NAACP, Asian Pacific American Advocates

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DonaldTrump #ExecutiveOrders #ProofofCitizenship

The post Federal Judge Blocks Proof of Citizenship Provisions in Trump Executive Order on Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 17, 2025

In 2024, a ballot measure to replace Ohio’s dysfunctional politician-led redistricting process with an independent citizen-led process had its description rewritten by state officials to sink it.  Now, Ohio officials are trying to sink two more measures they don’t like, and the U.S. Supreme Court is now involved. 

Some background.  Ohio’s “fair & truthful” ballot measure requirements allows the state to modify a ballot measure’s description to make it accurate for voters.  But can it use that authority to manipulate the process and block citizens from moving their ballot measure forward?

Organizers tried for two years to get the language okayed to gather signatures for the “Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights” measure, giving citizens the private right to sue the state and removing the “qualified immunity” that police and government officials are currently given.  

While organizers have acted in good faith, Federal District Court Judge Karen Nelson Moore wrote that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost found fault and rejected the proposed amendment language EIGHT TIMES, and found the reasons “dubious.” The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that Ohio was restricting the organizers’ speech and must approve the measure’s description.

But April 9th, Yost appealed to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh for an emergency stay of the 6th Circuit’s order, which Kavanugh immediately granted despite the sketchy circumstances. We’ll continue to watch this situation.  We have the 6th Circuit’s decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Statehouse News Bureau – Group behind qualified immunity amendment sues Ohio Attorney General over latest rejection
Ohio Attorney General –  Unapproved language of  “Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights” measure 

6th Circuit Court of Appeals –  Opinion in Brown v. Yost
U.S. Supreme Court – Yost’s Application to Justice Brett Kavanaugh for Emergency Stay
U.S. Supreme Court – Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s order, staying the 6th Circuit
Courthouse News Service – Supreme Court keeps Ohio’s qualified immunity ballot initiative on ice

Groups Taking Action:

Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Ohio #BallotMeasure #Suppression #DaveYost 

The post State of Ohio Embroiled in Another Fight Over Manipulating Citizen Ballot Initiatives It Doesn’t Like.  Now the U.S. Supreme Court is Involved. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 15, 2024

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.

Our series on keeping our Presidential election from being overturned by bad actors explained how the new Electoral Count Reform Act clarifies federal and state rules.  But we’ve also learned how the blocking of election certification by rogue county election boards is still a possibility.  A new report recommends ways of stopping those disruptions. 

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, issued a report Aug. 13th outlining the threat of partisan actors using their positions on county election boards to block certification. This election, U.S. Constitutional and statutory deadlines require certification by December 11th.  By that date, all recounts and litigation must be complete.

CREW’s report states, “State laws make clear that certification is non-discretionary. It is not an opportunity for county officials to politically grandstand, lodge protest votes against election practices they dislike or investigate suspected voter fraud.”

The organization recommends that state officials communicate NOW to county election officials, making their duties clear, and detailing the penalties for non-compliance.  Michigan’s Secretary of State recently issued such an advisory.

States should also be prepared to request emergency orders by the state supreme court, having state personnel step in, and removing obstructionist county officials if necessary.  

What if state officials won’t certify the election?  More on that scenario tomorrow.   The CREW report is linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Protect Democracy – Election certification, explained
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – Summary – Election certification under threat
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – Full Report – Election certification under threat

Election Reformers Network – Helping States Comply with the Electoral Count Reform Act
Brennan Center for Justice – Election Denial Can’t Overcome Election Certification Protections

Groups Taking Action:

CREW, Protect Elections

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
  
  

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers #CountyElectionCertification 

The post New Report Recommends State Officials Be Proactive to Keep Rogue County Election Boards from Not Certifying Elections  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles:

Towns Square Live – Delaware Judge Halts Mail-In Voting
Democracy Docket – Delaware Judge Strikes Down No-Excuse Mail-in Voting, Upholds Same-Day Registration
Associated Press –  Judge says Delaware vote-by-mail law is unconstitutional

Groups Taking Action:   Delaware Voting Rights Coalition, League of Women Voters Delaware

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

We reported earlier this summer on the passage of a no-excuse mail-in voting law in Delaware.  September 14th, a Delaware state court judge struck down the law as contrary to the state constitution.

Delaware had passed SB 320 in June, which would allow voters to vote by mail without having to give an excuse.   But the Delaware constitution currently allows for the use of an absentee only when the voter is outside the state, in the armed forces, unable to vote due to job requirements, sick or disabled, on vacation, unable for religious reasons ,or in government service outside the country.

Town Square Live and Democracy Docket report that Republican members of the legislature sued, and Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook ruled that despite Delaware’s tradition of a robust voter participation, the state constitution left him no choice but to issue an injunction on the law.  

Vice Chancellor Cook also noted in his ruling that “it bears repeating that the express purpose of election laws in this state is to provide for ‘free and equal’ elections where Delawareans have an ‘unfettered’ right to vote—one of ‘the most fundamental of our rights.’”   He went on to suggest that the Delaware Supreme Court may want to reconsider past decisions on mail-in voting.

Past attempts at bills changing the state constitution to allow no-excuse mail-in voting have failed.   To read more about the decision and groups taking action, see links at AmericanDemocracy Minute.org.   

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 ADM for Sept. 19, 2022: Delaware Court Strikes Down New No-Excuse Vote by Mail Law appeared first on American Democracy Minute.