Democracy News Archives | Page 4 of 19 | American Democracy Minute

American Democracy in 2025: Expansion of Presidential Powers has Already Eroded the Independence of Federal Agencies. It May Get Worse.

December 31, 2025December 31, 2025

We’ve been reviewing our most important stories of 2025, and their implications for 2026. Expanded presidential powers, enabled by recent Supreme Court decisions, have eroded independent federal oversight of elections, voter data and campaign finance. It may get worse.

American Democracy in 2025: To Prove Racial Gerrymandering, Minority Voters Must Now Show SCOTUS ‘Intent’ to Discriminate, Not Just ‘Effect’

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

By any rational measure, the Texas legislature racially gerrymandered its congressional map in 2025 to add five more GOP seats at the request of President Donald Trump. But the U.S. Supreme Court majority allowed it anyway, claiming plaintiffs hadn’t proven their case.

American Democracy in 2025: The SCOTUS Case Which May End 60 Years of Protection for Minority Voters

December 29, 2025December 29, 2025

We’re looking back at our most important stories of 2025, and what changes to expect for American democracy in 2026. If you’re a voter, it’s been a tough year. If you’re a minority voter, it’s been a really BAD year.

Ohio Joins Kansas in Eliminating Grace Periods for Mail-In Ballots; A 2026 Mississippi SCOTUS Case Could Eliminate Them Nationwide

December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

Ohio has joined Kansas in eliminating a grace period for mail-in ballots arriving after election day. A U.S. Supreme Court case from Mississippi could potentially eliminate mail ballot grace periods nationwide, disenfranchising tens of thousands.

Outlook for the Voting Rights Act Dims, as Court’s Conservatives Appear to Turn Away From Their Own Precedent

December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision will likely be released early next year, and its rehearing in October was one of the big voting rights stories of the year. Brian is off for a couple of days, so we're rebroadcasting this story from October. Happy holidays!