The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 21, 2025

As we’ve reported, President Donald Trump said August 18th he would end the use of voting machines in the U.S., claiming without evidence they contributed to widespread election fraud.  The same day, conservative media company Newsmax settled a defamation lawsuit for $67 million dollars with Dominion Voting Systems for airing similar conspiracy theories. 

Trump said in a social media post he wanted to end the use of ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial Voting Machines,” echoing accusations he made leading up to the January 6th insurrection, when one Capitol police officer was killed and 174 officers were injured.

In May, Delaware Judge Eric Davis found sufficient evidence that Newsmax hosts and guests, including Trump campaign lawyers Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Jenna Ellis had repeatedly spread defamatory conspiracy theories that manipulation of Dominion Voting Systems machines resulted in widespread fraud.

With a trial scheduled for October, and the judge’s ruling that the jury could consider “actual malice” – whether or not Newsmax executives KNEW the information was false and aired it anyway – they settled the case for $67 million dollars.  It’s far less than the $787 million dollar settlement with Fox News over similar defamation claims. 

In a statement, Newsmax said Dominion’s suit was an attack on a free press. 

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (2024) Newsmax Settles with Smartmatic Over Airing 2020 Voting Machine Conspiracy Theories
American Democracy Minute – President Trump Threatens Executive Order to End Voting by Mail and Use of Voting Machines
Truth Social – Post by President Donald Trump Threatening to End Use of Mail-In Voting and Voting Machines
Delaware Superior Court – Dominion Voting Systems v. Newsmax Media
NPR – Newsmax pays $67 million to settle defamation case linked to 2020 election coverage
Newsmax – Newsmax Announces Settlement with Dominion Voting Systems 
U.S. Securities Exchange Commission – Filing by Newsmax Announcing Settlement

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Newsmax #DonaldTrump #DominionVotingSystems #ConspiracyTheories #Defamation

The post As Trump Proposes Baseless Ban of Voting Machines, Newsmax Settles Defamation Suit with Dominion Voting Systems appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 11, 2025

Five years after the fake elector scheme to overturn the 2020 election, legal accountability is grinding along for some of the conspirators and those who wittingly or unwittingly supported them.  But pardons may be in the wind, too.

May 27th, a three-judge New York appellate court stripped Trump campaign attorney Kenneth Chesbro, an alleged key organizer of the swing state “fake elector” scheme, of his license to practice law in New York. He has already been disbarred in California, New Jersey, Florida and Massachusetts.  

June 16th, the alleged mastermind of the fake elector scheme, John Eastman, was recommended for disbarment in California.  He can still appeal the decision.

June 16th, a civil jury found MyPillow CEO and election denier Mike Lindell liable for $2.3 million dollars for defaming former Dominion Voting Systems executive, Eric Coomer.  Dominion itself has a claim pending against Lindell, right leaning news outlets, and several other Trump alleged conspirators and collaborators.

The Michigan Advance reported July 5th that a hearing on whether the trial of 15 of 16 Michigan fake electors should go forward has been moved to September 9th.  A trial in Arizona is scheduled for January 5th, 2026 for the alleged fake electors and Trump associates, including his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows.

Mother Jones reported June 4th that President Donald Trump’s pardon attorney was considering pardons for the accused fake electors.

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

Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

 State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division – In the Matter of KENNETH JOHN
CHESEBRO, a Suspended MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Attorney.
State Bar Court of California (via Horvitz & Levy) – In the Matter of SBC-23-0-30029 – JOHN CHARLES EASTMAN, OPINION  State Bar No. 193726.
Colorado Public Radio – Jury finds MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell defamed former executive at Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems

Dominion Voting Systems – Legal Updates
Michigan Advance – Judge moves long-awaited decision in 2020 GOP false electors case to September hearing
Arizona Mirror – Arizona judge says he’ll consider fake electors’ free speech defense
Arizona Capitol Times – Trump’s former chief of staff claims immunity from fake electors charges
Mother Jones – Trump’s Pardon Attorney Mulls Clemency for Fake Electors—Dead or Alive

Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Law Center, States United Democracy Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) 

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #FakeElectors #TrumpCriminalTrials #MikeLindell

The post Updates on Accountability for 2020 Election Fake Electors and Conspiracy Theorists – Or Not appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 30, 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.

The FCC levied a $6 Million dollar fine Sept. 26th for an A-I deep fake robocall in January’s NH Presidential Primary, and on the eve of a civil trial, conservative outlet Newsmax settled a lawsuit with voting machine maker Smartmatic. 

In February, we reported on a robocall using an A-I generated voice of President Joe Biden, urging citizens not to vote in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.  After a federal and state investigation, the FCC fined Steve Kramer, the political consultant allegedly behind the scheme, $6 Million dollars. A separate $1 Million dollar fine was levied on Lingo Telecom in August.  Kramer also faces felony charges in New Hampshire.

Just days before a civil trial was to begin, conservative outlet Newsmax settled with optical ballot machine maker Smartmatic, September 26th.  Like Dominion Voting Systems, Smartmatic’s machines were falsely implicated in a 2020 voter fraud conspiracy theory, driven by former President Trump’s false claims about the election.  Those claims were widely aired on Newsmax, Fox News and other outlets. No settlement terms were disclosed.

Fox News and Fox Corporation, which settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 Million dollars, also faces a $2.7 Billion dollar suit by Smartmatic, a case likely to be heard in 2025.   Fox says it is protected by the First Amendment.

We have more on both of these stories at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – Suspected Senders Identified in AI-Generated Robo Calls Faking Joe Biden’s Voice Before New Hampshire’s Presidential Primary
Federal Communications Commission – FCC FINES MAN BEHIND ELECTION INTERFERENCE SCHEME $6
MILLION FOR SENDING ILLEGAL ROBOCALLS THAT USED
DEEPFAKE GENERATIVE AI TECHNOLOGY
InDepthNH – Consultant Fined $6M for NH Robo Calls Imitating Biden Before January Primary
CNN – Fox board members subpoenaed in Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuit over 2020 election lies

NPR – Voting-tech company settles with right-wing network over false election claims
The Guardian – Newsmax and Smartmatic settle 2020 US election defamation lawsuit
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Fox News Troubles Not Over Yet, With More Potentially Embarrassing Lawsuits Pending

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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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FoxNews #Smartmatic #Newsmax #BigLie

The post FCC Fines Man Allegedly Behind NH Primary AI Robocall $6 Million; Newsmax Settles with Smartmatic Over Airing 2020 Voting Machine Conspiracy Theories appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 3, 2023

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.

Eclipsed by Tuesday’s news of former President Trump’s indictment for his involvement in the attempted overturning of the 2020 election was an arraignment of two of nine of his supporters who allegedly tampered with voting machines in Michigan.

The indicted are not ordinary suspects.  Attorney Matt DePerno ran for Michigan Attorney General in 2022, and Daire Rendon is a former state representative who stepped down at the end of 2022.  The Michigan Advance reports that DePerno was arraigned on four charges:  Unauthorized access to official computers, conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine, and undue possession of a voting machine.  Rendon was arraigned on conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine, and false pretenses.

The nine suspects were investigated for taking five Dominion ballot tabulators from five Michigan counties to a hotel room outside Detroit in an attempt to prove the President’s claims of voter fraud.  Other townships refused access.  Bridge Michigan reports that another suspect, attorney Stephanie Lambert, said in a podcast interview that she expects to be indicted shortly.  

Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement after the indictments: “Furthermore, every officeholder, including local clerks, sheriffs, and legislators, should be expected to uphold and abide by the law. Our democracy simply cannot survive further attacks from within these essential offices of local, county and state government.”

We have more on the Michigan indictments at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Reuters – (2022)  Michigan widens probe into voting system breaches by Trump allies
Bridge Michigan – Judge paves way for charges in Michigan vote machine tampering probe
Michigan Advance – Republicans Matt DePerno and Daire Rendon charged in 2020 voting machine probe
Bridge Michigan – ‘I have been indicted,’ says suspect in Michigan vote machine tampering probe
PBS – Security footage shows Georgia county Republican chair, election official present during breach of voting equipment
MI Office of Attorney General – Attorney General Nessel Releases Statement on Tabulator Access Indictments

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MichiganPolitics #DebunkedVoterFraud

The post Alleged Voting Machine Tampering Suspects Arraigned in Michigan Include Former Candidate for State Attorney General and Former State Rep appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 21, 2023

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.

While former President Donald Trump awaits a likely indictment for his role in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, we’re in Michigan, where two related cases involving alleged fake electors and voting machine tampering are moving forward.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged 16 alleged “fake electors,” who Nessel said in a statement were part of an “organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election.” 

The alleged participants are charged with one or more counts of Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, Forgery, Election Law Forgery and other felonies.  Some carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison.  

The Michigan Advance reports that those charged include the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, the mayor of Wyoming, MI, a co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition, and several county and state candidates and committee members.  The false documents were allegedly signed in the basement of the Michigan GOP headquarters before being submitted to the U.S. Senate and National Archives as genuine. 

Bridge Michigan reports that July 12th, an Oakland County judge ruled that a special prosecutor may move forward with a voting machine tampering case involving a 2022 candidate for Michigan Attorney General, Matt Deperno, a former state representative and others.  The suspects allegedly took Dominion ballot tabulating machines to a hotel room to find evidence of voter fraud.  

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Michigan Department of Attorney General – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Charges 16 ‘False Electors’ with Election Law and Forgery Felonies
Michigan Advance – 16 Michigan Republicans charged with felonies in 2020 fake elector scheme
Politico – Michigan AG charges 16 GOP activists who falsely claimed to be electors in bid to aid Trump
Bridge Michigan – Judge paves way for charges in Michigan vote machine tampering probe
Slate – Trump Was Implicated in a Vote Machine Theft. Why Isn’t DOJ Investigating?
American Oversight – AMERICAN OVERSIGHT OBTAINS SEVEN PHONY CERTIFICATES OF PRO-TRUMP ELECTORS

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FakeElectors 

The post In Michigan, State AG Charges 16 Fake Electors, Voting Machine Tampering Case Moves Forward appeared first on American Democracy Minute.