The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 23, 2025

A lawyer who had multiple phone calls with President Donald Trump the day of the January 6th insurrection has been appointed by the President to investigate debunked allegations that widespread fraud changed the outcome of the 2020 election.  He has 130 days as a “special government employee” to complete his assignment.

The Wall Street Journal reported October 17th that Kurt Olsen, a product liability attorney turned Trump 2020 election lawyer, was appointed to look into President Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen.  According to the January 6th Select Committee report, it was Olsen who drafted a memo on January 2nd, entitled “The Role of the VicePresident in Receiving Votes from the Electoral College,” and he spoke with Trump three times on January 6th. 

The Detroit News reports that Olsen has recently been involved in defending another Trump election lawyer, Stephanie Lambert, from accusations she and others tampered with Michigan electronic vote tabulators.  He defended U.S. Senate and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake in her baseless challenges to the 2022 election.  A judge sanctioned Olsen for QUOTE, “false, misleading, and unsupported factual assertions,” though his fines were later dismissed.   

Two good government groups, States United Democracy Center and Lawyers Defending American Democracy later, later filed ethics complaints in Maryland and Washington, DC for an alleged QUOTE “Pattern of unethical conduct.”  

We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol –
Final Report of the Select Committee 
Select Committee – Select Committee Demands Information from Witnesses Who Promoted Unsupported Claims of Election Fraud
CNN – New York Times: Conservative lawyer suggested to Trump he take steps akin to declaring ‘martial law’ to overturn election results
Kansas Reflector (Opinion) – Trump’s lawyers in suits claiming he won in 2020 are getting punished for abusing courts
Detroit News – (Paywall) – 2 Trump-tied lawyers step into 2020 Michigan election cases

Michigan Advance – Proceedings again postponed for Michigan attorney charged in tabulator tampering case
States United Democracy Center and Lawyers Defending American Democracy – Ethics Complaint Against Kurt Olsen

Groups Taking Action:

States United Democracy Center,  Lawyers Defending American Democracy

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 #KurtOlsen #DonaldTrump #January6th #Insurrection #MikePence

The post Lawyer Advising Trump During January 6th Appointed to Rehash the President’s 2020 Election Fraud Claims  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

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

#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 Dec. 19, 2022

Listen!

Articles & Resources:
NPR – The Jan. 6 committee will take up criminal referrals against Donald Trump
Axios – Jan. 6 committee teases new evidence ahead of final hearing
January 6th Committee – Live Stream of the Hearing, Monday, December 19, 1 pm Eastern
Los Angeles Times – Previous Hearing Timeline &  TV schedule for the final Jan. 6 committee hearing?
Washington Post – Jan. 6 committee to vote Monday on riot criminal referrals

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.

Monday, December 19th, 1 pm Eastern, the January 6th Committee holds its last hearing, with some additional witness information from members of the U.S. Secret Service, and a vote on criminal referrals – including for former President Trump.

NPR reports, based on anonymous sources, that two criminal referrals will be considered for the former President, including obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to defraud the United States.  A vote to make the referrals does not compel the Justice Department to act.

Also expected is recent testimony from members of the U.S. Secret Service on former President Trump’s actions during and after the rally, trying to corroborate White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony that Trump attempted to force his detail to return him to the insurrection. 

Other recent testimony includes former staffer Hope Hicks, former adviser Kellyanne Conway, and Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

In addition to criminal referrals, recommendations are expected for others involved in the attempt to subvert the election, including to the Federal Elections Commission, the House Ethics Committee and state bar associations. 

The committee’s 1000 page report will be released no later than December 21st.

Most major radio & TV networks are likely to carry the hearing.   

Links to articles and the January 6th committee’s timeline can be found at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post Final January 6th Committee Hearing Dec. 19th, Including a Criminal Referral Vote for Former President Trump appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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Today’s Links

Articles: 

NBC News – Jan. 6 committee announces next hearing will be next Thursday
Los Angeles Times –  What’s the TV schedule for the next Jan. 6 committee hearing?
Mother Jones – Leaked Audio: Before Election Day, Bannon Said Trump Planned to Falsely Claim Victory

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

The January 6th Committee meets again on Thursday, October 13th, which the committee chairman Bennie Thompson says will likely be the last hearing, barring additional revelations.

The committee rescheduled its last hearing due to the arrival of Hurricane Ian, but has since talked with Ginni Thomas, Republican activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.  NBC reports that others whose recorded testimony might be included are Trump’s former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and Trump’s Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao.  

Remaining lines of inquiry, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, includes further questions about the Secret Service’s actions on January 6th, as well as obstruction of justice and witness tampering by members of the Trump administration.

Mother Jones has reported that a recording has surfaced of Steven Bannon, former senior advisor to President Trump, stating in the days before the insurrection that Trump would declare an early victory, then claim the election was stolen from him.  The committee will consider whether this was premeditation of the January 6th violence.  

The January 6th Committee’s final hearing begins at 1 pm Eastern time, 10 am Pacific, and most broadcast television and radio news networks will likely carry it live.   We have links to articles and the new Bannon audio at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  Granny D said “Democracy isn’t something we HAVE, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post ADM for Oct. 13, 2022: January 6th Committee Concludes Hearings with New Bannon Audio, Unheard Witnesses appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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Today’s Links
Articles:
Politico:   Cipollone provided ‘a lot of relevant information,’ Jan. 6 committee member Murphy says
Washington Post: Bannon, dangling possible testimony, brings new focus to Jan. 6 role

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

Both the weather and the January 6th insurrection hearings are heating up.  Last week’s closed door testimony by former White House Counsel Pat Cipellone, and possible testimony by Trump advisor Steve Bannon, may shore up details of the insurrection. 

Politico reports that Cipellone’s testimony provided “a lot of relevant information,“ and in an interview on Meet the Press, Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida said, “We have different voices telling about the same meeting, and more or less telling the same narrative.”   Cippelone’s 8-hour interview comes after the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, an executive assistant to Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows,,detailing direct and indirect conversions with Cippelone about the run up to January 6th.  

Then over the weekend, an interview with the Washington Post by Steve Bannon indicated he may be willing to testify, after months of stonewalling the committee.  “Why now?” seems to be the question.  Bannon received a pardon from the outgoing President Trump, but his refusal to testify to the committee resulted in a contempt of Congress charge, and his trial is coming up next month.  

If he doesn’t plead the Fifth Amendment, Bannon’s testimony could give the January 6th Committee an understanding of Bannon’s role in mobilizing extremist groups, as well as what connections White House advisors had with those groups.  

Links to more information are on our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.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 American Democracy Minute for July 12, 2022: Cipellone’s Testimony & Possibly Bannon’s May Heat Up the Jan. 6th Committee Hearings  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.