The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 3, 2025

Today’s Script

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

On February 18th, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order #14215, entitled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies.”  It claims Presidential authority over historically independent agencies – including the Federal Election Commission.

There are more than 50 agencies considered “independent” federal agencies,   constitutionally under the executive branch, but structured by Congress to be insulated from day-to-day Presidential control.  Three of those agencies play a critical part in federal elections:  The Federal Election Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Postal Service.   

The bipartisan FEC was formed after Watergate to oversee campaign finance and rules. While often hamstrung as a policing agency, the FEC does require disclosure of campaign spending and donors – including the president   

Donald Trump, his campaign, and billionaire donor and the head of the ad hoc Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, faced dozens of complaints before and during the 2024 election.  Enforcement deadlocked along party lines – including the Stormy Daniels affair.  

February 28th, the Democratic National Committee and the Congressional and Senate campaign committees asked the DC Circuit Court to strike down the executive order, arguing it interferes with the FEC’s ability to enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act as Congress intended.  

Pro-democracy groups fear unchecked presidential authority could erode SOME oversight to NO oversight.  We’ll explore how the role of the Federal Communications Commission could also be hampered in our next report.

Find more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – Trump Attempts to Fire Federal Election Commission Chair ‘Effective Immediately.’  It’s Not Legal.
The American Presidency Project – Executive Order 14215—”Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies”
Democratic National Committee – DNC, DCCC & DSCC File Lawsuit Against Trump’s Illegal Executive Order Ending Free and Fair Elections
Politico – National Dems sue over Trump executive order they say could weaponize FEC
U.S. District Court for DC – Democratic National Committee, DCCC, DSCC v. Trump
USA Today – Trump-Elon Musk interview violated campaign finance regulations, Democratic PAC claims 
NPR – Trump wants more power over agencies. Experts worry about campaign finance regulators

Groups Taking Action

Brennan Center, Public Citizen, Common Cause

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 #FEC #FederalElectionCommission #ExecutiveOrder #DonaldTrump

The post Executive Order Asserting Presidential Authority Over Independent Agencies Could Put Federal Election Oversight Under Partisan Control appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 7, 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.

Tuesday, a U.S. District Court of Appeals struck down in the strongest possible terms, the Alabama legislature’s revised Congressional district maps, drawn in defiance of June’s Milligan decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In Milligan, the nation’s highest court affirmed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, compelling Alabama to add a second majority-minority Black district or QUOTE “something quite close to it.”   The legislature responded with one 50.65% majority Black district, and another with only 40%.

The three-judge court of appeals threw out that map, saying:

“We are not aware of any other case in which a state legislature — faced with a federal court order declaring that  its  electoral  plan  unlawfully  dilutes  minority  votes  and  requiring  a  plan  that  provides an  additional  opportunity  district  — responded  with  a  plan  that  the  state concedes does not provide that district. The law requires the creation of an additional district  that  affords  Black  Alabamians,  like  everyone  else,  a  fair  and  reasonable  opportunity to elect the candidates of their choice.”

The court then turned the drawing of fair maps over to an independent special master, suggesting it had no confidence in the legislature to draw a map meeting the SCOTUS requirements, or complete it prior to the 2024 election.  Still defiant, the State of Alabama says it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Redistricting Project – Timeline for Milligan v. Allen

American Democracy Minute – Alabama Redistricting Committee Defies SCOTUS Milligan Decision, Again Proposing Only One Majority Black Congressional District

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama, Southern District via ACLU – ORDER – Milligan v. Allen 9 5 2023
CNN – Federal court strikes down Alabama congressional map after legislature snubbed Supreme Court
CNBC – Federal court rejects Alabama congressional map in racial gerrymandering case
The Hill – Court strikes down Alabama congressional map in scathing opinion
Brennan Center for Justice – Ongoing Voting Rights Act Redistricting Litigation After SCOTUS Ruling in Allen v. Milligan

Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Greater Birmingham Ministries

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE! 
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!
#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #RacialGerrymandering #RacialJustice

The post Federal Appeals Court Slams Alabama Legislature for Defying U.S. Supreme Court’s Milligan Ruling and Strikes Down Revised Maps appeared first on American Democracy Minute.