American Democracy Minute

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 27, 2026

Voting Early Can Offer Flexibility, More Certainty, and Avoiding the Possible Intimidating Presence of Federal Agents and Poll Watchers on Election Day

Availability of early voting has expanded since 2000, with 97% of the U.S. population now having access to early in-person voting or mail-in ballots.  What are the advantages of voting early?

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

Center for Election Innovation and Research - The Expansion of Voting Before Election Day, 2000-2026
University of Florida Election Lab - 2026 Early Voting
National Conference of State Legislators -  Ballot Drop Box Laws
Vote.org - Early Voting Calendar - See the Dates for Your State
Brennan Center for Justice - A Guide to Early Voting
NPR - What's behind the early voting surge? It's more than voter enthusiasm, expert says 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Americans Like Voting Early, and Other Lessons from the 2024 Election U.S. Election Assistance Commission Follow Up Report

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 #MailInVoting #EarlyVoting #2026Midterms

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 26, 2026

U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Lower Courts, Citing Proximity to the Election, to Allow NH to Ban Use of Student IDs for Voting

In an unsigned order, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned two lower courts which had blocked enforcement of New Hampshire’s new law removing student IDs for voting.  The decision cited the Purcell Principle, as changing rules too close to the election.

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

U.S. Supreme Court -  SCANLAN v. COALITION FOR OPEN DEMOCRACY
SCOTUSBlog - Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to restrict use of student IDs in voting
New Hampshire Bulletin – Citing security, Republicans push to exclude student ID cards from voting verification
NH Legislature – Text of House Bill 323

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - (January) New Hampshire Legislators Make Yet Another Attempt at Keeping Students from Voting, Further Tightening Voter ID Regulations
American Democracy Minute - (October) With Less Than a Month Before the Election, NH Students Still Don’t Know Whether They Can Use Their Student Photo IDs to Register and Vote

Groups Taking Action:

Coalition for Open Democracy, ACLU NH

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #StudentID #VoterSuppression #NewHampshire #USSupremeCourt #SCOTUS

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 23, 2026

In a Dystopian Moment, U.S. Senators Call on U.S. DOJ to “Forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections”
In a dystopian moment, three U.S. senators have sent a letter to the U.S. attorney general asking for the Department of Justice to “reaffirm its election non-interference policy,” and, “forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.”
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

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse & Dick Durban - Letter to U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche on DOJ Election Interference
Axios - Blanche sidesteps questions on federal agents at polls
U.S. Senate - Testimony of FBI Director Kash Patel
U.S. Senate - Confirmation Testimony of Then Assistant AG Todd Blanche 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - With USPS Blocked from Mail-In Voter Verification, Pro-Democracy Groups Go to Court to Keep Armed Federal Agents Out of Polling Places

American Democracy Minute - Midterm Madness Week:  ICE at Polling Places?  The Administration Sends Mixed Messages; Some States are Advancing Laws to Limit or Prohibit It.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #VoterSuppression #VoterIntimidation #2026Midterms #FBI #DOJ

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 22, 2026

Many Alleged Registered Noncitizen Voters Arrested in CA Sweep Don’t Recall Registering; DOJ Asks Court to Stop CA from Counting Ballots from Voters on Its Suspect List
There are more developments in the Trump administration’s arrests of noncitizens allegedly registered to vote in California.  The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal court to set aside mail-in ballots from voters matching names on DOJ’s list of 20,000 alleged registered noncitizens.

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

Los Angeles Times - California residents accused by feds of voter fraud react with shock, confusion and anger
Center for Election Innovation & Research - Claims of Noncitizen Registration or Voting: Analysis and Tracker
NPR - (2019) Some Noncitizens Do Wind Up Registered To Vote, But Usually Not On Purpose 
U.S. District Court for Central California - DOJ Request to Block California from Counting Mail-In Ballots from Voters Matching Its Flagged List of 20,000 Names

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Trump DOJ Escalates Fight with California Over Noncitizen Voters, Arrests 28 Green Card Holders Alleged to Have Registered to Vote or Have Voted

American Democracy Minute - Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.

CalMatters - ‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #California #NoncitizenVoters #TrumpDOJ 

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 21, 2026

Trump DOJ Escalates Fight with California Over Noncitizen Voters, Arrests 28 Green Card Holders Alleged to Have Registered to Vote or Have Voted
The Department of Justice had already sued the State of California when the state did not cooperate with DOJ’s 48-hour deadline to verify 20,000 registered voters alleged to be noncitizens.  Oct. 19th, DOJ escalated the confrontation by announcing the arrests of 28 green card holders, alleging they were registered to vote or had voted. Eleven have been charged.

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

U.S. Department of Justice - Justice Department Charges 28 Foreign Nationals in California for Election Crimes
KCRA 3 - U.S. Justice Department Press Conference
CalMatters - Federal prosecutors charge 28 California green card holders with voting violations
ABC7 / AP - Justice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting alleged noncitizen voters
American Bar Association - Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth, Again

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.

American Democracy Minute - In State of the Union Speech, Trump Pushes ‘SAVE America Act’, Voter ID, Proof of Citizenship and Ending Mail-In Ballots; Repeats Debunked Noncitizen Voting Claims

Groups Taking Action:

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NoncitizenVoting #California #TrumpDOJ #RobBonta

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 20, 2026

Elon Musk Settles 2024 Class Action Suit for an Allegedly Fixed $1M ‘Lottery’ Scheme. A Notably Less Flashy Musk Has Spent $276M in 2026.
According to multiple reports, Elon Musk is settling two class action lawsuits against him for telling voters who gave their personal information to his America PAC they were entered into a lottery for one of several $1 million dollar payouts.  It turned out to not be a random drawing.  The setback has not stopped Musk’s spending for the 2026 midterms

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

Huffington Post - Elon Musk Settles Class Action Lawsuit Over Duping Trump Supporters
Politico - Megadonors are powering Republicans’ spending advantage
CNN - Elon Musk settles fraud lawsuits over his $1 million giveaways to 2024 election voters 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Elon Musk and America PAC Face Prosecution for ‘Election Bribery’ for Million Dollar Check Giveaway During 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

American Democracy Minute - Federal Judge Won’t Dismiss Class Action Suit Against Elon Musk

Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Law Forward, Common Cause

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElonMusk #AmericaPAC #ClassAction

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The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 19, 2026

State Briefs:  Suspicious Envelopes Sent to Election Officials; CA Sued by DOJ After 48 Hour Deadline Passes; NH Appeals Student ID Rule to SCOTUS
In state headlines, envelopes containing an unknown powder were sent to election officials around the country; the Trump Department of Justice sued the State of California after a 48-hour deadline to find noncitizen voters expired; and New Hampshire appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate its law ending use of student IDs for voting, blocked by two federal courts.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

Votebeat - Suspicious letters sent to election officials nationwide weeks before the midterms
Arizona Mirror - White-powder letter sent to Arizona Secretary of State amid national threat wave
CT Secretary of State's Office - Secretary Thomas Responds to Suspicious Letters Sent to Election Offices
U.S. Department of Justice - United States Sues California After Determining More Than 20,000 Likely Noncitizens Are Registered to Vote in the Golden State
Gov. Gavin Newsom - Governor Newsom responds to unfounded Trump lawsuit that is desperate attempt to suppress California voters less than 3 weeks before election
New Hampshire Public Radio - Judge says NH Secretary of State went too far on student IDs for voting
InDepthNH - Legal Battle Over Use of Student IDs to Vote in NH Heads to U.S. Supreme Court

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #California #NewHampshire #ElectionOfficials #TrumpDOJ

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 16, 2026

Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.
At last count, the Trump Department of Justice had lost 26 cases against states which refused to turn over personal voting data, including California.  In an October 13th letter, DOJ shifted tactics, demanding California review its own lists for noncitizens registered to vote using DOJ’s data, and gave the state 48 hours to do so.  Or else. 

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

U.S. Department of Justice - (via Axios) Demand Letter to CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber 
U.S. Department of Justice - (via Axios) Demand Letter to Los Angeles Registrar/Recorder
Axios - DOJ gives California 48 hours to check voters or face lawsuit

PBS NewsHour - Justice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - (Jan. 2026) Federal Circuit Courts Block Trump DOJ from Obtaining California and Oregon Voter Data

American Democracy Minute - A DC Federal Court Says DOJ’s Quixotic Quest for Private Voter Data was Illegal, Blocks Further Data Collection Nationwide. An Appeal is Likely.

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoterData #California #NoncitizenVoting #TrumpDOJ

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 15, 2026

A Dispute Over Georgia’s Election Machines Resulted in Georgia’s Election Board Inviting DOJ to Investigate, Opening the Door to Election Chaos
There’s more dysfunction at the Georgia Elections Board.  In 2024, election deniers on the board threatened to make “reasonable inquiries” and delay certification of the presidential election.  Now, in a dispute over the state’s voting machines, the board’s executive director asked the Trump Department of Justice to “intervene.”

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

Georgia Elections Board - Formal Request for Department of Justice Intervention
Five GA Members of Congress - "Clear partisan motivations, that underlie the 'Formal Request' letter"
Votebeat - Georgia election board director sent Trump administration demands 2 board members say they never approved
Georgia Recorder - Georgia election board leader requests federal ‘intervention’ in push for election system updates
Georgia Recorder - Election workers prepare for early voting as talk of DOJ ‘intervention’ leaves advocates unsettled

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Georgia House & Senate Sessions Expire Without a Fix for Ballot QR Codes.  A Special Session May Be Needed to Meet a July Deadline.

American Democracy Minute - In a Victory for Voters, Georgia Supreme Court Strikes Down 2024 State Election Board Rules Driven by Conspiracy Theories

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #GeorgiaElectionBoard #Georgia #TrumpDOJ #ElectionDeniers  #2026Midterms

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 14, 2026

Federal Judge Orders Trump Vanity Ad Campaign Stopped.  So Far, the Taxpayers are Still on the Hook for the $19M Bill.
A federal judge has blocked President Trump’s vanity ad campaign, temporarily suspending the ads and remaining schedule. At the moment, the taxpayers are still on the hook for the $19 Million cost.

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

Common Cause - Complaint in President Trump's vanity ad campaign arguing they were overtly political and paid for by illegally shifting money without Congressional authorization.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York - Order in Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security, White House Chief of Staff, White House Office of Management & Budget
The Hill - Judge orders cancellation of Trump’s government-funded ads
CNN - Taxpayer-funded ads aired hundreds of times after judge ordered Trump to halt the push 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - ‘Paid for by the US Government’:  Is President Trump’s Propaganda Advertising Illegal Under Federal Law?  Yes, Say Government Watchdogs.

American Democracy Minute - President Trump Now Says the Government Won’t Pay for His Vanity Ads, His SuperPAC Will.  Coordinating Spending with His PAC is Illegal, Too.

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause, Campaign Legal Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #DonaldTrump #TrumpAdvertising #PaidforbytheUSGovernment #Corruption #FederalCourt