The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 25, 2026

Maine Senator Susan Collins Embroiled in ‘Pay-to-Play’ Allegations, After ProPublica Investigation Exposes a Shelved DOJ Investigation
Nonprofit investigative news outlet ProPublica is reporting a previously unknown 2024 FBI investigation involving a super PAC associated with U.S. Senator Susan Collins, and possibly Collins herself.  The ‘pay-to-play’ allegations involve a federal contractor and donor to the Collins’ PAC. 

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

ProPublica - The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
WMTW - Sen. Susan Collins' staff denies corruption allegations made in ProPublica report
New York Times - (Paywall) F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins 
Maine Morning Star - ProPublica debunks Susan Collins’ claims about FBI anti-corruption probe
U.S. Department of Justice - Former Hawaii CEO Sentenced to 87 Months Imprisonment on Covid-Relief Fraud and Bank Fraud
NBC News - Firings, pardons and policy changes have gutted DOJ anti-corruption efforts, experts say

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - What Corruption? Trump Pardons Former KY State Senator for Campaign Finance Fraud, and May Be Preparing to Dismantle DOJ Public Integrity Section

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 #SenSusanCollins #Maine #PoliticalCorruption #ProPublica

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 24, 2026

Third SCOTUS Appeal Now Submitted in Missouri Congressional Map; Secretary of State Faces Three Lawsuits Over His Conduct
As anticipated, an appeal of an 8th Circuit ruling reviving Missouri’s gerrymandered 2025 congressional maps has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Back in Missouri, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins faces three new lawsuits over his behavior in the lead up to the case. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

U.S. Supreme Court – Appeal by People Not Politicians MO to Block the Eight Circuit’s Decision
US District Court for Eastern Missouri – Restraining Order Requiring Use of 2025, Not 2022 Map
Missouri Independent – Lawsuit seeks $80 million from Denny Hoskins over Missouri congressional map referendum
Missouri Independent – Missouri voters file second class action lawsuit against Denny Hoskins in less than a week
Revisor of Missouri –  28.200.  Penalty for neglect of duty.

Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Missouri Supreme Court Rules Pro-Voter Redistricting Ballot Measure Must Be Added to the Ballot; Secretary of State Appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
American Democracy Minute – U.S. Supreme Court Denies MO Secretary of State’s Appeal on Redistricting Ballot Measure, But a New Federal District Court Ruling Conflicts

Groups Taking Action:

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 #Missouri #DennyHoskins #USSupremeCourt #PropositionA #PeopleNotPoliticiansMO

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

The Fight Over Missouri’s Congressional Maps is Not Over as 8th Circuit Allows Gerrymandered 2025 Map, Tees Up 3nd U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
The fight over what Missouri congressional map will be used for the November election is apparently not over.  The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals made a decision opposite from the U.S. Supreme Court  September 21st, and sets up a third high court case on the maps.  Absentee ballots are already printed.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

Missouri Independent - Appeals court backs Missouri’s gerrymandered map, but decision is put on hold
KMBC News - 8th Circuit rules Missouri must use 2025 congressional map in November election

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - U.S. Supreme Court Denies MO Secretary of State’s Appeal on Redistricting Ballot Measure, But a New Federal District Court Ruling Conflicts

American Democracy Minute - Missouri Supreme Court Rules Pro-Voter Redistricting Ballot Measure Must Be Added to the Ballot;  Secretary of State Appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
American Democracy Minute - Missouri Voters Block GOP’s Attempt to Change Ballot Measure Rules;  State SOS Blocks Nov. Measure Trying to Overturn Legislature’s Racially-Gerrymandered Congressional Map

Groups Taking Action:

People Not Politicians MO

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

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Missouri #FairMaps #USSupremeCourt #MOCongressionalMap

#RacialGerrymandering #TrumpGerrymandering

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

In Quest to Find Noncitizen Voters, DOJ Allegedly Violated State Privacy Laws Thousands of Times Using State Voter Portals, Says Whistleblower
In its Holy Grail quest to find noncitizen voters, the U.S. Department of Justice allegedly violated state privacy laws by looking up voter information on state voter registration portals.  A whistleblower report says thousands of voter records may have already been accessed. 

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla / Democracy Defenders Fund - Whistleblower Report & Letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin 
NPR - Federal agents may have broken state laws in voter fraud hunt, whistleblower claims
U.S. Circuit Court for DC - Amendment in League of Women Voters v. DHS, admitting use of alternate use of Social Security information

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Class Action Suit by Voters Claims Personal Data Shared to the Trump Administration’s SAVE Database Violates the Privacy Act of 1974
American Democracy Minute - Let’s Just Say the Trump Administration’s Quest to Obtain State Voter Data Has Not Gone Well.  DOJ is now 0 for 22, With 9 More Cases Pending.

Groups Taking Action:

Democracy Defenders Fund

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 #Whistleblower #TrumpDOJ #VoterPrivacy #VoterPortals #DemocracyDefendersFund

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

With USPS Blocked from Mail-In Voter Verification, Pro-Democracy Groups Go to Court to Keep Armed Federal Agents Out of Polling Places
After the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the U.S. Postal Service from conducting mail-in ballot citizenship verification, pro-voter groups have shifted their attention to keeping federal agents away from polling places.  Trump administration officials have refused to rule out a presence, creating a potential voter suppression threat.

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. District Court for DC - Complaint:  LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS v. US Department of Homeland Security
U.S. District Court for DC -  Complaint:  NAACP v. US Department of Homeland Security
Politico - Mullin says DHS could deploy to polling sites for 'specific' threats, arrests
Roll Call - Patel won’t rule out FBI at the polls on Election Day

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Block on Trump’s USPS Mail-In Ballot Rules for the Midterms, But Three Justices Leave Door Open for Future Litigation
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.

Groups Taking Action:

LULAC, Common Cause, NAACP, MI FAMILIA EN ACCIÓN, OCA–ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN
ADVOCATES

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 #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 18, 2026

Texas Updates: State Supreme Court Blocks Galveston County Voting Map; 1.2 M Voter Registrations ‘Suspended’; 7 Noncitizen Voters Charged
We have three updates from Texas today.  The state supreme court blocked a Galveston County voting district map, created after the primary; 1.2 million unresponsive Texas voters had their registrations suspended; and seven noncitizens have been charged for illegally voting. 

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

Texas Supreme Court - Decision in Galveston County Redistricting Case
Texas Tribune - Texas Supreme Court blocks Galveston County from using districts redrawn after the primaries 
Houston Public Media - More than a million Texans are on voter suspense lists, face Oct. 5 deadline to update addresses
Votebeat Texas - Here’s what you need to know about Texas’ voter suspense list
State of Texas - Texas Voter Registration Check
Texas Tribune - Texas and feds announce noncitizen voting charges against seven people

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute -  (2024) Galveston County, TX Racial Gerrymandering Case Could Weaken Voting Rights Act Protections for Mixed Minority Communities

Groups Taking Action:

Campaign Legal Center, Brennan Center for Justice

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 #GalvestonCounty #Texas #VoterRegistration 

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 17, 2026

After a Bipartisan SCOTUS Majority Blocked the USPS Mail-In Voting Rules, What Do the Concurrence and Dissent Tell Us About What’s Next?
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily block U.S. Postal Service rules governing mail-in voting for the midterms cited the government’s weak case, and the lack of time to implement the rules. It didn’t address its constitutionality. What do the concurrence and dissents tell us about what’s next?

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
U.S. Postal Service  –  USPS Final Rule on Ballot Mail for Federal Elections
U.S. Supreme Court – UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, ET AL. v. CALIFORNIA, ET AL. ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
U.S. Supreme Court – USPS v. California Docket
SCOTUSBlog – Supreme Court denies Trump administration’s request to implement parts of rule on mail-in voting

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Block on Trump’s USPS Mail-In Ballot Rules for the Midterms, But Three Justices Leave Door Open for Future Litigation

American Democracy Minute - Trump Executive Order on Mail-In Voting Spurs 5 Lawsuits from States, Pro-Democracy Groups, Civil Rights Groups and the Democratic Party

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 #SCOTUS #USPS #USSupremeCourt #IDissent #MailInVoting 

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

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Block on Trump’s USPS Mail-In Ballot Rules for the Midterms, But Three Justices Leave Door Open for Future Litigation
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7 to 2 September 14th to uphold a lower court, and stop implementation of restrictive new U.S. Postal Service mail-in ballot rules. But three justices signaled a reconsideration in the coming months.

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:

The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
U.S. Postal Service  -  USPS Final Rule on Ballot Mail for Federal Elections
U.S. Supreme Court - UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, ET AL. v. CALIFORNIA, ET AL. ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
U.S. Supreme Court - USPS v. California Docket
SCOTUSBlog - Supreme Court denies Trump administration’s request to implement parts of rule on mail-in voting
League of Women Voters US - US Supreme Court Blocks Postal Service From Restricting Mail Ballots

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - Largely Blocked by Lower Courts, Administration Asks SCOTUS to Allow Executive Order Directing USPS to Verify Citizenship of Mail-In Voters

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters, Campaign Legal Center, Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

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  #DemocracyNews #USSupremeCourt #MailInVoting #USPS  #VotingRights

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

National Voter Registration Day is September 15.  New State Citizenship and Other Rules May Mean Your Registration Has Changed.
National Voter Registration Day is September 15.  New state rules governing proof of citizenship, narrower voter ID options, and “use-it-or-lose it” voter registration purges might mean your registration status has changed.  Election officials are hosting voter registration  events nationwide.

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:

National Voter Registration Day - Thousands of Nonprofits Mobilize for National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day - Trusted Voting Resources
MIT Election Data  + Science Lab - Summary of U.S. Voter Registration Statistics
National Conference of State Legislatures - Voter Registration List Maintenance
League of Women Voters US - “Use It or Lose It” Purges Threaten College Students’ Right to Vote

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute -  (2022) Why People Don’t Vote Week: You Can’t Vote if You Don’t Register — So Why Don’t Nonvoters Register?

Groups Taking Action:

National Voter Registration Day

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 #NationalVoterRegistrationDay and #VoteReady

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

Disguised as a Voter Registration Site, an Elon Musk - America PAC Site Seems Designed to Vacuum Up Voter Data Instead

Using social media, Elon Musk and his America PAC are promoting “VoteSafe.org” as a voter registration information site similar to nonpartisan site Vote.gov.  But its actual purpose may be to vacuum up voter data instead.

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:

America PAC - VoteSave.org Site Data Collection Site
Snopes - Elon Musk's VoteSafe.org shares users' personal information. Here's how we know
Vote.Gov/US Election Assistance Commission - Register to Vote
US Election Assistance Commission - Register and Vote in Your State
Federal Electon Commission - Leadership and structure

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute - (2026) WI District Attorney Punts on Musk Charges
American Democracy Minute - (2025)  Elon Musk Data Collection Scheme in Support of WI Supreme Court Candidate Offers $100 Bounty to Refer Petition Signers
American Democracy Minute - (2024) Is it Illegal to Pay a $47 Bounty to Get a Registered Voter to Sign a Petition? Elon Musk’s Super PAC is Doing Just That.

Groups Taking Action:

Public Citizen, Common Cause, Defend the Vote, End Citizens United

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 #VoterRegistration #2026Midterms #PersonalData