The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 3, 2024

Revelations from Crypto CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Show How Reported – And Unreported -Money Funds Our Candidates

In our final Dark Money report this week, we revisit Sam Bankman-Fried’s frank admissions of buying influence with U.S. politicians. Bankman-Fried was sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years for defrauding investors of $8 Billion dollars from his crypto customers. Brian will be back on Monday with a new American Democracy Minute Radio Report.


Articles & Resources:
 Journalist Tiffany Fong – Interview with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (Campaign donation discussions at 13 minutes)
CNBC – Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried hit with campaign finance complaint over GOP ‘dark’ money
Forbes – Sam Bankman-Fried says he donated just as many millions to Republicans as Democrats, but didn’t publicize it because reporters would ‘freak the f–k out’
The Hill – FTX founder Bankman-Fried’s campaign finance charges ‘just the tip of the iceberg
OpenSecrets.org – Largest Campaign Donors

Groups Taking Action:
Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, Open Democracy

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #SamBankmanFried #DarkMoney

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 2, 2024

How NY, AZ & MN are Fighting Back Against the Influence of Anonymous Campaign Cash
The LLC Loophole in most states is big enough that you could drive a yacht through it. So while Brian’s on vacation this week, we’re rerunning our series on Dark Money in our campaigns and its influence on our candidates. Click on the headline below to go to this episode of last year’s series.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

BallotPedia - Arizona Proposition 211, Campaign Finance Sources Disclosure Initiative (2022)
Stop Dark Money AZ - Voters' Right to Know Initiative
New York Assembly - S. 1101/A 776 LLC Disclosure Bill
Democracy Docket - Minnesota’s Democracy for the People Act Unpacked
Minnesota Legislature - HF3 Democracy for the People Act Status
National Conference of State Legislatures - State Campaign Contribution Limits

Groups Taking Action:
Stop Dark Money AZ,  Fair Elections NY, Common Cause NY,  People for the American Way, We Choose Us MN

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #NewYorkPolitics #MinnesotaPolitics #ArizonaPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 1, 2024

How the Rich Use the LLC Loophole to Circumvent Personal Donation Limits
The LLC Loophole in most states is big enough that you could drive a yacht through it. So while Brian’s on vacation this week, we’re rerunning our series on Dark Money, today exploring how the wealthy use the “LLC Loophole” to circumvent a state’s personal contribution limits.

Articles & Resources:
NH Public Radio – Loophole and Connections Help Gatsas Raise Big Dollars for Governor’s Race
NH Secretary of State’s Office – “Friends of Chris Sununu” 2018  Campaign Finance Report
Seattle University School of Law – The (Dunkin’) Donut Hole: Fixing the LLC Loophole in State Campaign Finance Laws—A New Hampshire Exemplar
Wiley Law Newsletter – Change in New York Campaign Finance Laws: Closing the LLC Loophole and Aggressive Campaign Finance/Pay-to-Play Proposals

New York Focus – Hochul Campaign Donors Blow Past Corporate Contribution Limits

Follow the Money – States Which Allow Direct Corporate Contributions to Candidates
Open Secrets – Dark Money Basics
Brennan Center for Justice – Dark Money in the 2020 Election
Issue One – What is Dark Money?
Issue One – Dark Money & Super PACs
National Conference of State Legislatures – Campaign Contribution Limits: Overview
National Conference of State Legislatures-  State Limits on Contributions to Candidates

Groups Taking Action
End Citizens United, Common Cause, Issue One, Public Citizen, Free Speech for People, People for the American Way, Open Democracy Action (NH), Fair Elections NY

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #EndCitizensUnited  #BigMoneyCorruption

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 30, 2024

Shedding Light on Dark Money: How LLCs Hide Political Donors, Especially in State Races
Already in the 2024 election, Open Secrets estimates over $162 Million in Dark Money has infiltrated the election — and the primaries aren’t even over. So while Brian’s on vacation this week, we continue our series on Dark Money today, focusing on Limited Liability corporations, or LLCs, commonly used for organizing small businesses.  But LLCs can also be used to hide political donations from the public.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Open Secrets - Dark Money Basics
Brennan Center for Justice - Dark Money in the 2020 Election
Issue One - What is Dark Money?
Issue One - Dark Money & Super PACs
National Conference of State Legislatures - Campaign Contribution Limits: Overview
National Conference of State Legislatures-  State Limits on Contributions to Candidates

Groups Taking Action 

End Citizens United, Common Cause, Issue One, Public Citizen, Free Speech for People, People for the American Way

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #IssueOne #EndCitizensUnited

American Democracy Minute Radio Report for April 29, 2024

How 501c Nonprofits are Exploited to Hide Political Donors
While Brian is on vacation, we're rerunning our 2023 series explaining Dark Money, starting with “charitable” & “social welfare” 501c3 groups.  Most of these groups do great work and don’t engage in sketchy political activity.  But the tax code has been exploited by Conservative and Liberal political operatives to keep YOU from seeing who is influencing elections.
 
Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Open Secrets - Dark Money Basics
Brennan Center for Justice - Dark Money in the 2020 Election
Issue One - What is Dark Money?
Issue One - Dark Money & Super PACs
Internal Revenue Service - Can a tax-exempt organization endorse candidates for public office?
Internal Revenue Service - A History of the Tax-Exempt Sector: An SOI Perspective
Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW) - The IRS is not enforcing the law on political nonprofit disclosure violations

Groups Taking Action 

End Citizens United, Common Cause, Issue One, Public Citizen, Free Speech for People, People for the American Way

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #EndCitizensUnited

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The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 26, 2024

U.S. Justice Department Revamps Site for Voting Rights Information, Violation Reporting
The U.S. Justice Department announced changes to its voting rights information and violation reporting page on April 17th, including a new guide on voting-related language assistance, and a video explaining protections against voter intimidation.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Department of Justice - Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website
U.S. Department of Justice -  justice.gov/voting Voting and Elections Guidance Page
U.S. Department of Justice - New Video on Reporting Threats and Harassment

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #USJusticeDept #VoterProtection #FreedomtoVote #VoterSuppression

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 25, 2024

2020 Fake Elector Scheme Investigations Grind On in Michigan, Nevada and Georgia, and Arizona 
The first Trump criminal trial is underway, but the 2020 fake electors still face months of investigation before any alleged conspirators are brought to trial.  Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada are the furthest along, having charged 25 participants.  Charges for Arizona’s fake electors are reportedly imminent.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Georgia Recorder - UPDATED Trump’s fake electors: Here’s the full list
The Guardian - (2023) Trump fake elector scheme: where do seven states’ investigations stand?
WZZM Channel 13  - (2023) Michigan:  Hearings planned for early 2024 for 15 charged in fake elector scheme
Michigan Advance - D.C. witnesses testify about Michigan fake electors in court
Bridge Michigan - Michigan:  Michigan ‘fake electors’ head back in court: What to know
Associated Press - Wisconsin:  Takeaways from the Wisconsin 2020 fake electors lawsuit settlement
Associated Press - Nevada:  Nevada fake electors won’t stand trial until January 2025 under judge’s new schedule
WALB News - Georgia:  State prosecutor investigating Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for role as ‘fake’ elector
Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia - APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRO TEMPORE ASSIGNED IN THE MATTER OF BURT JONES
Politico - Arizona: Arizona investigators issue grand jury subpoenas as state’s 2020 Trump election probe accelerates
 

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FakeElectors #Georgia #Michigan #Nevada #Arizona #Wisconsin #Pennsylvania #New Mexico

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 24, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Passes on Texas Access to Mail-In Voting Case

April 22nd, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a 2020 Texas case testing whether the state’s no-excuse mail-in voting law for seniors discriminated against younger voters.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
State of Connecticut Legislative Research:  States Which Allow Absentee Without an Excuse for Seniors Based on Age
VoteTexas.Gov -  Voting by Mail
Democracy Docket - US Supreme Court Will Not Review Texas’ Age-Based Mail-In Voting Restrictions

U.S. Supreme Court via Democracy Docket - Brief by Plaintiffs
U.S. Supreme Court via Democracy Docket - Brief by State of Texas
Op-Ed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton - Mail-In Bal­lots: A Threat to Democracy
Bipartisan Policy Center - Mail Voting is Safe and Secure
Center for Public Integrity - In Texas, polling place closures, absentee ballot rules make it harder to vote

Groups Taking Action:
National Vote at Home Institute, League of Women Voters TX,  Disability Rights Texas, ACLU of Texas

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoteatHome #VotingRights #VotebyMail

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 23, 2024

Pro-Voter Pushback in Wisconsin on Drop Boxes and Electronic Voting for Disabled Citizens
We’re in Wisconsin today, where Governor Tony Evers signed on to a state supreme case to restore drop boxes, and disability and democracy groups are pushing to allow electronic ballots for disabled citizens.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NPR - The Wisconsin Supreme Court says ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state
Democracy Docket - (2022)  Wisconsin Drop Box Ban Challenge
Wisconsin Public Radio - Wisconsin Supreme Court case could set up do-over of 2022 ruling banning
 drop boxes

Wisconsin Watch/Votebeat - Wisconsin voters with disabilities demand a better way to vote absentee

Wisconsin Examiner - Wisconsin voters with disabilities demand a better way to vote absentee
National Conference of State Legislatures - Electronic Ballot Return

Groups Taking Action:
Disability Rights Wisconsin, League of Women Voters WI,  Wisconsin Alliance of Retired Americans

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #disabled #disabledvoters #DropBoxes #VoteatHome #WisconsinPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 22, 2024

FBI, CISA and ODNI Issue Guidance to Election Officials to Harden Websites, Train Staff and Educate Voters, Anticipating Foreign Influence Campaigns
U.S. government cybersecurity experts issued warnings April 17th to election and public officials to lock down computer systems and train staff, in preparation for expected disinformation campaigns by Russia, China and possibly Iran.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
CISA - Statement:  CISA, FBI, and ODNI Release Guidance for Securing Election Infrastructure Against the Tactics of Foreign Malign Influence Operations
FBI, CISA & ODNI - Report:  SECURING ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST THE
TACTICS OF FOREIGN MALIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS
Brennan Center for Justice - Preparing to Fight AI-Backed Voter Suppression
Brennan Center for Justice - Recommendations to Fight Back Against Election Misinformation
Rand Corporation - Analyzing Election Disinformation Efforts
Fordham Law Voting Rights & Democracy Project -  Spies, Trolls, and Bots: Combating Foreign Election Interference in the Marketplace of Ideas 

Groups Taking Action:

IssueOne/Don't Mess With US.org,  Common Cause US,  Protect Elections, Center for Internet Security/ISAC

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ForeignElectionInterference #ProtectElections #Disinformation