The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 12, 2023

U.S. Supreme Court Majority Skeptical of Racial Gerrymandering Claims in South Carolina Case, Cites Lack of “Alternative Map Requirement”
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday on a South Carolina racial gerrymandering case we’ve closely followed. Justices who voted to overturn the maps in Alabama, weren’t as ready to throw the flag this time.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Supreme Court - Transcript of Oral Arguments for Alexander v. SC NAACP
Democracy Docket - Takeaways from Supreme Court Arguments Over South Carolina’s Congressional Map
CNN - Conservative justices suggest South Carolina GOP gerrymandering was based on politics, not race
NAACP Legal Defense Fund - Statement After Oral Arguments

Politico - Supreme Court likely to side with South Carolina GOP in racial gerrymandering case

Groups Taking Action:

NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Constitutional Accountability Center, Campaign Legal Center, League of Women Voters
===
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 #RacialGerrymandering #SouthCarolinaPolitics #SCOTUS
#FairMaps #VotingRights

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 20, 2023

More Impeachment Threats by Wisconsin’s Legislature in Effort to Protect Gerrymandered Districts and Seek Retribution for 2020 Presidential Loss
We have updates on two Wisconsin stories we’ve been following, including the refusal of a State Supreme Court Justice to recuse herself from two gerrymandering cases, and attempts to remove the administrator of the state’s election board.
 
Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Capital Times - Janet Protasiewicz won't step aside on redistricting cases
CBS 58 - Former justice advises Vos against impeachment, Senate lacks votes to remove
Wisconsin Watch - Evidence lacking in GOP case against top Wisconsin election official Meagan Wolfe
WISN 12 - Senate president pushing to impeach state's top elections chief
Capital Times - Republican lawmakers float impeaching WEC head Meagan Wolfe
Wisconsin PBS - Assembly Speaker Vos says he won't start impeachment of top elections official amid lawsuit

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause Wisconsin, Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition,  Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
===

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 #ElectionDeniers #FairMaps #EndGerrymandering #WisconsinPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 3, 2023

Will Federal Court Victory Over Racial Gerrymandering in Alabama Translate to Fair Maps in Louisiana & South Carolina? It May Not.
We reported yesterday that a federal appeals court chose a fairer Congressional redistricting map in Alabama, giving Black voters a better shot at electing the candidates of their choice. Other states also have racial gerrymandering cases pending, but it’s unclear whether the resolution in Alabama will translate to fairness in Louisiana & South Carolina.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Alabama Reflector – Federal court selects new Alabama congressional map
Democracy Docket - Redistricting Lagniappe: The Fight for a Second Majority-Black District in Louisiana
NPR - An appeals court has blocked the redrawing of Louisiana's congressional map
American Democracy Minute - Future SCOTUS Case on South Carolina Racial Gerrymandering Could Further Erode Federal Protections
All About Redistricting - Alexander (was McMaster) v. S.C. State Conf. of the NAACP
Democracy Docket - South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District Heads to the U.S. Supreme Court
WLTX - U.S. Supreme Court to take up SC redistricting case this week
ProPublica - Democratic Rep. Clyburn’s Role in Redrawn Congressional Maps Becomes Key in Supreme Court Redistricting Case

Groups Taking Action:
Louisiana - Power Coalition for Equity and Justice,  ACLU of Louisiana
South Carolina - South Carolina Conference of the NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The American Redistricting Project, ACLU
===

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 #RacialGerrymandering #EndGerrymandering #SouthCarolinaPolitics #LouisianaPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 10, 2023

A Victory for Black Voters as Court Approves Special Master’s Maps in Alabama 
In a victory for Alabama’s Black voters, a federal appeals court chose a new Congressional voting district map with two districts where Black voters finally have a reasonable chance at electing the candidate of their choice.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Alabama Reflector - Federal court selects new Alabama congressional map
WABE - Alabama finally has a new congressional map after a lengthy legal fight
Democracy Docket - After Unprecedented Defiance, Alabama Finally Has a Fair Congressional Map for 2024
Alabama Political Reporter - Reactions to new 2024 congressional map pour in

Reuters - Alabama Democrats likely to flip seat under court-approved congressional map

Groups Taking Action:
National Redistricting Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Alabama

===
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 #AlabamaPolitics #VotingRights #AllenvMilligan #EndGerrymandering
#FairMaps

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 9, 2023
On Indigenous Peoples Day, this is a rebroadcast of a 2022 report from the American Democracy Minute:   A Native American tribe in South Dakota won a victory in federal court, forcing implementation of a fairer voting district system and representation for its members, after enduring years of a rigged system.

Today’s Links

Articles:   

Native American Rights Fund (NARF) -  LOWER BRULE SIOUX TRIBE VOTERS WIN CRUCIAL LEGAL VICTORY IN VOTING RIGHTS CASE
Associated Press - Judge tells Lyman County to work with tribe on election plan

U.S. District Court -  Court Order in LOWER BRULE SIOUX TRIBE vs. Lyman County 

Groups Taking Action:
Native American Rights Fund, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #NativeVote #StopGerrymandering #VotingRights

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 6, 2023

Defamation Lawsuit Against Producers of Debunked Drop Box Fraud Case“2000 Mules” Can Proceed in Georgia Court Ruling
The debunked documentary “2000 Mules” purported to show evidence of people depositing stacks of fraudulent mail-in and absentee ballots into drop boxes. One of the individuals filmed is suing the producers.

Our podcasting host recently made changes which stops us from including our entire script as part of the podcast content.  To view the whole script, please go to our website and find today's report.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Reuters - Fact Check-Does ‘2000 Mules’ provide evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election?
Texas Tribune - (2022) How the debunked conspiracy film “2000 Mules” became Texas Republican orthodoxy
Associated Press - (2022) Georgia man sues over false ballot fraud claim in film
NPR - (2022)  Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble
US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA - ATLANTA DIVISION via Protect Democracy - MARK ANDREWS, Plaintiff, v. DINESH D’SOUZA, TRUE THE VOTE, INC., CATHERINE ENGELBRECHT, GREGG PHILLIPS, D’SOUZA MEDIA LLC, SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC., REGNERY PUBLISHING, INC., and JOHN DOES
Protect Democracy - Judge Rules Against the Makers of Election-Lie-Hyping Film ‘2,000 Mules’ — Allows Case to Proceed to Discovery
Washington Post - (Paywall)  ‘2000 Mules,’ a key piece of election misinformation, has its day in court

Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause

===
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 #ElectionDeniers #2000Mules #ProtectDemocracy

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 5, 2023

Ohio’s Legislative Majority Continues Quest to Lock Down Power, Proposing Bans for Ranked Choice Voting and Ending Open Primaries

After ignoring Ohio’s constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering and attempting to make it harder to pass citizen ballot initiatives, the majority in the Ohio legislature is now attempting to ban ranked choice voting and close party primaries.

Our podcasting host recently made changes which stops us from including our entire script as part of the podcast content.  To view the whole script, please go to our website and find today's report.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Ohio Capital Journal - Ohio senators consider election law changes to close primaries, prohibit ranked choice voting
Ohio Capital Journal - Ohio House bill to close primaries gets first hearing
Ohio Legislature -   HB 208 Primary election voting procedures
Ohio Legislature - HB 210 Political party registration
Ohio Legislature - SB 137 Prohibition against ranked choice voting
Morrow County Ohio - How Do I Declare or Change Political Party Affiliation?
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law - Online Panel - An Electoral Game-Changer: What if Ohio (and other states) used Alaska’s new Ranked Choice Voting system?
Axios - Record number of Americans say they're politically independent

Groups Taking Action:
Rank the Vote Ohio, League of Women Voters OH, FairVote, Open Primaries

===
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 #OhioPolitics #RCV #OpenPrimaries

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 4, 2023

NY Attorney General Sends Cease & Desist Letter to Group Suspected of Mobilizing Volunteers Impersonating Election Officials to Intimidate Voters

Early last month, we reported on activists posing as election officials around New York state who were harassing voters.  After the state’s investigation, we’re getting a clearer picture of who was behind it – and the trouble they’re in.

Our podcasting host recently made changes which stops us from including our entire script as part of the podcast content.  To view the whole script, please go to our website and find today's report.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute - Investigation Opened Into Election Denier Activists Allegedly Impersonating Election Officials in New York County
NY Office off Attorney General, Division of Social Justice - Civil Rights Bureau (via Democracy Docket) -  CEASE AND DESIST NOTIFICATION AND DOCUMENT REQUEST 

Associated Press - New York attorney general sends cease-and-desist letter to group accused of voter intimidation
Spectrum News - NY attorney general sends cease-and-desist letter to election impersonators
NBC News - (Note-There is no report of NY Citizen Audit using Eagle AI to identify targets)  Inside the right’s effort to build a voter fraud hunting tool

===
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 #BigLie #ElectionProtection #NewYorkPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 3, 2023

SCOTUS Said Alabama’s 26% Black Population Should have Two Congressional Districts.  Why is a Federal Court is Holding Up Maps Which Could Give Louisiana’s 33% Black Population Its Two Districts? 
Alabama’s population is 26% Black, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Allen v. Milligan decision mandated two majority minority Congressional districts under the Voting Rights Act.  Louisiana is 33% Black, but on Sept. 29th, a federal appeals court stopped the drawing of two Black Congressional districts.

Our podcasting host recently made changes which stops us from including our entire script as part of the podcast content.  To view the whole script, please go to our website and find today's report.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
All About Redistricting - Timeline of Current Racial Gerrymandering Case
Democracy Docket - Louisiana Congressional Redistricting Challenge (Robinson)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA - Ruling on  a Motion to Cancel Hearing on Remedy and to Enter a Scheduling Order for Trial
NPR - An appeals court has blocked the redrawing of Louisiana's congressional map
Democracy Docket - Louisiana Voters Ask U.S. Supreme Court To Pause 5th Circuit Order Delaying Fair Maps
U.S. Supreme Court Brief via Democracy Docket  - EMERGENCY APPLICATION FOR STAY OF WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Groups Taking Action:
Power Coalition for Equity and Justice,  ACLU of Louisiana

===
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 #SCOTUS #AllenvMilligan #LouisianaPolitics #StopGerrymandering
#Racial Gerrymandering

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 29, 2023

Hear a Portion of President Biden’s Speech on the Work We Must Do Together to Strengthen Our Democracy 
Today we read a portion of a Sept. 28th speech by President Biden on the legacy of Sen. John McCain, and the challenge we face in preserving our democracy.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The White House - Remarks by President Biden Honoring the Legacy of Senator John McCain and the Work We Must Do Together to Strengthen Our Democracy
ABC News - Biden delivers speech on battle for American democracy

Groups Taking Action:

Declaration for American Democracy, Common Cause, Democracy21

===
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 #PresidentBiden #January6th #ElectionDeniers