American Democracy Minute

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 10, 2024 South Dakota Democracy Advocates Submit Ballot Measure Signatures for a ‘Top 2’ Single Ballot Open Primary System. If Approved, All Voters Get a Voice in the Primary May 7th, South Dakota democracy advocates submitted the necessary signatures to put a constitutional amendment establishing a ‘top two’ open primary system on the ballot. The ballot question would allow the 150,000 independent voters whose tax dollars underwrite the primary to actually vote in it. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: South Dakota Searchlight - Open primary push to see opposition from state Republican Party South Dakota Secretary of State - Text of Top 2 Open Primary Petition South Dakota Open Primaries - SD Open Primaries Explained South Dakota Secretary of State - Breakdown of Voter Affililation, May 1, 2024 Dakota News Now - Petitions establishing top-two primary elections, legalizing recreational cannabis submitted just before deadline Open Primaries Education Fund - Types of Primaries Groups Taking Action: South Dakota Open Primaries, 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #SDOpenPrimaries #Letthemvote #SouthDakotaNews

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 9, 2024 Betrayed by State Officials, North Dakota Native Americans Forced to Again Fight for the Right to Choose Their Own State Representation In 2021, Native Americans nations negotiated with the State of North Dakota to create majority minority state House districts under the Voting Rights Act, and together defended it in federal court. NOW the State is welching on the deal and joining the GOP plaintiffs in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Democracy Docket - (2023) Federal Court Rejects GOP Lawsuit Aimed At Eliminating North Dakota Tribal Nation Legislative Districts North Dakota Monitor - North Dakota changes course on tribal redistricting case, asks US Supreme Court to rule Native American Rights Fund - DEFENDING A MAJORITY NATIVE-VOTER SUBDISTRICT IN NORTH DAKOTA (WALEN V. BURGUM) U.S. Supreme Court - Docket for Charles Walen, et al., Appellants v. Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota, et al. Groups Taking Action: Native American Rights Fund, Campaign Legal Center, Election Law Group 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #NativeVote #VotingRightsAct #FreedomtoVote

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 8, 2024 What is the ‘Gingles Test’ and How Does it Impact Minority Voting Rights? Today, we’re looking at a principle called the “Gingles Test” that federal courts use when determining whether a gerrymandered redistricting map is a violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. How that test is interpreted can determine whether minority voters can elect the candidate of their choice, or their vote is diluted by an anti-voter state legislature. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: BallotPedia - Thornburg v. Gingles Charis Franklin, Fordham University Law - From Poll Tests To The Purcell Doctrine: Merrill V. Milligan And The Precarious Preservation Of Voting Rights The American Redistricting Project - Thornburg v. Gingles (1986) Brennan Center for Justice - Breaking Down the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act Decision Out of Alabama Louisiana Illuminator – Federal court tosses Landry-backed Louisiana congressional map Groups Taking Action: NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Campaign Legal Center, ACLU, Native American Rights Fund 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #VotingRightsAct #VRA

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 7, 2024 Oklahoma Becomes the 7th State to Ban Ranked Choice Voting, While Pro-Voter States Consider Its Adoption After a 2023 resolution by the Republican National Committee, GOP state legislators have pushed legislation to ban ranked choice voting. April 29th, Oklahoma became the seventh state to ban RCV. But other states are considering its adoption. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Oklahoma Voice - Republican senator files bill to ban ranked choice voting in Oklahoma BallotPedia - Oklahoma bans ranked-choice voting, joins six other states in prohibition FairVote - 2024 ballot measures BallotPedia - Ranked Choice Voting PBS - (2023) Ranked-choice voting coming to more statewide ballots in 2024 Associated Press - Georgia senators move to ban expansion of ranked-choice voting method in the state State of Illinois - Ranked-Choice and Voting Systems Task Force Represent.Us - Explainer on How Ranked Choice Voting Works Groups Taking Action: Rank the Vote Oklahoma, FairVote, Represent.Us 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #RankedChoiceVoting #RCV #OklahomaPolitics #RanktheVoteOK

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 3, 2024 The Federal 5th Circuit Backtracks on Louisiana Congressional Maps, Throwing Out New Map Which Gave Black Voters & Candidates a Chance Louisiana’s voting age population is 30% Black, yet a 2022 Congressional district map drew only one of six Congressional districts as majority African American. A court-ordered 2024 map fixed that, but another appeals court just threw it out. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: U.S. Justice Department - Section 2 Of The Voting Rights Act Legal Defense Fund - (2023) Federal Court of Appeals Affirms Louisiana’s Congressional Map is Discriminatory American Democracy Minute - Appeals Court (Finally) Finds Louisiana Congressional Map was Discriminatory; Orders New Maps to Be Drawn by January 15 Louisiana Illuminator - Voters sue over creation of Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district Louisiana Illuminator - Federal court tosses Landry-backed Louisiana congressional map Democracy Docket - Federal Court Strikes Down Louisiana’s New Congressional Map U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana - Decision in Callais v. Landry Groups Taking Action: NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Louisiana, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #VotingRightsAct #LouisianaPolitics #FairMaps

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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here! #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #EndCitizensUnited 📻 Hear ADM on many Pacifica Radio Network and PRX stations. Don’t hear it? Ask them to carry it!

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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #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 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #ForeignElectionInterference #ProtectElections #Disinformation

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 19, 2024 Maine Becomes the 17th State to Join the National Popular Vote Compact Maine became the 17th state to join the National Popular Vote Compact April 15th, pledging the state’s Presidential electoral votes to the candidate with the most overall votes nationally. It won’t impact the 2024 election, but brings the national effort within 61 votes of having the candidate with the most votes be the winner. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: USA.Gov - Electoral College Explainer National Popular Vote - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote League of Women Voters ME - National Popular Vote Maine Morning Star - Maine Legislature throws support behind national movement to elect president via popular vote Maine Morning Star - Gov. Mills allows Maine to join National Popular Vote Compact without her signature Gov. Janet Mills - Governor Mills Allows National Popular Vote Legislation to Become Law Without Her Signature Groups Taking Action: National Popular Vote, Stand Up America, FairVote, Common Cause US 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #NationalPopularVote #Maine

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 18, 2024 Georgia Omnibus Voter Suppression Law Banning Line Warming, Curtailing Drop Boxes & Restricting Mail-In Voting Goes on Trial After the Georgia legislature passed its omnibus voter suppression bill SB 202 in 2021, a firestorm of criticism erupted, including the moving of that year’s Major League Baseball All-Star game out of the state. April 15th, a trial began in federal court to throw out a small part of the law, one of eight active lawsuits. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Fair Fight - FIFTY REASONS WHY SB 202 IS A BAD BILL ACLU - Here's How Georgia's New Voting Law Harms Voters With Disabilities NAACP Legal Defense Fund - LDF’s Lawsuit Challenging Georgia’s Voter Suppression Law League of Women Voters - GA State Conference of the NAACP v. Raffensperger (consolidated as In re: Georgia Senate Bill 202) Campaign Legal Center - Challenge to Georgia Law That Would Make Voting Harder Heads to Trial Democracy Docket - Georgia’s Infamous Voter Suppression Law Heads to Trial for the First Time ACLU - Here's How Georgia's New Voting Law Harms Voters With Disabilities NAACP Legal Defense Fund - LDF’s Lawsuit Challenging Georgia’s Voter Suppression Law League of Women Voters - GA State Conference of the NAACP v. Raffensperger (consolidated as In re: Georgia Senate Bill 202) Groups Taking Action: Voter Participation Center, Center for Voter Information 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #VotingRights #VoterSuppression #Georgia

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 17, 2024 U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Washington State Case Challenging the Washington Voting Rights Act Washington state voters can breathe easier, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to the Washington Voting Rights Act, passed in response to the stripping Voting Rights Act protections by the same court in Shelby v. Holder. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Brennan Center for Justice - State Supreme Court Upholds Washington State’s Voting Rights Act; Brennan Center Reacts Washington State Legislature - Text of the Washington Voting Rights Act Democracy Docket - US Supreme Court Will Not Review GOP Challenge To Washington’s State-Level Voting Rights Act Center for American Progress - The Protection of Voting Rights Requires State Action NAACP Legal Defense Fund - Reflecting on the Voting Rights Landscape a Decade After Shelby County v. Holder Connecticut Legislature - AN ACT CONCERNING STATE VOTING RIGHTS IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN R. LEWIS. CalMatters - California’s high court upholds voting rights law KARE - Minnesota Senate panel okays voting rights bill Groups Taking Action: Washington Voting Justice Coalition, League of Women Voters WA, Native Vote WA, Native American Rights Fund, ACLU WA 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #VotingRightsAct #WashingtonState #VotingRights #JohnLewisAct #FreedomtoVote

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 16, 2024 Doesn’t U.S. Law Already Prohibit Non-Citizens from Voting in Federal Elections? Yes, it Does. In an announcement April 11th heralded as a major “election integrity” policy proposal, former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced their intention to require proof of citizenship to vote. Spoiler alert: It’s already required. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: States Newsroom/Nebraska Examiner - GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states Bipartisan Policy Center - Four Things to Know about Noncitizen Voting Brennan Center for Justice - Noncitizens Are Not Voting in Federal or State Elections — Here’s Why NPR - Republicans aim to stop noncitizen voting in federal elections. It's already illegal BallotPedia - Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Cato Institute - (2020) Noncitizens Don’t Illegally Vote in Detectable Numbers U.S. Code via Cornell Law - 18 U.S. Code § 611 - Voting by aliens U.S. Congress via Cornell Law - Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Heritage Foundation - Voter Fraud Database Groups Taking Action Brennan Center for Justice, Immigration Policy Center 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #Misinformation #Disinformation #2024Election

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 15, 2024 Ever Wonder The Reason It Took So Long for the IRS to Offer an Online Tax Preparation App? Big Money Lobbying. The IRS has a pilot program in 12 states this year to file your personal taxes online for free without the use of 3rd party software. Wonder why it took so long? Big money lobbying. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Open Secrets - Tax prep companies that spent over $90 million lobbying against free tax-filing system face new scrutiny from lawmakers Pro Publica - Inside TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans From Filing Their Taxes for Free NerdWallet - Data: Americans Waste Billions to File Tax Returns Federal Trade Commission - FTC Issues Opinion Finding that TurboTax Maker Intuit Inc. Engaged in Deceptive Practices Congressional Research Service - The Internal Revenue Service’s Free File Program (FFP): Current Status and Policy Issues CNBC - Roughly 70% of taxpayers are eligible for IRS Free File, but only 2% used it in 2022 Internal Revenue Service - IRS Direct File pilot for States of Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming IBIS World - Tax Preparation Services in the US industry analysis Groups Taking Action: Coalition for Fair Filing, Public Citizen, Economic Security Project 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! Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX #Democracy #DemocracyNews #EndBigMoney #IRS #TaxPreparation #EndCitizensUnited #FreeFiling