The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 4, 2025

Thomas Jefferson Gets the Credit for the Declaration, but the ‘Independence’ Part Came from Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776
Thomas Jefferson is credited with most of the text of the Declaration of Independence. But the “independence” part came from a Virginian named Richard Henry Lee on June 7th, 1776. "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Archives Foundation - 1774 Articles of Association
Yale Law School Goldman Library - Text of the Articles of Association
National Constitution Center - On this day: The First Continental Congress concludes
National Archives - The Declaration of Independence - A Transcription
National Archives - The Declaration of Independence: A History
Library of Virginia - Richard Henry Lee Biography
National Archives - Creating the Declaration: A Timeline

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

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #1776 #DeclarationofIndependence #July4th #RichardHenryLee

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 3, 2025

New ProPublica Reporting Suggests DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Failed to Disclose $80,000 Payment from a Dark Money Political Group to Her LLC
ProPublica is reporting an alleged $80,000 disclosure omission by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in her federal executive branch disclosure form, an ethics violation. Noem appears to have received a 2023 commission for fundraising for a dark money nonprofit group.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

ProPublica - Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations
Office of Government Ethics - Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report
Federal Election Commission - AMERICAN RESOLVE PAC INC.
ProPublica - American Resolve Policy Fund, Springfield, VA EIN: 93-2286963
South Dakota Searchlight - (2022) Ethics panel dismisses airplane complaint against Noem, citing no definition of ‘state business’
Business Insider - Kristi Noem took the $50K 'exotic sports car' of Rolex watches on her trip to a Salvadoran prison

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #KristiNoem #GovKristiNoem #EthicsViolation #ProPublica #MoneyinPolitics

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 1, 2025

Bill Moyers, Journalist and Keen Observer of Democracy, Dies at 91
Distinguished television journalist Bill Moyers died June 26th at age 91. In his long career, he earned 30 Emmy awards, served as President Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary, helped found public broadcasting, and was a stalwart voice for democracy and democracy reform.

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:

Bill Moyers - (2017) Farewell
Moyers on Democracy - PODCAST: Democracy on the Edge
Bill Moyers - (2016) We, the Plutocrats vs. We, the People – Saving the Soul of Democracy
Frontline - Legendary Journalist Bill Moyers, Correspondent on FRONTLINE Documentaries Including ‘Two American Families,’ Dies at 91
BillMoyers.com - BILL MOYERS BIOGRAPHY
Doris "Granny D" Haddock - Walking Across America in My 90th Year: Forward by Bill Moyers

Groups Taking Action:

The Nation - John Nichols: Bill Moyers Kept the Faith in Democracy. We Need His Example More Than Ever.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #BillMoyers #PBS #BillMoyers.com

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 30, 2025

In Puzzling Move, U.S. Supreme Court Orders Additional Arguments in Louisiana Redistricting Case Pitting VRA Against Equal Protections Clause
The U.S. Supreme Court was expected to announce an opinion June 27th in Louisiana v. Callais, one of the most important voting rights cases of the year. Instead, in a highly unusual move, the court ordered new arguments in the case pitting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 against the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protections Clause.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The American Redistricting Project - Callais v. Louisiana
American Democracy Minute - Will Louisiana v. Callais Be the Latest Blow Against the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by SCOTUS?
Brennan Center for Justice - Voting Rights Act Returns to the Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court - LOUISIANA, APPELLANT 24–109 v. PHILLIP CALLAIS, ET AL.
SCOTUS Blog - Supreme Court punts decision on Louisiana’s congressional map to next term
NPR - Where the Voting Rights Act stands after the Supreme Court punts on a Louisiana case

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #VRA #Louisiana #LouisianaVCallais #USSupremeCourt

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 27, 2025

Is Partisan Gerrymandering Unconstitutional Under South Carolina Law? A Pro-Voter Challenge Takes the Legislature to Task.

The U.S. Supreme Court said in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering was fundamentally a political issue, and left it to legislatures and state courts to decide. In South Carolina, a state supreme court case heard June 24th challenges the state constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute - (2024) U.S. Supreme Court Finds South Carolina Gerrymandering Case ‘Bleaching’ Congressional District Not Racially Motivated
American Democracy Minute - (2024) The End of One South Carolina Gerrymandering Lawsuit and the Beginning of Another, as the Fight for Fair Maps Continues
League of Women Voters SC - Partisan Gerrymandering Case Reaches South Carolina Supreme Court
ACLU SC - S.C. lawmakers admit they drew Congressional maps for partisan gain. We say that violates the State Constitution.
WCIV - ACLU gerrymandering case headed for oral arguments with SC Supreme Court Tuesday
The State - Republicans admit gerrymandering. SC Supreme Court weighs if that’s allowed

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters SC, ACLU SC

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #SouthCarolina #LWV #ACLU #FairMaps #EndGerrymandering

American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 26, 2025

Start Spreading the News: NYC Mayoral Primary Results, Queens Assembly Candidate Indicted & George Santos Reports to Jail in July
It’s been a busy few weeks in New York City, as the Democratic nominee for November’s mayoral race was chosen, a recent Queens state assembly candidate is indicted for fraud, and disgraced Congressman George Santos prepares for prison.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Board of Elections in the City of New York - Summary, Democratic Mayoral Primary
The City - Mamdani Wins Stunning Upset in Democratic Primary as Cuomo Concedes Race
U.S. Department of Justice - Former New York State Assembly Candidate Charged with Wire Fraud
PoliticsNY - Former NYS Assembly candidate from Flushing charged with wire fraud: Feds
U.S. Department of Justice - Ex-Congressman George Santos Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
CBS News NY - George Santos to report to prison in July after sentencing for wire fraud, identity theft charges

Groups Taking Action:

Rank the Vote NYC, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Reinvent Albany

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #Corruption #NYCElections #GeorgeSantos #AndrewCuomo #RankedChoiceVoting

American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 25, 2025

Will Texas and Ohio Redraw Congressional Districts Before the 2026 Midterms?
For most states, redistricting is a once-a-decade event, perhaps extended by some litigation. For Ohio and Texas, redistricting may turn into an ongoing partisan battle as both states consider interim redistricting as the midterms approach.

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:

Brennan Center for Justice - (2024) How Gerrymandering Tilts the 2024 Race for the House
American Democracy Minute - Ohio SOS Under Fire Again, This Time for Sabotaging the Ballot Measure Description for a Citizen-Led Redistricting Commission
Ohio Capital Journal - Ohio voters reject Issue 1, leaving politicians in control over map-making process
Ohio Capital Journal - Ohio U.S. Congressional redistricting is on the agenda for 2025, with advocates preparing
Statehouse News Bureau - Once budget is done, Ohio lawmakers will return to Congressional redistricting again
Texas Public Radio - (2024) Gerrymandering gives GOP a five seat advantage in Texas, study says
Texas Tribune - Texas’ GOP congressional delegation meets to discuss redrawing districts ahead of midterms
Texas Tribune - Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 bills

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens Not Politicians, Common Cause OH, Fair Maps Texas Action Committee

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #EndGerrymandering #Texas #Ohio