The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 31, 2025

American Democracy in 2025: To Prove Racial Gerrymandering, Minority Voters Must Now Show SCOTUS ‘Intent’ to Discriminate, Not Just ‘Effect’
By any rational measure, the Texas legislature racially gerrymandered its congressional map in 2025 to add five more GOP seats at the request of President Donald Trump. But the U.S. Supreme Court majority allowed it anyway, claiming plaintiffs hadn’t proven their case.

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:

American Democracy Minute - (2024) Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s South Carolina Gerrymandering Decision Finds Disturbing Guidance for Lower Courts
American Democracy Minute - (Sept) Trump-Requested Texas Congressional District Gerrymandering Blocked by Federal Court Panel
American Democracy Minute - (December) U.S. Supreme Court Majority Embraces Texas Redistricting, Ignores District Court Panel Racial Gerrymandering Findings
Louisiana Illuminator - Supreme Court lets Texas keep new congressional map while legal battle continues
Brennan Center for Justice - The Supreme Court Messes with Texas’s Voting Map

Groups Taking Action:

LULAC, MALDEF, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Center for American Progress

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #VotingRightsAct #Texas #FairMaps #USSupremeCourt

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

American Democracy in 2025: The SCOTUS Case Which May End 60 Years of Protection for Minority Voters
We’re looking back at our most important stories of 2025, and what changes to expect for American democracy in 2026. If you’re a voter, it’s been a tough year. If you’re a minority voter, it’s been a really BAD year.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute - (October) In a Big Week for Voting Rights, U.S Supreme Court Hears More Arguments in Louisiana vs. Callais. VRA Protections for Minority Voters are at Stake.
American Democracy Minute - (March) US Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments March 24th in Louisiana v. Callais with Protections for Minority Voters Hanging in the Balance
SCOTUS Blog - Louisiana v. Callais
Ballotpedia - Majority-minority districts
NAACP Legal Defense Fund - What's at Stake in Louisiana v. Callais
Brennan Center for Justice - Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Court

Groups Taking Action:

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and 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 #MajorityMinority #VRASection2 #VotingRights #RacialGerrymandering #VRA

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 29, 2025

Ohio Joins Kansas in Eliminating Grace Periods for Mail-In Ballots; A 2026 Mississippi SCOTUS Case Could Eliminate Them Nationwide
Ohio has joined Kansas in eliminating a grace period for mail-in ballots arriving after election day. A U.S. Supreme Court case from Mississippi could potentially eliminate mail ballot grace periods nationwide, disenfranchising tens of thousands.

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 - PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS
Kansas Legislature - Senate Bill 4
Kansas Reflector - Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s veto of bill to limit advance voting
BOLTS Magazine - Trump Wants Mail Votes to Arrive By Election Day. Red States Are Rushing to Toe the Line.
Ohio Capital Journal - Gov. DeWine weighing whether to eliminate Ohio’s absentee ballot grace period
Ohio Capital Journal - Ohio Gov. DeWine signs property tax bills, ‘reluctantly’ approves new voting restrictions

Brennan Center for Justice - (2024) Mail Voting Accuracy

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU Ohio, National Vote at Home Institute, Ohio Voice

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 #VotebyMail #MailBallotGracePeriod #Ohio #Kansas

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 25, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision will likely be released early next year, and its rehearing in October was one of the big voting rights stories of the year. Brian is off for a couple of days, so we're rebroadcasting this story from October. Happy holidays!

Outlook for the Voting Rights Act Dims, as Court’s Conservatives Appear to Turn Away From Their Own Precedent
The conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared to agree Oct. 15th with arguments that the Voting Rights Act Section 2’s majority-minority voting districts conflicted with the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. A decision is expected next year.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

NAACP Legal Defense Fund – Louisiana v. Callais: Protecting fair representation for Black voters in Louisiana and safeguarding the Voting Rights Act
U.S. Supreme Court - Transcript of Oral Arguments in Louisiana v. Callais
Supreme Court Oral Arguments - Audio with transcript on Louisiana v. Callais
SCOTUS Blog - Court appears ready to curtail major provision of the Voting Rights Act
BallotPedia - Majority Minority Districts

Groups Taking Action:

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and 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 #USSupremeCourt #SCOTUS #Louisiana #LouisianavCallais #RacialGerrymandering, #VotingRightsAct #VRA

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 23, 2025

Restrictive Voting Laws Passed in 20 States in 2025. Proof of Citizenship, Limits on Mail-In Voting and Narrower Voter ID Rules Dominated.
Proof of citizenship, limits on voting by mail and narrowed voter ID options dominated the 37 restrictive state election laws passed in 2025, according to democracy legislation tracker Voting Rights Lab. Five states accounted for nearly half of the laws passed.

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:

Voting Rights Lab - State bills which restricted voting in 2025
Voting Rights Lab - Find legislation in your state
Brennan Center for Justice - State Voting Laws Roundup: October 2025

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause, AIPI Vote, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, League of Women Voters US

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 #VoterSuppression #VoterID #VotebyMail #ProofofCitizenship

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 23, 2025

Can the Feds Require States to Turn Over Voter Data? A New Paper Suggests Federal Law Doesn’t Explicitly Allow It, So Courts Will Decide.
The Trump Department of Justice has tried for months to compel states to turn over voter registration data. A new university research center analysis suggests existing federal law doesn’t explicitly permit it.

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:

American Democracy Minute - (October) 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 - U.S. DOJ Sues MA, CO, HI and NV to Turn Over Voter Registration Files, but Even Red States are Pushing Back
University of Wisconsin Law School - State Democracy Research Initiative - Explainer: Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens’ Voter Information?
Brennan Center for Justice - Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters,C.R.E.W., Electronic Privacy Information Center, Fair Elections Center

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 #DataPrivacy #SAVEDatabase #VoterRegistrationData

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 22, 2025

Federal Judges Skeptical of GOP Claims of Racial Gerrymandering in California; Judge Orders New Judicial Districts in Mississippi
A decision from a skeptical three-judge panel is expected December 22nd on Republican claims that California’s Proposition 50 racially gerrymandered Congressional districts. In Mississippi, a federal judge ordered a new map and special elections to remedy a racially gerrymandered state supreme court map.

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:

American Democracy Minute - Challenge to California Gerrymandering Reaches Federal Courtroom, but the SCOTUS Decision in Texas Could Undercut GOP Arguments
ABC 10 Sacramento - Judges Signal Possible Ruling in Favor of California’s Proposition 50 Redistricting Maps
Courthouse News Service - California Republicans' racial gerrymandering case runs into skeptical court
American Democracy Minute - (August) Federal 5th District Court Rules Mississippi Must Redraw State Supreme Court Districts to Allow Black Voters to Elect a Candidate of Their Choice
U.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) - Original Complaint in DYAMONE WHITE v. STATE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
NPR/AP - Special elections ordered for Mississippi Supreme Court after voting rights violation

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU MS, Southern Poverty Law Center

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#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #California #Proposition50 #Mississippi #FairMaps #RacialGerrymandering #VRA #VotingRights #TrumpGerrymandering

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 19, 2025

Joining the Mid-Decade Gerrymandering Arms Race, Two NH GOP Legislators Propose Bill to Redraw the State’s Congressional Maps in 2026
In 2022, New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu vetoed radically gerrymandered congressional districts, saying the map QUOTE, “Didn’t pass the smell test.” Current GOP Governor Kelly Ayotte stated she’s not supportive of mid-decade redistricting, but two GOP legislators are proposing a 2026 bill anyway.

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:

NH Public Radio - (2022) Sununu rejects latest congressional map from GOP lawmakers, leaving N.H.'s districts up to the courts


The Portsmouth Herald - As redistricting battles heat up in other states, Ayotte says no to redistricting in NH
WMUR - Little momentum seen for congressional redistricting in New Hampshire
WMUR - Dan Innis calls for redistricting as he seeks Trump endorsement
New Hampshire General Court - HB 1300 as Introduced by Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Sen. Innis, Dist 7

Groups Taking Action:

Open Democracy Action, NH Campaign for Voting Rights, League of Women Voters

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 #Gerrymandering #FairMaps #TrumpGerrymandering