American Democracy Minute A 90 second radio news report & podcast on U.S. democracy issues %

Making Sense of Latest Conflicting Appeals Court Rulings on Trump’s March Executive Order on Elections. Has Harm Been Done–Yet?

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

A second appeals court handed down a ruling on President Trump’s March 31st executive order on elections, this time allowing the U.S. Postal Service’s preparations for checking eligibility of mail-in voters to proceed - the opposite of a different court’s July 25th ruling. What gives?

Largely Blocked by Lower Courts, Administration Asks SCOTUS to Allow Executive Order Directing USPS to Verify Citizenship of Mail-In Voters

July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

The lower courts have largely blocked President Trump’s March executive order on elections as violations of the Constitution’s Elections Clause. July 27th, his administration asked the more friendly U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on an appeals court decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service from verifying citizenship for mail-in voters.

Software Design Error and Slow DOT Response Likely Led to Noncitizen Registrations in New Jersey, Not Intentional Fraud

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

A software design error in an automatic voter registration system, compounded by a slow New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission response to correct it, apparently led to the voter registration of approximately 6,600 noncitizens. As many as 400 noncitizens subsequently voted.

Trump Administration Withholds FEMA Disaster Relief Funding Because States Refused to Provide Voter Data. In response, 24 States & DC Sued.

July 26, 2026July 27, 2026

The Trump administration threatened to withhold 20% of routine FEMA emergency disaster funding unless states complied with Department of Justice demands to turn over voter information for the SAVE database. July 23rd, 24 states and DC sued, arguing the administration again broke federal law.

U.S. House Passes the SAVE America Act and Will Combine It With a Defense Appropriations Bill to Make it Harder to Vote Down in the Senate

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

The U.S. House passed the SAVE America Act again, this time with language to attach it to a normally bipartisan defense appropriations bill before it’s sent to the Senate. It’s a last-ditch effort to pass the bill.