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

Alabama Holds 2nd Primary Election With Legislature’s Discriminatory Congressional Districts, Restored After SCOTUS Callais Decision

August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court majority’s April 29th Callais decision invalidated use of race for redistricting, and sent some GOP-led states running to redraw congressional maps to dilute Black voting power. August 11th, Alabama ran a second state primary with its restored, discriminatory maps.

Let’s Just Say the Trump Administration’s Quest to Obtain State Voter Data Has Not Gone Well. DOJ is now 0 for 22, With 9 More Cases Pending.

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

We’ve been reporting since last spring on attempts by the Trump administration to obtain state voter and personal data for the expanded SAVE Database. That effort included lawsuits against 30 states and DC for refusing. DOJ is 0-22 in those cases.

The U.S. Senate Will Leave for Summer Recess Without Passing the SAVE America Act, But the Restrictive Voting Bill Will Be Back in the Fall

August 10, 2026August 10, 2026

At 4:36 AM August 8th, before legislators were released for the summer recess, the U.S. Senate voted on a subset of the SAVE America Act. This version required narrow types of photo ID but no proof of citizenship. It still failed.

Delaware Enacts State Voting Rights Act; Virginia Strengthens Its VRA, Laying Groundwork for Automatic Voter Registration

August 9, 2026August 9, 2026

On the 61st anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Delaware enacted a state VRA prohibiting voter discrimination, suppression and vote dilution. Virginia’s governor signed legislation to expand its VRA and lay the groundwork for automatic voter registration in the commonwealth.

North Carolina Governor Signals Veto of Anti-Voter Bill Shortening Early Voting, and Lengthening the Window for Ballot Challenges

August 6, 2026August 6, 2026

We’re in North Carolina today, where Governor Josh Stein signaled he would veto a bill shortening early voting for primaries, lengthening the time for activists to challenge a voter’s eligibility, and purge voters flagged in the federal SAVE database.