The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 11, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

With America’s polarization, a special-interest driven Congress, a former President with 91 criminal indictments, a compromised U.S. Supreme Court, and rogue state legislatures, a newly updated Gallup poll shows satisfaction with American democracy plunged to just 28%, a 40-year low.

In December 2023, Gallup asked just over 1,000 U.S. adults in all 50 states, “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in this country?” In the nine previous polls since the question’s inception in 1984, satisfaction has plunged from 61% and 60% in 1984 and 1991, to 35% in 2021, and now 28% in 2023.

Democrats, Republicans and independents are all less satisfied than they were in 2021. Democrats dropped from 47% in 2021 to 38% in the latest survey. Independents dropped from 36% to 27%, and Republicans dropped from 21% to 17%.

In 1998, long before former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of a rigged system and widespread voter fraud, conservative Americans were big supporters of American Democracy, with 67% of Republicans saying they were satisfied with it.

Perhaps suggesting democracy serves college-educated Americans better than Americans who are not, over a third of college-educated Americans were satisfied with our democratic system, while among those with only a high school education, only 21% were satisfied.
We have a link to the Gallup survey at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources: 
Gallup – Record Low in U.S. Satisfied With Way Democracy Is Working

The Hill – American satisfaction with democracy at record low: Gallup
Pew Research Center – (2023) Public Trust in Government: 1958-2023

CNN – (2023) Americans are broadly unsatisfied with the state of things in the US, poll finds

Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, Public Citizen, League of Women Voters US, States United Democracy Center, Declaration for American Democracy

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The post New Poll Shows the Lowest Satisfaction with American Democracy in 40 Years appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 13, 2023

Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
National Task Force on Election Crises – Full Report & Recommendations – Lessons from the 2022 General Election: How to Prevent Election Crises, and Emerging Issues for 2023, 2024, and Beyond
National Task Force on Election Crises – Website, Recommendations & Resources

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A coalition of over 50 democracy groups, academics, former government officials, and technical experts released recommendations for 2023 and 2024 election preparation in a February 9th report.

In a succinct, powerful and excellent report, The National Task Force on Election Crises lays out the damage to democracy sustained during the 2020 election and its aftermath, an analysis of the 2022 midterm election, and dozens of recommendations for shoring up our American democracy’s foundation.

Recommendations include sustaining proven election options such as early and mail-in voting; proper funding of election personnel, security and equipment; protection of voters and election officials from violence and intimidation; continued hardening from cyber attacks; and better coordination between community leaders and law enforcement throughout campaigns to ensure the right to vote for all voters.

To build election confidence, the report recommends diverse, well-trained poll workers; speeding up results when possible – including early pre-processing of mail ballots; making sure mail-in ballot deadlines are consistent with the Postal Service’s ability to deliver; and using paper ballots so voters can review them prior to tabulation.

The report also asks for social media platforms and candidates to be held accountable for spreading election disinformation, and for campaign attorneys pushing frivolous lawsuits. There are many other recommendations we weren’t able to cover, so we’ve posted the full report and a link to the Task Force’s website at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post <strong>National Task force on Election Crises Releases Report & Recommendations to Shore Up Democracy Prior to 2024</strong> appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles: 

Politico – Fraudulent Document Cited in Supreme Court Bid to Torch Election Law
Appellate Advocacy Blog  – History Rewritten to Serve Selfish Ends – and Serve an Argument
Brennan Center for Justice – Moore v. Harper, Explained
American Redistricting Project  – Timeline and Document Submissions for Moore v. Harper
Politico – Supreme Court to hear 2 cases with major implications for 2024
The Atlantic – Is Democracy Constitutional?

Groups Taking Action:
League of Conservation Voters NC, Common Cause NC, Democracy Docket, Campaign Legal Center

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Yesterday, we introduced you to a landmark case in election law before the U.S. Supreme Court called Moore vs. Harper, testing the “Independent State Legislature theory.  But it’s rooted in the argument of one man whose document  even James Madison thought was sketchy.

Scholars from the Brennan Center for Justice wrote in Politico in September that the story begins at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.   Delegate Charles Pinckney of South Carolina had proposed that legislatures should elect federal representatives. His original plan was lost, but in 1818, he produced what he said was a copy.  Problem was, James Madison and other delegates said that wasn’t his original proposal, and that his original proposals had been rejected.  Their suspicions were backed up by the minutes of the Constitutional Convention. 

Fast forward to 2022, where the North Carolina legislature cites Pickney’s apparently fraudulent document as evidence that the framers intended for legislatures to have power over all federal election matters.  In fact, the Constitution only dictates that the “times, places, and manner” of congressional elections “shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof” unless Congress chooses to “make or alter” the rules.   

Should the majority of our current U.S. Supreme Court buy into this shaky theory, it will have a sweeping impact on each state’s elections, voter eligibility and certification procedures.   More on that impact in our next report. 

We have links to details on the case and groups taking action at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post ADM for Oct. 5, 2022: “Independent State Legislature” Case Cites Document that Scholars Say May be Fraudulent appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Today’s Links:   
Brennan Center article:  Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling Shows What Happens When Democracy Is Thwarted
Texas Tribute:  Analysis: Gerrymandering has left Texas voters with few options
NPR:   Supreme Court Rules Partisan Gerrymandering Is Beyond The Reach Of Federal Courts
Mother Jones:   Eight Years Ago, the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act. Widespread Voter Suppression Resulted.

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A new series of essays by the Brennan Center for Justice gives examples of how voter suppression and gerrymandering made the overturning of Roe vs. Wade possible.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially greenlighted this year’s extreme gerrymandering around the country by ceding authority to state legislatures.  Texas, for example, manipulated the voting districts so that Democrats would need a 56.2% majority to win, while Republicans only need only a 43% majority, locking in seats and controlling the legislature. 

The Brennan Center also notes that the 36 recently enacted laws eroding the freedom to vote in 18 states now makes it harder for communities of color to have a voice.  By gutting the Voting Rights Act and making it more difficult to appeal discriminatory state laws, the U.S. Supreme Court has aided and abetted voter suppression. 

U.S. Senators don’t have voting districts.  So how do they stay in power and not face consequences for supporting extremist Supreme Court justices and opposing democracy reforms like the Freedom to Vote act?  The answer is Money.  Corporate donations unleashed after the court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions flooded U.S. Senate campaigns and SuperPACs with special interest money, buying the blocking Merrick Garland’s nomination and the seating of Donald Trump’s three nominees.  

Gerrymandering and unlimited campaign cash can be overcome with overwhelming turnout to primary and general elections.  But that depends on you.   

A link to the Brennan Center article is at our website.  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for June 28, 2022: Brennan Center Essays Show How Erosion of Democracy Made Overturning of Roe vs. Wade Possible appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Articles:
Washington, DC:   The Hill – Jan. 6 committee delays hearing schedule until July
Texas:  NPR – Texas GOP’s new platform says Biden didn’t really win. It also calls for secession
Nebraska:  US Justice Dept. – Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Election Official

Massachusetts: WBUR –Gov. Baker signs bill ensuring mail-in ballots, early voting in Massachusetts
California:  San Diego Union Tribune – Ballot measure that could switch San Diego to ‘ranked choice’ voting delayed to 2024
Upcoming June 28th Primaries:  State Primary Dates

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

It’s the end of the week so we’re updating some recent Democracy news from Washington, DC, Texas, Nebraska, Massachusetts and reminding you of June 28th’s state primaries.  

The January 6th Committee has delayed next week’s scheduled hearings until July received, citing new documentary evidence of the Trump family, and new materials on events before and after the U.S. Capitol insurrection. 

At last weekend’s Texas Republican convention, the updated platform espouses that the 2020 election was stolen, that President Biden is only the “acting” President, and calls for Texas to hold a vote secede from the United States. 

A Nebraska man has been found guilty of threatening an election official on the official’s Instagram page, posting, “Do you feel safe? You shouldn’t. Do you think Soros will/can protect you?” The man faces up to 2 years in prison.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill making permanent accommodations for early voting and mail-in voting.  The bill did not include same-day registration however, as was sought by democracy advocates.

Advocates in San Diego have pushed off an effort to implement Ranked Choice Voting for city elections until 2024 because of soft support in the city council.  Meanwhile, Alaska’s first statewide election using RCV is August 16th.

Finally, voters in Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma and Utah should plan to vote in their June 28th state primaries.  Why?

Because Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.” 

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for June 24, 2022: Roundup of Democracy News from DC, TX, NE, MA, AK & CA + June 28th Primaries appeared first on American Democracy Minute.