Podcasts about states united democracy center

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 17, 2025U.S. DOJ Demands State of Colorado Turn Over Massive Number of 2024 Election Records. It Could be an Attempt to Prove Conspiracy Theories.May 12th, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly requested ALL the State of Colorado's records relating to the 2024 federal election, and the preservation of records related to the 2020 election.  The request may relate to President Trump's effort to free a convicted Colorado election official. 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.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:American Democracy Minute - (2024) Colorado Supreme Court Rules Trump was a “Officer of the United States” Participating in Insurrection, and Bars Him from the State's Ballot.  A SCOTUS Challenge is Likely.American Democracy Minute - (2024) CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free.NPR - Trump's DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yetColorado Public Radio - Colorado election officials react to federal request for voter data, eye political motives9 News Denver - DOJ demands Colorado election dataColorado Sun - Federal request for Colorado voter data seems motivated by politics, election officials sayGroups Taking Action:Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionDeniers #TinaPeters #USDOJ #Colorado

American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 9, 2025Election Official Tina Peters was Sentenced to 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free. In August 2024, a jury convicted Mesa County, Colorado election official Tina Peters for tampering with her county's voting machines in 2020, and allowing election deniers access to them.  Disregarding the breach of “election integrity”, President Donald Trump is now trying to set her free. 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.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:Colorado Newsline – (2021) ‘Serious breach' of voting security at center of investigation of Mesa County clerk's officeAmerican Democracy Minute - Colorado Election Official Who Allowed 2020 Conspiracy Theory Activists Access to County Voting Machine Data Found GuiltyColorado Newsline - Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, guilty on 7 counts Colorado Newsline - Trump Justice Department conducting ‘review' of Colorado's Tina Peters prosecutionPresident Donald Trump - Truth Social post to 'FREE TINA PETERS'Denver ABC 7 - Jena Griswold says Trump is ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice' in Tina Peters caseGroups Taking Action:Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue OneRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #BigLie #FreeTinaPeters #TinaPeters #DonaldTrump

BigTentUSA hosted a "must listen" special discussion on election protection with Joanna Lydgate, President & CEO of States United, Steve Bullock, former Governor and Attorney General of Montana, and Cisco Aguilar, the Nevada Secretary of State and moderated by Samantha Bee. This dynamic group discussed what to expect during an election season that may be long, how state officials are preparing, and reassured us about the coming weeks.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSJOANNA LYDGATE is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free, fair, and secure elections. Since 2020, States United has provided legal, research, policy, and communications support to state officials who run elections. Before launching States United, Joanna served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts. In that role, she coordinated multi-state litigation and worked with a bipartisan team of colleagues from across the country to uphold shared values, protect civil liberties, and defend the rule of law. She also oversaw criminal enforcement, coordinating daily with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Joanna has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, was a law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and worked in nonprofit legal services in New York City. She is a graduate of Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.STEVE BULLOCK served as Montana's attorney general from 2009-2013. As attorney general, Bullock defended Montana's hundred-year ban on corporate campaign spending, gaining national prominence for leading the challenge to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.Bullock was elected Montana's 24th Governor, serving from 2013-2021. He worked with a Republican-majority legislature to improve access to health care, kick dark money out of state elections, make record investments in education, protect access to public lands, invest in infrastructure, and strengthen Montana's economy. Bullock brought diverse interests together to address challenging issues, from sage grouse and forest management to the Main Street Montana Project. Nationally, Bullock was elected Chair of the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association.Since leaving public office, Bullock has been involved with a number of corporate and nonprofit boards and organizations, as well as serving as the court-appointed Independent Monitor over Purdue Pharma.  And he opened his own taphouse.FRANCISCO “CISCO” AGUILAR was elected as Nevada Secretary of State in 2022 and assumed office on January 2, 2023. Prior to being elected, Secretary Aguilar served twelve years as General Counsel for Agassi Graf, the management company for Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. In this role, he was responsible for communications and media, marketing and brand management, strategic partnerships, legal and government affairs. The Secretary also served as Special Counsel to the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Jim Rogers, and as a lawyer for the parent company of the Las Vegas and Reno NBC affiliates, KSNV Channel 3 and KRNV Channel 4, and 15 other NBC affiliates. Secretary Aguilar is the Founding Chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Cristo Rey serves students in one of Las Vegas' most vulnerable neighborhoods, and provides an innovative work-study program designed to prepare them for future careers.MODERATORSAMANTHA BEE received global recognition from the success of her weekly late-night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which was nominated for 70 awards and ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee also served as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show Bee from 2003-2015. She is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am, But What Are You? and has been featured in TIME 100: The Most Influential People. She is also the host of Lemonada Media's podcast Choice Words. YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

In a democracy, we resolve political disagreements through elections rather than through physical force. Political violence is a threat to democratic societies – but it can also be connected to a complex range of other political and social problems, including corruption, polarization, social division, and limitations on free speech. These are not easy problems to solve, but the United States can learn from international examples – both about what can go wrong in democracies, and also how structural reforms can help to discourage violence and other forms of extremism. Rachel Kleinfeld is a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. She is an expert on how democracies can improve, particularly in countries facing polarization, violence, and corruption. She has written three books, contributes regularly to major media outlets, and often briefs the US government and allied democracies on issues at the intersection of democracy, security, and the rule of law. Kleinfeld serves on the boards of the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, and States United Democracy Center, and on the advisory board of Protect Democracy. https://carnegieendowment.org/people/rachel-kleinfeld?lang=en https://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_kleinfeld_a_path_to_security_for_the_world_s_deadliest_countries/transcript?subtitle=en

Democracy should work for everyone. Christine Todd Whitman explains how political parties are more concerned with maintaining power than solving problems for everyday people. She discusses the factors underlying American political dysfunction, including the growth of political parties, noncompetitive districts, and money in politics. Christine Todd Whitman is president of Whitman Strategy Group. She served as the 50th and first woman governor of New Jersey and as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency during George W. Bush's presidency. She is the author of It's My Party Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America. In addition to cochairing several organizations, including the States United Democracy Center and the Forward Party, she is a Kettering Foundation senior fellow. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294063/its-my-party-too-by-christine-todd-whitman/

As today's guest, CEO of the States United Democracy Center and States United Action, Joanna Lydgate says, “The battle for democracy begins before a single ballot is cast and continues long after the polls close on election day.” We keep repeating it, but the truth is, the American election system itself is under attack. There are anti-democratic forces working hard across the country not to win elections, but to limit the vote. To interfere with election administration and officials, and to spread lies and chaos around voting. It's a tactic, and it works. Join the conversation so you can not only understand what's happening, but so you're able to fight back.   As always, if you find worth in what we do, please consider SUBSCRIBING to PoliticsGirl Premium. You'll get this podcast ad free, along with a bunch of other perks, like the rants directly to your inbox and the knowledge that you're making this kind of highly researched, factual information possible. If that interests you, please go to https://www.politicsgirl.com/premium and subscribe today!! Thank you so much! xoPG Guest social: https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/ https://electiondeniers.org/ https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/our-team/joanna-lydgate/ Twitter: @JLydgate @statesunited @SUAction As always, please RATE and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue, and inspire change moving forward!   All show links here!: https://linktr.ee/politicsgirl   This episode is sponsored by… https://rocketmoney.com/politicsgirl https://smalls.com/politicsgirl https://marleyspoon.com/offer/politicsgirl https://3dayblinds.com/politicsgirl

In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Governor Christine Todd Whitman about how politics has changed, the impact of the 2024 Election, and the future of American democracy. Bio- https://www.christiewhitman.com/ Book- https://www.amazon.com/Its-My-Party-Too-America-ebook/dp/B000OCXHKO?ref_=ast_author_mpb Forward Party- https://www.forwardparty.com/ States United Democracy Center- https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/ Twitter- https://x.com/GovCTW Support Roots of Reality on Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=65707335 Follow Roots of Reality on Substack: rootsofreality.com/substack/ Subscribe for email notifications- rootsofreality.com/podcast/ If you like the podcast, leave a review at: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/root…ty/id1466338710 Follow Roots of Reality on Social Media: Facebook- facebook.com/RootsofReality Twitter- twitter.com/_RootsofReality Instagram- instagram.com/rootsofreality/?hl=en YouTube- youtube.com/channel/UCvmG6sKFW9…isable_polymer=true (Views and memories stated by guests in interviews do not represent Roots of Reality)

I can't think of a better guest for today's episode than my good friend Norm Eisen. And when I say good friend, I mean it. This man believed in me when many did not. He has encouraged me since the beginning of this journey to take a stand and continue to tell the truth… which makes perfect sense because Norm is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and an expert on law, ethics, and anti-corruption. He was also President Obama's “Ethics Czar” and Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Eisen's reports and articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have definitively made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represent a clear and present danger to democracy. Eisen is a regular Legal Analyst on CNN and the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Few have Eisen's understanding of Trump's legal trials and travails. If you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to https://lumen.me/COHEN to get 15% off your Lumen today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Priorities podcast, two election experts — Ted Allen, a professor at Ohio State University, and Victoria Bassetti, senior adviser at States United Democracy Center — join us to discuss voting as we head into the 2024 election season. With the U.S. 2024 presidential election 8 months away, this episode addresses how state and local governments are preparing for the upcoming election in their states, including election security, voting administration and recent legislation that's had an impact on election officials and poll workers nationwide.

We welcome back our great friend, Norm Eisen. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst and the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. He's also the former Obama Ethics Czar and Ambassador to the Czech Republic. I'm looking forward to Norm's take on the election and all of Trump's legal woes. Get 20% off your order at tommyjohn.com/cohen Save 20% on Second Skin at tommyjohn.com/cohen See site for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 11, 2024New Poll Shows the Lowest Satisfaction with American Democracy in 40 YearsWith 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.Our podcasting host recently made changes which stops us from including our entire script as part of the podcast content.  To view the whole script, please go to our website and find today's report.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:  Gallup - Record Low in U.S. Satisfied With Way Democracy Is WorkingThe Hill - American satisfaction with democracy at record low: GallupPew Research Center - (2023) Public Trust in Government: 1958-2023CNN - (2023) Americans are broadly unsatisfied with the state of things in the US, poll findsGroups Taking Action:Protect Democracy, Public Citizen, League of Women Voters US, States United Democracy Center, Declaration for American DemocracyPlease follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #GallupPoll #VoterConfidence  #AmericanDemocracy

Christine Todd Whitman is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the States United Democracy Center and the former Governor of New Jersey. She joins Tavis to explore her career in government and the current state of US politics.

Norm Eisen is back with us today to unpack the repercussions of Mark Meadows testimony against Donald Trump along with a slew of recent defectors from Sidney Powell to Jenna Ellis. Each one of these is a body blow to Trump's weakening defense. But Meadows could put the smoking gun in his hand. If you happen to be tuning in for the first time, Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst and the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. The former Obama Ethics Czar and Ambassador to the Czech Republic joins us today to get to the heart of what's going on. 

Norm Eisen is back with us today to unpack the Ergonon ruling and what it means for Donald Trump. If you happen to be tuning in for the first time, Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst and the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. The former Obama Ethics Czar and Ambassador to the Czech Republic joins us today to get to the heart of what's going on. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst. And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. His latest work of art is a model prosecution memo that came just days before Trump received his target letter that lays out the case against him in startling clarity. Eisen writes that “the memo builds on the work that has been done by the Jan. 6 Committee and many others but is the first comprehensive application of the law to the facts to establish that DOJ standards for bringing charges are met. We offer an in-depth look at the vast factual record through prosecutorial eyes to describe a relatively simple three-part theory of the case that prosecutors can try to verdict in a year or less.” It's that three-part theory that Norm is going to break down for us today. Settle in folks and get educated, you're about to get a masterclass in how to bring down Donald Trump. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst. And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center” a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. His articles for the Brookings Institute and elsewhere have made the case for why Trump and his band of criminal conspiracists represented a clear and present danger to democracy. His latest piece for MSNBC lays out how Jack Smith can defeat Trump and put him behind bars. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Having spent time in Eastern Europe as the Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Eisen cares deeply about the region and is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended. But today it's all indictment talk. And Norm is ready to put the bracelets on little Donny for good. 

Election Denier Updates: AZ Gubernatorial Candidate Kari Lake Loses Election Challenge; Shasta County CA Commissioner Recall Moves Forward Today's Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) Today's Links now below the scriptYou're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.We have updates on stories we've been following, including Arizona candidate Kari Lake's election challenge, and Shasta County, California's decision to hand count ballots.First to Arizona, where Monday, the remaining claim in Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake's lawsuit challenging her loss has finally been dismissed.  Lake, who disputed the 2020 Presidential election then her own 2022 election,  contended that signatures on mail-in ballots weren't properly verified, a claim for which the judge said she had provided no credible evidence that violated the law.  Lake lost the election to Gov. Katie Hobbs by over 17,000 votes.  It's unclear whether Lake will appeal.Last week, a recall of Shasta County, California Commissioner Kevin Crye moved forward, with approval of the recall petition language.   KRCR reports that a citizens group now must collect over 4100 signatures to put the recall on the November ballot.  Crye is allied with MyPillow CEO and election denier Mike Lindell.Crye and the conservative majority of the Shasta County Commission voted in March to replace existing Dominion Voting Systems tabulators with a system to hand-count ballots, at a cost of almost $1 Million dollars.   Shasta County has 111,000 registered voters, and hand counting is expected to take over a week and cost the county tens of thousands more in labor costs.   We have more on these stories and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I'm Brian Beihl.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:Courthouse News Service - Kari Lake loses election challengeDemocracy Docket - Arizona Judge Issues Final Blow to Kari Lake's Six-Month Election ContestNBC News - (2022) Arizona Governor's Race ResultsKRCR - A look inside Shasta County's voting change; what state, local officials are sayingKRCR - Petition to recall Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye passes review "with flying colors"Sacramento Bee - In Shasta County, moderate Republicans and union organizers push back on ‘far-right extremism'Groups Taking Action:Common Cause Arizona, States United Democracy Center, Recall Kevin Crye,  United Public Employees of CaliforniaPlease follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgGet ADM Radio Report email!  Sign up here!#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionDeniers

Mea Culpa welcomes Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There's nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his strict anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended. So, let's go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Michael and Morm really dug into the indictment and all the other Trump cases on the horizon.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended. Michael and Norm dig into Trumps legal woes for and possible upcoming indictments.

Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: NEVADA CURRENT:Get insurance while the gettin' is goodOpen enrollment for health insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act in Nevada, and nationwide for that matter, ends on Jan 15. It's anticipated to be the largest enrollment in the state's history.Across the U.S. nearly three in four people enrolled through the marketplace receive health care coverage that's subsidized — the highest rate since the ACA was implemented.A Biden administration spokesperson said “Nevada Health Link had a record-setting enrollment last year and with the expanded help of the Inflation Reduction Act, and we look forward to even more Nevadans finding quality, affordable health care for 2023,”  In 2022, enrollment hit record highs nationally and in Nevada, when 101,411 people signed up for coverage during open enrollment in the state, aided by subsidy enhancements in the American Rescue Plan Act. Those savings amount to an average of $4,494 for a middle-class family of four in Nevada.“The more enrolled we see, the healthier Nevada is,” said Katie Charleson, the communications officer at Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.But while more people are getting access to health care than ever before, systemic barriers are still making it harder for some populations to get coverage. Americans who have a high school education or less, are Hispanic, live in rural areas, or lack internet access at home are disproportionately underrepresented in the subsidized marketplace plans despite being eligible, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.For individuals who get enrolled in January, your coverage will begin February 1st, go to healthcare.gov to get insured. SOURCE NM:Congress green-lights NM plan to further tap the land grant fund for public educationA few lines in the 4,000-page budget bill recently signed by President Biden will mean hundreds of millions more in funding for New Mexico's public school students each year. Last year, voters in N.M. overwhelmingly approved pulling an additional 1.25% from the state's multi-billion dollar Land Grant Permanent Fund, for education, each year. But because the fund was initially set up by Congress back when New Mexico first became a state, the shift in funds required Congress to sign off.In the next fiscal year in New Mexico, over $200 million will be disbursed out of a pool of money that's fed by revenue from oil, gas and mineral extraction on state-owned lands. Over half of the funds are destined for the state's early childhood education system, as it hires more staff and works to reach all corners of the state, providing free or low-cost child care and pre-kindergarten schooling.  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said “When we improve our education and child care system, we also make our state a better place to raise a family, to start or expand a business, to find a good-paying job, and to hire the best and brightest employees,”The rest of the fresh funding will go to K-12 public education, beefing up instruction for students who are at-risk, making the school year longer and paying teachers better.Advocates say infusing public education with much-needed resources will go a long way toward putting New Mexico into compliance with a court order to provide equitable education to all of the state's students, including those who are Indigenous, come from families with low incomes, have disabilities, or who are learning English.  according to the judge's ruling in the Yazzie-Martinez case, Those students have historically not received the quality of education they have a right to under the New Mexico ConstitutionThe effort to further tap the oil and gas funds for public schools in New Mexico has spanned years. With President Biden's approval, it will finally cross the finish line.COLORADO NEWSLINE:Trump attorney Jenna Ellis of Colorado under investigation for alleged misconduct.Jenna Ellis, the Colorado attorney who represented former President Donald Trump as he tried to overturn the 2020 election, is under investigation by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.Ellis has been the target of formal complaints regarding what critics characterized as her professional misconduct connected to Trump's effort to reverse the results of a free and fair election. In May a complaint from the States United Democracy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, asked Colorado Attorney Regulation Counsel Jessica Yates to investigate Ellis for multiple alleged violations of professional rules and impose possible “substantial professional discipline.”In the final report of the U.S. House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, Ellis is described as the deputy to Trump campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani, The complaint says “Ellis made numerous public misrepresentations alleging fraud in the election — even as federal and state election officials repeatedly found that no fraud had occurred that could have altered the outcome and even as Mr. Trump and his allies brought and lost over 60 lawsuits claiming election fraud or illegality.”Among the many alleged instances of misconduct the complaint cites, it notes that Ellis urged lawmakers in various swing states to intervene on Trump's behalf and even certify false electors for Trump, and it says she drafted dishonest memos purporting to give legal rationale for then-Vice President Mike Pence to block the congressional electoral count on Jan. 6, 2021. In a deposition Ellis gave to the Jan. 6 committee in March, a transcript of which the committee released this week, she indicates that Colorado is the only state where she has bar membership. During the deposition a questioner referred to a $22,500 invoice Ellis submitted to Trump for work she performed in December 2020 and January 2021. Ellis invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer whether she received payment.CHALKBEAT COLORADO:How to fund Colorado schools in ways that reflect student needs. How to open college opportunities to more students. How to narrow pandemic learning gaps, especially in math.When Colorado lawmakers convene Jan. 9, they'll have pressing education issues to address, competing needs to balance, and a tricky budget to navigate.Expect bills that seek to address youth mental health, school safety, and teacher shortages. Lawmakers could find bipartisan agreement on efforts to improve math instruction and better connect higher education and job opportunities. But debates over rewriting the school finance formula and overhauling the school accountability system could divide Democrats.For a fifth session, Democrats will control both chambers and the governor's office. They grew their majorities in November's election. The Colorado General Assembly will be full of new members, many from the progressive wing of the party, potentially introducing new political dynamics.At the same time, lawmakers with a long history of engagement on education issues have moved into leadership positions. Members of a special committee on school finance, for example, now lead the House Democrats, the Senate Republicans, and the powerful Joint Budget Committee. The House Education Committee has at least four former teachers, a former school board member, and members with experience in mental health and higher education administration.Colorado economists expect the state to have more money in its 2023-24 budget, but inflation will play an outsize role controlling spending. And the risk of a recession could diminish revenue. Questions of short-term uncertainty and long-term sustainability will affect K-12 and higher education.Here are seven issues we'll be watching in the 2023 legislative session:Is this the year? The interim committee on school finance has been trying for five years to rewrite a decades-old school finance formula that nearly everyone agrees is unfair.The current formula sometimes sends more money to well-off districts than to ones serving more students in poverty, and no school district wants to get less than they get now. Bret Miles, head of the Colorado Association of School Executives, said his members would object to a formula rewrite that “takes from one school district to give it to another.”State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, chair of the Joint Budget Committee, said one of her priorities will be developing a “hold-harmless” provision for the new formula. Fewer students and higher local property tax revenues take some pressure off state education funding obligations. Lawmakers could use that cushion, she said, then phase in a new formula to ensure no district gets less than it does now.Brenda Dickhoner, president and CEO of the conservative education advocacy group Ready Colorado, expects Republicans to push their own priorities for school finance, which means more focus on money following students and less concern for the impact on district budgets.Dickhoner said she hopes all sides are “at the table thinking about how we can more equitably fund our students and really get to a student-focused formula.”State and national test data show that students' math skills took a bigger hit from pandemic learning disruptions than did reading. Right now, Colorado doesn't have the tools to address it.House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan said she's working with Gov. Jared Polis' office on legislation that would better train teachers on best practices in math instruction and make training available to parents so they can better support their children.In his November budget letter, Polis called on lawmakers to ensure that every school district adopts high-quality instructional materials and training and gets all students back on track in math.How to improve math skills also remains a priority for conservatives. Dickhoner said her organization is looking to higher-performing states for ideas.The push comes after years of intense focus on improving reading scores. Expect the debate over the math bills to mirror ones about reading instruction, including how much the state should be involved in setting curriculum.Last year Colorado flirted with fully funding its K-12 system after years of holding back money for other budget priorities. But a last-minute deal to reduce property tax increases would have reduced state revenues, and Democrat lawmakers held back.Getting more funding for schools is always a top priority for the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, but wiping out the withholding known as the budget stabilization factor and fully funding Colorado schools are unlikely to happen this year.Colorado will have less money overall after voters approved two ballot measures — one lowering the income tax rate and the other setting aside money for affordable housing. That shouldn't cut into budgetary spending, but will reduce the buffer the state has in case of an emergency.Zenzinger said it's important to increase K-12 spending and that lawmakers hope to do better than the $9.1 billion proposed by Polis in his budget recommendation.But budget writers also have their eye on long-term sustainability and any future recession.The picture is different for higher education, which has to fight for scraps. Polis wants to increase university budgets and financial aid by 6.8%. Schools are expected to make a case for more funding, especially to keep tuition low and because inflation exceeds that.Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson said the school will seek more investment from lawmakers. Programs to help students from low-income backgrounds or who are the first to go to college in their family are costly, she said. And the state funds schools with a lower share than it did 30 years ago.Lawmakers also may address how to ensure students can get to and stay in college.Elaine Berman, Colorado Trustees Network chair, said college board members want more support for students who need skills or credentials for in-demand jobs. School trustees want more funds to build partnerships with businesses and communities to better connect college degrees to jobs, she said.Lawmakers also may explore how to make it easier for students to get college and workforce skills earlier, including extending opportunities in college and vocational schools.The Colorado Community College System also wants more college options for incarcerated people. The federal government will begin to allow those students access to federal grants, and the system wants the state to prepare for the changes. It's also a priority for Representative-elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, who led Adams State University's prison education program.“I think it's time that we really boost up education for this population,” Martinez said.Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Higher Education has a small agenda starting with removing military draft questions from college enrollment applications, which colleges report stops some students from enrolling.Advocacy groups plan to ask lawmakers to make filling out the FAFSA a requirement to graduate. That's the federal application for financial aid, and each year Colorado students who don't finish the form leave behind almost $30 million in federal grants. Plus students who fill out the FAFSA are more likely to go to college, according to research.“We want to make sure that we get it right,” said Kyra DeGruy Kennedy, Rocky Mountain region director for the advocacy group Young Invincibles. “And so if that means we have to wait another year, we'll totally wait another year, but we are hopeful that this is a year that we'll be able to make some progress on it.”The top priority of CASE, the school executives group, is convening a task force to consider changes to the school accountability system. They will press this even though a recent audit found that the system is largely “reasonable and appropriate” and that most schools receiving state intervention improve.Miles said the system still hurts school districts that receive low ratings called turnaround and priority improvement, even if the intentions are good.“It's terrific that they make a difference,” he said of the state teams that work with schools with low test scores. “It doesn't change the fact that it's harder to hire in a turnaround school than a performance school” — the schools that meet state academic goals.Jen Walmer, state director of Democrats for Education Reform, said she expects any reform to be contentious, with debate about the makeup of the task force and the scope of its work — as well as whether Colorado needs a change at all.ARIZONA MIRROR:Katie Hobbs officially became Arizona's governor on Monday, ushering in a new set of priorities and vision for the state and setting the stage for contentious battles with the GOP-controlled legislature.She was administered the oath of office by Roopali Desai, a friend and former attorney who became a federal judge in 2022. Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel administered the oaths of office for Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Democratic Attorney General Kris MayesThe ascension of Hobbs to governor and the victories of Fontes and Mayes marks the first time since 1975 that Democrats have controlled the top three statewide posts. With it comes a new approach to governing that was immediately on display.Just hours after taking the oath of office, Hobbs issued an executive order prohibiting employment discrimination in state agencies and requiring them to adopt anti-discrimination policies. By contrast, when Ducey assumed office in 2015, his first action was an executive order aimed at making it more difficult for state agencies to create regulations.Hobbs campaigned on protecting abortion rights, funding public schools and making permanent programs like a child tax credit that would disproportionately benefit low- and middle-income families. “Today marks a new era in Arizona, where my Administration will work to build an Arizona for everyone,” Hobbs said in a written statement after being sworn in. “It's time for bold action and I feel ready as ever to get the job done. Let's get to work.”A public inauguration ceremony will be held at the state Capitol on Jan. 5.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK:Colter Wall, playing the Mission Ballroom in Denver, two nights, Thursday and Friday January 19th and 20th. Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and raises cattle. He sings traditionals known to most, historic reverie, and poignant originals, sure to be raising both goosebumps and beers throughout the evening.His tour kicks off a month-long tour with 3 dates in Ft Worth and New Braunfels Texas next week, then  Denver, Tulsa, OKC, St Louis, Memphis, Fayetteville AR, back to Dallas and finishing in Houston on Friday February 18. Colterwall.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Nevada Current, Colorado Newsline, Source NM, Chalkbeat Colorado, Arizona Mirror and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: NEVADA CURRENT:Get insurance while the gettin' is goodOpen enrollment for health insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act in Nevada, and nationwide for that matter, ends on Jan 15. It's anticipated to be the largest enrollment in the state's history.Across the U.S. nearly three in four people enrolled through the marketplace receive health care coverage that's subsidized — the highest rate since the ACA was implemented.A Biden administration spokesperson said “Nevada Health Link had a record-setting enrollment last year and with the expanded help of the Inflation Reduction Act, and we look forward to even more Nevadans finding quality, affordable health care for 2023,”  In 2022, enrollment hit record highs nationally and in Nevada, when 101,411 people signed up for coverage during open enrollment in the state, aided by subsidy enhancements in the American Rescue Plan Act. Those savings amount to an average of $4,494 for a middle-class family of four in Nevada.“The more enrolled we see, the healthier Nevada is,” said Katie Charleson, the communications officer at Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.But while more people are getting access to health care than ever before, systemic barriers are still making it harder for some populations to get coverage. Americans who have a high school education or less, are Hispanic, live in rural areas, or lack internet access at home are disproportionately underrepresented in the subsidized marketplace plans despite being eligible, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.For individuals who get enrolled in January, your coverage will begin February 1st, go to healthcare.gov to get insured. SOURCE NM:Congress green-lights NM plan to further tap the land grant fund for public educationA few lines in the 4,000-page budget bill recently signed by President Biden will mean hundreds of millions more in funding for New Mexico's public school students each year. Last year, voters in N.M. overwhelmingly approved pulling an additional 1.25% from the state's multi-billion dollar Land Grant Permanent Fund, for education, each year. But because the fund was initially set up by Congress back when New Mexico first became a state, the shift in funds required Congress to sign off.In the next fiscal year in New Mexico, over $200 million will be disbursed out of a pool of money that's fed by revenue from oil, gas and mineral extraction on state-owned lands. Over half of the funds are destined for the state's early childhood education system, as it hires more staff and works to reach all corners of the state, providing free or low-cost child care and pre-kindergarten schooling.  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said “When we improve our education and child care system, we also make our state a better place to raise a family, to start or expand a business, to find a good-paying job, and to hire the best and brightest employees,”The rest of the fresh funding will go to K-12 public education, beefing up instruction for students who are at-risk, making the school year longer and paying teachers better.Advocates say infusing public education with much-needed resources will go a long way toward putting New Mexico into compliance with a court order to provide equitable education to all of the state's students, including those who are Indigenous, come from families with low incomes, have disabilities, or who are learning English.  according to the judge's ruling in the Yazzie-Martinez case, Those students have historically not received the quality of education they have a right to under the New Mexico ConstitutionThe effort to further tap the oil and gas funds for public schools in New Mexico has spanned years. With President Biden's approval, it will finally cross the finish line.COLORADO NEWSLINE:Trump attorney Jenna Ellis of Colorado under investigation for alleged misconduct.Jenna Ellis, the Colorado attorney who represented former President Donald Trump as he tried to overturn the 2020 election, is under investigation by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.Ellis has been the target of formal complaints regarding what critics characterized as her professional misconduct connected to Trump's effort to reverse the results of a free and fair election. In May a complaint from the States United Democracy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, asked Colorado Attorney Regulation Counsel Jessica Yates to investigate Ellis for multiple alleged violations of professional rules and impose possible “substantial professional discipline.”In the final report of the U.S. House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, Ellis is described as the deputy to Trump campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani, The complaint says “Ellis made numerous public misrepresentations alleging fraud in the election — even as federal and state election officials repeatedly found that no fraud had occurred that could have altered the outcome and even as Mr. Trump and his allies brought and lost over 60 lawsuits claiming election fraud or illegality.”Among the many alleged instances of misconduct the complaint cites, it notes that Ellis urged lawmakers in various swing states to intervene on Trump's behalf and even certify false electors for Trump, and it says she drafted dishonest memos purporting to give legal rationale for then-Vice President Mike Pence to block the congressional electoral count on Jan. 6, 2021. In a deposition Ellis gave to the Jan. 6 committee in March, a transcript of which the committee released this week, she indicates that Colorado is the only state where she has bar membership. During the deposition a questioner referred to a $22,500 invoice Ellis submitted to Trump for work she performed in December 2020 and January 2021. Ellis invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer whether she received payment.CHALKBEAT COLORADO:How to fund Colorado schools in ways that reflect student needs. How to open college opportunities to more students. How to narrow pandemic learning gaps, especially in math.When Colorado lawmakers convene Jan. 9, they'll have pressing education issues to address, competing needs to balance, and a tricky budget to navigate.Expect bills that seek to address youth mental health, school safety, and teacher shortages. Lawmakers could find bipartisan agreement on efforts to improve math instruction and better connect higher education and job opportunities. But debates over rewriting the school finance formula and overhauling the school accountability system could divide Democrats.For a fifth session, Democrats will control both chambers and the governor's office. They grew their majorities in November's election. The Colorado General Assembly will be full of new members, many from the progressive wing of the party, potentially introducing new political dynamics.At the same time, lawmakers with a long history of engagement on education issues have moved into leadership positions. Members of a special committee on school finance, for example, now lead the House Democrats, the Senate Republicans, and the powerful Joint Budget Committee. The House Education Committee has at least four former teachers, a former school board member, and members with experience in mental health and higher education administration.Colorado economists expect the state to have more money in its 2023-24 budget, but inflation will play an outsize role controlling spending. And the risk of a recession could diminish revenue. Questions of short-term uncertainty and long-term sustainability will affect K-12 and higher education.Here are seven issues we'll be watching in the 2023 legislative session:Is this the year? The interim committee on school finance has been trying for five years to rewrite a decades-old school finance formula that nearly everyone agrees is unfair.The current formula sometimes sends more money to well-off districts than to ones serving more students in poverty, and no school district wants to get less than they get now. Bret Miles, head of the Colorado Association of School Executives, said his members would object to a formula rewrite that “takes from one school district to give it to another.”State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, chair of the Joint Budget Committee, said one of her priorities will be developing a “hold-harmless” provision for the new formula. Fewer students and higher local property tax revenues take some pressure off state education funding obligations. Lawmakers could use that cushion, she said, then phase in a new formula to ensure no district gets less than it does now.Brenda Dickhoner, president and CEO of the conservative education advocacy group Ready Colorado, expects Republicans to push their own priorities for school finance, which means more focus on money following students and less concern for the impact on district budgets.Dickhoner said she hopes all sides are “at the table thinking about how we can more equitably fund our students and really get to a student-focused formula.”State and national test data show that students' math skills took a bigger hit from pandemic learning disruptions than did reading. Right now, Colorado doesn't have the tools to address it.House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan said she's working with Gov. Jared Polis' office on legislation that would better train teachers on best practices in math instruction and make training available to parents so they can better support their children.In his November budget letter, Polis called on lawmakers to ensure that every school district adopts high-quality instructional materials and training and gets all students back on track in math.How to improve math skills also remains a priority for conservatives. Dickhoner said her organization is looking to higher-performing states for ideas.The push comes after years of intense focus on improving reading scores. Expect the debate over the math bills to mirror ones about reading instruction, including how much the state should be involved in setting curriculum.Last year Colorado flirted with fully funding its K-12 system after years of holding back money for other budget priorities. But a last-minute deal to reduce property tax increases would have reduced state revenues, and Democrat lawmakers held back.Getting more funding for schools is always a top priority for the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, but wiping out the withholding known as the budget stabilization factor and fully funding Colorado schools are unlikely to happen this year.Colorado will have less money overall after voters approved two ballot measures — one lowering the income tax rate and the other setting aside money for affordable housing. That shouldn't cut into budgetary spending, but will reduce the buffer the state has in case of an emergency.Zenzinger said it's important to increase K-12 spending and that lawmakers hope to do better than the $9.1 billion proposed by Polis in his budget recommendation.But budget writers also have their eye on long-term sustainability and any future recession.The picture is different for higher education, which has to fight for scraps. Polis wants to increase university budgets and financial aid by 6.8%. Schools are expected to make a case for more funding, especially to keep tuition low and because inflation exceeds that.Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson said the school will seek more investment from lawmakers. Programs to help students from low-income backgrounds or who are the first to go to college in their family are costly, she said. And the state funds schools with a lower share than it did 30 years ago.Lawmakers also may address how to ensure students can get to and stay in college.Elaine Berman, Colorado Trustees Network chair, said college board members want more support for students who need skills or credentials for in-demand jobs. School trustees want more funds to build partnerships with businesses and communities to better connect college degrees to jobs, she said.Lawmakers also may explore how to make it easier for students to get college and workforce skills earlier, including extending opportunities in college and vocational schools.The Colorado Community College System also wants more college options for incarcerated people. The federal government will begin to allow those students access to federal grants, and the system wants the state to prepare for the changes. It's also a priority for Representative-elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, who led Adams State University's prison education program.“I think it's time that we really boost up education for this population,” Martinez said.Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Higher Education has a small agenda starting with removing military draft questions from college enrollment applications, which colleges report stops some students from enrolling.Advocacy groups plan to ask lawmakers to make filling out the FAFSA a requirement to graduate. That's the federal application for financial aid, and each year Colorado students who don't finish the form leave behind almost $30 million in federal grants. Plus students who fill out the FAFSA are more likely to go to college, according to research.“We want to make sure that we get it right,” said Kyra DeGruy Kennedy, Rocky Mountain region director for the advocacy group Young Invincibles. “And so if that means we have to wait another year, we'll totally wait another year, but we are hopeful that this is a year that we'll be able to make some progress on it.”The top priority of CASE, the school executives group, is convening a task force to consider changes to the school accountability system. They will press this even though a recent audit found that the system is largely “reasonable and appropriate” and that most schools receiving state intervention improve.Miles said the system still hurts school districts that receive low ratings called turnaround and priority improvement, even if the intentions are good.“It's terrific that they make a difference,” he said of the state teams that work with schools with low test scores. “It doesn't change the fact that it's harder to hire in a turnaround school than a performance school” — the schools that meet state academic goals.Jen Walmer, state director of Democrats for Education Reform, said she expects any reform to be contentious, with debate about the makeup of the task force and the scope of its work — as well as whether Colorado needs a change at all.ARIZONA MIRROR:Katie Hobbs officially became Arizona's governor on Monday, ushering in a new set of priorities and vision for the state and setting the stage for contentious battles with the GOP-controlled legislature.She was administered the oath of office by Roopali Desai, a friend and former attorney who became a federal judge in 2022. Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel administered the oaths of office for Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Democratic Attorney General Kris MayesThe ascension of Hobbs to governor and the victories of Fontes and Mayes marks the first time since 1975 that Democrats have controlled the top three statewide posts. With it comes a new approach to governing that was immediately on display.Just hours after taking the oath of office, Hobbs issued an executive order prohibiting employment discrimination in state agencies and requiring them to adopt anti-discrimination policies. By contrast, when Ducey assumed office in 2015, his first action was an executive order aimed at making it more difficult for state agencies to create regulations.Hobbs campaigned on protecting abortion rights, funding public schools and making permanent programs like a child tax credit that would disproportionately benefit low- and middle-income families. “Today marks a new era in Arizona, where my Administration will work to build an Arizona for everyone,” Hobbs said in a written statement after being sworn in. “It's time for bold action and I feel ready as ever to get the job done. Let's get to work.”A public inauguration ceremony will be held at the state Capitol on Jan. 5.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK:Colter Wall, playing the Mission Ballroom in Denver, two nights, Thursday and Friday January 19th and 20th. Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and raises cattle. He sings traditionals known to most, historic reverie, and poignant originals, sure to be raising both goosebumps and beers throughout the evening.His tour kicks off a month-long tour with 3 dates in Ft Worth and New Braunfels Texas next week, then  Denver, Tulsa, OKC, St Louis, Memphis, Fayetteville AR, back to Dallas and finishing in Houston on Friday February 18. Colterwall.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Nevada Current, Colorado Newsline, Source NM, Chalkbeat Colorado, Arizona Mirror and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended. So, let's go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Michael and Norm dig into Trump's legal woes and what the upcoming year in politics will look like. 

With hundreds of elections deniers running in the midterms, democracy is on the ballot this fall. The team at the States United Democracy Center is at the forefront of efforts to ensure free, fair, and secure elections in 2022, 2024, and beyond. Cofounders Norman Eisen, Joanna Lydgate, and Christine Todd Whitman join us this week to talk about how they're doing it in states across the country and how everyone can support their efforts.Through legal, policy, and communications work, States United is fighting back empowering state leaders as they defend elections. These officials are the frontline champions in the battle for our democracy. Governors help enshrine voter protection into law, and attorneys general defend those laws—along with election results. Secretaries of state oversee elections, and law enforcement leaders make sure they are safe and free from violence. States United's mission is to bring these leaders together to protect elections, prevent political violence, fight disinformation, and pursue accountability for those who step outside the bounds of our democracy.Eisen is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and special counsel to the White House for ethics and government reform. Lydgate is the former chief deputy attorney general of Massachusetts. Whitman is the former governor of New Jersey and Environmental Protection Agency administrator in the George W. Bush administration. They are the recipients of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy's 2022 Brown Democracy Medal.States United Democracy CenterStates United: A Survival Guide for Our Democracy - Eisen, Lydgate, and Whitman's book written as part of receiving the Brown Democracy MedalAdditional InformationDemocracy Works PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Midterm voting ended on Tuesday, and results are still rolling in from some states. What do the results we already have mean for American politics at large? NPR's Ron Elving and Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer join us to discuss what it all means. Then, abortion has been a hot-button issue seemingly forever, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion legislation up to individual states. Vermont, California, Michigan, Montana and Kentucky all had abortion rights on the ballot this midterm, and NPR's Sarah McCammon has been tracking the results. She joins us. And, more than 300 election deniers — people who believe falsehoods about election fraud in 2020 or do not accept that former President Donald Trump lost the election — appeared on ballots across the country. Some won their races, some lost and Joanna Lydgate, president of the non-profit States United Democracy Center, joins us to unpack what that means.

In today's episode, we go over the general election here in Larimer County, Colorado, and Estes Park.I bring on special guest Rupa Bhattacharyya, who is Special Litigation Counsel at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP), to speak about the guidance and resources that ICAP has put out leading up to our midterm elections. These fact sheets go over a broad range of timely election-related topics, from voter intimidation and unauthorized paramilitary activity to video recording at polling places and law enforcement's role in ensuring safe voter participation, and more. Please find links to all their guidance here and below;ICAP has partnered with the following organizations the States United Democracy Center, Crime and Justice Institute, and 21CP Solutions, for their collaboration on several of these guidance documents.* Fact sheets for all 50 states explaining the laws barring unauthorized private militia groups and what to do if groups of armed individuals are near a polling place or voter registration drive* Fact sheet on voter intimidation laws, what kinds of conduct could constitute voter intimidation, and what to do if you experience voter intimidation* Guidance outlining actions election officials can take to address and prevent voter intimidation, including by armed individuals or groups* Guidance on law enforcement's role in ensuring safe voter participation at the polls* Guidance on the authority of state government to regulate poll observer conduct* Guidance on managing vehicular protests during election season* Fact sheet on the “constitutional sheriffs” movement and the limits on sheriffs' authority to involve themselves in election administration* Fact sheet on video recording in or near polling places* Guidance for election, law enforcement, and public safety officials to mitigate the threat of political violence throughout an election period.* Fact sheet—in response to the increase in threats against public officials and private individuals whose jobs involve election integrity or tabulating and certifying the vote—making clear, with legal support, that threats and incitement to violence are not protected by the First Amendment and violate a number of federal and state criminal laws* Un recurso, en español, sobre protección contra la intimidación de votantes* Guidance for law enforcement about how to protect election staff and ballots during the vote-counting period while also protecting First Amendment rights during public demonstrationsImmediately before joining the Institute, Rupa served as the Special Master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which is administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and compensates those who suffered personal injuries or died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the rescue and recovery efforts undertaken in their aftermath. In 2019, Rupa was awarded DOJ's Civil Division's Michael F. Hertz Memorial Award for Exceptional Professionalism & Outstanding Performance, and in 2020 she was awarded the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service. She is a 2022 Finalist for the Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Service to America Medal, awarded annually by the Partnership for Public Service.Rupa joined DOJ's Civil Division in 1996 through the Attorney General's Honors Program, where she defended federal government agencies and employees in claims arising under the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and other federal statutes. In August 2008, Rupa accepted a Senior Executive Service position as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for International Affairs at the Department of the Treasury. In that capacity, Rupa supervised a team of attorneys handling legal activities relating to a broad range of international economic, financial, and regulatory matters, and in 2012, received an Exceptional Service Award from the Secretary of the Treasury.In April 2012, Rupa returned to DOJ as a Director in the Torts Branch, with oversight over the Office of Constitutional and Specialized Tort Litigation. In that capacity, she managed the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Program, as well as litigators on the Constitutional Torts staff. She was appointed by the Attorney General to serve as the VCF's Special Master in July 2016.Prior to federal service, Rupa served as a law clerk for the Honorable Julia Smith Gibbons, then of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and now of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Rupa graduated from Harvard Law School and has a Master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Her undergraduate degree is from Tulane University in her hometown of New Orleans.I also mention the special live show I was a part of last week in LA with the Mea Culpa podcast, their first-ever LIVE SHOW recorded at the El Rey Theatre on November 1st, 2022. With comedian, actress, and activist Kathy Griffin. Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy winner who's been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 23 televised stand-up specials!!! Griffin has been twice on the New York Times best-seller list and performed for sold-out crowds around the globe. Also joining Michael is Harry Litman, the former US Attorney, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR, MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. To round out our top-shelf lineup is the former national media director for the Oath Keepers, Jason Van Tatenhove. Van Tatenhove testified before the January 6th Committee and is the author of the upcoming book, “The Perils of Extremism …How I Left the Oath Keepers and Why We Should be Concerned about a Future Civil War”. Van Tatenhove has been instrumental in helping the country understand more about the inner workings of extremist para-military groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, and he's currently hosting his own podcast and writing weekly articles for the Colorado Switchblade. This panel of excellent guests discusses everything from being canceled to what to expect from the midterms. This special episode is hilarious and off the cuff. Enjoy!You can listen to them by clicking the below links:Today's post is sponsored by: Get full access to The Colorado Switchblade at www.coloradoswitchblade.com/subscribe

With hundreds of elections deniers running in the midterms, democracy is on the ballot this fall. The team at the States United Democracy Center is at the forefront of efforts to ensure free, fair, and secure elections in 2022, 2024, and beyond. Cofounders Norman Eisen, Joanna Lydgate, and Christine Todd Whitman join us this week to talk about how they're doing it in states across the country and how everyone can support their efforts.Through legal, policy, and communications work, States United is fighting back empowering state leaders as they defend elections. These officials are the frontline champions in the battle for our democracy. Governors help enshrine voter protection into law, and attorneys general defend those laws—along with election results. Secretaries of state oversee elections, and law enforcement leaders make sure they are safe and free from violence. States United's mission is to bring these leaders together to protect elections, prevent political violence, fight disinformation, and pursue accountability for those who step outside the bounds of our democracy.Eisen is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Special Counsel to the White House for Ethics and Government Reform. Lydgate is the former  Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts. Whitman is the former Governor of New Jersey and was the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator in the George W. Bush administration. They are the recipients of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy's 2022 Brown Democracy Medal.States United Democracy CenterStates United: A Survival Guide for Our Democracy - Eisen, Lydgate, and Whitman's book written as part of receiving the Brown Democracy Medal

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show our good friend, Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that he doesn't have an opinion about. His recent book, "Overcoming Trumpery” is a great read, especially as we get into the midterms and watch Republican candidates try to mimic Trumpian tactics to get elected. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics and government reform. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and his cronies broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and progress now and hopefully post Putin's war. As we always say, Eisen is a witness to history. Michael and Norm dig deep into the upcoming midterms, the rise of antisemitism, and Trump's legal woes.

In today's episode, we go over a new fact sheet on the topic of ‘constitutional sheriffs.' This fact sheet put out by States United Democracy Center and Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection does one of the best jobs I have come across when it comes to breaking down what the current myths and conspiracy theories surrounding the rise of the ‘Constitutional Sheriffs' movement which has notably been taking root in areas throughout our nation including Texas and the Pacific Northwest. With the midterm elections just two short weeks away and the advent of suspected voter intimidation already popping up in areas, I thought it was essential to help get this information out there. In the information, they answer the questions: What is the “Constitutional Sheriffs” movement?Is it true that Sheriffs are the highest law of the land, answerable only to the U.S. Constitution?Do Sheriffs have the authority to oversee the administration of elections?Do Sheriffs have the authority to investigate election fraud?Can Sheriffs deputize private citizens to assist in election fraud investigations?Can Sheriffs obtain voter information in their jurisdictions?If a Sheriff is not responsible for investigating election fraud, then who is?What do I do if I think a county Sheriff is acting outside his or her authority?What is a Sheriff, and how is a Sheriff different from a police chief?What are the duties of a Sheriff?Who can remove a Sheriff?You can find the fact sheet I read in the episode by following this link.I would like to thank the folks over at George Town Law's ICAP for giving me permission to go over and use this fact sheet. If you are in the LA area the Tuesday after Halloween and would like to see me speak live with Michael Cohen on a live special edition of his Mea Culpa Podcast at the El Ray Theater, you can get your tickets by clicking on the banner below! https://bit.ly/MeaCulpaLiveToday's post is sponsored by: Get full access to The Colorado Switchblade at www.coloradoswitchblade.com/subscribe

Mea Cupla is honored to welcome back our friend, Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that he doesn't have an opinion about. His latest book, "Overcoming Trumpery” is a great read, especially as we gear up for the midterms and watch Republican candidates try to mimic Trumpian tactics to get elected. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics and government reform. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and his cronies broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. From exposing Trump's potential crimes in Georgia — to suing the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, Eisen is a witness to history. So, let's go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Micheal and Norm dig heavily into the newly released Justice Department's heavily redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mea Cupla is honored to welcome back our friend, Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that he doesn't have an opinion about. His latest book, "Overcoming Trumpery” is a great read, especially as we gear up for the midterms and watch Republican candidates try to mimic Trumpian tactics to get elected. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics and government reform. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and his cronies broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. From exposing Trump's potential crimes in Georgia — to suing the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, Eisen is a witness to history. So, let's go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Micheal and Norm dig heavily into the newly released Justice Department's heavily redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Village SquareCast, we're thrilled to introduce you to one of our besties in the saving democracy space. Corey Nathan, host of Talkin' Politics and Religion without Killin' Each Other, is committed to taking some airspace back from the screamers who feed off our divisions. He says politics and religion are too important to be left only to the extremes, so he hosts engaging, provocative and fun conversations about the most pressing issues of our times. We're sharing an episode of Talkin' Politics and Religion in our feed because we think you'll be hooked just like we are (you're welcome).  We selected an episode featuring Christine Todd Whitman, the former Governor of New Jersey.  Hear it straight from Corey about why you should tune in: "In this conversation with Christine Todd Whitman, the former Governor (of the best state in the union!) and Cabinet Member, we talk about how she started her career in politics by going around the country and actually listening to people. Imagine that! We also discussed how she was able to achieve bipartisan collaboration during her 2 terms as governor of New Jersey; an assessment of how the Biden Administration is doing on climate initiatives; other achievable actions that can have a positive effect on the environment; what she's doing to resist the danger posed by candidates who are brazenly anti-democracy; the encouraging work of States United Democracy Center - "more than a think tank... an action tank"; a sober warning about current governors who are deploying the tactics of dictators; her experience with Donald Trump back when he was screwing over small contractors who built his casinos in New Jersey; and we even get to talk about religion! Christine Todd Whitman is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the States United Democracy Center and she is the President of The Whitman Strategy Group. Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and was the 50th Governor of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor. Governor Whitman also serves a number of non-profit organizations including as Chairman of the American Security Project, Vice-Chairman of the Trustees of the Eisenhower Fellowships and Advisor on Renew America Movement. Among quite a few other non-profits and causes, she was co-chair of the Commission on the Rule of Law and Democracy at the Brennan Center at New York University. Also during the 2020 election cycle she served as Chair of Republicans and Independents for Biden. And on top of all of that, she is the author of a New York Times best seller called It's My Party Too: Taking Back the Republican Party... And Bringing the Country Together Again." Village SquareCast is part of The Democracy Group. Check out one of our fellow network podcasts here:  Democracy Works

In this conversation with Christine Todd Whitman, the former Governor (of the best state in the union!) and Cabinet Member, we talk about how she started her career in politics by going around the country and actually listening to people. Imagine that! We also discussed how she was able to achieve bipartisan collaboration during her 2 terms as governor of New Jersey; an assessment of how the Biden Administration is doing on climate initiatives; other achievable actions that can have a positive effect on the environment; what she's doing to resist the danger posed by candidates who are brazenly anti-democracy; the encouraging work of States United Democracy Center - "more than a think tank... an action tank"; a sober warning about current governors who are deploying the tactics of dictators; her experience with Donald Trump back when he was screwing over small contractors who built his casinos in New Jersey; and we even get to talk about religion! Christine Todd Whitman is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the States United Democracy Center and she is the President of The Whitman Strategy Group. Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and was the 50th Governor of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor. Governor Whitman also serves a number of non-profit organizations including as Chairman of the American Security Project, Vice-Chairman of the Trustees of the Eisenhower Fellowships and Advisor on Renew America Movement. Among quite a few other non-profits and causes, she was co-chair of the Commission on the Rule of Law and Democracy at the Brennan Center at New York University. Also during the 2020 election cycle she served as Chair of Republicans and Independents for Biden. And on top of all of that, she is the author of a New York Times best seller called It's My Party Too: Taking Back the Republican Party... And Bringing the Country Together Again. statesuniteddemocracy.org whitmanstrategygroup.com renewamericamovement.com

In this conversation with Christine Todd Whitman, the former Governor (of the best state in the union!) and Cabinet Member, we talk about how she started her career in politics by going around the country and actually listening to people. Imagine that! We also discussed how she was able to achieve bipartisan collaboration during her 2 terms as governor of New Jersey; an assessment of how the Biden Administration is doing on climate initiatives; other achievable actions that can have a positive effect on the environment; what she's doing to resist the danger posed by candidates who are brazenly anti-democracy; the encouraging work of States United Democracy Center - "more than a think tank... an action tank"; a sober warning about current governors who are deploying the tactics of dictators; her experience with Donald Trump back when he was screwing over small contractors who built his casinos in New Jersey; and we even get to talk about religion! Christine Todd Whitman is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the States United Democracy Center and she is the President of The Whitman Strategy Group. Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and was the 50th Governor of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor. Governor Whitman also serves a number of non-profit organizations including as Chairman of the American Security Project, Vice-Chairman of the Trustees of the Eisenhower Fellowships and Advisor on Renew America Movement. Among quite a few other non-profits and causes, she was co-chair of the Commission on the Rule of Law and Democracy at the Brennan Center at New York University. Also during the 2020 election cycle she served as Chair of Republicans and Independents for Biden. And on top of all of that, she is the author of a New York Times best seller called It's My Party Too: Taking Back the Republican Party... And Bringing the Country Together Again. statesuniteddemocracy.org whitmanstrategygroup.com renewamericamovement.com

On May 18, the Bush Institute and four partner organizations hosted Elections – A More Perfect Union. In this panel discussion, experts share how the integrity of elections is being protected in various states and conveying the threats currently facing election administration and workers. Panelists include: Maggie Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State; Joanna Lydgate, Founder and CEO of States United Democracy Center; and Bill Gates, Chairman of Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Norman L. Eisen is an American attorney, author, and former diplomat. He is a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a CNN legal analyst, and the co-founder and executive chair of the States United Democracy Center. He joins us to discuss how to defeat Trumpery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ambassador (ret.) Norman Eisen is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, executive chair of the States United Democracy Center, and a globally-recognized authority on law, ethics, and anti-corruption. He served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the Trump impeachment from February 2019 to February 2020. He is the author of A Case for the American People: The United States v. Donald J. Trump (Crown 2020) and The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House (Crown 2018) and the editor of Democracy's Defenders: U.S. Embassy Prague, the Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia, and Its Aftermath (Brookings Institution Press 2020). Eisen served in the White House from January 2009 to January 2011 as special counsel and special assistant to the president for ethics and government reform, and was the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2014.

Is America's democracy failing and putting the U.S. economic system at risk? That's the question in the title of a new report from Governance Studies at Brookings and the States United Democracy Center, co-authored by Brookings senior fellows Bill Galston and Elaine Kamarck. To discuss the report's findings, Kamarck, who is also founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings, joins the Cafeteria on this episode. Show notes and transcript:   Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to , and follow us and tweet us at  on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the .

Trey Grayson, former Kentucky Secretary of State, joins Dan to discuss the States United Democracy Center's "Report on the Cyber Ninjas Review of the 2020 Presidential and U.S. Senatorial Elections in Maricopa County, Arizona." Grayson, a co-author of the report, and Abrams analyze proper election recount and audit standards that the Cyber Ninja's review fails to meet, including impartiality, proper ballot review procedures, and a high level of allowable error.