Podcasts about votebeat

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn the wake of recent executive orders aimed at tightening voter registration requirements, Will Wright and Josh Burtram welcome back Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of VoteBeat. They discuss the implications of Trump's proposed documentation proof of citizenship, the SAVE Act, and their potential impact on voter access. Jessica also sheds light on the challenges facing election workers in the current political climate, the unintended consequences of voter ID laws, and why voting technology remains a small, underfunded industry despite its critical role in democracy.Guest Bio:Jessica Huseman is the editorial director of VoteBeat, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering voting access and election administration across the United States. She is a prominent voice in election integrity, with a focus on how voter ID laws and executive orders impact marginalized communities. Her work has been featured in major news outlets and she continues to be a trusted source for understanding the complexities of election policy.VoteBeat: votebeat.orgHeritage Foundation Election Fraud Database: heritage.org/voterfraudExecutive Order on Documentary Proof of Citizenship: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/Addressing Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/addressing-risks-from-chris-krebs-and-government-censorship/SAVE Act Legislation: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22Dominion Voting Systems Settlement: https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe Support the show

#podcast #politics #Michigan #VotingRights #Progressives #democracy #Democrats Here's Episode 126 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast 00:00-22:56: Elon & Trump's War On Working Class Michiganders Pat breaks-down the Signal-gate story, and why perhaps hiring unqualified Fox News weekend cohosts wasn't the greatest idea). He then discusses how Elon & Trump continue to attack the working class while empowering their own corporate donor class. But while MAGA Michigan Republicans in Congress continue to ignore their constituents due to Musk & Trump's unpopularity, Michiganders across the state are hosting their own "empty chair" town halls thanks to Indivisible groups. Pat provided some audio so you can hear how there's a true working class grassroots movement that's building to fight against authoritarianism. 22:57-46:07: VoteBeat Michigan's Hayley Harden VoteBeat Michigan Reporter Hayley Harden joins the show to discuss the Michigan House Republican effort to require proof of citizenship in order to vote in future elections. Republicans claim this would add "integrity" to our election process while Democrats counter how this is another effort to set-up roadblocks and barriers to voting for thousands. It's part of a major effort from Republicans on the state and federal level to rollback some of the expanded voting rights Michiganders approved in 2018 & 2022. Ms. Harden also talks about why there are fewer people running for city clerk positions. Please visit VoteBeat Michigan as it's a fantastic voting news and information site! 46:01-51:00: Last Call--MAGA Making Voting Harder 53:16-56:06: Ending/Tigs Prediction Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "March 20, 2025 Empty Chair Town Hall - John Moolenaar Video" By Indivisible Central Michigan "Empty Chair Town Hall For Michigan Republican Congressman Jack Bergman--March 22, 2025."  By Traverse Indivisible "Trump orders an overhaul of how elections are run, inviting a likely legal challenge." By VoteBeat.org "Fight begins in Michigan House over whether to require voters to prove their citizenship." By Hayley Harding of VoteBeat Michigan "Michigan is short of clerks to oversee elections, but harassment and workload turn people away." By Hayley Harding of VoteBeat Michigan "Michigan secretary of state aims to fix loophole that allowed noncitizen to vote in 2024." By Hayley Harding of VoteBeat Michigan Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum on Trump's "Proof of Citizenship" EO. "Musk contributes $2M to state GOP." By Battleground Wisconsin "Democrats condemn proof of citizenship voting resolution advancing in Michigan House as ‘poll tax.'" By Anna Liz Nichols of Michigan Advance "Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump's Advisers Shared on Signal." By Jeffrey Goldberg & Shane Harris of The Atlantic "America's billionaire class is funding anti-democratic forces." By Robert Reich of The Guardian

On this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: Brett Sholtis of LNP/Lancaster Online will discuss his reporting on the rise and fall of the Paramount ATM Network Carter Walker of VoteBeat, reporting on the number of poll workers for upcoming elections in PA Also, on the program: In a time of increasing polarization, religious leaders and scholars are coming together to address one of the most pressing and complex issues in modern faith: Christian nationalism. This movement, which intertwines national identity with religious belief, has sparked deep conversations about the role of faith in public life and the risks of conflating Christianity with political power.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#podcast #politics #19thAmendment #Michigan #Voting #VotingRights #Constitution #WomensRights #Marriage #MAGA #Republicans #Democrats #progressives #leftoflansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for March 10, 2025. The MAGA Michigan Republican Party is trying to pass a resolution to reach the state ballot in 2026 that would require proof of citizenship while registering to vote.  While this does nothing to fix a non-existent "voter fraud" problem, it does do one thing Republicans across the country want: to chip away at the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  It's the White Christian Nationalist goal of ripping away the rights of women. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Battle lines drawn in fight over Michigan voter citizenship proposal." By Haley Harding of Votebeat (via Bridge Michigan) "Millions of married women voters could be disenfranchised under proposed federal law, opponents say." By Justin Engel of MLive.com

The election may have ended over a month ago, but Tuesday marks the day Donald Trump's victory becomes official. Across the country, hundreds of presidential electors gathered in their states to cast their Electoral College votes, an often ceremonial but essential step in the process of confirming the election results. Geoff Bennett discussed the significance with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The election may have ended over a month ago, but Tuesday marks the day Donald Trump's victory becomes official. Across the country, hundreds of presidential electors gathered in their states to cast their Electoral College votes, an often ceremonial but essential step in the process of confirming the election results. Geoff Bennett discussed the significance with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Donald Trump's return has provoked days of soul searching among Democratic voters. But the pollster with one of the most accurate predictions of the outcome, James Johnson of JL Partners, has asked George Osborne and Ed Balls to shake off the gloom and consider any positives. Is there a silver lining in a second Trump presidency? George has some ideas, while Ed is struggling… Votebeat editorial director Jessica Huseman asks: does the world see the US as an international example of democracy any more? Did it ever? And Susanna Reid from Good Morning Britain has rung in to ask what Trump's re-election tells us about what voters truly want.Plus: with Kemi Badenoch now leading the Tories, George and Ed answer the question: what does the shadow cabinet …actually do? You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free!Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

Jen Fifield is the Election and Voting Reporter at VoteBeat. She tries to explain why Arizona takes so long to count all of our votes.

On this Election Day episode: When will we know who won the White House? We asked David Scott, editor of the Associated Press Decision Desk. And he pulls back the curtain on its intricate process of monitoring and calling races. Votebeat’s Jessica Huseman, a recent Apple News In Conversation guest, explains one of the important upcoming deadlines in the election-certification process, and how lawsuits could disrupt that process. The 2024 election is shaping up to be the most heavily litigated in history, according to CNN’s chief legal-affairs correspondent, Paula Reid. Plus, USA Today explains why your Election Day outfit matters, the Wall Street Journal speaks with the teachers keeping this election out of their curriculum, the L.A. Times visits the county that’s predicted every presidential winner since 1980, and NBC's state-by-state voting guide. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Most of us don't think about the voting process, or election administration, until it's actually time for us to drop off our ballot. That season becomes prime time for folks circulating misinformation to do their worst. But one non-profit, non-partisan news source in Michigan spends all year reporting on the truth about democratic processes. We talk to a VoteBeat reporter about how to sort facts about voting from the disinformation swirling around social media.   GUEST:  Hayley Harding, Detroit-based reporter for VoteBeat Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two state senators have challenged the right of U.S. citizens living abroad to cast votes in federal races.  The country's highest court has sided with Butler County voters whose provisional ballots were challenged by Republicans this past spring.  On the final Sunday of a rollercoaster presidential contest, Republican nominee Donald Trump is asking voters in Pennsylvania again to make him leader of what he falsely claims is a “failed nation.”  Only a handful of races will determine control of the U.S. House. The 10th District race between Republican incumbent Scott Perry and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson is one of them.  The state Attorney General's office is now working with Berks, Lancaster, Monroe, and York to investigate allegedly fraudulent voter registration forms submitted at the deadline late last month. Carter Walker from Votebeat provides some context to what's happening.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Election Day 2024 just hours away, VoteBeat Wisconsin correspondent Alex Shur makes is regular monthly visit to the Monday Eight o'Clock Buzz. In a conversation with Monday Buzz host Brian Standing, Alex distills his knowledge into a handy guide to avoiding pitfalls, hurdles and bear traps that might be in your path to the polls in Wisconsin. The post VoteBeat Reporter Alex Shur Delivers His Election Eve Report appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

On today’s show: The Wall Street Journal’s Thomas Grove has the exclusive story behind Elon Musk’s secret phones calls with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, explains on Apple News In Conversation how baseless claims of election fraud are having a real impact on parts of the voting process. Three years after the NCAA started allowing college athletes to make money off their personal brands, the Washington Post obtained records from a number of colleges and universities that reveal how unequal and murky this new marketplace is. Sports investigative reporter Albert Samaha has the story. Plus, updates from the campaign trail after a speaker hurled racist comments during Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, and Michelle Obama called on men to do more to protect reproductive rights. And ESPN says Shohei Ohtani is expected to play in Game 3 of the World Series after suffering a shoulder injury. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

On today's show: NPR's Tom Dreisbach found that Trump has made more than 100 threats to prosecute or punish his enemies since 2022. Jessica Huseman with VoteBeat spoke to In Conversation about the systems in place that make voting in the U.S. safe and reliable. Eggs, waffles, and the McDonald's Quarter Pounder are among the many foods have been affected by the recalls recently. Vox looks at what's going on with our food supply. The Washington Post reports that Beyoncé; will join Kamala Harris at a rally in Houston today. The Los Angeles Times looks at what's next for the Menendez brothers. ESPN reports that Lionel Messi is MLS's highest-paid player. And the Athletic explains why the World Series will be tough for Brooklyn Dodgers fans. Today's episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Since former President Trump lost the 2020 presidential race, he and his supporters have been spreading the false claim that the election was stolen and that the U.S. is rife with voter fraud. This has been disproven in court many times, but the rhetoric has had a real effect on the country — from the January 6 attack on the Capitol, to election-rule changes, to general distrust around the voting process. Votebeat’s Jessica Huseman is one of the leading reporters on voting in the U.S. She talks with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about the lies being spread about our voting system and explains why Americans can feel reassured that this election will be safe and fair.

Kae Petrin is a data and graphics reporting at Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, where they produce stories on education and voting rights. Kae is also a co-founder and part of the leadership of the Trans Journalists Association. In the episode we discuss Kae's work, their view of beat-centric news organizations, and the challenges of K-12 education data. The⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠music this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠ made with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TwoTone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, comes from Kae, and represents truancy rates by different demographic groups.

Community News and Interviews for the Catskills & Northeast Pennsylvania

Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Natalia Contreras, a reporter with Votebeat, to break down the myths, lies, and truths about the process of registering to vote and casting a ballot in Texas. This summer, while one group urged its members to challenge the voter registration of thousands of Austinites, state leadership announced that voters were culled from the rolls. But that was regular voter roll maintenance, and the challenges weren't legit. So, is voter suppression really a thing in Texas? Should we worry that our votes won't count at the polls in November?  We'd like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: Asia Tabb Speaks with Dave Wagner, the Red PA State Coordinator and Gabbi Timmins, The National Coordinator for the American Hope Project. She also speaks with PA reporter Carter Walker and Editor and Chief Chad Lorenz of Votebeat about their reporting on election and voting related issues.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our weekly journalist roundtable segment featured Carter Walker, Votebeat Pennsylvania Reporter, and Chad Lorenz, Votebeat Editor-in-Chief. Votebeat operates in five states, with reporters on the ground producing coverage of election administration. Both joined The Spark to update us on their election coverage.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we wind our way to Election Day, some key states are still debating and battling over new election rule changes. In some prominent cases, these are Republican-led and pushed by former President Trump himself. In the past few weeks, the Georgia Election Board passed changes that could affect this year's results. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As we wind our way to Election Day, some key states are still debating and battling over new election rule changes. In some prominent cases, these are Republican-led and pushed by former President Trump himself. In the past few weeks, the Georgia Election Board passed changes that could affect this year's results. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Community News and Interviews for the Catskills & Northeast Pennsylvania

Send us a Text Message.**We recorded this episode on Friday, July 19th prior to President Biden making his decision to drop out of the race. We were expecting the announcement hence the reason we asked Jessica Huseman to come the show and discuss what the impact might mean for voters.**In this episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram welcome back election expert Jessica Huseman, the editorial director for VoteBeat and former lead elections reporter for ProPublica. Jessica, an award-winning educator with extensive experience in teaching FOIA classes, brings her wealth of knowledge to discuss the current landscape of voting and elections in the United States.Key topics include the logistics and implications of President Biden potentially stepping down before the convention, the challenges and misconceptions around voter ID laws, and the real issues facing election security in the U.S.Jessica provides a detailed analysis of the current state of election security, emphasizing that voting technology is more advanced and reliable than ever. She also addresses the persistent myths about non-citizen voting, explaining the legal and practical realities that make such claims largely unfounded. The conversation touches on the importance of local reporting on election issues and the invaluable work done by VoteBeat in providing informed, local perspectives on voting and election integrity.Make sure you check out all the great content Votebeat provides and sign up for their newsletter: https://www.votebeat.org/Guest Bio:Jessica Huseman was previously the lead elections reporter for ProPublica, and helped manage the Electionland project for three federal election cycles, sharing information and tips with hundreds of newsrooms across the United States. She is an award-winning educator, and has taught at Columbia Journalism School, New York University, and wrote a high school investigative journalism curriculum in use by more than 200 high schools. Jessica is a graduate of Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she graduated with honors.Support the Show.To learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics Subscribe to our Substack: https://faithfulpolitics.substack.com/

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Votebeat broke one of the strangest stories I have read in a while last week that was then picked up by other Texas outlets. “Texas counties surprise surcharge from voter registration software vendor.”Counties should not be late on their payments but why did the firm not shakedown clients in other states too? And more importantly, why has is the Texas Secretary of State's system been allowed to be so bad since an audit pointed out such way back in 2007?There is room for much criticism on this issue. The failed state system is making taxpayers pay twice for the same, or similar, service!Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Oil and gas rig count increased by 7 in Texas last week. And, the Railroad Commission reports that 2023 was another record-breaking year for Texas oil and gas production.Two Denton ISD elementary school principals indicted for illegal electioneering. About time!Some conservative Texas House legislators have proposed a new “Contract with Texas” and the Lefty Texas Tribune characterizes such as: “House Republicans issue demands for next Texas speaker.”Attorney General Paxton sues Harris County over its new “guaranteed income” welfare scheme.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Community News and Interviews for the Catskills & Northeast Pennsylvania

Turns out, Republicans made errors hand-counting votes. The GOP in Gillespie County (Fredericksburg) did not trust machines to count the votes on Super Tuesday. So, they did it themselves. By hand. 8,000 ballots. And they made mistakes in every precinct. Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, was there on election night and joined the Jasons for a pint on this episode to explain what happened and the bold new project her newsroom is undertaking in Gillespie County. https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/gillespie-county-gop-primary-officials-found-multiple-errors-after-hand-count/287-9cfe3150-cf66-4d4f-ba66-ad1fc6f9feeb Guest Jessica Huseman, Votebeat Editorial Director

Community News and Interviews for the Catskills & Northeast Pennsylvania

It is an election system designed to find cases of illegal voting, keep voter rolls accurate, and make elections cheaper and more efficient. But Texas, and eight other Republican-led states, abandoned the program without any plan to replace it. That is bad news for Texas voters and the bill comes due on Super Tuesday, March 5. In this episode of Y'all-itics, the Jasons crack open a cold one at Celestial Beerworks with Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization that reports on elections across the country. Jessica explains why Texas' decision to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, couldn't have come at a worse time and how Texas voters could feel this impact when they go vote. GuestJessica Huseman, Votebeat Editorial Director 

It is an election system designed to find cases of illegal voting, keep voter rolls accurate, and make elections cheaper and more efficient. But Texas, and eight other Republican-led states, abandoned the program without any plan to replace it. That is bad news for Texas voters and the bill comes due on Super Tuesday, March 5. In this episode of Y'all-itics, the Jasons crack open a cold one at Celestial Beerworks with Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization that reports on elections across the country. Jessica explains why Texas' decision to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, couldn't have come at a worse time and how Texas voters could feel this impact when they go vote.   Guest Jessica Huseman, Votebeat Editorial Director  

One year out from the 2024 election, Lindsay Langholz checks in with Jessica Huseman from VoteBeat about the election issues that are consuming her attention and could shape the 2024 election space, including the growing obsession with hand counting ballots and the odd steps certain states are taking to "update" their voter registration lists.   Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Today's Host: Lindsay Langholz , ACS Sr Director of Policy and Program Guest: Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director, VoteBeat Link: "The drive to hand count ballots is growing. The GOP could stop it," by Jessica Huseman Link: "Where an Obsession With Election Integrity Can Lead," by Jessica Huseman Link: Take the ACS Pledge: Become a Poll Worker Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2023.

We're back from summer break and diving into the 2024 election season, Donald Trump's indictments, the spread of election deniers, and more. We also welcome Michael Berkman back from sabbatical and discuss the significance of "Democracy 2024" as the backdrop for the first Republican presidential debate on August 23.For our listeners who teach American politics, we've put together a list of episodes designed to be a companion to your courses. Check it out at democracyworkspodcast.com/syllabus.Referenced in this episode: Votebeat piece by Jessica Huseman on Trump indictmentsAdditional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyDemocracy Works PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Before we get to the show notes, we invite you to take our listener survey for a chance to win a Democracy Works coffee mug!We're back from summer break and diving into the 2024 election season, Donald Trump's indictments, the spread of election deniers, and more. We also welcome Michael Berkman back from sabbatical and discuss the significance of "Democracy '24" as the backdrop for the first Republican presidential debate on August 23.For our listeners who teach American politics, we've put together a list of episodes designed to be a companion to your courses. Check it out at democracyworkspodcast.com/syllabus.Referenced in this episode: Votebeat piece by Jessica Huseman on Trump indictments 

Election Issues in Harris County, Texas Spawn Bills Aimed at Controlling Its Election AdministrationToday'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.As the end of the legislative session draws near in Texas, we have an update on bills targeted at controlling Harris County election administration, where logistical and technical problems marred November's election.  Votebeat Texas reports county officials STILL don't have a handle on how many voters were affected by ballot shortages, voting machine access problems, poor training and late openings.  Because Texas law allows county-wide voting, voters could go to another polling place and vote, a reason why it's still unclear how many – if any – were disenfranchised.  A bill ENDING county-wide voting just passed the Senate. The lack of clarity has not stopped bills aimed at Harris County's issues, as well as a pending lawsuit from Republican candidates who claim the problems cost them the election.Votebeat's report on resulting legislation includes Senate Bill 1933, which gives the Secretary of State the power to suspend and replace election officials in a county with a pattern of election administration problems.  Similarly, SB 1039 requires county election officials to give satisfactory answers to questions regarding the election, and allows the state to audit if necessary.Most telling is SB 1750, eliminating the post of election administrator – just in Harris County – and giving election responsibility to the county's clerk and tax collector.   The House hears the bills shortly. We have links to the Votebeat article and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I'm Brian Beihl.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:Washington Post -  (2022) Texas investigating voting difficulties in Houston's Harris CountyTexas Tribune/Votebeat Texas - (2022) Almost two months after Election Day, Harris County still doesn't know if polling site problems kept people from votingHarris County via Votebeat Texas - Harris County Elections 2022 assessmentHouston Public Media - Layoffs in Harris County elections offices may explain some 2022 voting problemsTexas Tribune - Texas Senate moves to end countywide voting on Election DayVotebeat Texas - Here are the Texas election bills to watch with a month left in the legislative sessionGroups Taking Action:League of Women Voters Houston, ACLU Texas, Mi Familia Vota, OCA Houston Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org#Democracy  #DemocracyNews 

In this episode, hosts Brianna Lennon and Eric Fey speak to Ben Hovland and Carrie Levine. Ben is the current Vice Chair for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and Carrie is the Story Editor for Votebeat, a “nonprofit news organization committed to reporting the nuanced truth about elections and voting at a time of crisis in America.” They spoke about the current state of federal election funding heading into the 2024 Presidential election cycle and about some of the funding challenges that come from the U.S.'s decentralized system of elections. They also spoke about the important role local election administrators play when it comes educating the public and rebuilding trust.

Texas already has the reputation for being one of the hardest states in which to vote. But the legislature is now considering ways to make it even more challenging for some voters to cast ballots. Right now, more than 100 election-related bills are up for discussion at the state capitol. These proposals would ban voting on college campuses, ban mail-in ballots for anyone over 65, give the state the authority to replace county elections administrators, increase the penalty for illegal voting to a felony – even if the person doesn't know they're ineligible, and more. Jessica Huseman is tracking the ins and outs of these bills closely as the editorial director for VoteBeat.org. Wheeler has the week off so Jason Whitely and WFAA's political producer, Berna Dean Steptoe, had a drink with Jessica to get the low-down on what's happening and also learn why Texas is a non-voting state. Hint: It's cultural. But this episode starts with a toast to almost 40-years of Dallas' original Blue Goose Cantina on Lower Greenville before it closes for good on March 19. GUEST:Jessica Huseman / Editorial Director, VoteBeat.orgNick Peterson / Blue Goose Cantina CEO

Texas already has the reputation for being one of the hardest states in which to vote. But the legislature is now considering ways to make it even more challenging for some voters to cast ballots. Right now, more than 100 election-related bills are up for discussion at the state capitol. These proposals would ban voting on college campuses, ban mail-in ballots for anyone over 65, give the state the authority to replace county elections administrators, increase the penalty for illegal voting to a felony – even if the person doesn't know they're ineligible, and more. Jessica Huseman is tracking the ins and outs of these bills closely as the editorial director for VoteBeat.org. Wheeler has the week off so Jason Whitely and WFAA's political producer, Berna Dean Steptoe, had a drink with Jessica to get the low-down on what's happening and also learn why Texas is a non-voting state. Hint: It's cultural. But this episode starts with a toast to almost 40-years of Dallas' original Blue Goose Cantina on Lower Greenville before it closes for good on March 19.   GUEST: Jessica Huseman / Editorial Director, VoteBeat.org Nick Peterson / Blue Goose Cantina CEO

On today's episode of The Confluence:Some voters have submitted recount petitions to question election results, delaying election certifications. Two state judges have now given conflicting rulings on whether there needs to be evidence of fraud for a recount to be requested. Carter Walker, with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, breaks down the reasoning each judge has provided. The latest survey on child care staffing in Pennsylvania finds programs are experiencing significant shortages, which has left thousands of children on waiting lists for child care. Cara Ciminillo, executive director of Trying Together, explains the impacts of staffing shortages in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Lancaster County announced it's banning the TikTok app on county devices. We ask Sauvik Das, assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute, about the security risks of using the app.

More Chaos in Cochise County, Arizona as Supervisors Propose Election Denier for Election OversightToday's LinksArticles & Resources:Votebeat Arizona - Cochise County gives election skeptic recorder near full control of electionsVotebeat Arizona - How an Arizona official is making Cochise County a “laboratory” for election skepticismDemocracy Docket - Cochise County, Arizona Transfers Election Oversight to Partisan County RecorderAZ Attorney General - Letter from Solicitor GeneralElection Fairness Institute - Failed AZ Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem's nonprofit focused on  alleged irregularities in mail-in votingArizona Mirror/VoteBeat - Cochise County's elections director resigns after protecting midterm ballots from Republican officialsArizona Public Media - Recall petitions circulating for Cochise County supervisorToday'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.Remember our reports on Cochise County, Arizona's election chaos caused by election deniers on the county board of supervisors?  The rural Arizona county of 126,000 is back in the news, because it wants to transfer election oversight to – you guessed it– another election denier.Back in November, state officials had to stop the Board of Supervisors from requiring 47,284 ballots be counted by hand. Then the supervisors refused to CERTIFY the election until compelled by the Arizona Secretary of State and a county court.  This January, the county's veteran elections director resigned, citing a threatening work environment, and harassment from citizens. VoteBeat Arizona reports that county supervisors are now proposing to transfer the election director's responsibilities to County Recorder David Stevens, who volunteered to supervise the November hand count, but had never conducted an election.   According to VoteBeat's reporting, Stevens is a director of the Elections Fairness Institute, a nonprofit run by Mark Finchem, a January 6th participant and failed candidate for Arizona Secretary of State who claimed the 2020 election was rigged.Monday, the Arizona state solicitor general issued a letter to the Cochise County attorney saying that giving all election responsibilities to ANY county recorder would raise, quote, “serious questions about the legality of the board's intended action.” We have links to articles, our past reports, and the solicitor general's letter at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.   

The Texas Legislature's Zeal for Election Integrity Could Cost Money.  BIG Money.Today's LinksArticles & Resources:Votebeat Texas - Overlooked provision of SB 1 requires election equipment that doesn't exist, at a cost of $116 millionTexas Secretary of State - SOS 101: Voting Systems in TexasTexas Association of Counties - State law requires new voting machines (this refers to machines which can leave a paper trail, another requirement of SB 1)Community Connect - (2021)  Harris County purchases 12,000 new hybrid voting machines ahead of May 1 elections at a cost of $54 Million Austin American Statesman - From polls to ballots, here's what a new Texas voting law means for youTexas Legislature - Enrolled version of SB 1Groups Taking Action:Texas Civil Rights Project,  Mi Familia Vota, League of Women Voters Texas, ACLU TexasToday'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.We're in Texas today, where the conspiracy-fueled zeal for election integrity may cost the state money. Big money.  When it passed its omnibus election bill SB 1 last year, an unnoticed provision may require new election equipment  – for EVERY election.Votebeat Texas reports that included in the bill was a requirement that election data be written on data storage devices in a way it can't be altered. By the September 2026 implementation, the new law will outlaw millions of dollars of current election equipment, and could force hand counting unless new compliant equipment is purchased.  The Texas Secretary of State's office estimates the cost could exceed $116 million dollars. Currently, election officials use USB flash drives to download data from individual ballot tabulation machines, then transport the devices to a central county election operation.  Current flash drives can't make the data permanent, and would need to be replaced each election.  The same with the central county computer's storage drive, and tabulators.  Other than write-once CDs and DVDs, the technology required doesn't yet exist.Most Texas counties don't have the budget to replace equipment each election, and hand counting is less accurate, more expensive, and takes far longer than electronic tabulators.   The conservative Heritage Foundation cites 105 alleged cases of fraud since 2005 in a state with almost 17.7 million registered voters.We have the Votebeat article and more resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I'm Brian Beihl.   

Jen Fifield explains the reasons why the printers malfunctioned in Maricopa County on Election Day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As lawsuits surrounding the Arizona drop box "vigilantes" swirled in court, an obscure group called Clean Elections USA and its Steve Bannon-linked founder took focus in the litigation. Investigative journalists specializing in elections, however, unpacked the less-covered role of True the Vote, a right-wing dark money group that's been an influential force in conservative politics for more than a decade.In our latest episode, the editorial director of an elections-focused news organization behind those exposés picks apart those connections."This is not a grassroots effort," VoteBeat's editorial director Jessica Huseman said on the podcast. "This is very much a thing that is very well-organized, very well-staffed. And so isn't nearly as a sort of organic as as many on the right have painted it to be."GUEST:Jessica HusemanSUBSCRIBE TO OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Court JunkieSidebarThey Walk Among AmericaCoptales and CocktailsThe Disturbing TruthSpeaking FreelySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bedrock, USA returns with an interview about election security. New hosts Kathleen Quillian and Samantha Storey talk to the editorial director of VoteBeat, Jessica Huseman, about what to expect at the polls. Going into the midterms, cybersecurity is top of mind, so is physical security for both the paper ballots and the people handling them. Huseman breaks down why the American election system is one of the most secure in the world, but with misinformation running rampant across the internet, will it stay that way? For more information visit bloomberg.com/bedrock-usa. Have a suggestion or comment? We'd love to hear from you: kquillian@bloomberg.net or sstorey17@bloomberg.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may not see final results of the midterms on election night due to different state laws on counting ballots. Jessica Huseman is the editorial director of Votebeat, a news organization dedicated to following elections and the voting process. She joined Judy Woodruff to discuss the role mail-in voting could play in the midterms. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This episode of the series comes from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman, featuring Jessica Huseman.Think of it as an election administrator vibe check as we head into the midterms. Election officials are the backbone of our democracy, but also increasingly the face of fraud allegations from far-right groups and others who deny the legitimacy of elections that don't go their way.Many of us watched Georgia election officials Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss testify before the January 6 committee about the threats they faced after becoming caught up in conspiracies about the 2020 election. Our guest this week says that stories like this are more common than many of us realize, and that things like erroneous record requests from election deniers are even more common. On top of that, social media platforms are making it more difficult local election offices to share accurate information with voters. GuestsJessica Huseman is the editorial director at Votebeat, a news outlet that does nonpartisan local reporting n elections and voting. She was previously the lead elections reporter for ProPublica, and helped manage the Electionland project for three federal election cycles, sharing information and tips with hundreds of newsrooms across the United States. VotebeatJessica Huseman on TwitterPower the Polls - poll worker recruitment nationwideAdditional InformationDemocracy Works PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

This episode is part of the series 2022 Midterms: What's at Stake? series from The Democracy Group podcast network. Think of it as an election administrator vibe check as we head into the midterms. Election officials are the backbone of our democracy, but also increasingly the face of fraud allegations from far-right groups and others who deny the legitimacy of elections that don't go their way.Many of us watched Georgia election officials Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss testify before the January 6 committee about the threats they faced after becoming caught up in conspiracies about the 2020 election. Our guest this week says that stories like this are more common than many of us realize, and that things like erroneous record requests from election deniers are even more common. On top of that, social media platforms are making it more difficult local election offices to share accurate information with voters. Jessica Huseman is the editorial director at Votebeat, a news outlet that does nonpartisan local reporting n elections and voting. She was previously the lead elections reporter for ProPublica, and helped manage the Electionland project for three federal election cycles, sharing information and tips with hundreds of newsrooms across the United States. VotebeatJessica Huseman on Twitter2022 Midterms: What At Stake? series from The Democracy Group podcast networkPower the Polls - poll worker recruitment nationwide

ACTIVISTS REQUESTING 'CAST VOTE RECORD' DATA AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ONCE AGAIN TRY TO PROVE WIDESPREAD FRAUD Today's LinksArticles:Votebeat - Election activists are seeking the “cast vote record” from 2020. Here's what it is and why they want it. Washington Post - Trump backers flood election offices with requests as 2022 vote nearsYou're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.Election-denier activists are trying to obtain the “Cast Vote Record” report from vote tabulating machines around the country in a nationwide effort to prove the existence of wide-spread voter fraud.  The nonprofit democracy news service VoteBeat reported last week that nearly identical requests are being made around the country, pushed by high profile election deniers like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.  Lindell and other conspiracy theorists are apparently providing “cut and paste” request language for supporters to request the information from their local election officials.  If the data is provided, the group intends to centrally analyze it, despite no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.The Cast Vote Record is a data file which vote tabulating machines like that of Dominion Voting Systems record.  While its format varies by type of machine, it records the raw data of the circles filled in, and sometimes records an image of the ballot.   But there is no information about the voter or the voter's identity, and it captures only machine-counted ballots, not those counted by hand. Votebeat reports that some election offices have received dozens of these requests, including 90 requests in Maricopa County, Arizona alone, each one consuming staff time to process.   Rules vary by state, with some states allowing unofficial access to the files, and some not allowing any public access, resulting in lawsuits demanding that access.To learn more find a link to the VoteBeat story at our website, AmericanDemocracy Minute.org.   Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO!”  For the American Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl

Y'all-itics: September 11, 2022 That escalated quickly. In the week since our last podcast, during which we broke the news that Republican Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley would be voting for Democrat Mike Collier in the race for Lieutenant Governor, another prominent Republican has done the same. State Senator Kel Seliger calls Republican incumbent Dan Patrick an “extremist,” and says state leadership must adapt to the growing diversity in Texas. These cross-over endorsements certainly send a message, but is it a warning for the Texas GOP? In this episode of Y'all-itics, the Jasons are joined by native Texan and political expert Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director of Votebeat. Jessica says the endorsements are significant politically in a state like Texas. And even if it doesn't change the outcome on November 8, 2022, it could have a major impact by the time the Presidential election rolls around in 2024. You'll also hear directly from Senator Kel Seliger about why he made his decision and from Mike Collier, who will tell you why he thinks these Republicans are coming to his side. We invited Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to join us on Y'all-itics. A spokesman for his campaign said he is unavailable. Guests Jessica Huseman, Votebeat Editorial Directorwww.votebeat.org Sen. Kel Seliger, (R) Amarillo Mike Collier, (D) Candidate for Lt. Governor

Y'all-itics: September 11, 2022   That escalated quickly. In the week since our last podcast, during which we broke the news that Republican Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley would be voting for Democrat Mike Collier in the race for Lieutenant Governor, another prominent Republican has done the same. State Senator Kel Seliger calls Republican incumbent Dan Patrick an “extremist,” and says state leadership must adapt to the growing diversity in Texas. These cross-over endorsements certainly send a message, but is it a warning for the Texas GOP? In this episode of Y'all-itics, the Jasons are joined by native Texan and political expert Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director of Votebeat. Jessica says the endorsements are significant politically in a state like Texas. And even if it doesn't change the outcome on November 8, 2022, it could have a major impact by the time the Presidential election rolls around in 2024. You'll also hear directly from Senator Kel Seliger about why he made his decision and from Mike Collier, who will tell you why he thinks these Republicans are coming to his side.   We invited Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to join us on Y'all-itics. A spokesman for his campaign said he is unavailable.   Guests   Jessica Huseman, Votebeat Editorial Director www.votebeat.org   Sen. Kel Seliger, (R) Amarillo   Mike Collier, (D) Candidate for Lt. Governor

Candidates who ran on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen secured victories in Tuesday's primaries up and down the ballot in Arizona and Michigan, two of the states at the center of that conspiracy. This scenario sets up stark contests for governor, Congress and secretary of state in November. NewsHour's Stephanie Sy and Jessica Huseman of Votebeat join Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Jessica Huseman of Votebeat talks about persisting conspiracy theories around voting and discusses Georgia's new voting law with WABE's Susanna Capelouto, Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, as well as Emma Hurt of Axios Atlanta. Why do people continue to believe 2020 election lies, despite so much evidence to the contrary, so many court rulings dismissing claims and countless well-researched stories from reporters clearly showing there was no widespread fraud? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will Sommer and Sam Brodey chat with Jessica Huseman, editorial director for Votebeat, about how folks who actively tried to subvert the 2020 election are now vying to get on ballots for positions that could allow them to influence the next presidential race. Elsewhere on the podcast, the hosts discuss the “kerfuffle at the GOP convention in Houston over the weekend” in which a “YouTube prankster” staged a dramatic confrontation with Congressman Dan Crenshaw, and wonder how many British documentarians are going to come out of the woodwork at the January 6 committee hearings. And finally, the hosts note how a drag queen named Barbara Seville busted apart Kari Lake's anti-LGBTQ hypocrisy, and discuss how Texas Republicans are terrified that the woke are now coming for the Alamo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Denise Clay-Murray is a reporter with 30 years of journalism experience who was recently hired by Votebeat to cover the upcoming elections in Pennsylvania. Votebeat has reporters embedded around the country to cover stories related to the election process.Denise talked about the work she'll be doing for Votebeat but also about her career covering elections and about why Votebeat is so important. She also talked about freelance reporting she's done, including a recent piece on the hidden cost of gun violence.Thank you as always for listening. Please rate and review the podcast – and share feedback with us at journalismsalute@gmail.com or on Twitter at @journalismpod.Denise's salutes: MLK 50 and The Pivot Fund.

Dan and Ellen talk with Professor Otis Sanford, who is something of a journalistic legend in Memphis. As a general assignment reporter at The Commercial Appeal in 1977, Sanford covered the death of Elvis Presley. He also covered courts, county government and politics before being promoted into management. After stints at the Pittsburgh Press and Detroit Free Press, Sanford returned to The Commercial Appeal. In 2002 he was named managing editor and in 2007 he became editorial page editor.  As opinion editor in Memphis, Sanford launched a Citizen's Editorial Board. While that was a number of years ago, Sanford was ahead of the curve in terms of community engagement. In 2011, Sanford joined the University of Memphis Department of Journalism faculty. He holds the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Economic and Managerial Journalism. He still writes a column on politics and events in Memphis. It's published in The Daily Memphian, a thriving startup founded by journalists and business people who were disappointed by the rounds of layoffs at The Commercial Appeal. The Daily Memphian is one of two digital newsrooms launched by journalists who left the Commercial Appeal. The other newsroom is the award-winning MLK50, started by Wendi C. Thomas, another Commercial Appeal veteran, to cover income inequality, race and justice issues.  Dan has a quick take on the latest from The Baltimore Banner, a digital start-up that will be competing with the Baltimore Sun, acquired last year by the notorious hedge fund Alden Global Capital. Ellen looks at the new Votebeat site, a Chalkbeat spinoff that just might help election integrity. 

Voters in many of Tuesday's primaries are navigating new and sometimes controversial voting laws implemented in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Jessica Huseman, editorial director of Votebeat, the newly launched newsroom following elections and voting, joins William Brangham to help us get a better sense of how these new laws are impacting the elections process. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Voters in many of Tuesday's primaries are navigating new and sometimes controversial voting laws implemented in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Jessica Huseman, editorial director of Votebeat, the newly launched newsroom following elections and voting, joins William Brangham to help us get a better sense of how these new laws are impacting the elections process. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Election reporting has become one of the most important journalism beats in America as we barrel towards the midterm elections. How can data journalism help? Jessica Huseman has become the face of election reporting in America. Editorial Director at Votebeat, she also owns the data journalism training organistion Friendly State News and previously worked at ProPublica on the Electionland project. Jessica chats with Alberto and Simon about the stakes in election reporting this cycle - and how data makes everything better. The music this episode is made with made with TwoTone and is the sound of Midterm election turnouts from 1790 to 2018.

Arizona's Republican governor signed a bill last month requiring proof of citizenship to vote in presidential elections. Voting rights advocates say it could impact some 200,000 Arizonans. It's the latest in a move by Republican lawmakers nationwide to tighten voting rules ahead of the 2022 midterms elections. Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Arizona's Republican governor signed a bill last month requiring proof of citizenship to vote in presidential elections. Voting rights advocates say it could impact some 200,000 Arizonans. It's the latest in a move by Republican lawmakers nationwide to tighten voting rules ahead of the 2022 midterms elections. Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Be it suspicion of voter fraud, fear of hackers or the general belief that something is amiss, legislators across the country have passed election laws designed to make our elections more secure. Those very same laws are widely criticized for making voting less accessible, especially to certain voting groups. So how insecure are our elections? What do election security laws really do? What is the best way to feel better about the state of elections in this country?Our guests are Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director of Votebeat  and Justin Levitt, constitutional law professor and newly appointed White House Senior Policy Advisor for Democracy and Voting Rights.

We recorded this podcast in 2021, but you wouldn't know it, and could be easily forgiven if you thought it was still 2020. Arizona's election audit has finally come to a close and with it the "official" report from the Cyber Ninja's is due out any day now. But like most ninjas, they will likely announce their report when you least expect it. What does this mean for other audits in battleground states that Trump lost? Jessica gives us some insight about all the things happening in Arizona's election, as well as, the Texas voting bill that is soon to be voted upon. We also talk about pillows, and try to get an interview with Walter the dog about National Dog Day!Guest Bio:Jessica Huseman was previously the lead elections reporter for ProPublica, and helped manage the Electionland project for three federal election cycles, sharing information and tips with hundreds of newsrooms across the United States. She is an award-winning educator, and has taught at Columbia Journalism School, New York University, and wrote a high school investigative journalism curriculum in use by more than 200 high schools. Jessica is a graduate of Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she graduated with honors.For more information, visit VoteBeat: https://www.votebeat.orgSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/faithpolitics)

If Americans voted the way the Founders' intended, most of us wouldn't get to vote. Amanda talks to Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, to learn about our country's tortured, and unending, fight for voting rights. Jessica is a former high school history teacher who has spent the last five years reporting on voting administration – the ins and outs of what goes into putting on an election and counting the votes. Votebeat is a nonprofit newsroom that covers voting and also funds and trains journalists to report out that beat for local newsrooms. Jessica gives a crash course on the history of voting in America and then breaks down the battle over voting rights in her home state of Texas. It turns out that Texas' voting laws are already so restrictive that the bill currently being pushed by Republicans is more likely to disenfranchise voters through incompetent bill writing than through actual design. Jessica also explains why a lot of Texas Democratic voters aren't impressed by their legislators' decision to flee the state. Finally, Amanda and Jessica talk about local journalism and why it's absolutely essential for democracy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

If Americans voted the way the Founders' intended, most of us wouldn't get to vote. Amanda talks to Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat, to learn about our country's tortured, and unending, fight for voting rights. Jessica is a former high school history teacher who has spent the last five years reporting on voting administration – the ins and outs of what goes into putting on an election and counting the votes. Votebeat is a nonprofit newsroom that covers voting and also funds and trains journalists to report out that beat for local newsrooms. Jessica gives a crash course on the history of voting in America and then breaks down the battle over voting rights in her home state of Texas. It turns out that Texas' voting laws are already so restrictive that the bill currently being pushed by Republicans is more likely to disenfranchise voters through incompetent bill writing than through actual design. Jessica also explains why a lot of Texas Democratic voters aren't impressed by their legislators' decision to flee the state. Finally, Amanda and Jessica talk about local journalism and why it's absolutely essential for democracy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've witnessed plenty of historic moments with Joe Biden as president: widespread COVID-19 vaccinations, the reunion of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Mare of Easttown. But Arizona Republicans are attempting to prove otherwise with an unprecedented vote recount of the 2020 election. Sam talks to Jessica Huseman, editorial director at Votebeat, about the ongoing election audit in Arizona and what it means for the future of elections and voting rights. Plus, Sam talks about summer movies to look forward to with NPR's Aisha Harris and Bob Mondello. We've love your feedback! If you have a few minutes, please complete this survey: npr.org/PodcastSurveyYou can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.

Elections are a foundation in our American democracy. They allow us to pick our presidents (sorta), vote for local representatives, and basically give us a voice in this country. You can think of elections like a much more impactful survey from Survey Monkey. However, unlike Survey Monkey, you would be hard pressed to find people willing to storm your office and stop the tallying of the results. This week we talk with someone who knows way more about elections than any human could possibly know. Jessica Huseman is a journalist from Texas who is the editorial director of Votebeat, a nonprofit newsroom and Chalkbeat spin-off which devotes itself to election reporting. She was the lead reporter at ProPublica's Electionland project, is a frequent guest on CNN discussing election issues and her writings have appeared in The Atlantic, Ms. Magazine and the Dallas Morning News.We discuss a wide range of issue from the state of election security, to the recent changes in election laws around the country, and then Jessica gives us some really good insight about the religious voting block and why they have been so effective at pushing for policies they believe in. Guest Bio:Jessica Huseman is the editorial director of Votebeat, an independent, non-profit newsroom covering voting rights, redistricting and election administration. She teaches investigative journalism at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and New York University, and was previously a reporter for ProPublica, where she led voting and elections coverage.VoteBeat, is an independent, nonpartisan pop-up nonprofit newsroom covering local election administration and voting in eight states. If you'd like to support the work they do please visit: https://votebeat.orgSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/faithpolitics)

Democrats and Republicans largely disagree on how to proceed with future elections. Proposals include measures that could impact could determine how Wisconsin picks congressional candidates, how it awards its 10 Electoral College votes, how fast results can be announced and who can vote absentee. Experts say major changes to Wisconsin's election laws are unlikely for now because of partisan divides. Reporting by Anya van Wagtendonk in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published March 9, 2021.

In the days after the November presidential election, a petition filed in the Wisconsin Supreme Court alleging mass election fraud called for electoral votes for Trump to replace Biden's. Wisconsin Republican Assembley Speaker Robin Vos ordered an investigation into the state's election results because of claims of "mail-in ballot dumps and voter fraud." These efforts ended up not changing Wisconsin's Electoral College outcome, but changes in Electoral College law mean such moves could be possible in the future. Legal and political challenges to the 2020 presidential election have raised questions of whether a state's election outcome can be subverted by officials who favor a different result. Reporting by Anya van Wagtendonk in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published November 25, 2020.

COVID-19 has brought the struggles of the disability community to vote independently to the forefront. Despite the recent efforts to expand voting access through absentee ballots, disability community members and advocates say that different barriers emerged for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Reporting by Nora Eckert in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published on Jan. 12, 2021.