Podcast
Defending Democracy with Marc Elias
Hosted by Democracy Docket · EN
Every week, election lawyer Marc Elias interviews lawmakers, policy leaders and changemakers about the problems facing our democracy and how we fix them.
61episodes
Episodes
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Is Trump Really Just a Mob Boss? | Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade
6d ago00:36:03Tap to summarizeFormer U.S. attorney and University of Michigan law professor Barbara McQuade spent decades prosecuting organized crime, corrupt officials and con men. In her new book, "The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government," she makes the case that what's happening in Washington right now looks very familiar. In this episode of Defending Democracy, Marc Elias sits down with McQuade to break down how Trump has turned the Department of Justice into a tool of political retribution, why major law firms and media companies caved to White House pressure and what everyday Americans can do to fight back.
Transcribe →The State That Moved Fastest to Gut Black Votes | Rep. Justin Pearson
1w ago00:35:03Tap to summarizeDays after the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, Tennessee became the first state in the country to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district. Memphis was cracked into thirds in just 72 hours, with no hearings, no community input and no requirement to notify voters. State Rep. Justin Pearson breaks down how it happened, what was lost and why he's running for Congress anyway — in the very district they drew to stop him.
Transcribe →3 Ways Trump Is Trying to Steal Your Vote in 2026
2w ago00:34:49Tap to summarizeDemocracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the three fronts of Donald Trump's war on voting: restricting voter registration through proof-of-citizenship laws and a national voter database, controlling who gets to use mail-in voting by weaponizing the U.S. Postal Service and laying the groundwork for another "stop the count" campaign.
Transcribe →Trump Is Trying to Rig 2026 with a Secret Voter List
2w ago00:34:38Tap to summarizeTrump and his administration are quietly building a national list of approved voters — and if your name isn't on it, you may not be able to vote by mail in 2026. Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the scheme, explains why Trump's DOJ is losing in the courts, and lists what you can do right now to protect your vote.
Transcribe →Trump Is Spreading a California Election Lie. Here's the Truth.
2w ago00:23:38Tap to summarizeAs California carefully counts its votes the same way it always has, Trump and his allies are calling it rigged, weaponizing the DOJ and laying the groundwork to reject results they don't like in 2026. In this video, Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias pulls back the curtain on Trump's California election strategy and what it means.
Transcribe →The Supreme Court is About to Decide the Future of Your Vote
3w ago00:38:14Tap to summarizeThe Supreme Court didn't issue any opinions on major democracy cases this week — but the decisions that will shape our country's future are coming. Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the three biggest cases on the docket: RNC v. Watson, which could ban states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day; NRSC v. FEC, a campaign finance case Marc personally argued before the court; and Trump v. Barbara, the birthright citizenship case, which has sweeping implications for voter ID.
Transcribe →DOJ misconduct, the Supreme Court and Media's Collapse | Harry Litman
3w ago00:34:28Tap to summarizeMarc Elias and Harry Litman reunite to break down the biggest rule-of-law stories of the moment: DOJ corruption, what the Supreme Court is likely to hand down this month and why legacy media is in an irreversible death spiral. Plus: what happened to Todd Blanche?
Transcribe →They're Stopping Trump's $1.8 Billion Slush Fund | Skye Perryman
3w ago00:38:22Tap to summarizeDemocracy Docket founder Marc Elias sits down with Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, to break down the legal fight against Trump's $1.788 billion slush fund — and why the Department of Justice made a huge legal mistake. They also discuss Democracy Forward's efforts to expose DOGE's voter data security breaches, and how their work is an important reminder that due process is available to all of us. Even when going up against the president.Subscribe to our free newsletters or upgrade to support our work: https://bit.ly/3OK7w4A Learn more about Democracy Forward: https://democracyforward.org/
Transcribe →The GOP Power Grab Is Running Into Unexpected Resistance
4w ago00:19:18Tap to summarizeAfter the Callais decision, many Republican states rushed to push through gerrymandered maps. While some of these redistricting efforts resulted in wins for the GOP, two states resisted—and the fight is still on. In this video, Marc Elias breaks down the most recent developments in the gerrymandering war and what that means for representation across the South.
Transcribe →Supreme Court Only Applies Made-Up Rule When It Helps Republicans
May 2100:31:19Tap to summarizeThe Purcell principle is a legal concept in U.S. election law that dictates federal courts should not alter state voting rules, district maps, or election procedures too close to an election. That is, unless you’re a Republican state. Marc Elias breaks down the contradictory nature of the Supreme Court when it comes to using Purcell, and what this means for the redistricting fight ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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