Defending Democracy with Marc Elias
Democracy Docket
Every week, election lawyer Marc Elias interviews lawmakers, policy leaders and changemakers about the problems facing our democracy and how we fix them.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 20, 2025 • 47min
This is Some Serious BS | Rep. LaMonica McIver
New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver was targeted by the Trump administration for simply doing her job. She sits down with Marc to talk about the weaponization of government, the importance of oversight at immigration facilities, and her unbelievable first year in Congress. -Become a Democracy Docket premium member: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/member-youtube-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket -TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced and edited by Sabrina Jacobs.
Aug 12, 2025 • 45min
The Texas GOP Loves Their "Commander-in-Cheat" | Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer left Texas to deny Republicans a quorum and block their gerrymandered map. He sat down with Marc to discuss the threats to him and his colleagues, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Paxton's internal battle, and what’s next in the redistricting fight. Support Texas Democrats by visiting onetexas.org-Become a Democracy Docket premium member: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/member-youtube-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket -TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Sabrina Jacobs and edited by Nar Melkonian.
Aug 8, 2025 • 47min
The DOJ Can “Jump in the Gulf of Maine” | Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows
The DOJ wants your voter information. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows joins the podcast to discuss the DOJ’s demand for state voter lists, Maine’s dangerous voter ID ballot initiative, and how Trump’s conspiracy theories harm election workers. -Become a Democracy Docket premium member: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/member-youtube-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket -TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced and edited by Sabrina Jacobs.
May 23, 2025 • 29min
Democrats’ Plan to Stop the SAVE Act, DOGE | Sen. Alex Padilla
California Senator Alex Padilla foiled Republicans’ attempt to pass the SAVE Act this week. Sen. Padilla joins Marc Elias to discuss protecting voters’ information from DOGE, his experience expanding ballot access as California’s secretary of state and the work Senate Democrats are doing to fight voter suppression.-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0/-Become a member of our premium content: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcl0-0t-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Paige Moskowitz and edited by Sabrina Jacobs.
May 20, 2025 • 34min
Why Trump is the “Most Corrupt” President Ever | Rep. Greg Landsman
Ohio Congressman Greg Landsman joins Marc Elias to discuss why Trump is the most corrupt president ever, how the Republicans' budget would gut healthcare for millions and how to remove extremism from Congress. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0/-Become a member of our premium content: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcl0-0t-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Paige Moskowitz and edited by Sabrina Jacobs.
May 16, 2025 • 40min
This is a “Dangerous Moment” for All of Our Civil Rights | Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins Marc Elias to discuss his trip to El Salvador to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration's attacks on the rule of law and why all of our civil rights are at risk.-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0/-Become a member of our premium content: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcl0-0t-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced and edited by Paige Moskowitz.
Apr 4, 2025 • 35min
The GOP is Full of "Cowards" and "Crazies" | Sen. Andy Kim
New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim hosted a series of town halls in Republican congressional districts after the local representatives refused to do so. Sen. Kim joins Marc Elias to discuss what he heard from voters at these events, his co-Senator Cory Booker's historic speech and why he believes the GOP is no longer a political party.-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/signup/-Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis episode was produced and edited by Paige Moskowitz.
Mar 13, 2025 • 27min
What Every American Can Do To Fight DOGE | Rep. Jamie Raskin
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin joins Defending Democracy to discuss the state of democracy, how Republicans are ceding their constitutional powers and the one action every American should do to protest DOGE. -Sign up for our free newsletters: http://newsletters.democracydocket.com/yt-subscribe-Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced and edited by Paige Moskowitz.
Mar 9, 2025 • 37min
The United States is in a "Soft Coup" | Joyce Vance
Former U.S. Attorney and legal expert Joyce Vance talks with Marc Elias about whether the court system can hold Trump accountable, how Trump loyalists are trying to transform the DOJ and why Vance is describing our current political state as a "soft coup."Check out Joyce's Substack: https://substack.com/@joycevance-Sign up for our free newsletters: http://newsletters.democracydocket.com/yt-subscribe-Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Paige Moskowitz and edited by Narineh Melkonian.
Feb 23, 2025 • 40min
Republican Explains Why Musk is Trump's Biggest Liability | Sarah Longwell
Sarah Longwell — Republican political strategist, publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group Podcast — joins Marc Elias to discuss the cowardice of so-called moderate Republicans, why Elon Musk is one of the GOP's biggest liabilities and the media landscape.Check out The Bulwark: https://www.thebulwark.com/-Sign up for our free newsletters: http://newsletters.democracydocket.com/yt-subscribe-Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket -Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket -Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Paige Moskowitz and edited by Narineh Melkonian.
