
Defending Democracy with Marc Elias
Every week, election lawyer Marc Elias interviews lawmakers, policy leaders and changemakers about the problems facing our democracy and how we fix them.
Latest episodes

Jul 5, 2024 • 39min
How We Fix New York’s Terrible Voting Laws with State Sen. Zellnor Myrie
New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie discusses New York’s terrible voting laws, efforts to improve ballot access and how MAGA extremism has infected even the Empire State.
Check out Sen. Myrie’s website: https://www.zellnor.nyc/
-Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/
-Become a Democracy Docket member: democracydocket.com/member
-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/
-Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
This episode was produced by Allie Rothenberg, Gabrielle Corporal and Paige Moskowitz. It was edited by Gabrielle Corporal and Paige Moskowitz. Defending Democracy is a production of Democracy Docket, LLC.

Jun 21, 2024 • 35min
Can the Justice System Handle Trump? with Joyce Vance
Law professor and former United States Attorney Joyce Vance joins Marc Elias to discuss whether the justice system can handle a defendant like Trump, the state of voting rights in Alabama and what we all can do to save democracy.
Read Joyce’s Substack: https://joycevance.substack.com
-Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/-Become a Democracy Docket member: democracydocket.com/member
-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/
-Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
This podcast was produced by Allie Rothenberg, Gabrielle Corporal and Paige Moskowitz. It was edited by Gabrielle Corporal and Paige Moskowitz. Defending Democracy is a production of Democracy Docket, LLC.

Jun 14, 2024 • 43min
Is the Media Failing to Protect Democracy? with Dan Pfeiffer
Pod Save America co-host, former Obama senior advisor and writer Dan Pfeiffer joins to discuss the role of media in protecting democracy, polls and changes in politics over the past 20 years with Marc Elias.
-Get involved with Vote Save America: https://votesaveamerica.com
-Read Dan’s substack: https://www.messageboxnews.com
-Listen to Pod Save America: https://www.crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/
-Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/
-Become a Democracy Docket member: democracydocket.com/member
-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/
-Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket

May 17, 2024 • 44min
How the Right-Wing Suppresses the Will of Voters with Ari Berman
Voting rights journalist Ari Berman joins Defending Democracy to discuss his new book, right-wing extremism, gerrymandering, the U.S. Supreme Court and more.
Buy Ari’s new book Minority Rule here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374600211/minorityrule
🗳️Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/
🗳️Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/
🗳️Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/anq6pXssbvU
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket

May 10, 2024 • 18min
Major Absentee Voting Case Headed to Wisconsin Supreme Court
On May 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a case arguing that drop boxes should be reinstated in the battleground state. Marc and Paige explain what’s going on in the lawsuit, what to look for in oral argument and the potential electoral impact of the court’s decision.
🗳️Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/
🗳️Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/
🗳️Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com
Learn more about the upcoming oral argument: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/wisconsin-supreme-court-to-consider-reinstating-ballot-drop-boxes-for-2024/
Listen to this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7G_pa9oNacg
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket

Apr 22, 2024 • 40min
Trump's Absolute Immunity Claims are Going to SCOTUS with Harry Litman
On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear former President Donald Trump’s claims that he has absolute presidential immunity and cannot be prosecuted for actions he took while in office. Former federal prosecutor and host of the Talking Feds Podcast Harry Litman joins to discuss the merit of Trump’s claims, what you should look out for during oral argument and whether the justice system can handle Trump.
Sign up for Democracy Docket's premium membership! Subscribe here: https://www.democracydocket.com/member/
Learn more about the Talking Feds Speaker Series : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jen-psaki-discussing-say-more-with-harry-litman-tickets-866910250897
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
-Subscribe to our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/
-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/

Apr 19, 2024 • 44min
Trump, Project 2025, the Supreme Court and the Election with Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton, former U.S. secretary of state and 2016 presidential nominee, joins Defending Democracy to talk with Marc Elias about the harm Donald Trump has done to our democracy and America’s global standing. Plus, Secretary Clinton talks about her thoughts on the GOP’s plans for 2024, Supreme Court justices and President Joe Biden.
Sign up for Democracy Docket's premium membership! Subscribe here: https://www.democracydocket.com/member/
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
-Subscribe to our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/
-Support our work and keep our content free: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/

Apr 12, 2024 • 35min
Surviving Impeachment, Threats and Another Election with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold joins Marc to discuss the rising threats against election workers, efforts to hold Donald Trump and John Eastman accountable and how secretaries of state are securing elections — plus the details of Colorado Republicans’ attempt to impeach her.
Sign up for Democracy Docket's premium membership! Subscribe here: https://www.democracydocket.com/member/
Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.democracydocket.com/defendingdemocracy/
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
-Subscribe to our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/-Support our work and keep our content free: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/

Apr 5, 2024 • 47min
The GOP's Pursuit of Gerrymandered Power with Attorney General Eric Holder
How maps are drawn determines electoral power in the United States. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder joins Marc Elias to discuss the fight for fair maps, attacks on voting rights and federal courts’ failure to protect democracy.
Sign up for Democracy Docket's premium membership! Subscribe here: https://www.democracydocket.com/member/
Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.democracydocket.com/defendingdemocracy/
Follow Democracy Docket!
-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/@democracydocket
-Subscribe to our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/
-Support our work and keep our content free: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/Resources:
-South Carolina Will Use Gerrymandered Congressional Map in 2024, District Court Rules: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/south-carolina-will-use-gerrymandered-congressional-map-in-2024-district-court-rules/
-Find the redistricting lawsuits Democracy Docket is tracking: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/topic/redistricting-litigation/
-National Democratic Redistricting Committee: https://democraticredistricting.com

Mar 29, 2024 • 33min
Trump Is More Than a 4-Year Problem with Molly Jong-Fast
A second Trump presidency would last longer than 4 years. Writer and political commentator Molly Jong-Fast joins Defending Democracy to discuss how a second Trump term would be different, the myth of the "moderate" Republican and the media's role in all of this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Sign up for Democracy Docket's new premium membership! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe here: https://www.democracydocket.com/member/
Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.democracydocket.com/defendingdemocracy/
Follow Democracy Docket!
-X/Twitter
-Facebook
-Instagram
-TikTok
-Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocket
-Subscribe to our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/
-Support our work and keep our content free: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/
Read Mike Johnson’s House is Imploding by Molly Jong-Fast: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/mike-johnson-gop-house-implosion