Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

Over 20 lawsuits are using the 14th Amendment to challenge former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to serve a second term in office due to his involvement in the January 6th Insurrection. Marc and Paige explain what these lawsuits are doing, the issues they face and when a decision might come on the issue.    For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! -⁠X/Twitter⁠ -⁠Post -⁠Facebook -⁠Instagram -⁠TikTok -Threads -⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters Resources: -How the 14th Amendment Could Disqualify Trump and His Allies -The U.S. Court System, Explained -Profiles in Cowardice -Donald Trump’s Plot Against America -A “Big Lie” Ring Leader Becomes Speaker of the House

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett joins Marc to discuss voter suppression in Texas, the cowardice of Republicans to stand up for democracy and what gives her hope. Plus, her thoughts on George Santos’ expulsion from Congress. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! -⁠X/Twitter⁠ -⁠Post⁠ -⁠Facebook -⁠Instagram⁠ -⁠TikTok⁠ -⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠ Resources: -Profiles in Cowardice by Marc Elias -Santos, McCarthy and the Shameless Republican Party by Marc Elias -The Real Reason Why Texas Republicans Are Criminalizing the Vote by Delilah Agho-Otoghile-Battling for Democracy in the Lone Star State by State Rep. Julie Johnson

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was having a good year — until the 8th Circuit ruled that there’s no private right of action under the statute. Marc and Paige break down that the 8th Circuit’s decision means, new threats facing the Voting Rights Act and a group of new lawsuits seeking to protect ballot access using lesser-known parts of the landmark law.  For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! -⁠X/Twitter⁠ -⁠Post⁠ -⁠Facebook⁠ -⁠Instagram⁠ -⁠TikTok⁠ -⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠ Resources: Lawsuits: -Alabama Congressional Redistricting -Louisiana Congressional Redistricting -Georgia Congressional Redistricting Articles: -Federal Judge Rules North Dakota’s Legislative Districts Violate Voting Rights Act, Orders New Map -Federal Judge Rules Washington State’s Legislative Map Violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act -5th Circuit Panel Asks to Overturn Its Own Precedent, but Affirms Galveston County, TX Violated the Voting Rights Act -8th Circuit Rules Private Plaintiffs Cannot Sue Under Section 2 of Voting Rights Act -The U.S. Court System, Explained -The Conservative Legal Movement’s Latest Target -A Constellation of Anti-Voting Groups Threaten Democracy-Using Lesser Known Portions of the Voting Rights Act, New Lawsuits Aim To Protect Voters

Democracy was on the ballot this past Election Day — and it won. Marc and Paige discuss major takeaways from this year’s election and what it means for 2024. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! -⁠Twitter⁠ -⁠Facebook⁠ -Instagram⁠ -⁠TikTok⁠ -Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Resources: Ohio: -Article: Ohio Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Abortion Rights Amendment -Article: Ohio Secretary of State Quietly Removes 26,000+ Ohioans From Voter Rolls -Article: Ohio Voters Defeat Attempt to Raise Ballot Measure Threshold -Article: LaRose Rewrites Abortions Rights Amendment Summary With Misleading Language -Lawsuit: HB 458 Challenge -Lawsuit: Ohio Reproductive Freedom Language Challenge Virginia: -Article: Virginia Groups Condemn Youngkin Administration for Illegal Voter Purge Kentucky: -Article: Lawsuit Challenging Kentucky’s Rights Restoration Process Dismissed Pennsylvania: -Article: Democrat Dan McCaffery Wins Pennsylvania Supreme Court Seat -Article: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Blocks Counting of Wrongly Dated & Undated Ballots -Article: What’s at Stake in Pennsylvania’s State Supreme Court Race? -Hinds County, Mississippi: -Article: Hinds County Experiences Election Day Meltdown Spanish-Language Ballot Access: -Lawsuit: Union County, New Jersey Spanish Voting Materials -Lawsuit: York County, Pennsylvania Spanish Voting Materials

Marc Elias answers the top questions from Defending Democracy listeners about democracy, voting rights, and litigation. Plus, Marc shares what gives him hope for the 2024 election. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket across the web! ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Post⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Resources: Marc Elias: A “Big Lie” Ring Leader Becomes Speaker of the House Marc Elias: The “Big One” Missing From Trump’s Indictment Defending Democracy Podcast: How Thousands of Mississippians Could Get Their Right to Vote Back

Mike Podhorzer, former political director of the AFL-CIO, discusses the surge of activity in the labor movement and the connection between the fight for democracy and labor rights. He also highlights the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump and the Republican Party, the future of democracy in relation to the upcoming 2024 election, the impact of the labor movement in Michigan, and the importance of understanding beliefs, media influence, and mobilization.

Across the country, there are growing reports of small groups and individuals harassing voters, challenging people’s rights to vote and spreading election disinformation. This movement of election vigilantism is poised to become one of the biggest threats to the 2024 elections. Marc and Paige break down exactly what these groups are doing, the new technologies supporting their work and how to stop them. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Post⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Shop Democracy Docket merch! Use code THANKYOU10 at checkout for 10% off your order of $25 or more. Offer expires Oct. 31, 2023. Resources: New York Voters Intimidated By Individuals Impersonating Elections Officials Virginia Attorney General Warns Right-Wing Group To Stop Sending False Info to Voters The Growing Threat of Republican Election Vigilantes The Republican Party's Voter Fraud Vigilantes The Right's Dangerous and Unreliable Alternative to ERIC New Mexico Case: Voter Reference Foundation v. Balderas

The redistricting cycle is far from over. Litigation over congressional maps continues in 12 states, but in 5 key southern states, there is a path for fair maps in 2024. Marc and Paige break down these states — Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida — where they’re at in the litigation process and why every American should care.  For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Post⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Shop Democracy Docket merch! Use code THANKYOU10 at checkout for 10% off your order of $25 or more. Offer expires Oct. 31, 2023. Resources: Alabama Case page Alert: After Unprecedented Defiance, Alabama Finally Has a Fair Congressional Map for 2024 Louisiana Case page Alert: US Supreme Court Denies Petitioners in Louisiana Redistricting Case Emergency Relief Georgia Case pages Nearly Two Years Later, Georgia’s Congressional Map Heads to Trial South Carolina Case page Takeaways from Supreme Court Arguments Over South Carolina’s Congressional Map Florida Case pages Alert: Florida’s 5th Congressional District Heads to Federal Trial Alert: Florida Judge Strikes Down DeSantis Congressional Map for Diminishing Black Voting Power in North Florida

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, it was allegedly returning the question of abortion to the states and voters. However, the same forces that work to reduce abortion access also aim to suppress voters. Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, joins the podcast to discuss how the fight for abortion access is connected to the fight for democracy and you can’t have one without the other. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Post⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Resources: Learn about Democracy Forward’s lawsuit fighting to secure mifepristone access Marc Elias: A Constellation of Anti-Voting Groups Threaten Democracy Katy Shanahan: Abortion Rights Are at the Center of Ohio GOP’s Latest Attack on Democracy Alert: Ohio Supreme Court Orders Small Tweak to GOP Rewrite of Abortion Amendment Ballot Language Alert: Abortion Amendment Will Be On Ballot This Fall, Ohio Supreme Court Rules

Republicans in North Carolina are taking voter suppression and election subversion to a new level. Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, joins to discuss anti-democratic acts from the GOP, redistricting, how she plans to engage young and rural voters, plus, who exactly is the interim speaker of the U.S. House? For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Donate to the North Carolina Democratic Party. Volunteer with the North Carolina Democratic Party. Use code THANKYOU10 for 10% off the Democracy Docket merch shop on orders of $25 or more. Discount is good through the end of October 2023. Follow Democracy Docket! ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Post⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletters⁠  Resources: ⁠Alert: S.B. 749⁠ ⁠ Alert: S.B. 747⁠ Article: ⁠The North Carolina Supreme Court Attacked Democracy in Broad Daylight⁠ by Anderson Clayton Article: ⁠How North Carolina Democrats’ Youngest Party Chair Plans To Protect Voting⁠ by Mac Brower