Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

The podcast discusses the recent Supreme Court oral argument on the ballot eligibility of Donald Trump, highlighting the main takeaways and the court's skepticism towards the petitioners' arguments. The speakers analyze a key moment during the case, discuss the surprising response from Trump's lawyers regarding the insurrection, examine the term limit discussion in a potential third term presidential candidate case, and explore recent developments in the Trump democracy world, emphasizing the role of the courts in countering voter suppression efforts.

Every election, tens of thousands of ballots are rejected. Many of these rejections are due to minor mistakes made by voters or officials that cause otherwise valid ballots to be tossed. The Republican Party has been involved in efforts to expand what types of errors cause a ballot to be rejected and limit voters’ opportunities to correct errors in key states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and more. Marc and Paige explain this widespread issue and what you should know. 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: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtube-subscribe/ -Support our work and keep our content free: https://www.democracydocket.com/help-keep-our-content-free/ Resources: -Democracy Docket’s 2023 Litigation Report: https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/democracy-dockets-2023-litigation-report/ Wisconsin: -Wisconsin Court Issues Major Mail-in Voting Victory Ahead of 2024 Election: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/wisconsin-court-issues-major-mail-in-voting-victory-ahead-of-2024-election -Rise v. Wisconsin Elections Commission Case: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/wisconsin-witness-certificate-incomplete-address-guidance-rise/ -League of Women Voters of Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Elections Commission Case: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/wisconsin-witness-certificate-incomplete-address-guidance-lwv/ North Carolina: -North Carolina Changes Same-Day Voter Registration Rules to Comply With Court Ruling: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/north-carolina-changes-same-day-voter-registration-rules-to-comply-with-court-ruling/ -Lawsuits challenging S.B. 747: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/state/north-carolina/2023/10/?k=747 -Disenfranchising Rural North Carolina Is By Design: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/disenfranchising-rural-north-carolina-is-by-design/ -Unpacking North Carolina Republicans’ Voter Suppression Bill S.B. 747: https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/unpacking-north-carolina-republicans-voter-suppression-bill-s-b-747/ Pennsylvania: -Republican Attorneys General Don’t Want Your Ballot To Count: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/republican-attorneys-general-dont-want-your-ballot-to-count/ -Pennsylvania Supreme Court Explains 2022 Order Disqualifying Certain Mail-in Ballots: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/pennsylvania-supreme-court-explains-2022-order-disqualifying-certain-mail-in-ballots/ -Majority of Rejected Pennsylvania Mail-in Ballots Came From Democrats: ​​https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/majority-of-rejected-pennsylvania-mail-in-ballots-came-from-democrats/ -Eakin v. Adams County Board of Elections Case: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/pennsylvania-undated-and-wrongly-dated-mail-in-ballots-challenge-eakin/ -Pennsylvania State Conference of the NAACP v. Chapman Case: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/pennsylvania-undated-and-wrongly-dated-mail-in-ballots-challenge-pa-naacp/ -Pennsylvania Court Dismisses Republican Lawsuit Challenging Cure Procedures: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/pennsylvania-court-dismisses-republican-lawsuit-challenging-cure-procedures/ Texas:-Federal Judge Strikes Down Portions of Texas Voter Suppression Law S.B. 1: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-judge-strikes-down-portions-of-texas-voter-suppression-law-s-b-1/-Texas Governor Signs Election Bills Into Law, Including Two Aimed at Harris County: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-governor-signs-election-bills-into-law-including-two-aimed-at-harris-county/ -How We Broke Voting Records in Harris County by Chris Hollins: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/how-we-broke-voting-records-in-harris-county/

On Feb. 8, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case that will likely determine if Donald Trump is eligible for office following the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify him from the state’s ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Marc and Paige break down the central questions in this case and give an update on some of Trump's legal troubles.    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 -Support our work and keep our content free Resources: -How the 14th Amendment Could Disqualify Trump and His Allies -Trump and Section 3 of the 14th Amendment -Case: Colorado Trump 14th Amendment Ballot Disqualification Challenge -US Supreme Court To Decide If Trump Can Appear On Colorado Primary Ballot -Maine Keeps Trump on the Primary Ballot Until Decision From U.S. Supreme Court -179 Congressional Republicans File Brief Supporting Trump in Colorado Case Before SCOTUS -House Democrats Urge Clarence Thomas to Recuse From Trump’s Colorado Case

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