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/su...
May 23, 2025•29 min
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: h...
May 20, 2025•34 min
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: ...
May 16, 2025•40 min
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 w...
Apr 04, 2025•35 min
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...
Mar 13, 2025•27 min
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...
Mar 09, 2025•37 min
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 o...
Feb 23, 2025•40 min
California Congressman Eric Swalwell joins the podcast to discuss the first few weeks of the second Trump administration, how Trump’s actions are harming our democracy and security and Democrats’ plan to fight back. -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.democracyd...
Feb 07, 2025•28 min
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, joins Marc Elias to discuss the legal efforts to fight against Trump's illegal and unconstitutional executive orders. Check out Democracy Forward's legal response center: https://www.democracy2025.org/ Learn more about Democracy Forward and support its work: https://democracyforward.org/ -Sign up for our free newsletters: http://newsletters.democracydocket.com/yt-subscribe -Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket....
Jan 22, 2025•34 min
New York Congressman and former federal prosecutor Dan Goldman gives his opinion on Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s election subversion indictment, whether we’ll see the classified documents report, cabinet nominees and more. -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://...
Jan 17, 2025•33 min
New York Congressman Dan Goldman joins Marc Elias to discuss how Trump’s proposed January 6 pardons would harm our justice system, political nominees, the implementation of Project 2025 and more. -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 Dem...
Dec 13, 2024•35 min
Representative-elect Shomari Figures is Alabama’s new congressman after litigation led to the creation of a second majority-Black district. Figures sits down with Marc Elias to discuss the ongoing fight for voting rights in Alabama, the people of his district and his plans for Congress. -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.democracydo...
Dec 06, 2024•37 min
Now that President-elect Donald Trump is headed back to the White House and Special Counsel Jack Smith asked to dismiss the DC and Florida federal indictments, what happens now? Marc Elias and former federal prosecutor Harry Litman discuss the future of Trump’s federal cases, whether the state cases will continue on and whether we’ll see a Smith Report. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KVuTTKVetZA Check out Harry’s Substack: https://harrylitman.substack.com/ Follow Marc on Bluesky...
Nov 27, 2024•41 min
When will we know who won the presidential election? How exactly do states certify results to the Electoral College? Actor and voting rights activist Kerry Washington has been on the campaign trail for the past few months meeting with voters across the country. Kerry collected voters' questions and concerns about the election and got the answers right from the source — Marc Elias. Listen to Kerry and Marc discuss everything you should know about what we'll see on election night and after on YouT...
Nov 01, 2024•40 min
Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz joins the podcast to discuss his thoughts on Democrats’ chances of winning the U.S. Senate and White House, the urgent need to pass the Native American Voting Rights Act and what voters should do between now and Election Day. Don't miss our next events! Election Roadmap: Eva Longoria and Voting Rights Activists on What To Expect One Week Out Monday, Oct. 28 | 7:00 p.m. ET Actress and producer Eva Longoria in conversation with voting rights leader Stacey Abrams, Voto L...
Oct 25, 2024•51 min
Former Minnesota Senator Al Franken joins Marc Elias to discuss how they met on, at the time, the largest election recount in American history, Franken’s view on his former GOP colleagues and what people should do to get involved in the election. -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 ...
Oct 18, 2024•55 min
George Conway was set to join then-President-Elect Donald Trump’s Justice Department, but decided against it at the last minute. Conway speaks with Marc Elias about why he refuses to support Trump, what made him speak out and his work to keep Trump out of office. -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 ...
Oct 11, 2024•52 min
Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost talks with Marc Elias about engaging young voters, how Republicans are suppressing voters and what he’s worried about in the upcoming elections. -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 Listen to this episode wher...
Oct 04, 2024•35 min
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, a former state attorney general, United States attorney and Supreme Court clerk, maps out the transformation of the Supreme Court from a revered institution to one facing immense distrust and credibility issues. Sen. Blumenthal speaks with Marc Elias about the necessary reforms to the Court and what is preventing their passage in Congress. -Sign up for our free newsletters: http://newsletters.democracydocket.com/yt-subscribe -Become a member of our premium...
Sep 27, 2024•37 min
New York Congressman Dan Goldman (D) joins Marc Elias to discuss why he’s made voting rights a top issue, the major concerns he has about Project 2025, efforts to fix the U.S. Supreme Court and Republican voter suppression. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -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.demo...
Sep 20, 2024•43 min
Republicans have been laying the groundwork to subvert elections this fall. It’s all a part of their three-part strategy to undermine free and fair elections and seize power for themselves. Marc Elias and Paige Moskowitz break it down. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -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:...
Sep 13, 2024•15 min
Sarah Longwell, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump, wants you to know that not all Republicans support former President Donald Trump. She discusses with Marc Elias fractures in the GOP, how Trump is a threat to democracy and conservative ideals and what Democratic voters need to understand about modern Republican voters. Learn more about Republican Voters Against Trump: https://rvat.org/ -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a member...
Sep 06, 2024•59 min
As a critical swing state, Michigan is on the front lines in the fight to protect democracy. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins Marc Elias to discuss how Michigan has worked to protect elections this fall, the growing threat of election deniers and what citizens can do to help safeguard voting rights. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt -Support our work: https...
Aug 30, 2024•40 min
The Republican plan for the 2024 election is simple: make it harder to vote and easier to cheat. Marc Elias and Paige Moskowitz break down the various tactics the GOP is using to suppress voters, how these efforts will intensify and what actions voters can take to protect themselves. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/member-yt -Support our work: https://www.democracydocket....
Aug 23, 2024•16 min
Nearly 50 million Americans lack an active ID that has their current name and address. And if they’re in a state with strict voter ID laws, it likely means they can’t vote. But who in America lacks photo ID and who gets squeezed out of the electorate because of it? Lauren Kunis of VoteRiders joins Marc Elias to break down these stats, myths behind noncitizens voting and more. Learn more about VoteRiders: http://voteriders.org/ Volunteer with VoteRiders: https://www.mobilize.us/voteriders/ Sign u...
Aug 16, 2024•40 min
While Congress makes laws for the whole country, the reality is that people’s everyday lives are more affected by their state legislature. So why don’t we pay more attention to state legislative races? Especially when extremist candidates are winning seats? Daniel Squadron of The States Project joins to discuss the power of state legislatures, why everyone should pay attention to these down-ballot races this fall and how to get involved. Learn more about The States Project: https://statesproject...
Aug 09, 2024•41 min
What happened with election lawsuits in July and what cases should you look out for in August? Marc Elias and Paige Moskowitz break it all down. -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a member of our premium content: https://www.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/Democra...
Aug 02, 2024•14 min
Former Congressman Joe Kennedy III joins Defending Democracy to talk about the local solutions to national democracy problems, the Groundwork Project, whether Election Day should be a holiday and more. Learn more about the Groundwork Project: https://www.groundworkproject.com/ Learn more about the states and local organizations Groundwork works with: https://www.groundworkproject.com/our-states/ -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a member...
Jul 26, 2024•45 min
It’s clear that there are issues with the U.S. Supreme Court. From justices accepting lavish gifts to the shadow docket to outrageous rulings, immense reform is needed to ensure that faith and trust is restored in the nation’s highest court. Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the most pressing issues facing the Court and how we fix them. -Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtubesubscribe/ -Become a Democracy Docket member: democracydocket.com/member -S...
Jul 19, 2024•52 min
Everything is bigger in Texas — including voter suppression. Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke discusses the fight for voting rights in the Lone Star State and how people can help. Support Powered by People: https://poweredxpeople.org/ -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.co...
Jul 12, 2024•45 min
