Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

Democracy Docket
  • 5.0 (7)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    The New Rules for the Post-Trump Era | Brian Tyler Cohen

    Brian Tyler Cohen joins Marc Elias to discuss why an eagerness to fight should be the Democratic Party’s North Star. In this interview, they break down Donald Trump's increasing desperation, the importance of a Democratic media-ecosystem, and Brian's new book, "The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World." Brian Tyler Cohen — The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/thedayafter Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday 00:00 Today’s Guest: Brian Tyler Cohen 00:51 Trump’s Desperation & What Happens Before the Midterms 03:19 Why Republicans Stay Loyal to Trump 07:09 Why Democrats Are Overperforming Right Now 09:28 The Day After: Brian Tyler Cohen’s New Book Explained 13:14 Why Democrats Fail to Use Power Effectively 17:14 The Rise of Progressive Media & Digital Influence 23:34 Why Collaboration Matters in Political Media 27:13 Redistricting Battles & The Fight for the House 38:38 Obama Interview, Viral Moments & Final Takeaways

    48 min

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Republicans Keep Losing Voting Rights Cases

    Republicans are waging an all-out war on voting rights in court – and we keep beating them. In this video, Marc Elias is joined by Democracy Docket's Legal Content Editor Ashley Cleaves to break down all of the recent wins for the Pro-Democracy movement. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday 00:00 Good News for Democracy 01:21 Indiana Voter ID Case: Student IDs Restored for Voting 07:57 DOJ Voter File Lawsuits: Federal Government’s Push for Voter Data 11:06 DOJ Losses in Court: Judges Reject Requests for Voter Information 14:06 Concerns Over Data Use & Federal Overreach 21:14 California Ballot Seizure Case: 650,000 Ballots & Supreme Court Response 31:10 Arizona Voting Cases: Three Major Losses for Election Deniers 33:40 Election Certification Battles: Ongoing Threats in Key States 36:16 Arkansas Voting Case: Court Blocks Wet Signature Requirement 40:32 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Major Victory & Implications 42:32 Final Takeaways: Why Legal Wins Matter & Staying Engaged

    46 min

  3. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Founding Fathers Didn't Plan For Trump | Gov. Josh Shapiro

    When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, they couldn't have imagined that we would have a president with no shame or integrity. Today, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joins Marc Elias to break down the consequential voter roll lawsuits, how Democratic governors are holding the line against the White House, and what we can all do to join the opposition movement. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday 00:00 Today's Guest: Governor Josh Shapiro 00:59 State of U.S. Democracy Under Trump 04:45 Political Courage, Integrity, and Leadership 07:42 Fighting Trump’s 2020 Election Challenges 10:51 Why Republicans Still Question 2020 Results 12:07 Lawsuit Over Voter Data & Election Security 15:53 From Attorney General to Governor: Legal Strategy 17:36 Fixing I-95 Fast & Government Efficiency 20:15 Balancing Fighting Trump with Broad Popularity 22:42 What Voters Actually Care About in 2026 25:59 Midterm Outlook & Control of Congress 29:30 Voting Rights Reforms & Election Modernization 33:52 Cost, Efficiency & Fixing Election Systems 38:03 Writing a Book & Personal Reflections 40:18 What Citizens Can Do to Defend Democracy

    45 min

  4. 14 APR

    Orban Conceded. Trump NEVER Will.

    When Hungary's Viktor Orban lost his recent election, he accepted the result. When Donald Trump loses, he cries foul — and his base is trained to follow. In this video, Marc covers why Republicans are all incentivized to deny election results, what lessons we should learn from Orban's defeat, and how we can form a resilient opposition movement to defeat Trump in 2026 and beyond. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday 00:00 Orban vs Trump — Key Differences Explained 01:08 Why MAGA Looks to Viktor Orban 01:53 Orban’s Stunning Election Loss & Landslide Defeat 03:01 The Concession: What Orban Did That Trump Won’t 04:10 Lessons from Hungary: Coalition Building Wins 05:20 Why Democrats Must Unite Against Authoritarianism 07:18 Media Matters: The Role of Independent Journalism 08:28 The Dangerous Myth: “Winning Big Guarantees Democracy” 10:09 Trump’s Movement & Election Denialism Explained 15:53 Why Trump Will Never Concede an Election 19:27 2026 Warning: What Could Happen Next & How to Prepare 27:40 What the U.S. Must Learn from Hungary

    33 min

  5. 11 APR

    Are Republican Voters Finally Turning Against Trump? | Sen. Chris Van Hollen

    Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins Marc Elias to discuss Donald Trump's unauthorized war with Iran, the politicization of the Department of Justice, and Republican efforts to restrict voting access through the SAVE Act. Van Hollen breaks down how Congress is fighting back — from war powers resolutions to the 2026 elections — and explains why the pressure from voters is finally starting to matter. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday 00:00 Today's Guest: Sen. Chris Van Hollen 00:42 What Can Be Done to Stop Trump’s War Powers? 03:14 How Is This Different From the Iraq War? 05:37 What Can We Learn From Standing Up to Trump? 10:40 Can Individual Action Still Make a Difference? 13:08 Is There Real Hope for Political Change? 18:25 Should Democrats Focus on Democracy or the Economy? 20:23 How Serious Are Threats to Elections? 27:34 Why Are Republicans Pursuing Unpopular Policies? 30:44 Is the DOJ Being Weaponized—and What Comes Next?

    47 min

  6. 9 APR

    SCARY: Trump's Criminal Defense Lawyer Is Running The DOJ

    Donald Trump has installed his former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as the new acting Attorney General. In this episode, Marc Elias breaks down who Todd Blanche is, why he's so dangerous, and what this means for the midterm elections. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday 00:00 Criminal Defense vs. Prosecutors Explained 01:13 What Justice Should Look Like in America 02:55 How Trump Reshaped the Department of Justice 04:08 Pam Bondi vs. Todd Blanche: Key Differences 06:00 Who Is Todd Blanche? Trump’s Top Lawyer 08:09 Inside Trump’s DOJ “Fraud Unit” Strategy 11:12 Todd Blanche Press Conference Breakdown 14:41 Are Political Prosecutions Already Happening? 20:04 Mass Firings at DOJ and FBI Explained 26:07 White House Control, Elections, and What’s Coming

    31 min

  7. 7 APR

    I'm Suing Donald Trump to STOP His National Voter Database

    Marc Elias is suing Donald Trump to stop his unconstitutional executive order creating a national citizen list. In this video, Marc breaks down this dangerous overreach of executive power, and reviews his history of fighting for free and fair elections. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday 00:00 Trump & Threats to Elections 02:10 My History Fighting Trump in Court 04:00 The Ongoing Battle Over Voting Rights 06:05 DOJ Lawsuits & Push for Voter Data 09:08 The “No National Database” Claim 10:21 What Trump Is Building Behind the Scenes 12:32 Executive Order Strategy Explained 14:10 Lawsuits to Stop the Executive Order 19:29 How the Plan Impacts Voting & Mail Ballots 23:07 Criminalization, Enforcement & Federal Pressure 29:20 Bigger Risks, Future Escalation & Final Thoughts

    34 min

  8. 4 APR

    Trump Is Building a National Voter List — And It's Worse Than You Think | Sen. Alex Padilla

    Senator Alex Padilla joins Marc Elias to discuss Trump's "flat out unconstitutional" executive order demanding that the Department of Homeland Security make a list of citizens. It gets worse: Only those on that list will receive mail-in ballots. Support Democracy Docket's mission: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/youtube 00:00 Welcome Today’s Guest: Alex Padilla 00:37 State of the SAVE Act & Senate Standoff 01:58 How Democrats Are Blocking the Bill Daily 03:12 Can Republicans Bypass the Filibuster? 05:08 Lawsuits, Media Coverage & Florida’s Version of the Bill 06:30 Why Republicans Target California 10:01 Breaking Down Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Elections 12:28 Where Are Congressional Republicans? 15:00 Padilla Reflects on Being Physically Confronted by Federal Forces 18:22 ICE Expansion, Detention Conditions & Oversight Battles 21:27 California Ballot Seizure Controversy & Election Threats

    24 min
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Every week, election lawyer Marc Elias interviews lawmakers, policy leaders and changemakers about the problems facing our democracy and how we fix them.

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