Defending Democracy

Defending Democracy

Weekly podcast from Democracy Docket going over the top voting rights, elections and democracy news.

Episodes

December 13, 2024 35 mins

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.


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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.


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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


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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 sho...

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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 Long...

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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.   

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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. 

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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/

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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 inv...

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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. 

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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/

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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. 


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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/


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