The Best and Worst of 2024
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: It was a hard year, for obvious reasons. On the democracy and voting rights front, there were wins and losses: this was the most litigated election in history and, while the results may not have been what we hoped, the truth is that, in the courts, there were more pro-voting victories than defeats.
Beyond our diligent coverage of the election and voting rights litigation, the staff of Democracy Docket found joy where we could — in movies, TV shows, albums and the sweet satisfaction of seeing Matt Gaetz lose not one but two jobs in a little over a week.
Best Movie
“Wicked”
By an overwhelming majority, the staff of Democracy Docket loved “Wicked.” Except the author of this piece, who still has not seen it.
Best Album
“Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé
Yeehaw!
Best TV Show
“Say Nothing” and “Shōgun”
A tough category, as the staff of Democracy Docket watched plenty of TV this year. But two TV shows really grabbed our attention: “Say Nothing,” the harrowing, heartbreaking dramatization of the Irish Republican Army during The Troubles — and the lengths that some members went to for their cause; and “Shōgun,” the tense and beautiful historical drama about feudal Japan.
Best Brain Worm
The worm that lived in RFK Jr.’s brain.
Had that worm lived, would it have been a better pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services? We’ll never know.
Best Podcast
For the second year in a row! Wow, what an honor!
Best YouTube
Wow! Two wins this year. We don’t know what to say. Thanks to everyone who watched, we couldn’t have won this without you.
Best X (Twitter) Alternative
BlueSky
Worst Failed Media Acquisition
The Onion buying InfoWars
Boo to the bankruptcy court judge that rejected the sale of Alex Jones’ InfoWars to The Onion and its parent company, Global Tetrahedron. Is all hope lost for such a monumental business deal? Time will tell.
Best Return to DC
Pandas
Worst Return to DC
Trump
Best Debate Response
Best Schadenfreud
Matt Gaetz
In the span of less than two weeks, Matt Gaetz went from Congressman, to potential U.S. Attorney General, to just a guy with no job who lives in Florida.
Sorest Loser
Jefferson Griffin
The North Carolina Republican Supreme Court candidate just wouldn’t quit.
Best Concession Speech
Kari Lake
It’s hard to say if concession speech for losing her U.S. Senate bid this year is actually a concession. But hey! It’s better than nothing — especially after losing seven election contests for her 2022 gubernatorial run.
Worst Conspiracy Theory
BlueAnon
While we here at Democracy Docket always appreciate story ideas and feedback from readers, please let us assure you: there was no evidence of election fraud and the conspiracy theories that Trump and Elon Musk cheated to steal the 2024 election are just that. Trust us, we are the experts.
Worst Election
2024 general election
Pretty much up and down the ballot.