Defending Democracy, One Conversation at a Time

For a transcript of an episode of Defending Democracy, please email [email protected].

Recent Episodes

What’s at Stake in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Feat. Ben Wikler

March 17, 2023 | 47:01

Wisconsin has long been an important swing state for presidential elections, but it has grown into a major battleground in the fight for democracy. All eyes are on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race that will determine decisions related to gerrymandering, abortion access and the 2024 presidential election. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler joins to discuss what’s at stake in the April 4 election, Republicans’ continued attacks on democracy and how people — in and out of state — can help.

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The Right Wing’s Latest Legal Theory

March 10, 2023 | 29:40

Civil and voting rights groups have long challenged voter suppression laws and unfair maps in court using federal voting rights protections. But the conservative legal movement is now arguing that individuals and groups cannot bring these lawsuits — only the U.S. Department of Justice can — proposing that there is no private right of action in crucial federal voting laws. If courts endorse this concept, laws like the Voting Rights Act would be severely undermined and become largely unenforceable. Marc and Paige discuss where this surge of private right of action lawsuits came from, the current cases pushing this theory and what could potentially happen.

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56,000 Voters’ Rights Are at Stake in North Carolina Feat. Daryl Atkinson

March 3, 2023 | 39:40

In 1876, North Carolina added a felony disenfranchisement provision to its state constitution with the express purpose of disenfranchising Black voters. The provision remains in place today and is being challenged in Community Success Initiative v. Moore. The outcome of the case is currently pending before the North Carolina Supreme Court and will determine if individuals on probation, parole or post-release supervision — over 56,000 North Carolinians — have the right to vote. We’re joined by Forward Justice Co-Director, and attorney in the case, Daryl Atkinson to discuss what’s at stake in this crucial lawsuit.

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Mississippi’s Ongoing Efforts to Disenfranchise Black Voters Feat. Arekia Bennett-Scott

February 24, 2023 | 38:37

Mississippi passed a bill to create an unelected court system in Jackson, a city with a Black population of over 80%, with judges appointed entirely by white state officials. Unfortunately, the proposed court system is just the tip of the iceberg in a state with a long history of undermining Black political power. We’re joined by Arekia Bennett-Scott, the executive director of Mississippi Votes and Mississippi Votes Action Fund, to discuss the history of anti-democratic legislation and the slew of bills targeting Jackson.

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Blue States Can Do Better

February 17, 2023 | 37:04

There are 17 states where Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. These so-called “trifectas” should use their power to pass robust legislation to protect the right to vote in their states. Marc and Paige discuss five voting laws that all blue states should pass this year.

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What’s Next on SCOTUS’ Docket?

February 10, 2023 | 45:25

The U.S. Supreme Court is already poised to issue decisions in two major election cases that could fundamentally alter American democracy, but there are more voting rights cases coming its way. Marc and Paige discuss what’s next on the Supreme Court’s docket and what’s at stake.

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Intimidating Voters Is Not Peachy

February 3, 2023 | 33:44

A major voter intimidation case out of Georgia went to court this week. Fair Fight Action sued True the Vote, a Texas-based, right-wing “election integrity” group, for illegally intimidating voters after the group challenged the voter eligibility of over 364,000 Georgians in the run-up to the 2021 Senate runoff elections. Marc and Paige break down how voter challenges like these work and their impact on voters. 

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North Carolina Republicans Want a Redo

January 27, 2023 | 26:29

Update: On Feb. 3, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court agreed to rehear both cases. Find out more here.

North Carolina’s Republican-controlled Legislature wants the newly red state Supreme Court to rehear two major voting rights cases that they lost last term. Marc and Paige discuss how this is just North Carolina Republicans’ latest scheme in its long history of undermining free and fair elections.

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The Judiciary Needs Reform feat. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

January 20, 2023 | 41:27

On the 13th anniversary of Citizens United and the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we’re joined by special guest Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to discuss issues facing the judiciary and the network of anti-democratic forces influencing our courts.

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Lies, Legislatures and Litigation

January 13, 2023 | 26:18

Marc and Paige discuss what they expect during upcoming legislative sessions and our new litigation report, with a side of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) shenanigans.

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Ohio’s New Voter Suppression Law

January 10, 2023 | 32:12

In a bonus episode of Defending Democracy, Marc and Paige discuss Ohio’s new voter suppression law — exactly what it does, why it’s so harmful to voters and the lawsuit already filed challenging it.

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New Year, New Maps

January 6, 2023 | 33:32

On the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, House Republicans still can’t elect a speaker, a federal court issued a victory for voters in South Carolina and we’re gearing up for a new wave of redistricting litigation in 2023.

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Republicans in Arizona Are Not Okay

December 23, 2022 | 29:30

In an impromptu episode, Marc and Paige discuss the status of the five Republican election contests in Arizona and Kari Lake’s trial. Plus, get Marc’s thoughts on Congress passing the Electoral Count Reform Act in the omnibus spending bill.

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Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023

December 16, 2022 | 45:46

In the last episode of Defending Democracy of 2022 — and the first episode via podcast — Marc and Paige talk about election challenges in Arizona, how oral argument in Moore v. Harper went, the future of Georgia runoff elections and what to expect in 2023.

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Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia, Oh My

December 2, 2022 | 45:08

Marc and Paige cover counties in Arizona and Pennsylvania that refused to certify election results, early voting in Georgia and how Senate Bill 202 is harming voters in the runoff and the Moore v. Harper case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court next week.

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Featured Episodes

A Troubling New SCOTUS Case

June 30, 2022 | 46:20 

The U.S. Supreme Court announced that it granted a petition to hear Moore v. Harper, opening up review on the radical independent state legislature (ISL) theory during the Court’s next term. Marc Elias explains why the ISL theory is dangerous to our democracy and lays out exactly what’s at stake.

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The Importance of State Legislatures to Our Democracy

JUNE 17, 2022 | 51:08 

Daniel Squadron, co-founder and executive director of The States Project, joins Marc to discuss the threat of the independent state legislature theory to our elections and why we must keep fighting for majorities in state legislatures.

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You Should Run For Something

June 3, 2022 | 46:40 

Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, and Marc discuss how elections need to be protected on the local level by pro-democracy officials and the new Clerk Work initiative.

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The Fight for Fair Maps Continues

May 13, 2022 | 49:50 

Kelly Burton, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and its affiliates, and Marc discuss redistricting updates and cover how this redistricting cycle has gone and the importance of fighting for fair maps.

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