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Artwork for Defending Democracy

Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

Democracy Docket
Donald Trump
Voting Rights
Republican Party
Democracy
Voting Rights Act
Department Of Justice
Democracy Docket
Supreme Court
Democratic Party
Voter Suppression
Gerrymandering
Redistricting
Texas
Authoritarianism
2026 Elections
Elections
Congress
Epstein Files
North Carolina
American Democracy

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes239Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Defending Democracy

Latest Episodes

Former U.S. attorney and University of Michigan law professor Barbara McQuade spent decades prosecuting organized crime, corrupt officials and con men. In her new book, "The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government," she make... more

Days after the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, Tennessee became the first state in the country to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district. Memphis was cracked into thirds in just 72 hours, with no hearings, no community input... more

Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the three fronts of Donald Trump's war on voting: restricting voter registration through proof-of-citizenship laws and a national voter database, controlling who gets to use mail-in voting by weaponizin... more

Trump and his administration are quietly building a national list of approved voters — and if your name isn't on it, you may not be able to vote by mail in 2026. Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the scheme, explains why Trump's DOJ is ... more

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Recent Guests

Harry Litman
Legal scholar and commentator, former U.S. deputy attorney/general
Law & Policy Analyst
Episode: DOJ misconduct, the Supreme Court and Media's Collapse | Harry Litman
Hakeem Jeffries
House Democratic leader and Speaker pro tempore, discussing redistricting and Democratic strategy
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: Hakeem Jeffries on Gerrymander War: "The Empire State Will Strike Back"
Michael Popok
Trial lawyer, co-founder of Legal AF
Legal AF
Episode: Trump's DOJ Has Stopped Making Sense | Legal AF
Ashley Cleaves
Legal Content Editor at Democracy Docket
Democracy Docket
Episode: Don't Let the Media Gaslight You on Democrats' Redistricting Win in Virginia
Chris Van Hollen
United States Senator from Maryland
U.S. Senate
Episode: Are Republican Voters Finally Turning Against Trump? | Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Alex Padilla
Senator, California; former Secretary of State
United States Senate
Episode: Trump Is Building a National Voter List — And It's Worse Than You Think | Sen. Alex Padilla
Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator, former federal prosecutor, Judiciary Committee member
United States Senate
Episode: Trump Is SEIZING Your Ballots | Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Steve Bannon
Strategist and former White House advisor, guest providing commentary
MAGA movement
Episode: Steve Bannon: Trump Is Using ICE as a "Test Run" for Voter Suppression
Mike Davis
Former Supreme Court clerk mentioned as Bannon's interlocutor
Legal/policy advocate
Episode: Steve Bannon: Trump Is Using ICE as a "Test Run" for Voter Suppression

Host

Marc Elias
Host of Defending Democracy with Marc Elias; prominent election-law attorney and founder of Democracy Docket

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 813 ratings
  • Marc Elias is the best!

    Thanks for the continuing great information defending our democracy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CooperDemi1234
    United Statesa month ago
  • You missed the headline!

    I love you! I do appreciate the work you’re doing. I could listen to your passion all day! But, your episode with Hakeem Jeffries missed a big opportunity. As leader of the DCCC they are meddling and interfering in state elections where progressive candidates are wanted and needed. Jeffries is NOT the leader for this fight. He’s too in bed with large $$.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Maitri Patri
    United Statesa month ago
  • Keeping me informed

    Marc Elias and his team are doing amazing work to keep us informed in a very clear and concise manner. Thank you for all that you do!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tiagrant
    United States2 months ago
  • Spread the truth

    Excellent source to understand why close to 1/2 Americans feel there’s election fraud (the big lie), including democrats.

    I wish all the courts that rejected the 2020 fraud cases would do a collective signed OpEd published in every major media

    In short, MAGA leader lives rent free in everyone’s head - thanks to the mainstream media who’s incapable of not covering him/them

    - they have to stop covering him/them 24/7 unless they have something of material fact to discuss!!

    “We the people” ar... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WordPlayer500
    United States2 months ago
  • Share this Podcast

    Please tell friends and family about this podcast. Everyone must understand the Republicans’ plot to strip Democrats of their constitutional right to vote. Look at the Texas primaries.

    We all must be aware that those long, long lines can stop some people from casting a vote due to job and family obligations. And, there is No voter fraud problem in the USA.

    The right to vote was won through bloodshed. Please spread the word and listen each week to stay informed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BGDem
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Grounded analysis that informs listeners about practical actions to defend democracy.
Insightful legal explanations that make complex court decisions understandable.
High-quality guests and timely discussion of voting rights battles across states.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#222
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#178
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#193
Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Mexico/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DOJ misconduct, the Supreme Court and Media's Collapse | Harry Litman
Q: How do you view the role of legacy media versus independent platforms in shaping public understanding of these issues?
Litman argues legacy media is in decline, precariously trying to stay relevant, while independent outlets like Substack and Democracy Docket-based content offer credibility and direct engagement with audiences who mistrust traditional outlets.
DOJ misconduct, the Supreme Court and Media's Collapse | Harry Litman
Q: What is your overall take on the current state of DOJ and its handling of high-profile cases?
Litman describes a troubling pattern of intransigence and manipulation, noting repeated instances of prosecutors appearing to retreat or defend actions that skirt accountability, while the Court and judges push back, indicating a potential need for higher-level scrutiny.
Trump's DOJ Has Stopped Making Sense | Legal AF
Q: Do they think they're going to win this case against Comey or other targets, given the aggressive DOJ tactics?
They view many of these indictments as strategic leverage that may not survive motion practice, signaling optimism about eventual judicial scrutiny and potential limitations on overreach.
Hakeem Jeffries on Gerrymander War: "The Empire State Will Strike Back"
Q: What is the current strategy to counter Republicans' redistricting efforts across states?
The strategy is to fight back aggressively state by state, win court battles where needed, and push for a fair national map with consistent standards against gerrymandering.
Florida GOP Reveals Latest Gerrymander Scheme
Q: So why don't you fill us in on what is going on in Florida?
Ashley outlines the Florida map as a potential test case for political and legal boundaries, highlighting debates over minority protections, partisan aims, and the anticipated litigation surrounding the new redistricting plan.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Defending Democracy

What is Defending Democracy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently centers on defending democratic norms through detailed legal and policy analysis of voting rights, redistricting, and constitutional governance. Episodes typically feature a mix of election-law experts, lawmakers, and political commentators who dissect court decisions, state maps, and federal policy, while offering practical actions for organizers and advocates. A standout trait is the clear, data-driven approach to complex legal topics, often paired with calls to stay informed, subscribe, and engage with ongoing democracy-focused litigation and reform efforts. The show's strength lies in translating high-stakes legal battles into accessible takeaways for practitioners, advocates, and listeners who want to understa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Defending Democracy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Defending Democracy:

1. Talking Feds
2. Main Justice
3. #SistersInLaw
4. UnJustified
5. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

How many episodes of Defending Democracy are there?

Defending Democracy launched 4 years ago and published 239 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Defending Democracy?

Recent guests on Defending Democracy include:

1. Harry Litman
2. Hakeem Jeffries
3. Michael Popok
4. Ashley Cleaves
5. Chris Van Hollen
6. Alex Padilla
7. Sheldon Whitehouse
8. Steve Bannon

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