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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
Democratic Party
Supreme Court
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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes231Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Defending Democracy

Latest Episodes

After the Callais decision, many Republican states rushed to push through gerrymandered maps. While some of these redistricting efforts resulted in wins for the GOP, two states resisted—and the fight is still on. In this video, Marc Elias breaks down... more

The Purcell principle is a legal concept in U.S. election law that dictates federal courts should not alter state voting rules, district maps, or election procedures too close to an election. That is, unless you’re a Republican state. Marc Elias brea... more

Cleta Mitchell’s anti-voting group recently released its midterm playbook, urging lawmakers and election officials to severely restrict mail-in voting, eliminate same-day voter registration, and impose rigorous ID requirements. This is Project 2026, ... more

Supreme Court rulings don't just shape the law, they can also change what becomes acceptable in politics. Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias explains how Republicans are already using the recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais to target Black and L... more

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Recent Guests

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: Republicans Keep Losing Voting Rights Cases
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
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
Glenn Kirschner
Veteran US Army prosecutor, former DC US Attorney's Office prosecutor
None stated
Episode: Trump Accountability Must Go SCORCHED EARTH | Glenn Kirschner
Tim Miller
Former Republican operative, host of The Bulwark podcast
The Bulwark
Episode: Republicans Know Trump Will Destroy Democracy — And Don't Care | Tim Miller

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 798 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 States2 months ago
  • Repetitive

    The content is very relevant and important, but so many episodes lately are essentially the same content as prior ones. I fear it’s beginning to dilute the message.

    I appreciated the content more when it was 1 episode a week. I’m starting to tire of hearing the same content again and again. Might have to unsubscribe as a result.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Papa V Perpetua
    United States2 months ago
  • Best episode yet

    The episode on the SAVE act is one of Marc's finest yet. It's mind boggling how the Republicans think they can get away with what they are planning to do. This should remind everyone of the poll taxes that were imposed to disenfranchise poor (black) communities from participating in democracy. Now it's (married) women, students, and those too busy or not affluent enough to put up with whatever rule-of-the-day they see supposed to follow. Voting is a right, my fellow citizens. The government, unl... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kid Rock C
    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
#156
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Trump is DECIMATING the Constitution | Rep. Jamie Raskin
Q: What final word would you offer on what Donald Trump can or cannot legally and constitutionally do regarding elections?
The guests emphasize that the president cannot legally suspend elections or unilaterally alter voting rules; instead, authority rests with states and Congress within a constitutional framework, underscoring the need for adherence to the Rule of Law.
Trump is DECIMATING the Constitution | Rep. Jamie Raskin
Q: What can be said about the full Smith File and access to the Special Counsel's report?
They explain the standard practice of providing full reports to Congress, the push to obtain Volume 2, and the leverage this would give in auditing and oversight of the DOJ and the broader investigation landscape.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with Defending Democracy:

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

How many episodes of Defending Democracy are there?

Defending Democracy launched 3 years ago and published 231 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. Hakeem Jeffries
2. Michael Popok
3. Ashley Cleaves
4. Chris Van Hollen
5. Alex Padilla
6. Steve Bannon
7. Mike Davis
8. Glenn Kirschner

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