May 14, 2025

You may have noticed that you’ve been hearing from me a lot lately. In the past seven days, I’ve written something for Democracy Docket every single day. That wasn’t my plan.

Back in 2020, I was a lawyer fighting for voting rights and democracy in court. As a devastating pandemic swept the country, my focus shifted to expanding access to voting by mail. This wasn’t a partisan effort — it was driven by a genuine concern for democracy. In fact, before 2020, it was often Republicans who often relied on mail-in voting.

However, I grew frustrated that courtroom victories for voters were frequently overlooked by legacy media and distorted by Trump and his allies. So, with only a Twitter account and an already full litigation caseload, I launched a new media company — Democracy Docket.

From the outset, it was a success. There was an immediate appetite for an independent, pro-democracy news platform that provided clear information, insightful analysis and informed opinions about voting rights and elections.

We broke down complex legal battles in ways legacy media wouldn’t. We did not give lip service to both sides. We went beyond talking points to address the real threats facing democracy. Most importantly, we were accountable only to our readers — not to corporate owners or investors.

By 2024, it became clear that we needed to grow further to keep up with the moment. Our website was then and remains entirely free, our flagship daily and weekly newsletters were and are free and we launched a YouTube channel.

To support these efforts, we launched a premium membership last March, asking readers like you to contribute $10/month or $120/year. In return, I promised to write two pieces per month and hold periodic virtual events.

Since then, we’ve continued to grow. Our newsletter offerings — both free and premium — have multiplied, we have added regular opinion contributors and our YouTube channel now publishes multiple pieces of fresh content each week, from breaking news to in-depth interviews with elected officials and activists at the heart of the democracy fight.

I’m still a full-time practicing lawyer running a busy law firm. But I remain committed to fighting for democracy with every ounce of strength I have. When other lawyers stay silent, I speak up loudly in defense of democracy and the rule of law. While other news outlets seek accommodations with Trump, Democracy Docket remains fearlessly pro-democracy.

Writing mostly at night and on weekends, I aim to produce at least three to four pieces of premium content each week and hold regular virtual events at least quarterly. In between my job as a lawyer, I record YouTube videos and podcasts.

Since launching Democracy Docket in 2020, the media landscape has changed dramatically. Legacy media is declining, while independent outlets are on the rise. Nearly every day, it seems, a new pro-democracy Substack or platform emerges, vying for your attention.

I know you have many competing demands for your time, attention and support. Make no mistake, your loyalty as a free subscriber means a lot. If you enjoy our work and believe in Democracy Docket’s mission, please consider becoming a paid member today.

Thank you.

— Marc