November 10, 2025

You’re going to see a lot of people talking about the shutdown deal — and that’s a good thing, people should talk about it — but you subscribe to this newsletter for voting rights and election news, and today, there is a big piece of news we need to pay attention to. 

While all eyes were on the government shutdown, Trump was busy pardoning his election denier henchmen. The long list included Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, two of the most prominent figures in Trump’s effort to steal the 2020 election. 

Others on the list, which was released by Department of Justice pardon attorney Ed Martin, include attorney Sidney Powell, Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and attorney John Eastman. Powell aided Giuliani in widely spreading baseless 2020 election conspiracies. Meanwhile, Clark tried to weaponize the DOJ to overturn the election. 

Eastman was particularly shameless in his crimes — he was the mastermind behind the fake electors plot. Vice President Mike Pence’s refusal to carry out the plan earned him a knife in the back from Trump, who did nothing to silence the “hang Mike Pence” chants at the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Trump’s latest pardons underscore something I have written about a lot recently: the president is determined to rewrite the history of the 2020 election. While many of those on the list are still facing legal trouble at the state level, Trump’s symbolic pardons further cement the Republican Party’s view of what happened on Jan. 6, 2021. 

In Trump’s mind, it wasn’t a horrific day for our country and democracy — but rather, a beautiful day full of love and peace. As the proclamation claimed, the pardons “end a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continues the process of national reconciliation.”

That’s Trump’s narrative, and as his administration continues to set the stage for what’s to come, we can expect more pardons for those involved in overthrowing the election and the attack on the Capitol. We can expect the playbook from 2020 to be perfected, retooled and set in motion. We can expect the sycophants Trump pardoned to quickly get to work on stealing the midterms and the 2028 elections. 

Because while people are obviously focusing on the bigger names on the list, it’s notable that there were 77 people who were rewarded by Trump on Sunday. Many of them were charged for election-related crimes in swing states like Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, and now, they are being given the go-ahead to get back to work in time for 2026. 

There is a network of people at Trump’s disposal — many of whom have high positions in the administration — who were more than happy to overthrow the election in 2020, regardless of the risk. Now, Trump is back in power. The president will protect them at all costs. Even when they are held accountable, they are given a pardon. 

Trump’s sycophants will feel no fear when it comes to breaking the law and overthrowing our government. They know they have the full weight of the presidency behind their attacks, with the Department of Justice powerless to stand up to Trump, happy to take orders from the president and run with any illegal plan thrown its way. 

We are living in unprecedented times — and with unprecedented times comes unprecedented action. 

As you know, the attack on democracy didn’t end on Jan. 6, 2021. Now we know that was just a warning. 

I started Democracy Docket to spotlight election and voting rights news, and it’s clear that this mission is more important than ever before. I will keep shining a light on Trump’s actions. I will keep fighting for our democracy. And with your support, our team will keep working hard to protect our elections. 

As Trump mobilizes his team, we must mobilize ours.