Marc Elias · [email protected]

September 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Trump’s latest threat: emergency powers over elections

Trump’s latest threat: emergency powers over elections In early January 2021, when Donald Trump tried to persuade Georgia election officials to “find 11,780 votes,” he was joined by his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and three lawyers. Two of the attorneys, Kurt Hilbert and Alex Kaufman, …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 5, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Missouri GOPers join the attack on fair maps 

Missouri GOPers join the attack on fair maps The state’s special redistricting session is underway, with Republicans looking to grab another seat for Donald Trump at the expense of Black voters. Friday, September 5 View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 4, 2025 at 10:05 PM

Missouri begins GOP gerrymander to help Trump rig 2026 election 

Missouri begins GOP gerrymander to help Trump rig 2026 election Republicans’ national effort to gain an unfair edge in next year’s midterms landed at a Missouri House committee hearing today as the state became the latest to begin a rare mid-decade redistricting push at President Donald…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

September 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM

The Women who survived Jeffrey Epstein 

The Women who survived Jeffrey Epstein In life, Jeffrey Epstein terrorized young women and girls. In death, he haunts Donald Trump. It has been months since Trump first tried to divert attention away from the Epstein Files. With each passing week, he has grown more desperate to have the…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Cleta Mitchell has thoughts on Trump’s next anti-voting executive order

Judge rules Trump’s use of military in Los Angeles violated federal law  Cleta Mitchell, a prominent anti-voting lawyer who played a key role in Trump’s efforts to steal the 2020 election, mused on what Trump could do next to restrict voting. Wednesday, September 3 …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

September 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM

Join me live at 7 p.m. with Heather Cox Richardson

Join me live at 7 p.m. with Heather Cox Richardson Heather Cox Richardson is sitting down with me live on Zoom — make sure to register now to secure your spot for this members-only event. View in browser Attacks…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

September 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM

The authoritarian playbook comes to America

The authoritarian playbook comes to America Russia does it. So does China. And soon, Donald Trump’s America may be next. It’s a classic authoritarian tool: deploy troops from one part of the country to intimidate and suppress dissent in another. View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM

In Georgia’s biggest county, the fight continues to block election deniers from running elections

In Georgia’s biggest county, the fight continues to block election deniers from running elections A state judge ruled last week to hold the Fulton County, Georgia Board of Commissioners in civil contempt after Democrats blocked the appointment of two election deniers to the board of elec…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Judge rules Trump’s use of military in Los Angeles violated federal law 

Judge rules Trump’s use of military in Los Angeles violated federal law A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from using the military in immigration raids or law enforcement operations in California, ruling President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Los A…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

September 2, 2025 at 4:47 PM

What happens if Trump seizes control of our elections?

What happens if Trump seizes control of our elections? There is a crucial fault line within the pro-democracy coalition that may determine the fate of free and fair elections. Which side you fall on is answered by a single question: If tomorrow Donald Trump declared that federal forces u…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

September 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Clear eyes, full docket, can’t lose

Clear eyes, full docket, can’t lose Labor Day marks the end of the summer. As the distractions of vacations and fun fade, what’s most important comes into focus. That's starting to happen in the courts too. This fall, courts will begin to weigh some major questions concerning the future …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM

My conversation with Rep. Jamie Raskin: Voter suppression, the Constitution, and restoring American democracy

My conversation with Rep. Jamie Raskin: Voter suppression, the Constitution, and restoring American democracy Recently, I sat down with my good friend Congressman Jamie Raskin for a conversation. We had a lot to catch up on. We chatted about the need to expand voting rights, the adminis…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Last call for democracy now boarding

Last call for democracy now boarding In his novel “Night,” Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel recalls a horrifying memory: “Around eleven o'clock, the train began to move again. We pressed against the windows. The convoy was rolling slowly. A quarter of an hour later, it began to slow down e…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Texas governor signs Republican gerrymander as legal challenges loom

Texas governor signs Republican gerrymander as legal challenges loom Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Republicans’ gerrymander, which could add five GOP seats ahead of the midterm elections, into law. After signing the map, Abbott said, “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.”…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM

You’re Invited: Join Heather Cox Richardson and Marc Elias live

You’re Invited: Join Heather Cox Richardson and Marc Elias live Attacks on democracy aren’t new, but history shows us the stakes and what’s at risk. Want to know how the past informs today’s fight for the future? Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. ET | Live on Zoom View in bro…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM

We hit a major milestone, all thanks to you

We hit a major milestone, all thanks to you On Friday afternoons, I send out my analysis of the most important democracy news of the week. Today, however, I want to share some news that is personally important to me. Last night, Oliver Darcy reported that Democracy Docket had reached sev…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM

3 wins for voters, 2 big threats ahead

3 wins for voters, 2 big threats ahead Yes, there was plenty of terrible news to process. But thanks to courts in Pennsylvania, Utah, California and Maryland, we also have some big wins to celebrate. Friday, August 29 View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 28, 2025 at 11:32 PM

Trump’s war on judges

Trump’s war on judges I have been a lawyer for more than 30 years, and in all that time I have never seen anyone sue a federal judge for issuing a procedural order. That is, until Donald Trump’s Department of Justice sued the entire federal bench — all 15 judges — in Maryland. …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Another win: Arizona court rejects GOP lawsuit targeting mail voting

Win! California Supreme Court rejects latest GOP redistricting challenge An Arizona court tossed a GOP lawsuit that tried to make voting by mail even harder. With nearly 90% of Arizonans casting a mail ballot, the ruling protects voters from being disenfranchised by minor signature misma…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Win! California Supreme Court rejects latest GOP redistricting challenge

Win! California Supreme Court rejects latest GOP redistricting challenge The California Supreme Court denied Republicans’ petition to block Democrats’ redistricting measure from being put on the ballot – the second GOP challenge to the redraw that it’s thrown out in one week. …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Exclusive: A top election conspiracy theorist was appointed to a DHS leadership position

Top election denier wants Congress to give Trump DMV data Heather Honey, a leading election conspiracy theorist with close ties to anti-voting lawyer Cleta Mitchell, has been appointed to a new “election integrity” position at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). W…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Wins for democracy in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Utah

Wins for democracy in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Utah A court dismissed a DOJ lawsuit against every federal district judge in Maryland. The judge, a Trump appointee, called the administration’s efforts to “smear and impugn” the judiciary, “unprecedented.” Tuesday, August 26 …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM

A day of tyranny in America

A day of tyranny in America Sitting in the Oval Office, flanked by adoring aides standing stiffly at attention, Donald Trump yesterday announced: “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator.” The remark, delivered with his trademark mixture of menace and showmanship, might hav…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Q&A: Mail-in voting, Texas, Epstein and more

Q&A: Mail-in voting, Texas, Epstein and more Republicans have been busy attacking free and fair elections for years. In fact, I started Democracy Docket in 2020 to provide accurate news, information and analysis about these attacks and how pro-democracy groups were fighting back in c…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Republicans sue to block California redistricting measure

Republicans sue to block California redistricting measure A group of California Republicans filed an emergency petition asking the California Supreme Court to block the state’s new redistricting measure from being put on the November ballot. Monday, August 25 View …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Trump’s threats, Texas maps, and Ohio’s hidden voter suppression

Trump’s threats, Texas maps, and Ohio’s hidden voter suppression On Thursday night, I appeared on Chris Hayes’ television show to discuss Donald Trump’s attacks on free and fair elections. He began by asking me why Trump is once again attacking mail-in voting: “Is it just a paranoid obse…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM

The fight for democracy in Texas isn’t over

The fight for democracy isn’t over in Texas Shortly before 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, Texas Republicans shut down debate in the state Senate over their mid-cycle congressional gerrymander. In a final blow to democracy in the Lone Star State, the GOP ignored its own rules and denied Democrats…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM

My conversation with Michael Steele: MSNBC behind the scenes, his advice to Dems and more

My conversation with Michael Steele: MSNBC behind the scenes, his advice to Dems and more Michael Steele went from RNC Chair — at a time when the Republican Party looked very different — to MSNBC analyst. I sat down with him to talk about his journey leading a major political party and t…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM

Trump has replaced justice with retribution

President Trump has replaced justice with retribution Donald Trump has now fully weaponized the Department of Justice (DOJ), transforming it from an institution meant to safeguard the rule of law into a blunt political instrument used to silence critics and punish adversaries. This is no…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Trump’s attack on museums is another note from the dictator playbook

Trump’s attack on museums is another note from the dictator playbook Author Toni Morrison once said, “All good art is political.” When students study art history, they learn about the confines of the artist’s political environment. They learn about how it bled into the artwork. They lear…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM

A Texas Dem is preparing to filibuster the GOP’s gerrymandered map

A Texas Dem is preparing to filibuster the GOP’s gerrymandered map Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D) is preparing to filibuster the gerrymandered congressional map that could add five new GOP seats to Congress. “Republicans think they can walk all over us,” she wrote on social media. “…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Trump is still hiding the Epstein Files

Trump is still hiding the Epstein Files Donald Trump doesn’t mind that we’re focused on his circus. Trump wants you to focus on his efforts to rig the 2026 elections. He wants you to pay attention to his use of the military and federal law enforcement to patrol the streets of Washington,…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM

The Texas gerrymander nears the finish line

The Texas gerrymander nears the finish line The GOP’s proposed Texas gerrymander is set to make it across the legislative finish line Friday — while California passed its own new map. Next the battle moves to the courts and other states. Friday, August 22 View in b…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 21, 2025 at 10:08 PM

Georgia Dems defy court order to keep election deniers off board

Georgia Dems defy court order to keep election deniers off board Two Democratic members of the Fulton County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners defied a court order and blocked the appointment of two election deniers to the county board of elections. Thursday, August 21 …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 21, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Trump says the quiet part out loud

Donald Trump says the quiet part out loud This week, Trump openly admitted what voting rights advocates have long warned: His push to end vote by mail isn’t about election security but is meant to help Republicans maintain their grip on power. Thursday, August 21 V…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM

Texas Democrat threatened with ‘felony’ during press call

Texas Democrat threatened with ‘felony’ during press call Texas Republicans are readying to pass their extreme gerrymander through the House Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, State Rep. Nicole Collier (D) was forced by GOP-organized security to leave  a press call organized by the DNC. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM

Move over Stalin: The playbook for controlling elections

Move over Stalin: Trump's playbook for controlling elections Donald Trump posted on social media that he will lead an effort to ban mail-in ballots and unspecified voting equipment in advance of the 2026 midterms. Even worse, he made clear that he will issue an executive order directing …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Top election denier wants Congress to give Trump DMV data

Top election denier wants Congress to give Trump DMV data Cleta Mitchell, the prominent anti-voting lawyer who played a key role in President Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the 2020 election, is pushing a dangerous new idea: requiring states to give the federal government DMV data and p…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM

GOP advances new Texas gerrymander and sues to block California’s response

GOP advances new Texas gerrymander and sues to block California’s response A Texas House committee voted 12-8 to advance their mid-decade gerrymander to the full chamber. State Rep. Todd Hunter (R) said , “there’s nothing that prevents mid-decade redistricting, and we could do it again.”…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM

What gives me hope

What gives me hope It usually comes as a question: What gives you hope? Sometimes it is more of a demand: Tell me something hopeful! Everywhere I turn — in person and online, from lawyers to retirees, activists to students — people are searching for hopeful words about the future of demo…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Your questions on redistricting, answered

Your questions on redistricting, my answers It was another busy week for democracy. The gerrymandering saga continued in Texas and California released its proposed map to fight back. Other states, both red and blue, continue to explore what they may want to do to change maps in advance o…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM

Exclusive: DOJ threatens California with legal action over voter data

Exclusive: DOJ threatens California with legal action over voter data In a letter to California’s top elections official, obtained by Democracy Docket, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon threatened the state with legal action if it did not provide DOJ with full access to its…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM

Trump escalates attacks on mail-in voting

Trump escalates attacks on mail-in voting In March, Donald Trump signed an executive order asserting powers over elections that he does not possess. He was promptly sued by the Democratic Party and others, and the most immediate threats were halted. In another executive order — one that …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM

Trump’s militarization of American cities grows more dangerous

Trump’s militarization of American cities grows more dangerous Early on in Donald Trump’s second term, I predicted that he would deploy the military and federal law enforcement in our nation’s largest cities. Trump specializes in harassing and intimidating immigrants, minorities and Demo…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM

My conversation with Rep. McIver: ICE oversight, political retaliation and standing up to Trump

My conversation with Rep. McIver: ICE oversight, political retaliation and standing up to Trump New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver is one of the main targets in Trump’s weaponization of government — in May, she faced aggressive intimidation and federal charges simply for inspecting an ICE d…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 16, 2025 at 11:02 AM

The culture pendulum swings back left

The culture pendulum swings back left On Wednesday, Joe Rogan shed his MAGA cape and dug into Rep. Anna Paulina Luna over ICE raids. The conservative podcaster who once yuked it up with Trump for three hours was now concerned about the administration’s immigration policies. …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM

D.C. AG sues to block Trump’s takeover of Metropolitan Police Department

D.C. AG sues to block Trump’s takeover of Metropolitan Police Department D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said he’s suing the federal government over President Donald Trump's "brazenly unlawful" attempt to federalize and control the Metropolitan Police Department. Friday, …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM

The fight against GOP gerrymandering is just beginning

The fight against GOP gerrymandering is just beginning A smart political operative told me earlier this week that he was surprised by how much the Texas gerrymandering story had broken through to the public. I began thinking about what the situation might be analogous to — and what the r…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 15, 2025 at 11:02 AM

The redistricting war of 2025 

The redistricting war of 2025 The Texas redistricting showdown is nearing the end of its first act, and what comes next is far from certain. But the battle is likely just the start of a national redistricting war. Friday, August 15 View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Texas House democrats to return when California releases new maps

Texas House democrats to return when California releases new maps State Rep. Gene Wu (D), chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said he and the other quorum-breaking democrats will return to Austin once California introduces its redistricting maps to “neutralize” the Texas plan. …

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