Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Can DOJ access states' voter data?

Can DOJ access states' voter data? For months, states have received unusual letters and emails from the U.S. Department of Justice demanding access to voter registration rolls and making wide-ranging requests for information to prove compliance with federal voting laws. …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Texas AG will ask courts to vacate seats of Democrats halting GOP map

Texas AG will ask courts to vacate seats of Democrats halting GOP map Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he will pursue legal action against Democrats who do not return to the House by Friday, following Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat to remove the quorum-breaking lawmakers from office. …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM

No quorum, no problem — Texas Dems hit back

No quorum, no problem — Texas Dems hit back Whenever someone tries to give me credit for saving democracy, I correct them. The litigation I bring is not saving democracy. Even when successful, that isn’t its aim. My goal, I explain, is simply to buy time for democracy to be saved through…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Answering your questions: Texas Dems, DOJ voter data and more

Answering your questions: Texas Dems, DOJ voter data and more Each week, I take time from my day job as a lawyer to answer your questions and keep you informed about the latest in the fight for democracy. If you have a question for me, make sure to submit it for the next edition! …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 4, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Republicans issue arrest warrants for Texas Democrats – they likely aren’t enforceable 

Republicans issue arrest warrants for Texas Democrats – they likely aren’t enforceable Today the Texas House voted to issue arrest warrants for the Democrats that left. However, experts say it’s unlikely the warrants will actually return Democrats to Texas, contrary to Republicans’ claim…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM

Democrats fight back

Democrats fight back Texas Republicans continued to march their obscene gerrymander through the legislature they dominate. If enacted, the resulting map will add five more Republican seats to an already severely gerrymandered landscape. View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM

BREAKING: Texas Democrats vacate state to block GOP map

BREAKING: Texas Democrats leave to block GOP congressional map A group of Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state Sunday, activating their emergency plan to block a hastily-drawn Republican congressional map that’s poised to set off a national redistricting battle between red states an…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM

I’m not panicking. I’m outraged.

I’m not panicking. I’m outraged. I have been the subject of many spurious accusations and politically motivated attacks, but this one is in a class by itself. According to Tulsi Gabbard — the nation’s top intelligence official — my refusal to post on Twitter is being reviewed by the Depa…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM

My conversation with Rep. Robert Garcia: Redistricting, Epstein Files and more

My conversation with Rep. Robert Garcia: Redistricting, Epstein Files and more Recently, I sat down with Congressman Robert Garcia — ranking member of the House Oversight Committee — for an interview. We talked about Rep. Garcia’s charge to release the Epstein Files, the debate over redi…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM

August Showdowns: Voting rights and authoritarian overreach

August Showdowns: Voting rights and authoritarian overreach Congress may be in recess, but it's a busy month on the docket for democracy. The GOP’s anti-voting machine isn’t slowing down and key cases in the fight against President Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda will take center st…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Election denialism ramps up in Georgia

Election denialism ramps up in Georgia This week, while most eyes were on the GOP’s redistricting gambit in Texas or the Democrats’ U.S. Senate recruitment win in North Carolina, the election denier movement was squarely focused on Georgia. View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM

BREAKING: SCOTUS set to gut VRA again

BREAKING: SCOTUS set to gut VRA again The U.S. Supreme Court escalated the high-stakes redistricting battle in Louisiana by ordering new legal briefings on whether intentionally creating a second majority-Black congressional district — to comply with the Voting Rights Act — might violate…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

August 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM

What happens after Texas gerrymanders?

What happens after Texas gerrymanders? Donald Trump has spent the last six months relentlessly attacking our democracy — and this week proved that the cracks are starting to show. His personal lawyer and Department of Justice hatchet man, Emil Bove, is now a federal judge. Republicans mo…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

August 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Democrats hint at legal challenge to Texas redistricting

Democrats hint at legal challenge to Texas redistricting Republicans have unveiled their new, extra-gerrymandered Texas congressional map. Democrats say the plan likely violates the Voting Rights Act and could swiftly be challenged in court, if passed. Friday, August 1 …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 31, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Georgia election board wants Trump administration to probe 2020 contest

Georgia election board wants Trump administration to probe 2020 contest The Far-right majority on Georgia’s election board wants Trump’s Justice Department to help it obtain voting records and documents related to the 2020 elections from the state’s largest county. Thursday, …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM

Trump’s DOJ ‘hatchet man’ becomes a judge

Trump’s DOJ ‘Hatchet Man’ Becomes a Judge The Senate GOP confirmed Emil Bove, a senior Justice Department official and former personal attorney to Trump, for a lifetime federal judgeship. Senators backed Bove even after multiple whistleblowers raised allegations against him and nearly 1,…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 30, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Republicans release proposed Texas congressional map

Republicans release proposed Texas congressional map Texas Republicans released their proposed congressional map that could add five new Republican seats and set off a nationwide redistricting battle between red and blue states over control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM

Have you taken our survey yet? Last chance!

Have you taken our survey yet? Last chance! It’s been 5 years since I started Democracy Docket and we’ve grown to over 425,000 readers — we’d love to get to know you and what you’re looking to get out of your newsletter subscription. View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM

United Sovereign Americans is back – and still filing conspiracy-driven lawsuits

United Sovereign Americans is back – and still filing conspiracy-driven lawsuits The anti-voting group United Sovereign Americans is back, now known as Unite4Freedom, and they claim to be filing two bombshell lawsuits in New York and Colorado. View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ said to plan to ask all 50 states for voter data

DOJ said to plan to ask all 50 states for voter data The Department of Justice intends to request voting information from every state, an association of state election officials exclusively told Democracy Docket. Numerous states already have received letters asking for sensitive voter da…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 29, 2025 at 5:42 PM

What the DOJ is doing behind the scenes

What the DOJ is doing behind the scenes Donald Trump is a man obsessed with voter suppression and election conspiracies. He makes no secret of his willingness to misuse the Department of Justice to achieve his political objectives. Every day brings further evidence that the 2026 election…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 29, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Member Q&A is back

Member Q&A is back I enjoy these Q&As because it gives me a forum to engage with members directly, so I thought I’d bring them back. If you have a question for me, make sure to submit it for the next edition! View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 28, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Texas Republican redistricting chair admits he hasn’t looked at census data

Texas Republican redistricting chair admits he hasn’t looked at census data Asked whether he was aware that most of the state’s population growth over the past decade has come from communities of color, Rep. Cody Vasut (R), chair of the House redistricting committee, admitted he wasn’t. …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM

Credible, the GOP’s favorite new word

Credible, the GOP’s favorite new word In their never-ending crusade to stop the bleeding over Donald Trump’s refusal to release the full Epstein Files, Republicans have seized on a new qualifier for what should be released: “credible.” View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM

The GOP’s new voter suppression architect

The GOP’s new voter suppression architect When Republicans were desperate to win the 2014 Senate election in North Carolina, they selected Thom Tillis as their nominee. Tillis was the Speaker of the state House when the GOP enacted a sprawling anti-voting law. In considering what provisi…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 27, 2025 at 11:12 AM

My conversation with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero

My conversation with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero We talked about the strategy behind bringing hard cases, the recent Supreme Court decisions, the ACLU’s vital impact, and much more. View in browser July 27, 2025 …

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Republicans are coming for the voter rolls

Republicans are coming for the voter rolls The GOP loves to champion President Abraham Lincoln as the father of the Republican Party. But if Republicans insist on referencing our 16th president, they would probably benefit from a history lesson or two. View in browser …

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM

Trump’s chilling retribution campaign poses a grave threat to democracy

Trump’s chilling retribution campaign poses a grave threat to democracy In 2023, Donald Trump told supporters, "I am your retribution," vowing to use a second term for vengeance if re-elected. Six months into that  term, he's weaponizing the federal government against political opponents…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM

South Park proves that Trump’s politics are now downstream of Epstein

South Park proves that Trump’s politics are now downstream of Epstein Andrew Breitbart, the right-wing media figure once observed that “politics is downstream of culture.” In the post-mortem of the 2024 election, the consensus was that Democrats failed to understand this by refusing to e…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Texas could set off redistricting chain reaction

Texas could set off redistricting chain reaction With Republicans following Trump’s marching orders to redraw the Texas congressional map, other red states could fall in line next – while blue states say they’re looking at redrawing their own maps to counter the GOP. Friday, …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ sent its latest demand for voter data to the wrong person

DOJ sent its latest demand for voter data to the wrong person Criminal prosecutors asked Wisconsin Sec. of State Sarah Godlewski (D) to hand over sensitive election data to help the Trump administration’s hunt for illegal voting. The problem? She has no role in running the state’s electi…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM

Take our 2025 Reader Survey and Win a Tote

Take our 2025 Reader Survey and Win a Tote Thank you for being part of the Democracy Docket community! We value your readership and feedback and would love to get to know you better so we can shape our future coverage. View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM

‘It’s time to go after people’

‘It’s time to go after people’ Trump and his allies are now openly weaponizing the federal government to both enact retribution for long-term grievances and to move the newscycle beyond the Epstein story. Thursday, July 24 View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Judge bars Trump admin from taking Abrego Garcia into custody

Judge bars Trump admin from taking Abrego Garcia into custody A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration “SHALL NOT” take Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly removed from the U.S. earlier this year, into custody should he be released from pretrial incarceration on immigrant sm…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM

My take on what’s right and wrong

My take on what’s right and wrong Last week, President Barack Obama appeared on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s podcast — “IMO” — to disclose one of his most controversial takes. “You should not eat ketchup after the age of eight,” the former president declared. Michelle Obama clearl…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM

A prominent election conspiracy theorist is setting his sights on Michigan for 2026

A prominent election conspiracy theorist is setting his sights on Michigan for 2026 Seth Keshel, a prominent election denier and conspiracy theorist, recently joined a far-right Michigan voting group with ties to Cleta Mitchell, signalling that the Great Lakes State could be a hotbed for…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Amid Epstein fallout, Trump says Obama is guilty of treason

Amid Epstein fallout, Trump says Obama is guilty of treason President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of treason over baseless claims that Obama tried to organize a “coup” against Trump in 2016. Tuesday, July 22 View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 22, 2025 at 11:07 AM

Tip sheet: Don’t fall asleep

Tip sheet: Don’t fall asleep In the musical “Cabaret,” Cliff Bradshaw leaves the audience with this monologue: “There was a cabaret, and there was a master of ceremonies. And there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. And it was the end of the world. And I was dancing wi…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Trump admin defying court by stonewalling on anti-voting order, plaintiffs say

Trump admin defying court by stonewalling on anti-voting order, plaintiffs say The Trump administration is defying a court order by refusing to say how federal agencies may be implementing Trump’s sweeping anti-voting executive order, pro-voting groups and Democrats alleged. …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 21, 2025 at 4:33 PM

Six months of Trump and the fight ahead

Six months of Trump and the fight ahead This weekend, we marked six months of Donald Trump’s second term. Other than the fact that we’re six months closer to January 20, 2029,  there is nothing to celebrate. Since returning to the White House, Trump has waged a full-scale assault on the …

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM

What the Epstein scandal means for 2026 

What the Epstein scandal means for 2026 We are now in the second week of Donald Trump’s self-inflicted crisis over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Files. On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to express his anger in a gibberish-filled post. Now, the president who usually leads con…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM

My conversation with Eric Holder: Obama’s DOJ, Texas redistricting, Dem power and more

My conversation with Eric Holder: Obama’s DOJ, Texas redistricting, Dem power and more Recently, I sat down with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for an interview. We talked about the DOJ under Obama vs. Trump, Texas redistricting, Holder’s personal connection to Alabama, what De…

See More from Marc Elias

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Red states are already suppressing your votes

Red states are already suppressing your votes Donald Trump’s sweeping anti-voting executive order may be facing roadblocks in the courts, but that’s certainly not stopping Republicans from implementing it in the states. Across the country, GOP lawmakers are attacking voting rights by ena…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM

All the states where DOJ is demanding voting data

All the states where DOJ is demanding voting data In recent months, the Department of Justice has been contacting red, blue, and purple states, demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. Friday, July 18 View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Republicans want to gerrymander their gerrymanders

Republicans want to gerrymander their gerrymanders There is a national scandal brewing that could threaten the foundation of democracy — and no surprise here — Donald Trump stands in the middle of it. This week, it broke out into the open. Republicans know that they are in danger of losi…

See More from Marc Elias

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM

GOP states are implementing Trump’s anti-voting order 

GOP states are implementing Trump’s anti-voting order Courts have blocked the sweeping order that would impose extensive restrictions on voters. But courts can only do so much – and now, red states are moving forward to enact the order on their own. Friday, July 18 …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 17, 2025 at 10:16 PM

North Carolina voter roll program could disenfranchise tens of thousands

North Carolina voter roll program could disenfranchise tens of thousands The North Carolina Board of Elections launched a new effort requiring over 100,000 voters to provide additional ID information or risk disenfranchisement. Thursday, July 17 View in browser …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Trump’s TikTok power grab

Trump’s TikTok power grab Trump has made several dubious broad claims of executive authority. But few have been as sweeping and alarming as his recent assertions related to TikTok. Recent letters show he believes he has monarchical powers to arbitrarily exempt companies from federal laws…

See More from Democracy Docket

  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Senators want answers on use of DHS database to purge voters

Senators want answers on use of DHS database to purge voters Democratic senators pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answers on the department’s expansion of a database that verifies voter citizenship to purge voters. Wednesday, July 16 …

See More from Democracy Docket

  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Trump’s growing Epstein crisis

Trump’s growing Epstein crisis This much is clear: Donald Trump is in a full-scale panic. What started Saturday night with a long, rambling social media post has now turned into a full-blown crisis for him, his administration and the GOP. His effort to silence calls for the Department of…

See More from Marc Elias