The Founding Fathers Didn't Plan For Trump | Gov. Josh Shapiro

Democrats just pulled off a huge win in Virginia to combat Donald Trump’s gerrymandering power grab. But that’s not the story the Washington Post told. Marc Elias is joined by Ashley Cleaves to break down why this win in Virginia is so consequential; how election deniers have already responded; and the other battleground states where democracy is on the line.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday00:00 Big Win for Democrats In Virginia01:13 Why This Win is Personal for Marc05:35 Washington Post Hypocrisy09:19 What Happens Next in Court13:27 Election Law Implications17:10 Marc's Redistricting Predictions23:04 Missouri Redistricting Fight26:32 Louisiana v. Callais Threatens Voting Rights Act29:50 Trump Reaction & Final Takeaways

Brian Tyler Cohen joins Marc Elias to discuss why an eagerness to fight should be the Democratic Party’s North Star. In this interview, they break down Donald Trump's increasing desperation, the importance of a Democratic media-ecosystem, and Brian's new book, "The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World."Brian Tyler Cohen — The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump Worldhttps://www.harpercollins.com/pages/thedayafterSupport Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday00:00 Today’s Guest: Brian Tyler Cohen00:51 Trump’s Desperation & What Happens Before the Midterms03:19 Why Republicans Stay Loyal to Trump07:09 Why Democrats Are Overperforming Right Now09:28 The Day After: Brian Tyler Cohen’s New Book Explained13:14 Why Democrats Fail to Use Power Effectively17:14 The Rise of Progressive Media & Digital Influence23:34 Why Collaboration Matters in Political Media27:13 Redistricting Battles & The Fight for the House38:38 Obama Interview, Viral Moments & Final Takeaways

Republicans are waging an all-out war on voting rights in court – and we keep beating them. In this video, Marc Elias is joined by Democracy Docket's Legal Content Editor Ashley Cleaves to break down all of the recent wins for the Pro-Democracy movement.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday00:00 Good News for Democracy01:21 Indiana Voter ID Case: Student IDs Restored for Voting07:57 DOJ Voter File Lawsuits: Federal Government’s Push for Voter Data11:06 DOJ Losses in Court: Judges Reject Requests for Voter Information14:06 Concerns Over Data Use & Federal Overreach21:14 California Ballot Seizure Case: 650,000 Ballots & Supreme Court Response31:10 Arizona Voting Cases: Three Major Losses for Election Deniers33:40 Election Certification Battles: Ongoing Threats in Key States36:16 Arkansas Voting Case: Court Blocks Wet Signature Requirement40:32 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Major Victory & Implications42:32 Final Takeaways: Why Legal Wins Matter & Staying Engaged

When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, they couldn't have imagined that we would have a president with no shame or integrity. Today, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joins Marc Elias to break down the consequential voter roll lawsuits, how Democratic governors are holding the line against the White House, and what we can all do to join the opposition movement.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday00:00 Today's Guest: Governor Josh Shapiro00:59 State of U.S. Democracy Under Trump04:45 Political Courage, Integrity, and Leadership07:42 Fighting Trump’s 2020 Election Challenges10:51 Why Republicans Still Question 2020 Results12:07 Lawsuit Over Voter Data & Election Security15:53 From Attorney General to Governor: Legal Strategy17:36 Fixing I-95 Fast & Government Efficiency20:15 Balancing Fighting Trump with Broad Popularity22:42 What Voters Actually Care About in 202625:59 Midterm Outlook & Control of Congress29:30 Voting Rights Reforms & Election Modernization33:52 Cost, Efficiency & Fixing Election Systems38:03 Writing a Book & Personal Reflections40:18 What Citizens Can Do to Defend Democracy

When Hungary's Viktor Orban lost his recent election, he accepted the result. When Donald Trump loses, he cries foul — and his base is trained to follow.In this video, Marc covers why Republicans are all incentivized to deny election results, what lessons we should learn from Orban's defeat, and how we can form a resilient opposition movement to defeat Trump in 2026 and beyond.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday00:00 Orban vs Trump — Key Differences Explained01:08 Why MAGA Looks to Viktor Orban01:53 Orban’s Stunning Election Loss & Landslide Defeat03:01 The Concession: What Orban Did That Trump Won’t04:10 Lessons from Hungary: Coalition Building Wins05:20 Why Democrats Must Unite Against Authoritarianism07:18 Media Matters: The Role of Independent Journalism08:28 The Dangerous Myth: “Winning Big Guarantees Democracy”10:09 Trump’s Movement & Election Denialism Explained15:53 Why Trump Will Never Concede an Election19:27 2026 Warning: What Could Happen Next & How to Prepare27:40 What the U.S. Must Learn from Hungary

Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins Marc Elias to discuss Donald Trump's unauthorized war with Iran, the politicization of the Department of Justice, and Republican efforts to restrict voting access through the SAVE Act. Van Hollen breaks down how Congress is fighting back — from war powers resolutions to the 2026 elections — and explains why the pressure from voters is finally starting to matter.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday00:00 Today's Guest: Sen. Chris Van Hollen00:42 What Can Be Done to Stop Trump’s War Powers?03:14 How Is This Different From the Iraq War?05:37 What Can We Learn From Standing Up to Trump?10:40 Can Individual Action Still Make a Difference?13:08 Is There Real Hope for Political Change?18:25 Should Democrats Focus on Democracy or the Economy?20:23 How Serious Are Threats to Elections?27:34 Why Are Republicans Pursuing Unpopular Policies?30:44 Is the DOJ Being Weaponized—and What Comes Next?

Donald Trump has installed his former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as the new acting Attorney General. In this episode, Marc Elias breaks down who Todd Blanche is, why he's so dangerous, and what this means for the midterm elections.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday00:00 Criminal Defense vs. Prosecutors Explained 01:13 What Justice Should Look Like in America 02:55 How Trump Reshaped the Department of Justice 04:08 Pam Bondi vs. Todd Blanche: Key Differences 06:00 Who Is Todd Blanche? Trump’s Top Lawyer 08:09 Inside Trump’s DOJ “Fraud Unit” Strategy 11:12 Todd Blanche Press Conference Breakdown 14:41 Are Political Prosecutions Already Happening? 20:04 Mass Firings at DOJ and FBI Explained 26:07 White House Control, Elections, and What’s Coming

Marc Elias is suing Donald Trump to stop his unconstitutional executive order creating a national citizen list. In this video, Marc breaks down this dangerous overreach of executive power, and reviews his history of fighting for free and fair elections.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday00:00 Trump & Threats to Elections02:10 My History Fighting Trump in Court04:00 The Ongoing Battle Over Voting Rights06:05 DOJ Lawsuits & Push for Voter Data09:08 The “No National Database” Claim10:21 What Trump Is Building Behind the Scenes12:32 Executive Order Strategy Explained14:10 Lawsuits to Stop the Executive Order19:29 How the Plan Impacts Voting & Mail Ballots23:07 Criminalization, Enforcement & Federal Pressure29:20 Bigger Risks, Future Escalation & Final Thoughts

Senator Alex Padilla joins Marc Elias to discuss Trump's "flat out unconstitutional" executive order demanding that the Department of Homeland Security make a list of citizens. It gets worse: Only those on that list will receive mail-in ballots.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/youtube00:00 Welcome Today’s Guest: Alex Padilla00:37 State of the SAVE Act & Senate Standoff01:58 How Democrats Are Blocking the Bill Daily03:12 Can Republicans Bypass the Filibuster?05:08 Lawsuits, Media Coverage & Florida’s Version of the Bill06:30 Why Republicans Target California10:01 Breaking Down Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Elections12:28 Where Are Congressional Republicans?15:00 Padilla Reflects on Being Physically Confronted by Federal Forces18:22 ICE Expansion, Detention Conditions & Oversight Battles21:27 California Ballot Seizure Controversy & Election Threats

Donald Trump has fired Pam Bondi as Attorney General, and her replacement could be someone even more hostile to voting rights. Marc Elias is joined by Democracy Docket Legal Content Editor Ashley Cleaves to analyze Bondi's legacy and discuss the implications of this move for the 2026 elections.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-friday00:00 Trump Fires Pam Bondi00:38 Today's Guest: Ashley Cleaves01:13 Bondi’s Rise & Loyalty to Trump04:22 Weaponizing the DOJ: Bondi’s Legacy08:48 DOJ Turns Against Voting Rights11:04 Lawsuits, Ballot Seizures & Voter Data Fights15:36 Key Legal Battles Shaping the 2026 Elections17:13 Who Replaces Bondi? Top Contenders20:06 DOJ Incompetence vs. Political Agenda25:11 Supreme Court Cases & What Comes Next