Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

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 World
https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/thedayafter

Support Democracy Docket's mission:
https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-tuesday

00:00 Today’s Guest: Brian Tyler Cohen
00:51 Trump’s Desperation & What Happens Before the Midterms
03:19 Why Republicans Stay Loyal to Trump
07:09 Why Democrats Are Overperforming Right Now
09:28 The Day After: Brian Tyler Cohen’s New Book Explained
13:14 Why Democrats Fail to Use Power Effectively
17:14 The Rise of Progressive Media & Digital Influence
23:34 Why Collaboration Matters in Political Media
27:13 Redistricting Battles & The Fight for the House
38:38 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-friday

00:00 Good News for Democracy
01:21 Indiana Voter ID Case: Student IDs Restored for Voting
07:57 DOJ Voter File Lawsuits: Federal Government’s Push for Voter Data
11:06 DOJ Losses in Court: Judges Reject Requests for Voter Information
14:06 Concerns Over Data Use & Federal Overreach
21:14 California Ballot Seizure Case: 650,000 Ballots & Supreme Court Response
31:10 Arizona Voting Cases: Three Major Losses for Election Deniers
33:40 Election Certification Battles: Ongoing Threats in Key States
36:16 Arkansas Voting Case: Court Blocks Wet Signature Requirement
40:32 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Major Victory & Implications
42:32 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-thursday

00:00 Today's Guest: Governor Josh Shapiro
00:59 State of U.S. Democracy Under Trump
04:45 Political Courage, Integrity, and Leadership
07:42 Fighting Trump’s 2020 Election Challenges
10:51 Why Republicans Still Question 2020 Results
12:07 Lawsuit Over Voter Data & Election Security
15:53 From Attorney General to Governor: Legal Strategy
17:36 Fixing I-95 Fast & Government Efficiency
20:15 Balancing Fighting Trump with Broad Popularity
22:42 What Voters Actually Care About in 2026
25:59 Midterm Outlook & Control of Congress
29:30 Voting Rights Reforms & Election Modernization
33:52 Cost, Efficiency & Fixing Election Systems
38:03 Writing a Book & Personal Reflections
40:18 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-tuesday

00:00 Orban vs Trump — Key Differences Explained
01:08 Why MAGA Looks to Viktor Orban
01:53 Orban’s Stunning Election Loss & Landslide Defeat
03:01 The Concession: What Orban Did That Trump Won’t
04:10 Lessons from Hungary: Coalition Building Wins
05:20 Why Democrats Must Unite Against Authoritarianism
07:18 Media Matters: The Role of Independent Journalism
08:28 The Dangerous Myth: “Winning Big Guarantees Democracy”
10:09 Trump’s Movement & Election Denialism Explained
15:53 Why Trump Will Never Concede an Election
19:27 2026 Warning: What Could Happen Next & How to Prepare
27:40 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-friday

00:00 Today's Guest: Sen. Chris Van Hollen
00:42 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?