Democracy Docket
@democracydocket.com
Covering voting rights, elections, and the courts — from an unapologetically pro-democracy standpoint.
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Founded: @marcelias.bsky.social
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4qskS3m
Read our reporting: democracydocket.com
Founded: @marcelias.bsky.social
In a leaked memo, AG Pam Bondi told the DOJ to compile a “list of groups or entities engaged in acts that may constitute domestic terrorism,” suggesting the department could target Americans based on their political beliefs rather than their actions.
Leaked Memo: DOJ To List, Target Anti-Trump Activists as ‘Domestic Terrorists’
Read more here.
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
In a leaked memo, AG Pam Bondi told the DOJ to compile a “list of groups or entities engaged in acts that may constitute domestic terrorism,” suggesting the department could target Americans based on their political beliefs rather than their actions.
NEW: The DOJ launches a civil rights investigation into Colorado’s statewide prison system just days after Trump renewed public calls to “free” Tina Peters, the election denier serving a state sentence for her role in a voting system data breach.
DOJ Opens Probe of Colorado Prisons After Trump Ramps Up Push to Free Election Denier Tina Peters
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEW: The DOJ launches a civil rights investigation into Colorado’s statewide prison system just days after Trump renewed public calls to “free” Tina Peters, the election denier serving a state sentence for her role in a voting system data breach.
BREAKING: A federal judge again blocks Trump’s effort to keep hundreds of federalized California National Guard members stationed in L.A., saying the ongoing deployment is “contrary to law” and risks “creating a national police force made up of state troops.”
‘Contrary to Law’: Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Military Occupation of Los Angeles
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge again blocks Trump’s effort to keep hundreds of federalized California National Guard members stationed in L.A., saying the ongoing deployment is “contrary to law” and risks “creating a national police force made up of state troops.”
Sen. Padilla called for another investigation into the Trump administration, arguing it has “been clearly and openly engaged in a political campaign to gain seats for the Republican Party in Congress” in violation of federal law.
Trump’s 'Repeated, Blatant' Hatch Act Violations Over Gerrymandering Must Be Investigated, Sen. Padilla Demands
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Sen. Padilla called for another investigation into the Trump administration, arguing it has “been clearly and openly engaged in a political campaign to gain seats for the Republican Party in Congress” in violation of federal law.
SCOTUS’ conservative majority seemed ready to hand Trump unfettered removal powers that only Congress obtains during oral arguments in a challenge to his termination of Rebecca Slaughter, the last remaining Democratic FTC commissioner.
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
Supreme Court Poised to Turbocharge Trump’s Bid for Total Control of Government
Read more here.
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
SCOTUS’ conservative majority seemed ready to hand Trump unfettered removal powers that only Congress obtains during oral arguments in a challenge to his termination of Rebecca Slaughter, the last remaining Democratic FTC commissioner.
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
NEW: More than 300,000 Missourians signed a petition for a referendum aimed at blocking Missouri Republicans’ new congressional gerrymander. Despite the GOP doing everything in their power to stop them, voters successfully delivered those signatures to the state.
300,000 Missouri Voters Sign Petition To Put GOP Gerrymander to Statewide Vote
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
NEW: More than 300,000 Missourians signed a petition for a referendum aimed at blocking Missouri Republicans’ new congressional gerrymander. Despite the GOP doing everything in their power to stop them, voters successfully delivered those signatures to the state.
NEW: GOP lawyer Eric Neff, a new DOJ attorney helping to push for state voter records, previously represented a top conspiracy theorist involved in Trump's 2020 election subversion — a tie underscoring the alarming shift in the DOJ from defending to attacking voting rights.
DOJ’s New Voting Lawyer Has Web of Ties to Election-Conspiracy Theorists
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
NEW: GOP lawyer Eric Neff, a new DOJ attorney helping to push for state voter records, previously represented a top conspiracy theorist involved in Trump's 2020 election subversion — a tie underscoring the alarming shift in the DOJ from defending to attacking voting rights.
Though SCOTUS’ decision allowing Texas to use its mid-decade gerrymander in the 2026 midterms was a setback for voters, the ruling's discussion of California's map could equally thwart Republicans challenging the Golden State's response.
SCOTUS Ruling on Texas Gerrymander Could Be Good News for California’s New Map
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Though SCOTUS’ decision allowing Texas to use its mid-decade gerrymander in the 2026 midterms was a setback for voters, the ruling's discussion of California's map could equally thwart Republicans challenging the Golden State's response.
NEW: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) calls for an investigation into the Trump administration's "repeated, blatant" abuse of power to achieve partisan redistricting goals, alleging it violates federal law. This renewed demand comes after his first request rendered no updates.
Trump’s 'Repeated, Blatant' Hatch Act Violations Over Gerrymandering Must Be Investigated, Sen. Padilla Demands
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
NEW: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) calls for an investigation into the Trump administration's "repeated, blatant" abuse of power to achieve partisan redistricting goals, alleging it violates federal law. This renewed demand comes after his first request rendered no updates.
Reposted by Democracy Docket
it looks like missouri redistricting referendum folks (delivering 300k+ signatures to the state today) made an "informed plebeian" sweatshirt, in response to the state attorney who argued in court that redistricting shouldn't be subject to "uninformed plebiscites"
📸: @peoplenotpolsmo.bsky.social
📸: @peoplenotpolsmo.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
it looks like missouri redistricting referendum folks (delivering 300k+ signatures to the state today) made an "informed plebeian" sweatshirt, in response to the state attorney who argued in court that redistricting shouldn't be subject to "uninformed plebiscites"
📸: @peoplenotpolsmo.bsky.social
📸: @peoplenotpolsmo.bsky.social
Trump loyalist Alina Habba said she is stepping down as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, citing “compliance” with a court order. She called the judges who disqualified her “weapons for the politicized left" and maintained they will not "weaken" the DOJ.
After Court-Ordered Disqualification, Alina Habba To ‘Step Down’ as Acting U.S. Attorney
Read more here.
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Trump loyalist Alina Habba said she is stepping down as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, citing “compliance” with a court order. She called the judges who disqualified her “weapons for the politicized left" and maintained they will not "weaken" the DOJ.
A Utah judge denied Republican state lawmakers’ request to pause her ruling striking down their new gerrymander, and rejected their argument that they “had no opportunity to appeal.” The ruling leaves the pro-voting map intact for the 2026 elections.
Utah Judge Rejects GOP Bid to Block Fairer Map for 2026 Elections
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
A Utah judge denied Republican state lawmakers’ request to pause her ruling striking down their new gerrymander, and rejected their argument that they “had no opportunity to appeal.” The ruling leaves the pro-voting map intact for the 2026 elections.
⚖️ HAPPENING NOW:
Democracy Docket founder @marcelias.bsky.social will defend democracy today before SCOTUS in a major case challenging political campaign funding, which could reduce a Democratic financial advantage. Listen to the arguments live👇
https://bit.ly/3RxPa1R
Democracy Docket founder @marcelias.bsky.social will defend democracy today before SCOTUS in a major case challenging political campaign funding, which could reduce a Democratic financial advantage. Listen to the arguments live👇
https://bit.ly/3RxPa1R
Live Oral Argument Audio
Live Oral Argument Audio
www.supremecourt.gov
December 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
⚖️ HAPPENING NOW:
Democracy Docket founder @marcelias.bsky.social will defend democracy today before SCOTUS in a major case challenging political campaign funding, which could reduce a Democratic financial advantage. Listen to the arguments live👇
https://bit.ly/3RxPa1R
Democracy Docket founder @marcelias.bsky.social will defend democracy today before SCOTUS in a major case challenging political campaign funding, which could reduce a Democratic financial advantage. Listen to the arguments live👇
https://bit.ly/3RxPa1R
SCOTUS appeared poised to overturn 90 years of precedent protecting independent agency officials from arbitrary presidential firing, potentially giving Trump limitless control — a move Justice Sotomayor warned could dismantle the modern U.S. government.
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
Supreme Court Poised to Turbocharge Trump’s Bid for Total Control of Government
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
SCOTUS appeared poised to overturn 90 years of precedent protecting independent agency officials from arbitrary presidential firing, potentially giving Trump limitless control — a move Justice Sotomayor warned could dismantle the modern U.S. government.
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
https://bit.ly/4iJGpRM
Breaking down Indiana’s redistricting fight: Where does it stand, and are these tactics even legal?
Election law scholar Luis Fuentes-Rohwer answers these questions and forecasts the future of gerrymandering in our latest Q&A👇
Election law scholar Luis Fuentes-Rohwer answers these questions and forecasts the future of gerrymandering in our latest Q&A👇
Indiana’s GOP Shows Us the Future of Gerrymandering — And It’s Grim: A Conversation With Election Law Expert Luis Fuentes-Rohwer
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Breaking down Indiana’s redistricting fight: Where does it stand, and are these tactics even legal?
Election law scholar Luis Fuentes-Rohwer answers these questions and forecasts the future of gerrymandering in our latest Q&A👇
Election law scholar Luis Fuentes-Rohwer answers these questions and forecasts the future of gerrymandering in our latest Q&A👇
BREAKING: A federal judge has thrown out a Missouri GOP lawsuit that attempted to stop a referendum on their gerrymandered congressional map.
The referendum’s organizers are set to submit far more than the required signatures later this week.
The referendum’s organizers are set to submit far more than the required signatures later this week.
Federal Court Tosses GOP Lawsuit Against Missouri’s Gerrymander Referendum Effort
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:59 AM
BREAKING: A federal judge has thrown out a Missouri GOP lawsuit that attempted to stop a referendum on their gerrymandered congressional map.
The referendum’s organizers are set to submit far more than the required signatures later this week.
The referendum’s organizers are set to submit far more than the required signatures later this week.
BREAKING: Indiana Senate Republicans advanced a Trump-demanded gerrymander designed to wipe out the state’s last Democratic seats and hand the GOP all 9 House districts.
The map now heads to a full Senate vote, where GOP success remains uncertain.
The map now heads to a full Senate vote, where GOP success remains uncertain.
Indiana Senate Committee Advances Trump-Demanded Gerrymander
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:48 AM
BREAKING: Indiana Senate Republicans advanced a Trump-demanded gerrymander designed to wipe out the state’s last Democratic seats and hand the GOP all 9 House districts.
The map now heads to a full Senate vote, where GOP success remains uncertain.
The map now heads to a full Senate vote, where GOP success remains uncertain.
Reposted by Democracy Docket
NEW EPISODE: Faiz Shakir, founder of More Perfect Union and former campaign manager for Bernie Sanders and I discuss the future of Democratic messaging, media, and grassroots organizing. youtu.be/wV_-rqtsj68?...
PAY ATTENTION: Corporations Are Destroying Democracy | Faiz Shakir
YouTube video by Democracy Docket
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
NEW EPISODE: Faiz Shakir, founder of More Perfect Union and former campaign manager for Bernie Sanders and I discuss the future of Democratic messaging, media, and grassroots organizing. youtu.be/wV_-rqtsj68?...
NEW: The DOJ will potentially treat opponents of Trump’s policies as “domestic terrorists,” according to a leaked memo. The move appears to represent the department’s first attempt to implement Trump’s calls to target left-wing activists and others who protest his policies.
Leaked Memo: DOJ To List, Target Anti-Trump Activists as ‘Domestic Terrorists’
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM
NEW: The DOJ will potentially treat opponents of Trump’s policies as “domestic terrorists,” according to a leaked memo. The move appears to represent the department’s first attempt to implement Trump’s calls to target left-wing activists and others who protest his policies.
A right-wing legal group notorious for attacking voting rights sued Gov. Gavin Newsom over California’s Prop 50, arguing it violates the Constitution. They seek to block the voter-approved congressional map, despite overwhelming support for the measure.
Right-Wing Legal Group Sues to Block California’s Voter-Approved Congressional Map
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A right-wing legal group notorious for attacking voting rights sued Gov. Gavin Newsom over California’s Prop 50, arguing it violates the Constitution. They seek to block the voter-approved congressional map, despite overwhelming support for the measure.
BREAKING: Former Trump attorney Alina Habba said she is stepping down as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor after the 3rd Circuit ruled last week she was unlawfully serving and disqualified her from exercising the functions of that role.
After Court-Ordered Disqualification, Alina Habba To ‘Step Down’ as Acting U.S. Attorney
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
BREAKING: Former Trump attorney Alina Habba said she is stepping down as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor after the 3rd Circuit ruled last week she was unlawfully serving and disqualified her from exercising the functions of that role.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court’s Republican-appointed majority appears poised to boost Trump’s pursuit of total government control, potentially destroying a key limit on his power over independent agencies Congress intended to be shielded from direct executive influence.
Supreme Court Poised to Turbocharge Trump’s Bid for Total Control of Government
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court’s Republican-appointed majority appears poised to boost Trump’s pursuit of total government control, potentially destroying a key limit on his power over independent agencies Congress intended to be shielded from direct executive influence.
NEW: The South Carolina NAACP and three voters with disabilities sued state election officials, arguing that several state laws restricting who can give and receive voting assistance violate Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. They seek to block the restrictions.
🚨 NAACP South Carolina State Conference v. Wilson
Learn more.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
NEW: The South Carolina NAACP and three voters with disabilities sued state election officials, arguing that several state laws restricting who can give and receive voting assistance violate Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. They seek to block the restrictions.
Indiana lawmakers pushing for the new GOP gerrymander are either ignoring the VRA or assuming it's about to disappear, said election scholar Prof. Luis Fuentes-Rohwer.
And if they're right, we'll be entering a dark era where map-drawing has no limits.
And if they're right, we'll be entering a dark era where map-drawing has no limits.
Indiana’s GOP Shows Us the Future of Gerrymandering — And It’s Grim: A Conversation With Election Law Expert Luis Fuentes-Rohwer
Read more here.
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Indiana lawmakers pushing for the new GOP gerrymander are either ignoring the VRA or assuming it's about to disappear, said election scholar Prof. Luis Fuentes-Rohwer.
And if they're right, we'll be entering a dark era where map-drawing has no limits.
And if they're right, we'll be entering a dark era where map-drawing has no limits.
HAPPENING NOW:
SCOTUS is hearing arguments on whether Trump exceeded his authority by firing the last Democratic FTC commissioner. A ruling in his favor could overturn 90-year-old precedent that lets Congress shield independent agency officials from arbitrary removal.
SCOTUS is hearing arguments on whether Trump exceeded his authority by firing the last Democratic FTC commissioner. A ruling in his favor could overturn 90-year-old precedent that lets Congress shield independent agency officials from arbitrary removal.
Supreme Court to Hear Arguments In Trump’s Bid for Total Control of Government
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
HAPPENING NOW:
SCOTUS is hearing arguments on whether Trump exceeded his authority by firing the last Democratic FTC commissioner. A ruling in his favor could overturn 90-year-old precedent that lets Congress shield independent agency officials from arbitrary removal.
SCOTUS is hearing arguments on whether Trump exceeded his authority by firing the last Democratic FTC commissioner. A ruling in his favor could overturn 90-year-old precedent that lets Congress shield independent agency officials from arbitrary removal.