Democracy Decoded

Democracy Decoded

Campaign Legal Center

An essential guide for anyone looking to understand what makes elections work, and the safeguards built into the electoral process. On the eve of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, we dive deep into the systems in place that ensure our elections are safe, secure and accurate. We embark on a timely and crucial journey to understand how our elections function, the potential threats they face, and the checks and balances in place so voters can rest assured that the election results reflect the will of the people. Through eye-opening interviews with top lawyers, and democracy’s frontline heroes—such as poll...

The Latest: A Postelection Fight for Democracy

The Latest: A Postelection Fight for Democracy

In the end, the worst of everyone’s election fears —political violence, overt foreign interference or a razor-thin margin between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump leading to a hotly contested legal battle — did not come to pass. Instead, Donald Trump won a plurality of votes for president, and did so decisively. On January 20, 2025, he will once again become the country’s most powerful executive.His victory raises weighty questions for the experts at Campaign Legal Center. Trump ran explicitly on

Nov 12, 2024 • 30:34

Today’s the Day — Go Vote!

Today’s the Day — Go Vote!

This week’s episode is short, sweet, and to the point: It’s Election Day, and if you haven’t yet cast your vote, let us be your friendly reminder. Like many of her CLC colleagues, Simone will spend the day monitoring elections. Next week she’ll be back with the final episode of the season, with a look at how this most dramatic election is playing out.Until then, it’s up to you.Nationwide nonpartisan Election Protection (EP) hotline:866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) Host:Simone Leeper litigates a wide

Nov 5, 2024 • 2:27

The Latest: The 2024 Election, in a Nutshell

The Latest: The 2024 Election, in a Nutshell

An incumbent president drops out, mid-race. A former president becomes a party’s nominee for the first time in more than a century. There are multiple occurrences of political violence against a candidate. Newly emergent AI tools spread disinformation. And a Supreme Court that may be called upon to decide the race is perceived by the electorate as increasingly politicized.The 2024 election cycle has already made its share of history. With Election Day now just a week away, we bring you another o

Oct 29, 2024 • 32:04

Know Your Rights as a Voter

Know Your Rights as a Voter

Imagine you’re at home when you hear a knock. At your door are people who want you to share, in detail, who you voted for in the last election, months ago. When you ask them who they are and where they’re from, they remain vague and perhaps even aggressive.This was the case for some Americans in the years after the 2020 election, part of a spate of behaviors by election skeptics and deniers that, in some cases, amounted to voter intimidation. The history of voter intimidation in the United State

Oct 22, 2024 • 27:21

Navigating Election Facts in the AI Era

Navigating Election Facts in the AI Era

When New Hampshire voters picked up the phone earlier this year and heard what sounded like the voice of President Joe Biden asking them not to vote in that state’s primary election, the stage was set for an unprecedented election year. The call was a deepfake — and the first major instance of artificial intelligence being used in the 2024 election. With the rise of AI tools that can credibly synthesize voices, images and videos, how are voters supposed to determine what they can trust as they p

Oct 15, 2024 • 32:32

The Latest: The Fights Over Election Certification

The Latest: The Fights Over Election Certification

Election certification has traditionally been a mostly symbolic process in the United States. You vote, your vote gets counted, your precinct and others get tallied together (“canvassed” is the term of art) and, within a few days, everyone looks at the counts and agrees on a winner. But lately, this banal, bland procedure has become a political flashpoint, as people who question the election process impose unrealistic requirements on certification — and, in some cases, outright refuse to certify

Oct 8, 2024 • 30:02

Safeguarding America’s Electoral Process

Safeguarding America’s Electoral Process

The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of American democracy that sets the United States apart — the so-called north star of our electoral system. Yet the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 challenged that tradition profoundly. In the lead-up to this November, we answer the question that is on the minds of many voters: Will the months after this presidential election look like the aftermath of the last one? Fortunately, lawmakers who were caught in the eye of that storm seized t

Oct 1, 2024 • 26:25

The Latest: Attacks on Voter Registration

The Latest: Attacks on Voter Registration

Voter registration is the number one obstacle to voting in the United States. It should be easy, accessible and secure, but too often, states are moving backwards; making voter registration more difficult and less equitable. Here, we introduce a new type of episode: an up-to-the-minute interview with an expert to help you better understand some of the most important issues affecting elections. Danielle Lang, a voting rights attorney at CLC, joins Simone to explain why major actions in Arizona an

Sep 24, 2024 • 31:22

Democracy’s Frontline Workers

Democracy’s Frontline Workers

Election workers are the people in your neighborhood. They’re our friends, neighbors and co-workers who help keep American democracy safe and secure.. But in 2020, many of them were maligned, harassed and threatened in battleground states — the targets of bad actors who sought to sow distrust in the electoral process.How can we better protect and support the many dedicated civil servants and volunteers who provide such crucial work? The thousands of election workers who will staff this November'

Sep 17, 2024 • 21:00

Democracy Decoded, Season 4: The U.S. Election System Explained

Democracy Decoded, Season 4: The U.S. Election System Explained

American elections work because we have tried-and-tested systems in place to make sure votes are cast fairly and counted correctly, and that when threats arise, everyone has their part to play: lawmakers, poll workers, voting rights advocates, and everyday voters alike.  To understand how our elections continue to evolve, this season of Democracy Decoded takes a deep dive into our electoral system, exploring the checks and balances that make the process safe, secure, and accurate. Host Simone Le

Sep 3, 2024 • 2:03

Bonus: Peeling Back the Curtain on Local Government

Bonus: Peeling Back the Curtain on Local Government

In this bonus episode we’re featuring content from one of our favorite podcasts called “When the People Decide”. Host Jenna Spinelle explores what happens when neighbors and local government work together to make their communities stronger and more inclusive.The episode takes place in Decatur, Georgia and tells the story of “Decatur 101” a straightforward class open to anyone in Decatur to learn about how their city government worked.We hear from Linda Harris, the originator of the class, and De

Jun 25, 2024 • 26:34

Better Choices, Better Elections

Better Choices, Better Elections

We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time!--------------------------------------Across the country, voters are organizing to protect their right to elect candidates of their choice. In the final episode of Season 3 of Dem

Oct 19, 2023 • 26:13

Keeping an Eye on Ethics

Keeping an Eye on Ethics

We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time!----------------When we elect representatives, we expect them to be held accountable to the people they represent and the laws they are subject to. But how can voters be sure that

Oct 12, 2023 • 21:33

Contribution Limits (and Lack Thereof)

Contribution Limits (and Lack Thereof)

We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time!----------------Campaign contribution limits are one of the few mechanisms in place to prevent wealthy special interests from spending unlimited money to rig the political system

Oct 5, 2023 • 29:19

The Questions on Your Ballot

The Questions on Your Ballot

We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time!----------------When elected officials aren’t prioritizing the needs of their constituents, voters can make their voices heard on a state and local level through ballot initiative

Sep 28, 2023 • 20:48

Your Community, Your Election

Your Community, Your Election

We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time!----------------An enormous amount of work goes into planning for Election Day. For months, poll workers and election administrators prepare to run their local elections smoothly

Sep 21, 2023 • 24:38

Voting Begins Here

Voting Begins Here

One of the most crucial but often overlooked aspects of American democracy is voter registration. Host Simone Leeper speaks with expert guests that provide a comprehensive view of the challenges that ordinary citizens face in registering to vote, from convoluted registration processes to restrictive laws and administrative hurdles. Julie Hilberg tells her story of how her name was illegally purged from the voting rolls  along with 100,000 other voters in Texas. CLC’s Senior Director of Voting Ri

Sep 14, 2023 • 24:34

All Politics Is Local

All Politics Is Local

Why do local and state elections matter, and how can voters be sure that their voices are being represented in the lawmaking process? We open the third season of Democracy Decoded with an overview of democracy at the state and local level, and how we can ensure that all citizens can have their voices heard.In this episode Simone talks with Jawharrah Bahar about her experience losing and then regaining her freedom  to vote, and how that inspired her work with the advocacy group Free Hearts. CLC’s

Sep 7, 2023 • 17:44

Season 3: Democracy at the State and Local Level

Season 3: Democracy at the State and Local Level

Federal elections–and their results–play a huge role in how our democracy operates. But decisions made at state and local elections have the most direct impact on people’s everyday lives. The local and state level also influences the way elections are run, and how citizens hold their elected officials accountable. Democracy Decoded is a podcast by Campaign Legal Center that examines our government and discusses innovative ideas that could lead to a stronger, more transparent, accountable and inc

Aug 24, 2023 • 2:33

Bonus: Diverse Women in Politics

Bonus: Diverse Women in Politics

In this bonus episode we’re featuring content from our friends at Future Hindsight, an award-winning podcast that takes big ideas about civic life and democracy and turns them into action items for all of us.Host Mila Atmos is passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens, and each week you can join her on the show as she zeroes in on what you can do to get engaged and stay engaged.In this episode, Mila Atmos interviews Kelly Dittmar, the Director of Research at the Center for Americ

Jul 6, 2023 • 36:03

Special Announcement: We've been nominated for a Webby!

Special Announcement: We've been nominated for a Webby!

We are beyond thrilled to announce that our podcast “Democracy Decoded” has been nominated for a Webby Award in the category of Public Service & Activism podcasts!Please visit this link and vote now for “Democracy Decoded” to help these important conversations reach even more ears! How to vote:Click the green “vote” button under Democracy Decoded.Register with the Webby Awards website when prompted.Check your email for an email from Webby that says “Action Required” and click the green “verify y

Apr 13, 2023 • 1:34

A Fight for the Right to Vote

A Fight for the Right to Vote

The 2020 election was…unique. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states took steps to make voting safer and more accessible. After that, we saw a backlash and some states erected barriers to voting access. The 2022 midterm election then offered an opportunity to assess our voting landscape. In this episode, we discuss what we learned from the 2020 presidential election, the 2022 midterms, and how we can work together to make the promise of democracy real for us all.Host and Guests:Simone Leeper

Dec 13, 2022 • 23:21

What If I Want to Vote in Person?

What If I Want to Vote in Person?

Voting in person is still the most popular way to vote for many people. Whether it’s a personal preference, a cultural experience in one's community, or an opportunity to get help from poll workers, millions of Americans head to the polls in person on the first Tuesday in November. In this episode we learn about the history of Election Day (seriously, why a weekday in late fall?) and the challenges that many Americans face when they try to vote in person.Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a

Dec 6, 2022 • 27:25

What If I Can’t Vote in Person?

What If I Can’t Vote in Person?

Voting at a polling place on Election Day may be easy for some, but many voters  face significant challenges. Transportation, work schedules, and the location of polling places can make it tough for voters with families, jobs, a disability, and more to vote in person.During the 2020 presidential election, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force, many states expanded vote-by-mail access to protect voters from getting sick. There were also drive-thru voting and ballot drop-boxes, which  opene

Nov 29, 2022 • 20:21

Can I Vote?

Can I Vote?

The right to vote is a basic American freedom, but  for people with felony convictions, figuring out if they can vote is a huge task. This episode looks at the history of felony disenfranchisement laws and explains how denying the freedom to vote to an entire class of citizens hurts voters, communities and our democracy. Also, Tennessee voters share their experiences regaining the freedom to vote after a felony conviction.Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-rela

Nov 22, 2022 • 22:31

Make Every Vote Count

Make Every Vote Count

America is a democracy, but is that democracy accessible to every American? When the Constitution was ratified, only white men who owned property could vote, which was only 6% of the population. In the more than 200 years since then, many Americans are still being denied the right to have a say in key decisions that impact our lives. In this episode Simone talks with Brittany Carter from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund about the history of voting rights, and how African Americans risked their lives

Nov 15, 2022 • 22:04

Democracy Decoded is Back!

Democracy Decoded is Back!

Why does American Democracy look the way it does today and how can we make it more responsive to the people it was formed to serve? Democracy Decoded, a podcast by Campaign Legal Center, examines our government and discusses innovative ideas that could lead to a stronger, more transparent, accountable and inclusive democracy. In the new season, host Simone Leeper covers everything you need to know about voting in the U.S. – how it works, what barriers exist to voting, and how to make our voting

Nov 1, 2022 • 1:52

Bonus: Foreign Interference With Far-Reaching Consequences

Bonus: Foreign Interference With Far-Reaching Consequences

In this bonus episode, Simone explores the backstory behind a case of foreign interference in U.S. elections which had far reaching consequences, both in America and abroad. Joined by two former Campaign Legal Center staff members who uncovered the scheme, she examines the case of Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman – the Trump allies who laundered a six-figure contribution to a super PAC through a shell corporation and pushed for the removal of the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Guests:Brendan Fischer curr

Aug 18, 2022 • 16:37

Bonus: What Happens When the People Decide?

Bonus: What Happens When the People Decide?

In this bonus episode we’re featuring content from a new podcast called “When the People Decide”. Host Jenna Spinelle explores the basics of the ballot initiative and the history of how it caught on in the United States.She investigates the backstory behind a campaign in Michigan to end partisan gerrymandering in 2018 which is part of a legacy of ballot initiatives dating back to the 1800s. After becoming disillusioned with the results of the 2016 election, Katie Fahey took to Facebook to gauge

Jul 14, 2022 • 34:14

Giving a Voice to All Americans

Giving a Voice to All Americans

Democracies work best when everyone can participate meaningfully, but wealthy special interests and a small number of big donors have come to dominate the funding of political campaigns - if money is speech, some people (and groups, and corporations) are speaking MUCH louder than others.In the season finale, Simone dives into the world of public financing, examining how two cities on opposite sides of the country took important steps to provide candidates with public funds to support their elect

Apr 21, 2022 • 22:30

Of, By and For the People

Of, By and For the People

This week, Simone examines some of the gaps in our campaign finance laws that have allowed foreign entities to spend money to influence our elections.She focuses on a recent story that took place in Maine, speaking with two state legislators who introduced bills to combat foreign interference in their state – a bigger concern than most would expect, especially considering the cause of their concern comes not from a hostile foreign government, but from one of our closest allies.Guests:Aaron McKea

Apr 14, 2022 • 13:03

There Oughta Be a Law...

There Oughta Be a Law...

This week, Simone takes a closer look at the Federal Election Commission - the only government agency tasked solely with overseeing the integrity of our political campaigns – with one of the FEC’s commissioners, Shana Broussard. She also takes a deeper look at our current campaign finance system, and how that system has failed to keep up with modern times – namely by failing to adequately regulate online ads. She is joined by some former Senate staffers who were part of an effort to change that.

Apr 7, 2022 • 26:03

Dark Money Trickles Down

Dark Money Trickles Down

This week, Simone is joined by two CLC experts, Erin Chlopak and Brendan Fischer, as well as attorney Peter Earle and “BadAss Grandmas” Ellen Chaffee and Dina Butcher. These guests help explain two key instances in which big money spending impacted local communities. Importantly, they also explain how every day citizens can make their voices heard.Campaign finance can sometimes seem like something far removed from our everyday lives, maybe something that only matters in Washington. But there’s a

Mar 31, 2022 • 25:16

How Did We Get Here?

How Did We Get Here?

Joined by Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director of OpenSecrets, and Norman Ornstein, chair of the Board of Campaign Legal Center, host Simone Leeper looks back on the history of campaign finance law in the United States.As they trace historical events from the Watergate scandal to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and beyond, Simone and her expert guests explore the scandals, legislation and judicial decisions that have helped shape the current system and the root causes of the ever-gro

Mar 24, 2022 • 15:23

Cracks in the System

Cracks in the System

Joined by Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center and a Republican Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, host Simone Leeper breaks down the basics of America’s campaign finance system. At the root of their discussion is an examination of how illegal coordinated campaign spending occurs, and why it has not been properly addressed.  Trevor speaks about his appearances on the Colbert Report and discusses what has changed (or not changed) in campaign finance over the past ten

Mar 17, 2022 • 18:25

Introducing: Democracy Decoded

Introducing: Democracy Decoded

Why does American Democracy look the way it does today and how can we make it more responsive to the people it was formed to serve? Democracy Decoded, a podcast by Campaign Legal Center, examines our government and discusses innovative ideas that could lead to a stronger, more transparent, accountable and inclusive democracy. Host Simone Leeper speaks with experts from across the political spectrum and takes a deep dive into the forces fueling our elections, not just in our nation’s capital but

Feb 16, 2022 • 1:30

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