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PODCAST

Democracy Decoded

Campaign Legal Center

Our system of government is rooted in the Constitution and designed to ensure that power is shared, not concentrated in any one branch. But what happens when the institutions that were meant to hold one another accountable are tested in new and unprecedented ways? Season 6 of Democracy Decoded examines some of the defining constitutional questions shaping American democracy today. From the separation of powers and the role of the Department of Justice, to presidential pardons, political dissent,

government politics

All Episodes

00:30:18

Can a president control who votes in America?

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/10/20

When the Trump administration barred non-governmental groups from administrative naturalization ceremonies in August of 2025, the League of Women Voters was forced to cancel voter education efforts at 166 planned events — cutting off a pathway to voter registration that new citizens had relied on for decades. It was one front in a broader campaign to reshape the American electorate.On this episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper examines how the administration is using citizenship itself as

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00:31:52

Is the Trump administration trying to undermine our...

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/10/13

On this episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper sits down with Campaign Legal Center’s Jonathan Diaz and Chad Dunn, head of the UCLA Voting Rights Project, to discuss the Department of Justice's escalating seizures of 2020 election materials in Georgia, Arizona, and beyond. They also unpack the executive orders President Trump has issued to reshape voter eligibility and mail-in voting, which have been repeatedly blocked by federal courts. Dunn goes on to detail his fight against the

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00:31:28

Who gets a pardon in Trump's America — and why?

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/10/06

A crypto billionaire convicted of laundering money walks free after his company enriches the president's family by billions. A congressman expelled for defrauding voters gets his slate wiped clean for staying loyal. A tax fraudster owing investors $700 million never repays a dime before receiving clemency. These aren't isolated instances— they're a pattern.On this episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper is joined by Liz Oyer, former head of the DOJ's Office of the Pardon Attorney, and

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00:33:14

What happens when political dissent is suppressed?

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/09/29

It was a dramatic scene that made headlines across the country; Senator Alex Padilla lying on the floor in handcuffs for simply trying to ask a question to the former head of the Department of Homeland Security. But it turns out dissent isn't a threat to democracy, it's actually the mechanism that makes democracy work. On this episode of Democracy Decoded, Host Simone Leeper sits down with Yale Law School professor Robert Post to trace how the printing press gave rise to public opinion — and why

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00:35:12

Are political loyalty and partisanship replacing the...

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/09/22

An FBI counterintelligence agent loses his career over a friendship. A prosecutor gets fired by email because of who her father is. A civil rights attorney quits rather than betray her oath. On this episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper explores how the Trump administration's second term has undermined the rule of law at the Department of Justice. She speaks with former FBI agent Michael Feinberg, who describes being forced out after being flagged for a friendship with a former colleague

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00:34:12

What happens when the balance of power becomes...

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/09/15

When President Trump fired a Federal Trade Commission commissioner in 2025, it sparked a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court — and ended up re-shaping the American government. In Trump v. Slaughter, the Court's conservative majority struck down nearly a century of precedent protecting independent agency heads from at-will presidential removal, handing the executive branch sweeping new authority over agencies Congress had designed to be nonpartisan.On this season premiere episode

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00:02:25

Democracy Decoded, Season 6: The Rule of Law Under...

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/09/01

Our system of government is rooted in the Constitution and designed to ensure that power is shared, not concentrated in any one branch. But what happens when the institutions that were meant to hold one another accountable are tested in new and unprecedented ways?Season 6 of Democracy Decoded examines some of the defining constitutional questions shaping American democracy today. From the separation of powers and the role of the Department of Justice, to presidential pardons, political dissent,

en

00:02:12

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

Democracy Decoded ·

2026/04/10

We are beyond thrilled to announce Democracy Decoded once again has been nominated for a Webby Award in the category of Public Service & Activism podcasts! Please vote now for Democracy Decoded by the April 16 deadline to help our expert insights and analysis reach even more ears! How to Vote: Visit the following link: https://wbby.co/57462N CLICK the “vote” button under Democracy Decoded. REGISTER with the Webby Awards website when prompted (if you already have an account, sign in). FOR YOUR

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00:42:43

How New Voting Barriers Threaten Elections

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/11/20

New voting restrictions across the country are threatening to make it harder for millions of Americans to participate in elections. In some states, these barriers have thrown long-registered voters into limbo, as Arizona voter James Wilson learned when he nearly lost his ability to vote because of strict new proof-of-citizenship rules. In this season finale, Democracy Decoded examines how these barriers to voting — along with an administration actively attempting to curtail the freedom to vote and a

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00:42:48

The Latest: How the Erosion of Federalism Endangers...

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/11/13

Under our Constitution, the federal government and the states have distinct powers — especially when it comes to elections. But the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to interfere with how states run elections, pushing unlawful policies that undermine faith in safe, secure and accurate elections.Host Simone Leeper sits down with Catie Kelley, Senior Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Campaign Legal Center, and Jonathan Diaz, CLC’s Director of Voting Advocacy and Partnerships, to

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00:01:04

A Quick Update from Democracy Decoded

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/11/06

Host Simone Leeper shares a quick Election Day 2025 update — Campaign Legal Center staff worked to safeguard elections; millions of Americans exercised their freedom to vote in states across the country; and Democracy Decoded will return next week with lessons learned from this and past elections that we will carry with us into 2026 and beyond. About CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges

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00:41:12

How Gerrymandering Undermines Fair Representation

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/10/30

Gerrymandering—the manipulation of voting maps for partisan gain—has been part of American politics since its founding, but today, the problem is reaching a breaking point.In this episode, host Simone Leeper shares the story of Vicki and Malcolm Reed, a Utah couple who Campaign Legal Center are representing in a landmark lawsuit defending voters’ rights, alongside Mark Gaber, CLC’s Senior Director of Redistricting. Together, they trace how Utahns fought back after lawmakers attempted to overturn a

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00:37:13

How Democracy Is Impacted by the Expansion of...

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/10/23

Presidential power has expanded far beyond what the framers of the Constitution envisioned. From Lincoln and Roosevelt to Nixon and Trump, presidents have pushed the limits of executive authority — often during moments of crisis. Understanding this history is key to understanding what comes next for American democracyIn this episode, host Simone Leeper speaks with American historians Douglas Brinkley and Rick Perlstein, CLC Executive Director Adav Noti and Juan Proaño, CEO of LULAC. In conversation,

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00:34:12

How Corruption and Abuses of Power Threaten Democracy

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/10/16

Corruption defines both the perception and reality of government, eroding trust and even threatening national security. Today, the safeguards meant to keep our government accountable are failing. From the mass firing of inspectors general to congressional stock trading and Supreme Court ethics scandals, abuses of power are weakening public trust and raising fears that the U.S. could slide toward kleptocracy.In this episode, host Simone Leeper speaks with Mark Lee Greenblatt, former Inspector General

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00:34:15

The Latest: How to Address Threats to the Rule of Law

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/10/09

The foundation of our democracy is the Constitution, a system of checks and balances and the rule of law. But today, those cornerstones are being blatantly disrespected by a presidential administration attempting to consolidate power at all costs..In this episode, host Simone Leeper is joined by Campaign Legal Center litigators Anna Baldwin and Brent Ferguson. They examine the most pressing examples of the erosion of the rule of law, from the politicization of the Department of Justice to the

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00:43:35

How Big Money Is Dominating American Politics

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/10/02

Record-breaking sums of money are pouring into American politics — from billionaires spending hundreds of millions to dark money groups hiding their donors. These sums have given wealthy interests outsized access and influence — while the Federal Election Commission (FEC), created to enforce campaign finance laws, has become unable to fulfill its mission.In this episode, host Simone Leeper speaks with former FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Campaign Legal Center

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00:42:42

How the U.S. Supreme Court Is Drastically Reshaping...

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/09/25

The U.S. Supreme Court has vastly reshaped American democracy — rolling back voting rights, enabling secret money in politics and expanding presidential power. These decisions have a real impact on all Americans by making it harder for citizens to exercise their freedom to vote, easier for wealthy interests to sway elections and more difficult to hold leaders accountable.In this episode, host Simone Leeper speaks with law professor and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny Podcast Leah Litman, Campaign

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00:02:36

Democracy Decoded, Season 5: How to Repair the Cracks...

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/09/04

How did American democracy reach such a precarious moment — and what can we do to fix things? Host Simone Leeper examines the fundamental threats to our democracy today, from gerrymandering and corruption to abuses of executive power and the outsized role of money in politics.Through real stories from everyday Americans and insights from the experts at Campaign Legal Center and other distinguished guests, this season of Democracy Decoded explores how we can use the tools we still have to repair the

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00:42:22

The Latest: What Trump's First 100 Days Mean for...

Democracy Decoded ·

2025/04/30

Donald Trump took office as president on January 20, 2025, having already served one term. Immediately, however, he made clear his second term would be even more unpredictable than his first. He put one of the world's richest men — and his biggest campaign donor — in charge of a shadowy new entity with seemingly unfettered access to government data. Trump also blitzed the system with a barrage of executive orders, which have seemingly upended the government. He has done everything from threatening

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00:30:34

The Latest: A Postelection Fight for Democracy

Democracy Decoded ·

2024/11/12

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 a

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