Democracy Decoded
by Campaign Legal Center
Democracy in Action: Your Election Day Reminder
About this podcast
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, citizenship, voting rights, and safeguarding our elections, each episode explores the legal principles, institutions, and people at the center of today's most consequential debates.
Through conversations with leading legal experts, advocates and policymakers, we'll unpack what's happening, why it matters and what these developments could mean for the future of our democracy. Going beyond the headlines, we also examine the constitutional framework behind the news; the checks and balances designed to protect our freedoms; and the challenges facing the rule of law in a rapidly evolving political landscape.
Whether you want to better understand the political events of the day or the Constitution itself, follow Democracy Decoded on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, to get the context, clarity, and insight required to make sense of this pivotal time for our country.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 57 episodes
- Democracy in Action: Your Election Day Reminder · 1 min · Season 6 Episode 8Have you cast your ballot yet? Campaign Legal Center is here with a quick reminder to get out and vote! On this Election Day, host Simone Leeper reflects on democratic values…
- How is the Supreme Court undermining the freedom to vote? · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 7Host Simone Leeper is joined by George Washington University law professor Spencer Overton, alongside Campaign Legal Center’s Gilda Daniels and Bruce Spiva, to examine how the…
- Can a president control who votes in America? · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 6Host Simone Leeper is joined by League of Women Voters' Marcia Johnson, Campaign Legal Center's Anna Baldwin, and Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar to trace the Trump…
- Is the Trump administration trying to undermine our elections? · 32 min · Season 6 Episode 5Host Simone Leeper is joined by Campaign Legal Center’s Jonathan Diaz and Chad Dunn of the UCLA Voting Rights Project to explore how attempts to undermine our elections reveal a…
- Who gets a pardon in Trump's America — and why? · 31 min · Season 6 Episode 4Host Simone Leeper is joined by former pardon attorney Liz Oyer and Campaign Legal Center’s Brendan Fischer to expose how President Trump has turned the pardon power into a tool…
- What happens when political dissent is suppressed? · 33 min · Season 6 Episode 3Host Simone Leeper traces a throughline from a handcuffed senator to blacklisted law firms, surveilled protesters, and hijacked government emails — and asks Yale Law Professor…
- Are political loyalty and partisanship replacing the rule of law at the DOJ? · 35 min · Season 6 Episode 2Host Simone Leeper is joined by Michael Feinberg, Joyce Vance, and Dana Paikowsky to unpack how loyalty to the president and his political agenda has replaced impartiality and…
- What happens when the balance of power becomes unbalanced? · 34 min · Season 6 Episode 1Host Simone Leeper is joined by Melissa Murray, Michael Luttig, and Brent Ferguson to examine how the rule of law is being dismantled by the Trump administration — one court…
- Democracy Decoded, Season 6: The Rule of Law Under Threat · 2 min · Season 6Our 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…
- Special Announcement: We've been nominated for a Webby! · 2 min · Season 5We are beyond thrilled to announce Democracy Decoded once again has been nominated for a Webby Award in the category of Public Service & Activism podcasts!
- How New Voting Barriers Threaten Elections · 43 min · Season 5 Episode 8Host Simone Leeper speaks with experts Rick Hasen and Danielle Lang about how new voting restrictions are threatening elections, and what it will take to ensure every voter can…
- The Latest: How the Erosion of Federalism Endangers Elections · 43 min · Season 5 Episode 7Host Simone Leeper speaks with Campaign Legal Center attorneys Catie Kelley and Jonathan Diaz about the Trump administration’s efforts to seize state control of elections. From…
- A Quick Update from Democracy Decoded · 1 min · Season 5Host 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…
- How Gerrymandering Undermines Fair Representation · 41 min · Season 5 Episode 6Host Simone Leeper speaks with Campaign Legal Center’s Mark Gaber and Utah voters Vicki and Malcolm Reed about how everyday Americans are fighting back against gerrymandering —…
- How Democracy Is Impacted by the Expansion of Presidential Power · 37 min · Season 5 Episode 5Host Simone Leeper speaks with Douglas Brinkley, Rick Perlstein, Adav Noti and Juan Proaño to trace how presidential power has grown over time — and how that expansion impacts…
- How Corruption and Abuses of Power Threaten Democracy · 34 min · Season 5 Episode 4Host Simone Leeper speaks with Mark Lee Greenblatt, Jodi Vittori and Kedric Payne to examine how corruption and abuses of power are eroding safeguards in government; how failures…
- The Latest: How to Address Threats to the Rule of Law · 34 min · Season 5 Episode 3Host Simone Leeper speaks with litigation experts Anna Baldwin and Brent Ferguson to unpack threats to the rule of law — and what can be done to preserve our system of checks and…
- How Big Money Is Dominating American Politics · 44 min · Season 5 Episode 2Host Simone Leeper speaks with former FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and CLC President Trevor Potter to examine how court rulings opened the door to…
- How the U.S. Supreme Court Is Drastically Reshaping American Democracy · 43 min · Season 5 Episode 1The U.S. Supreme Court has vastly reshaped American democracy — rolling back voting rights, enabling secret money in politics and expanding presidential power. These decisions…
- Democracy Decoded, Season 5: How to Repair the Cracks in American Democracy · 3 min · Season 5How 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…







