Podcast
Democracy Decoded
Campaign Legal Center · News · English
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 exam
More from Democracy Decoded All episodes →
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S6 · E1 · 15 Sep 2026 · 34 min
What happens when the balance of power becomes unbalanced?
Host 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 ruling, one fired commissioner, and one unchecked executive action at a time.
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S6 · 1 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Democracy Decoded, Season 6: The Rule of Law Under Threat
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S5 · 10 Apr 2026 · 2 min
Special Announcement: We've been nominated for a Webby!
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!
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S5 · E8 · 20 Nov 2025 · 43 min
How New Voting Barriers Threaten Elections
Host 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 participate meaningfully in our democracy.
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S5 · E7 · 13 Nov 2025 · 43 min
The Latest: How the Erosion of Federalism Endangers Elections
Host 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 unlawful executive orders to voter registration barriers and voter roll data grabs, they explain how these actions undermine federalism—and what CLC is doing to protect American elections in the lead-up to 2026 and 2028.
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S5 · E6 · 30 Oct 2025 · 41 min
How Gerrymandering Undermines Fair Representation
Host 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 — and what’s at stake when politicians choose their voters instead of the other way around.
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S5 · E5 · 23 Oct 2025 · 37 min
How Democracy Is Impacted by the Expansion of Presidential Power
Host 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 our democracy works.
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S5 · E4 · 16 Oct 2025 · 34 min
How Corruption and Abuses of Power Threaten Democracy
Host 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 of accountability in Congress and the courts are weakening public trust; and what reforms could protect against corruption and conflicts of interest now and in the future.
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S5 · E3 · 9 Oct 2025 · 34 min
The Latest: How to Address Threats to the Rule of Law
Host 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 balances.
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S5 · E2 · 2 Oct 2025 · 44 min
How Big Money Is Dominating American Politics
Host 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 unlimited political spending; how partisan gridlock has left the FEC unable to act; and what reforms could restore transparency and accountability in American democracy.
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