Wednesday, June 3

Hello, fellow pro-democracy readers! I’m Andrew Wyrich, and I’m the new newsletter editor at Democracy Docket. I’ll be writing Daily Docket every day. It’s great to meet you!

Our democracy is facing threats daily, and Democracy Docket covers them with the speed, clarity and urgency you’ve come to expect. That’s what I want to continue for you every day, but with a bit of a human touch.

Nothing about this newsletter is changing. You'll still get your daily rundown of the latest in voting, elections and democracy in court.

We don’t use AI to make this newsletter; it’s written, edited and curated by experienced journalists, researchers and editors who work hard every day to make sure you get the best possible news. The amount of work that goes into it is really impressive. That’s not going to change. You’ll just see a bit more of me. I’m looking forward to getting to know you!

If you want to chat more, feel free to respond to this email! I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter and why it’s valuable to you.

See you tomorrow,

Andrew Wyrich, Newsletter Editor

‘It debases the democratic process’: Sotomayor slams Supreme Court’s Alabama ruling

The fallout continues after the Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use a congressional map that it had already ruled was created by intentionally discriminating against Black Alabamians.
In particular, Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted the Court’s conservative majority in a fiery dissent, saying the six justices were “wrong twice over” and accused them of deliberately “sowing chaos in Alabama” and reinforcing racial discrimination.
More on what Sotomayor said in her dissent opinion >>>

Sotomayor was not the only one who reacted strongly to the ruling

Democrats and civil-rights advocates are also speaking out – with Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) saying the ruling made states “essentially free to discriminate against minority voters with no consequences.”
More on the immense pushback >>>
Our reporter Jim Saksa also has a great analysis on why the decision marks a brazen reversal of the Court’s previous stance.

Meanwhile, election deniers are spreading lies about California’s slow vote counting

It’s no surprise that California takes a long time to count votes, but the protracted tallying of ballots in Tuesday’s primary races is already fueling conspiracy theories among election deniers.
What lies are they spreading already? >>>

As legacy media silences journalists like 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley for speaking out against corporate pressure, Democracy Docket remains unapologetically pro-democracy — even when it goes against Trump. Become a member to keep this work going.

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More in California: Michael Gates, who helped lead DOJ’s voter roll grab, advances in attorney general race

Gates, a former Trump Justice Department official, will match up against incumbent California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), one of the country’s most active legal opponents of Trump’s attacks on voting and elections. Bonta will be heavily favored.
More on California’s attorney general race >>>

Georgia law targeting Democratic counties draws lawsuit over ‘political redlining’

Metro Atlanta district attorneys sued to block a new Georgia law that strips party labels from district attorney and other local races in five Democratic-leaning counties, arguing the measure is an unconstitutional attack on Black and Democratic voters.
The counties are among the state’s most populous and Democratic-leaning communities. They also have large Black populations and all have Black women serving as district attorneys.
More on the lawsuit >>>

DOJ appeals Rhode Island and Arizona voter data lawsuit dismissals

The DOJ is on an appeal streak. It appealed dismissals of its lawsuits in Arizona and Rhode Island that seek to gain unfettered access to unredacted voter data.
This is the sixth appeal so far out of DOJ's eight losses.
Learn more about the cases in Rhode Island and Arizona >>>

DOJ corruption, the Supreme Court and the media's collapse

Marc and Harry Litman reunite to break down the biggest rule-of-law stories of the moment: DOJ corruption, what the Supreme Court is likely to hand down this month and why legacy media is in an irreversible death spiral.

Watch the full video >>>

Here we share noteworthy briefs on all things voting rights and democracy. Have a footnote for us? Send it to news@democracydocket.com.

Trump-backed Michigan U.S. Senate hopeful Rep. Mike Rodgers (R) was widely mocked after an image was shared on social media where he was altered with AI to appear more muscular. Instead of backing down, he’s decided to tweet through it with even more (truly absurd) AI slop.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) decided to use the tried-and-true method of blaming his comms team for a bad tweet. On Tuesday, he marked the beginning of Pride Month by tweeting “homosexuality has no place in America” and wishing his followers a “Happy Nuclear Family Month” before deleting it after significant backlash.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) doesn’t seem to have high hopes for Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick to serve as acting director of national intelligence who used his role at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to accuse the president’s perceived enemies of mortgage fraud, making it through a confirmation: "I don't think he has a prayer" Tillis reportedly said.