Are Dems Incapable of Defending Democracy? Or Just Unwilling? – The Nation
US Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin arrive for a bipartisan meeting on infrastructure after original talks fell through with the White House on June 8, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)
Thank you for signing up forThe Nations weekly newsletter.
In his first address to Congress on April 28, Joe Biden invoked the January 6 insurrection, saying, The images of a violent mob assaulting this Capitol, desecrating our democracy, remain vivid in all our minds. He added, The insurrection was an existential crisisa test of whether our democracy could survive. And it did. But the struggle is far from over.
These were uncharacteristically bold words from Biden, but they are not hyperbolic. On January 6, a sitting president incited a mob to attack Congress in order to sabotage the certification of his successor. Shocking as that was, it was only the flash point in a larger war against democracy. In truth, Donald Trumps clown coup had little chance of succeeding. The more serious threat lay in the very fact that he was able to do something so reckless and yet remain the standard-bearer of his party, someone whom most congressional Republicans still wouldnt vote to impeach.
Though Trump has left the White House, the Trumpification of the GOP continues apace. Those few brave but hapless Republicans who stood up to Trump, like Congresswoman Liz Cheney, are finding themselves pariahs in their own party, stripped of their positions and scorned by party loyalists. The GOP has embraced the Trumpian Big Lie that the election was stolen, an idea endorsed by 53 percent of Republicans according to a May Reuters/Ipsos poll. Trump is not so much an ex-president as a pretender to the throne, the exiled king of Mar-a-Lago whom elected Republicans cross at their peril.
The Big Lie is behind the efforts of state-level Republicans to roll back voting rights. As Geoffrey Skelley reported in FiveThirtyEight, In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Republican lawmakers have pushed new voting restrictions in nearly every state. From making it harder to cast ballots early to increasing the frequency of voter roll purges, at least 25 new restrictive voting laws have been enacted, with more potentially on the horizon. The most disturbing innovation in this rollback of democracy is the idea that state legislators could be empowered to overturn election results and pick their own presidential electors. In that scenario, Biden or another Democrat could win the popular count in states that carry over 270 electoral votes and still be deprived of the presidency. MORE FROM Jeet Heer
According to Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon Jr., If Republicans win the governorships of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin next year, taking total control in those key swing states, they could impose all kinds of electoral barriers for the next presidential election. The Republicans are laying the groundwork to refuse to certify a 2024 Democratic presidential victory should the GOP hold a House majority.
Only the complacent would dismiss this as fanciful. Considering all the antics Trump pulled to try to overturn the 2020 electionand the fact that most elected Republicans are now going out of their way to grovel in front of him2024 will almost certainly be an even bigger test of American democracy.
Democrats have a very narrow window of opportunity to shore up our democracy against the ongoing GOP threat. The good news is that the party has put forward two very strong measuresHR 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Actwhich are the most robust pro-democracy reforms in a generation. Taken together, they would make it easier to vote, make voting more secure, limit the power of dark money in politics, and push back against antidemocratic shenanigans like gerrymandering.Current Issue
Subscribe today and Save up to $129.
Such measures are all extraordinarily popular with the general public. Writing in The New Yorker in March, Jane Mayer reported receiving a recording of a private conference call on January 8th, between a policy adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell and the leaders of several prominent conservative groupsincluding one run by the Koch brothers networkreveal[ing] the participants worry that the proposed election reforms garner wide support not just from liberals but from conservative voters, too. The speakers on the call expressed alarm at the broad popularity of [HR 1s] provision calling for more public disclosure about secret political donors.
The two voting rights acts proposed by the Democrats are both necessary and popular. Even with their narrow hold on power in Congress, it should be a no-brainer to push them through. Alas, its very hard to pass a prodemocratic measure in an antidemocratic system. Joe Manchin, with his cult of bipartisanship, is one major stumbling block. The West Virginia senator, as Luke Savage notes in The Atlantic, has reiterated his opposition to H.R. 1 on the deeply spurious grounds that any prospective voting-rights legislation ought to pass with bipartisan supporta DOA line of reasoning even when it comes to the watered-down version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act that Manchin himself is proposing.Related Articles
Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema supports HR 1 but, like Manchin, is also a fetishist of the filibuster. Since neither bill can be passed by reconciliation and both lack Republican support, the only way for either to get through the Senate is by overturning the filibuster. The core truth is that Manchin and Sinema are committed to the old order, even if following the established path leads to a successful Republican coup.
Ultimately, this issue is a test of how serious Biden and the Democrats are about their own rhetoric. If American democracy is indeed facing an existential crisis, then Biden should pull out all the stops to win over Manchin and Sinema: offer them any inducements that he has availableand threaten them with severe punishments for not toeing the party line. This is what Republicans are doing to recalcitrant members like Cheney and Mitt Romney. If the GOP can be in deadly earnest trying to undermine democracy, we have every right to expect Democrats to be just as organized, just as dedicated, and just as ruthless in preserving democracy.
Read more:
Are Dems Incapable of Defending Democracy? Or Just Unwilling? - The Nation
- Harvards Fight Is a Defense of Democracy and Civic Virtue - Liberal Currents - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Members of Congress visiting ICE facilities are showing up for democracy - The Hill - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Irwin Cotler sounds alarm on erosion of Israels greatest protection its democracy - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Georgia: how democracy is being eroded fast as government shifts towards Russia - The Conversation - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- CONNECTIONS: We shouldn't be surprised that we still have to fight for democracy even after 249 years - The Berkshire Edge - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Depression Due to Politics: the Quiet Danger to Democracy - University of California, Merced - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democracy v. Plutocracy: Breaking Up is Hard to Do - KPFA - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Indefatigable leaders of Indivisible Sagadahoc fighting to save democracy - The Portland Press Herald - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- More on the Abrego Garcia Case: Some Good News for Democracy, Despite the Government's Best Efforts - Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- AI, Fair Use, and the Arsenal of Democracy - RealClearDefense - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Opinion - Members of Congress visiting ICE facilities are showing up for democracy - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democracy isnt dying in darkness. Its being killed off in plain sight. - Inquirer.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Letters: Valuing democracy and a nation of laws - Westerly Sun - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- MK Gilad Kariv on the fight for democracy and Reform Judaism in wartime Israel - Haaretz - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Austin Sarat: In a democracy, protest is good for the soul, even if it does not change anyones mind - TribLIVE.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Coups in west Africa have five things in common: knowing what they are is key to defending democracy - The Conversation - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Aos Fatos turns ten in the trenches for democracy - Aos Fatos - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Lost Jefferson letter on arms and democracy resurfaces for Fourth of July sale - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- This July 4, Lets Resolve to Win an Actual Democracy - Jacobin - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?: James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglasss Historic Speech - Democracy Now! - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy on the brink? Nearly 3 in 4 Americans say yes - Salon.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- This Week in Democracy Week 24: Trump Goes From Islamophobic Attacks on Mamdani to Antisemitic Tropes About Bankers - Zeteo - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Faith, Democracy, and the Catholic Duty To Stay Involved - The Fulcrum - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Katie Drummond: Democracy in the US is under threat. And that threat is facilitated by technology and the makers of that technology - EL PAS English - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Hundreds attend pro-democracy rally on the Fourth of July in Sioux Falls - Argus Leader - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Activists sound alarm over US cuts to programs providing internet access and promoting democracy in Iran - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Explained: Where SCOTUS' Nationwide Injunctions Ruling Leaves the Cases Against Trump - Democracy Docket - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Secret to Saving Democracy in the US Is a New Kind of Civics Education - Common Dreams - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Vermont Representative Becca Balint convenes a panel to discuss democracy and the Constitution ahead of July 4 - WAMC - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Talking Europe - Access to documents is crucial for transparency and a strong democracy: EU Ombudswoman - France 24 - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Defend Democracy Against Bombardments on the Elections Front A Three-Part Series - The Fulcrum - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy in Dialogue project at BPL provides education and creative expression | The Hawk Eye - Burlington, Iowa - Daily Gate City - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy Gave Us This. There Has To Be a Better Way. - The Nation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Hong Kongs light fades as another pro-democracy party folds - The Conversation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- How America forgot the best way to defend its democracy - vox.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democracy in action: Self-determination in William & Marys residence halls - W&M News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- What Democracy Promised Us and What We Got Instead - The Fulcrum - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This July 4, the nations top trial lawyers warn of threats to democracy | Opinion - Bergen Record - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Is the growth of executive power a threat to constitutional democracy? - Brookings - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion: Lets look beyond the fireworks and recommit to democracy - Bangor Daily News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Capitalism and democracy are weakening reviving the idea of calling can help to repair them - The Conversation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- DOJ Sides With Wyoming in Proof of Citizenship Voting Lawsuit - Democracy Docket - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Progress in key areas would benefit Trinidad and Tobago democracy, says Commonwealths final report on 2025 parliamentary elections -... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Making Democracy Work: Having the right to choose with the Death with Dignity Act - TBR News Media - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Palestine Action isnt a danger to British democracy but this repressive government is | George Monbiot - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Not a Done Deal: After Senate Passes Big, Ugly Bill, Progressives Fight to Stop It in the House - Democracy Now! - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Koreas democracy and alliance with the U.S. are in good hands, not in peril - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- EU Should Act Against El Salvadors Dismantling of Democracy - Human Rights Watch - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democracy's Discontent: Why Are We So Polarized, and What Can We Do About It? - Ideastream - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Another Tale of Two Uncle Sams: Mamdanis Unexpected Win and Hope for a Democratic Democracy - Counterpunch - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Tech Elites Takeover of Crypto is a Growing Threat to European Democracy - Tech Policy Press - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- We at Mountain Dew Would Like to Apologize for Our Role in the Destruction of American Democracy - McSweeneys Internet Tendency - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Descent into Kleptocracy: The Corruption of America and Trumps systematic looting of Democracy - Milwaukee Independent - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- On this July 4th, celebrate our democracy and tend toward the light | Column - Tampa Bay Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Election Matters 2025: Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States - WisconsinEye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Make America Healthy Again report shows how AI can undermine the US Official Record, and democracy - LSE Blogs - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- New Lancaster Museum to Explore Reconstruction Era and the Fight for Democracy - WITF - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Institutions Protecting US Democracy Have Turned Into Traps - Bloomberg.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Dissatisfaction with democracy remains widespread in many nations - Pew Research Center - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: Most feel democracy is threatened and political violence is a major problem - NPR - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - VPM - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The last Hong Kong pro-democracy party that held street protests disbands - CNN - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- They Demanded Democracy. Years Later, They Are Still Paying the Price. - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- New poll finds about three-quarters of Americans say democracy under threat : Trump's Terms - NPR - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Ford Foundation selects Yale dean and democracy scholar Heather Gerken to succeed Darren Walker - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Why democracy hinges on respect for the court and the rule of law - Deseret News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Bill Moyers journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career - The Conversation - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - KUOW - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Damaging and Deadly Heat Domes Nearly Tripled, from Europe to the U.S.: Climatologist Michael Mann - Democracy Now! - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poorly led, strategically inept and shorn of democracy. Now I truly fear for this Labour government | John McDonnell - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- More Americans think the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis than think the U.S. is a democracy - YouGov - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Five years on, Hong Kongs national security law extinguishes last standing pro-democracy party - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Comprehensive Road Repairs Begin on Democracy Boulevard, Expected to Last 10-12 Weeks - The MoCo Show - - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- We the People includes all Americans but July 4 is a reminder that democracy remains a work in progress - WSOC TV - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Right to Democracy and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition Stand with American Samoa in Opposing Unilateral Proposals for Deep Seabed Mining -... - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- In-Depth Exploration of Participatory Democracy and Local Governance Practices in Spain - United Nations Development Programme - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Information overload: Can we keep our minds and our democracy? - Lowy Institute - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democracy Forward Boosts Appellate Bench With Latest Hires - Law360 - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Tens of Thousands Flee Gaza City as Israel Issues New Forced Evacuation Orders - Democracy Now! - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - New Hampshire Public Radio - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]