BREAKING: state Supreme Court drops SURPRISE bad news for Republicans
Summary
TLDRIn the 100th episode of Democracy Watch, the hosts celebrate their milestone and discuss recent positive developments in the fight for voting rights, particularly in red states. They highlight the Montana Supreme Court's decision to strike down four voter suppression laws and the potential impact on upcoming elections. The conversation also touches on the significant role of abortion rights on state ballots, predicting it to be a key issue in the 2024 elections, especially in Montana, Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, where ballot measures could sway voter turnout and election outcomes.
Takeaways
- ð This is the 100th episode of Democracy Watch, marking a significant milestone for the series and its commitment to informing viewers about democratic issues.
- ð The first 99 episodes have garnered 60 million views, showcasing the substantial interest and engagement from the audience in matters of democracy.
- ð The work of Mark Elias and his team at Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket is highlighted for their dedication to protecting democracy and their efforts in educating the public.
- ðïž The Montana Supreme Court made a landmark decision by striking down four voter suppression laws, asserting that they violated the state's constitution.
- ð The ruling in Montana is particularly significant as it applied heightened scrutiny to laws that restrict voting rights, potentially serving as a model for other courts nationwide.
- ð³ïž The impact of the Montana ruling will likely be crucial for the re-election of Senator John Tester, as it supports the voting rights of young, college, and Native American voters.
- ð€° The pending abortion referendum is expected to have major political implications, especially in states where abortion rights have been restricted or are under threat.
- ð¥ The abortion issue is considered a Kryptonite for the Republican Party, as it has historically led to increased voter turnout and support for pro-choice candidates.
- ð The importance of voting rights and abortion rights as central issues in the upcoming elections is emphasized, potentially influencing the outcomes of both Senate and Presidential races.
- ð A special thank you is extended to Mark Elias, and a celebration of the 100th episode of Democracy Watch is marked with a cake presentation.
Q & A
What is the significance of the 100th episode of Democracy Watch?
-The 100th episode of Democracy Watch is significant as it marks a milestone for the series, highlighting its commitment to informing viewers about issues related to democracy, particularly focusing on the courts' role in upholding democratic processes. The episode also serves as a testament to the audience's interest in such topics, despite mainstream media's assumption that people may not care about these issues.
What does the host appreciate about Mark Elias and his team's work?
-The host appreciates Mark Elias and his team's dedication to protecting democracy and their significant, yet underrecognized, impact. The host credits their work as a key factor in the potential survival of democracy, especially in the context of the upcoming elections in November 2024.
What were the four voter suppression laws struck down by the Montana Supreme Court?
-The Montana Supreme Court struck down four voter suppression laws, which included eliminating election day registration, prohibiting the use of student IDs as acceptable forms of ID for voting, banning the mailing of ballots to new voters who are not yet registered, and outlawing ballot collection, particularly affecting Native American voters living on reservations.
How does the Montana Supreme Court's decision on voter suppression laws serve as a model for other courts?
-The Montana Supreme Court's decision is a model for other courts because it applied heightened scrutiny to laws that restrict voting rights, demonstrating a strong stance in favor of protecting the fundamental right to vote and setting a precedent for other jurisdictions to follow.
What is the critical U.S. Senate race mentioned in the context of Montana?
-The critical U.S. Senate race mentioned is the re-election of John Tester from Montana. The host suggests that the Montana Supreme Court's ruling on voter suppression laws will be integral to his ability to win, particularly by enabling young voters, college voters, and Native American voters to participate in the electoral process.
Why is the abortion referendum expected to have a significant political impact in the upcoming elections?
-The abortion referendum is expected to have a significant political impact because it is a highly contentious issue that can drive voter turnout. The host suggests that the referendum could particularly benefit Democratic candidates in states where the Republican Party has traditionally struggled with the issue of abortion rights.
How does the host view the potential impact of the abortion referendum on John Tester's re-election in Montana?
-The host believes that the abortion referendum will be an enormous boon for John Tester's re-election prospects. Montana is described as a pro-choice state, and the host suggests that the issue of abortion rights will be center stage, along with voting rights, in motivating voters to turn out for Tester.
What was the notable outcome of the recent election in a deeply red district in Florida?
-In a recent election in a deeply red district in Florida, a Democrat won a State Legislative race, which the host attributes to the power of the abortion issue on the ballot. This demonstrates that even in traditionally Republican areas, the issue of abortion can sway voters.
How does the host assess the potential impact of the abortion referendum on the Senate race in Florida?
-The host assesses that the abortion referendum will make the Senate race in Florida a true tossup. Despite the state's general rightward shift, the host believes that the referendum, combined with the unpopularity of the incumbent Republican senator and internal divisions within the Florida Republican Party, will significantly benefit the Democratic candidate.
What is the host's prediction for the Senate race in Arizona with the introduction of an abortion ballot measure?
-The host predicts that the introduction of an abortion ballot measure in Arizona will shift the Senate race decidedly in favor of the Democratic candidate. The host suggests that the measure will energize the electorate, particularly those from the more libertarian wing of the Republican Party in Arizona, and that this energy will benefit Democrats both in the Senate race and potentially in the presidential race as well.
How does the host describe the character and political stance of the Arizona Republican candidate for Senate, Kari Lake?
-The host describes Kari Lake as an election denier with extreme political views, who has not moderated her stance despite mainstream media's expectations. The host also mentions her association with controversial figures like Mike Lindell, suggesting that her true colors will be revealed again during the campaign.
Outlines
ð Celebrating 100 Episodes of Democracy Watch
This paragraph marks the 100th episode of Democracy Watch, a significant milestone celebrated by thanking viewers for their continued support and interest in the series. The host acknowledges the lack of mainstream media coverage on such topics, emphasizing the importance of their work. The first 99 episodes have garnered 60 million views, reinforcing the need to challenge mainstream narratives. The host expresses gratitude towards Mark and his team for their dedication to protecting democracy, highlighting their significant yet underappreciated impact. The conversation then transitions into discussing recent positive developments in the courts of some traditionally conservative states.
ðïž Montana Supreme Court's Landmark Ruling
In this paragraph, the discussion focuses on the Montana Supreme Court's decision to strike down four voter suppression laws, which were found to violate the state's constitution. The laws included eliminating election day registration, prohibiting the use of student IDs for voting, banning mail ballots to new voters, and outlawing ballot collection, particularly affecting Native American voters. The host emphasizes the significance of this ruling not only for Montana but as a model for other courts nationwide. The conversation also touches on the implications of this decision for an upcoming US Senate race in Montana, suggesting that it could be crucial for the re-election of Senator John Tester.
ð³ïž The Impact of Abortion Referendums on State Elections
This paragraph delves into the political implications of pending abortion referendums in the November elections, particularly in Montana, Nevada, and Florida. The host posits that these referendums could significantly influence Senate and Presidential races, as abortion rights have proven to be a decisive issue in past elections. The discussion highlights the potential boost for Senator John Tester's re-election chances in Montana due to the state's pro-choice leanings. The conversation also explores the surprising shift in Alabama's political landscape, where a pro-choice Republican candidate won a state house seat by a significant margin. The paragraph concludes with speculation on the potential for Democrats to gain ground in traditionally red states due to the abortion referendums.
ð Arizona's Abortion Ballot Measure and its Political Ramifications
The final paragraph discusses the announcement of a ballot measure on abortion rights in Arizona, which is expected to have a significant impact on the state's political landscape. The host suggests that this initiative could tilt the scales in favor of Democrats in both the Senate and Presidential races. The paragraph also touches on the controversial figure of Kari Lake, an election denier, and the strong Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego. The host argues that the abortion initiative could energize voters and potentially sway the traditionally red state towards Democrats. The segment ends with a celebration of Democracy Watch's 100th episode, complete with a congratulatory cake for the hosts.
Mindmap
Keywords
ð¡Democracy Watch
ð¡Mainstream Media
ð¡Voter Suppression
ð¡State's Constitution
ð¡Native American Voters
ð¡Abortion Referendum
ð¡Political Implications
ð¡John Tester
ð¡Krysten Sinema
ð¡Ballot Initiative
Highlights
Democracy Watch celebrates its 100th episode, emphasizing the importance of covering topics the mainstream media often overlooks.
The Montana Supreme Court struck down four voter suppression laws, setting a precedent for other courts nationwide.
The ruling in Montana is particularly significant for Native American voters, as it prevents the banning of ballot collection, which is crucial for their participation in elections.
The upcoming US Senate race in Montana is likely to be influenced by the recent court ruling, potentially aiding John Tester's re-election bid.
Abortion rights are expected to be a major political issue in the 2024 elections, with referendums on the matter appearing on ballots in several states.
The Democratic Party's stance on abortion rights could significantly boost their chances in traditionally red states like Montana and Alabama.
In Alabama, a pro-choice Republican candidate won a state house seat by a significant margin, indicating a shift in the political landscape.
Florida's Senate race is expected to be highly competitive, with the abortion referendum potentially swaying voters against the incumbent Republican, Rick Scott.
The Arizona Senate race could lean towards the Democrats due to the presence of a strong pro-choice ballot initiative and the controversial nature of the Republican candidate.
The impact of the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights is expected to energize voters and have a significant effect on election outcomes.
The 100th episode of Democracy Watch is marked with a celebration, highlighting the show's commitment to informing the public about critical issues related to democracy.
The show's creators express gratitude to their viewers for their support and engagement, which has driven the series to reach this milestone.
Democracy Watch has amassed 60 million views over its first 99 episodes, demonstrating a substantial audience interest in the topics covered.
The Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket are recognized for their crucial work in protecting democracy and providing valuable information to the public.
The show's host, Brian Tyer Cohen, is praised for his visionary approach to educating the public about the stakes of democracy.
The importance of court battles in defending democracy is discussed, with the Montana Supreme Court's decision serving as a prime example.
The potential impact of the abortion referendum on various state elections is analyzed, suggesting it could significantly influence voter turnout and preferences.
The show emphasizes the role of informed voters in maintaining a healthy democracy and the importance of reliable sources of information.
Transcripts
this is democracy watch so Mark we've
got some rare good news from the courts
in a few very red States uh but first
before we start I want to note that this
is our 100th episode of democracy watch
so uh first off let me just say to the
viewers thank you for caring about this
stuff no one in the mainstream media
covers even one1 100th of this stuff
because I think they wrongly assume that
people don't care but you all watching
are a testament to the fact that they do
um the first 99 episodes of this series
got 60 million views so that is 60
million reasons to push back against
what the mainstream media is thinking on
this issue um and Mark I know that I can
speak on behalf of everybody watching
thank you for the work that you do so
much of what you and your team do to
protect democracy doesn't get the
recognition that it deserves but the
impact that you guys are having can't be
overstated um if and when our democracy
survives past November of 2024 it'll be
in large part thanks to you and your
team so again thank you for the work
that you're doing um and also for taking
time to speak directly to so many people
here on YouTube we're all better
informed because of you and we're all
Beyond appreciative that we've got you
and Elias Law Group and democracy docket
on our side and also that you haven't
taken up Lou dos on his offer to switch
sides for half a billion dollars no but
I am glad that when you that you had the
foresight to reach out to me when you
had a vision for this and everyone ought
to be be clear Brian is a Visionary when
it comes to uh making sure people
understand the stakes around democracy
not just in this series but in all of
the series and I hope everyone
subscribes to all of uh all of the
programming that he puts out but Brian
when you approached me you know I didn't
see it at first but you were entirely
right there is no place for people to go
and get good reliable day in day in week
out week out information about what is
happening to democracy in courts which
is one of the main battlefields of
democracy I mean if there's one thing we
learned after 2020 it is that the courts
play such a central role in free and
fair elections and in ensuring that we
have a peaceful transfer of power and
democracy and it was really your vision
that created this and I want to thank
you from the bottom of my heart for
everything you have done to help
conceive of this to help nurture it to
help build an audience for it and uh to
really educate everybody out there um uh
who has been listening well I I
appreciate that I think we're all better
off because of this series so um so
let's jump in to episode 100 here again
we've got some rare good news here from
the courts in some very red States so
Mark walk us through what just happened
in the Montana Supreme Court first yeah
so this is an amazing story and I really
think it's one of the underreported
stories in the mainstream media the
Montana Supreme Court struck down not
one not two not three but four voter
suppression laws in one ruling violating
that all four of them violated the
state's Constitution
this included eliminating election day
registration eliminating student IDs as
acceptable forms of ID to vote
prohibiting mailing ballots to new
voters who are eligible to vote on
Election Day but are not yet uh 2018
Banning ballot collection which is a
Lifeline for Native American voters in
the states who live on reservations when
when we talk about banning ballot
collection Republicans talk about
banning ballot collection or what they
call ballot harvesting in a state like
Montana what they are saying is they
don't want Native Americans to vote and
this is not just a landmark victory for
the voters of Montana it is a landmark
uh uh case in which the Montana Supreme
Court applied heightened scrutiny to
laws that restrict voting rights it is a
model opinion that courts around the
country can look at and I I'd be remiss
if I didn't point out that there is a
critical US Senate race it is likely
that the day after the election we will
wake up trying to figure out who
controls the US Senate and we will one
of the states we'll be looking at is
whether John tester was reelected from
the great state of Montana and this
ruling will be integral to the ability
of John tester to be able to win of
young voters of college voters of Native
American voters being able to
participate in the electoral process
well on the topic of issues coming out
of the course that are going to have
major political implications can you
discuss the pending abortion referendum
that will likely appear on the November
ballot
yeah so look I mean I I think this is
I'm sure you've covered this across your
channels the Kryptonite of the
Republican Party um is the issue of
abortion the thing they have not been
able to figure out is what to do when
abortion in any way shape or form is on
the ballot even even in the recent uh
election uh uh where IVF was a sort of a
side issue you saw a Democrat win a
State Legislative race um uh uh you know
in a deep in a deeply red District in a
deeply Red State in Florida uh it's
going to be on the ballot in Montana it
will be on the ballot in in um in Nevada
it will almost certainly be on the
ballot and Republicans have no answer to
this um you know they wanted they fought
for decades to get a Supreme Court to
overturn uh a woman's right to control
her own body and have access to Safe um
abortion uh care and now are reaping
this at The Ballot Box and it will play
a critical role in several States in
2024 I'm going to ask you to put your
pundit hat on a little bit but how much
of a boon will that referendum be for
John tester's re-election prospects in
your opinion because you were just
talking about the importance that that
Montana's uh senate election is going to
have I think it'll be an enormous Boon
for John tester I think it'll be an
enormous Boon for a number in a number
of Senate States including presidential
rates but you look at Montana Montana is
a is a red state but it is also a very
very pro-choice State you know the
Republicans in the west are not the kind
of Republicans you see in Alabama or
Mississippi these are Republicans often
times because they want less government
involvement in their lives and abortion
rights fits Center uh Center Square with
their conception of individual liberty
and and and freedom and the guy he's
running against um you know is not from
Montana and it does not fit the state I
think John tesar is going to win and I
think the issue of voting rights will be
Center Stage the fact that Republicans
tried to disenfranchise people and the
issue of abortion rights will be center
stage in turning out voters who might
otherwise think ah the presidential race
is not really going to come down to
Montana but I need to show up and vote I
think what's what's ironic is you
mentioned that Montana Republicans
aren't Alabama Republicans even Alabama
Republicans are are pro are pro-choice
um Marilyn L just flipped a seat in
Alabama state house by a by a margin of
25 points compared to the Republican who
held it before her and she ran her
campaign again a in Alabama in like deep
red Alabama predicated on abortion and
IVF so even Alabama Republicans are more
liberal on this issue than anybody would
have ever imagined so uh you know to to
your earlier point we did get that
similar news out of Florida that the
abortion referendum would appear on the
November ballot do you believe that that
puts Democrats within Striking Distance
in that state despite it's long-standing
move to the right over these last couple
decades okay first of all I think that
that race was going to be tighter than
people thought before and let's just
remember Rick Scott who is the incumbent
Republican senator he has never won his
elections by wide margins I mean he six
years ago he won by one tenth of 1% he
won the center one tenth of 1% Rick
Scott is a fundamentally flawed
individual that the people of Florida
don't like he also perpetuated the
largest Medicare fraud against the
country and was levied like a I think it
was a $1.7 billion fine uh at the time
which was the largest fine the doj has
ever levied against anyone because he
committed Medicare fraud when he was the
when he was the CEO of Columbia HCA
Hospital correct right so let's just
start with that so before everyone says
you know this race was gonna be a a
blowout Republican race that was never
true but let me tell you this abortion
ballot initiative being on the being on
the ballot at the same time that the
that the Florida Supreme Court
effectively Outlaws abortion in the
state you know this is it is bad for the
for the for the women of Florida it is
bad for the voters of Florida that the
Florida Supreme Court ruled the way they
did on abortion rights but I gotta tell
you if I'm Rick Scott I'm looking at
what my post Senate employment
opportunities are I think this dis I
think this uh this Senate race in
Florida now goes to toss up and I mean
that a true tossup uh between uh between
between uh uh between the two sides and
put on top of that and I've said this
before and like everyone just mark this
you know however you mark things on
YouTube Mark it and come back to this
after the election Donald Trump hates
Ronda santz the party in Florida is
divided the Florida Republican party is
not of one mind they are they are at war
with one another and when you take a
party at war with one another and you
have an unpopular governor and you have
an unpopular Senate candidate and you
have a turbocharge charged electorate
who is angry about what the state
supreme court has just done on abortion
and they have the means to to flip it at
60% you know Republicans in some states
tried to get a 60% threshold because
they thought they were being clever a
60% threshold for this initiative in
Florida is a dream for Democrats it is a
nightmare for Republicans because it is
going to turbocharge turnout like you
have never seen and those people turning
out are not going to be voting for Rick
scottt and finally on that point Arizona
organizers have announced that they have
enough signatures now for a ballot
measure on abortion protecting uh uh
protecting uh that in their state
constitution how important will that be
in a state that you've sounded the alarm
about quite a bit yeah same thing I mean
honestly you know let's just start with
the fact that kry lake is insane you
know the mainstream media wanted to
write and did write for several weeks
this you know Terry lake has gone
mainstream only to turn out that she's
actually as nuts as ever you know she's
still an election denier she's you know
hanging out with Mike Lindell in the in
the US Supreme in the US Supreme Court
and on top of all of that you have Ruben
gyo who's a very good candidate uh
running for Senate on the Democratic
side and like I said on top of that now
you will have likely a ballot initiative
on the ballot around abortion well Perry
Lake will show her true colors once
again with or without this initiative
but with this initiative you again have
the perfect storm of of energy coming
from people again a party that that is
from kind of a more libertarian Wing uh
in Arizona I I think this moves this
race decidedly to lean's Democrat in the
senate race I think it moves this race
to probably slightly leans Biden in the
presidential race um the fact that
abortion will be front Center in Arizona
is a gift to Democrats um up and down
the ballot in Arizona and you know the
the you know the conservatives on the
Supreme Court said that women are not
without uh without electoral power uh in
the dobs decision I think they didn't
know quite what they were writing but
they were 100% right and I think we're
going to see that in Montana in Florida
and in Arizona perfectly put we'll leave
it there mark uh one last thing here
just wanted to extend a little special
thank you here so I think we have we
have something that that uh that your
team is going to bring to you right now
to say just to say thanks here we have a
cake everyone there's a cake there's a
there's a look at this Sophie here with
the cake let's see you got you gotta
turn it a little bit more congrats on
100 hold on see it let's get this yeah
you could see it it's it's in there all
right there it is congrats on 100 it's
that's our cake Brian that's it and
we're g to celebrate and we're going to
eat the cake and everybody subscribe to
democracy docket subscribe to Brian's uh
Channel and make sure you keep watching
democracy watch because week in week out
we are telling you what you need to know
to stay informed about democracy in the
courts we'll leave it there I'm Brian
tyer Cohen and I'm Mark Elias this is
democracy
[Music]
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