Democracy Decoded
Hosted by Simone Leeper · Campaign Legal Center
4.9from 188 ratings
- 52
- Episodes
- 25
- Transcribed
- 188
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2022
- First episode
About Democracy Decoded
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.
- Publisher
- Campaign Legal Center
- Category
- government · history · news
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Feb 2022
- Latest episode
- 6 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
25 of 52 episodes have a transcript.
6 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Who Gets a Pardon in Trump's America — and Why?
29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
What happens when political dissent is suppressed?
22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Are political loyalty and partisanship replacing the rule of law at the DOJ?
Inside a recent episode
Who Gets a Pardon in Trump's America — and Why?
Published 6 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And those individuals who did not have lawyers were just as successful as those who did in receiving the benefit of clemency if they were truly deserving of it. In other words, the pardon process traditionally has been accessible to a broad cross-section of Americans. There are really no legal limits on who the president can pardon. He can pardon anyone he chooses for any reason. Of course, there are ethical... considerations around all of that as well as a lot of norms that would say that the president should not use the power in that way but legally he is permitted to exercise total discretion over the clemency power one of the things that has historically characterized the pardon process is secrecy surrounding it people in the public don't necessarily understand how the pardon process works And that's in part because the president has a tremendous amount of discretion under the Constitution to grant clemency to whomever he wants. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Democracy Decoded
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Liz Oyer
- Brendan Fischer
- Robert Post
- Danielle Lang
- Michael Feinberg
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.9 / 5
- 162 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 26 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 23
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 91
Contact Democracy Decoded
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Shows with a similar audience
Questions about Democracy Decoded
Who hosts Democracy Decoded?
Simone Leeper host the show. Published by Campaign Legal Center.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Democracy Decoded take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
25 of 52 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
Host of Democracy Decoded?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine