News you missed: the laundering of election denialism

 

Preview of my members-only emails As we head towards Labor Day, and the final sprint of the 2024 campaign, the dominant trends of the election seem set. Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party are running a hopeful and joyous campaign focused on expanding individual freedoms and improving the lives of all Americans. Donald Trump and the Republicans, on the other hand, continue to peddle a dystopian view of the country that is, well, weird. Election denialism fits into the GOP’s theme because it relies on dark conspiracy theories and unnamed “others” who are trying to steal the election. But it is more than that. It represents a strategy to win an election in which millions more citizens will vote for Harris than for Trump. Part of their plan is to normalize the abnormal. In their telling, harassing election officials is free speech, kicking voters off the rolls is election integrity and refusing to accurately certify elections is reasonable inquiry. Another way of normalizing their anti-democratic approach is by using the courts as a filter for these claims. As Marshall McLuhan famously observed, “the medium is the message.” By filtering their extremist approach through court cases, Republicans aim to create an air of respectability to them. That is why, in the last week of August, we again saw a raft of new court cases filed by the GOP asserting extraordinary things. They won’t win, but they hope that by filing these claims in a court, it will make their crackpot theories seem less so. THE SCOREBOARD YOUR WEEKLY SNAPSHOT Top Issues Upgrade to find out. Top States Upgrade to find out. Decisions Handed Down 9 Decisions We’re Waiting For 31 YOUR WEEKEND READING LIST Right-Wing Activists Sue Fulton County, Georgia Election Board Over Voter Challenges Democracy Docket Two right-wing activists who’ve challenged the status of thousands of voters in Georgia are suing Fulton County election officials over what they describe as a failure to properly maintain the county’s voter rolls and respond to voter challenges. Upgrade to unlock story #2 Upgrade to unlock story #3 Upgrade to unlock story #4 If you want to continue receiving my weekly scorecard and weekend reading lists — plus invites to exclusive live events with me, my two monthly newsletters and more — upgrade to our premium membership and support Democracy Docket’s work in keeping you informed on the latest news about voting and elections in the courts. UPGRADE FOR THE REST OF THE READING LIST We also understand that not everyone is able to make this commitment, which is why our free daily and weekly newsletters aren’t going anywhere! If you prefer not to receive samples of our premium content and only want our free daily and weekly newsletters, you can opt out here.