This evening, I come to you with an important update—one that isn’t making enough headlines. Despite what the chaos in Washington might suggest, the Trump Administration is actually losing in court far more often than the public realizes.
I spoke with Skye Perryman, the President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonprofit organization that has been at the forefront of this legal resistance since Trump took office. Since January, Democracy Forward has filed more than 100 lawsuits against the Trump Administration—and, remarkably, has secured over 100 victories in court.
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These aren’t symbolic wins. They are real, concrete rulings that have stopped unlawful policies, reversed unconstitutional actions, and defended the rights of working families, public employees, and entire communities. The organization’s most recent victory came just yesterday, when a federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to immediately halt the mass firing of federal employees—a move the court ruled was illegal, especially as the government shutdown continues.
Across the country, from local school boards to the halls of Congress, extreme, anti-democratic movements are working to roll back hard-won rights and consolidate political power. This isn’t just happening at the ballot box—it’s happening through policy, through executive actions, and through targeted intimidation of democratic institutions.
Perryman told me that at this critical moment—when some of the same figures tied to January 6th have returned to positions of power—the courts have become the frontline in the battle for democracy, not merely the last line of defense.
Through lawsuits, injunctions, and strategic legal advocacy, Democracy Forward and its partners are working to hold the government accountable. Their mission is simple but vital: to use the law as both shield and sword—to defend democracy and build a better, fairer future.
Democracy Forward doesn’t just operate in D.C. They’re working with people across the country—from local school boards defending inclusive education to municipal governments trying to protect fair access to healthcare and housing.
Their team provides free legal representation and expert counsel to those who make up the very fabric of American democracy: teachers, public servants, advocates, and everyday citizens. And at the national level, they use their collective power to hold anti-democratic actors to account, no matter how powerful they may seem.
One of the most striking things Perryman revealed is how many of these victories never make headlines. While the Supreme Court only hears about 100 cases each year, more than 500 lawsuits have already been filed against the Trump Administration by Democracy Forward and other public interest groups.
Many of these cases never reach the Supreme Court. The Administration often folds quietly—reversing course before a final ruling, or choosing not to appeal after losing in lower courts. While the right-wing media paints a picture of Trump’s unshakable dominance, the reality is that he’s losing in the courts over and over again—a pattern that legal advocates say reflects a clear disregard for the rule of law.
Perryman also noted a disturbing trend: the Supreme Court’s use of the “shadow docket”—a process in which justices issue major rulings without full hearings or explanations, often late at night. These interventions have occasionally overturned lower court victories. But even so, Democracy Forward wins far more cases than it loses, underscoring the power of sustained, strategic legal advocacy.
There is an ongoing concern about the administration’s failure to comply with court orders, an issue legal experts have raised repeatedly. Democracy Forward has continued to pursue enforcement and contempt proceedings where necessary, and many within the judiciary are expressing increased frustration over continued defiance of legal rulings.
These developments highlight a crucial reality: the courts remain one of the few institutions actively pushing back against the erosion of democratic norms.
The work of Democracy Forward is not just about stopping unlawful actions; it’s about restoring faith in the democratic process. Each legal victory reinforces the idea that the law still matters—that accountability still exists, even in turbulent times.
As the nation navigates an era of deep political division, these court battles are proving that democracy’s foundation—the rule of law—still holds firm.