Now is not the time to hide. It is the time to stand tall and speak out.

That is the message I have delivered at a series of events over the past few weeks. I have spoken to diverse audiences of business leaders, lawyers, students and concerned citizens.

At each event, I was warmly received. People praised my work as a lawyer and as a vocal opponent of Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert democracy.

Yet when I called on the audience to act and speak out, I too often heard the usual concerns: “I am just one person.” “My friends are MAGA.” “My clients or customers won’t like it.”

I recently sat down with Semafor for an interview about Democracy Docket. The host noted that most lawyers prefer to let their legal briefs do the talking. Why, he wanted to know, don’t I follow that same approach?

My answer was the same one I gave my audience: it is too dangerous to stay silent.

It is true that the future of free and fair elections is playing out in courthouses across the country. But it is not enough for lawyers to litigate. They have an obligation to speak publicly and plainly about these cases.

This is not a new frustration for me. For years, I have watched Republican lawyers take center stage promoting election-denial conspiracy theories while those charged with defending democracy hide behind their legal filings.

During the Biden presidency, this disagreement spilled into public view when some in the White House criticized me for “fighting on every possible front — filing a flurry of lawsuits and exerting public pressure through the media.”

Since Trump’s return to power, those critics have largely gone quiet. Yet too few people are willing to take on Trump directly, without caveats or false equivalence.

Meanwhile, I have redoubled my efforts. I have continued to litigate, arguing in federal and state courts, including before the U.S. Supreme Court last term.

My law firm is currently litigating nearly 90 voting and election cases in 41 states. They include some of the most consequential cases for the future of democracy and free and fair elections. The firm is also preparing for what may come next: post-election litigation, recounts and election contests.

Even so, I refuse to stop speaking out. I won’t simply let my legal filings do the talking.

That is why I write for Democracy Docket several times a week. It is why I travel and give speeches. It is why I have expanded my video essays on YouTube.

I make time to share my opinions on the state of voting and democracy, along with my analysis of what is happening in court, because educating the public is as important as arguing before judges.

Usually, that means writing late at night or on weekends. It means recording podcasts at odd hours.

Those hours add up, and earlier this week, I admitted to you that I was tired.

So many of you wrote back to tell me you were rooting for me, to ask how I was holding up and to remind me to take care of myself. Some of you said you were tired, too. I read those messages, and they meant more to me than I can say. Thank you.

Over the past six years, Democracy Docket has grown beyond my wildest expectations. It now includes daily and weekly newsletters, opinion pieces, breaking news, investigative journalism, a podcast and more.

With more than 500,000 free newsletter subscribers and millions of monthly visitors to our website, our reach and influence continue to expand. That is all good news.

But here is the thing: Democracy Docket is reader-funded. There are no corporate owners or outside investors. We rely on people like you to grow.

If you can, please consider becoming a premium member for only $10 a month. Premium memberships power our mission, and members receive exclusive content from me and access to exclusive events.

If now is not the right time for you to become a premium member, I offer my warmest thanks for staying informed and remaining part of this community.

If, however, you simply haven’t gotten around to upgrading, or aren’t sure whether to do so, I ask you to consider what Democracy Docket means to you and to the pro-democracy movement. With the midterms less than 30 days away, our mission is more urgent than ever.

Democracy will not protect itself from Trump’s lies. It requires people willing to stand up and speak out — loudly, persistently and in plain language.

That is what I try to do. It is what the Democracy Docket team does. I hope you will stand with us.