It's been a bad few years for Democrats. Congressional Republicans are holding bills hostage and blocking judicial appointments. Libertarian activists are suing to end Obamacare. The Supreme Court has eviscerated campaign finance laws, opening elections to the highest bidder. Lawmakers have gerrymandered the house, giving Republicans a lock on power into the next decade. Meanwhile, 22 states have passed laws making it harder to cast a ballot--especially for young people, poor people, and people of color--who all, not coincidentally, tend to vote liberal. Progressives have tended to see these maneuvers as cynical attempts to stymie their agenda. But reporter Zachary Roth decided to dig deeper. What he discovered was disturbing: A growing number of Republicans are afraid of popular rule--and they're doing everything they can to limit it.