Democrats increasingly see an existential threat from Republican-led state governments determined to place new limits on voting, which critics say would disproportionately affect voters of color, a core part of the Democratic coalition. One Democratic congressional aide, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid, said “panic” is the right word to describe the mood in the party.

The GOP moves, which include scaling back the use of ballot drop boxes, limiting access for mail ballots and creating new identification requirements, threaten to make it harder for Democrats to keep their congressional majorities in the midterms, and hold the White House in 2024.

So maybe it’s not so much democracy that is at risk, but rather the Democrat’s power in Washington being in danger. It reads a little differently when you think about it like that, doesn’t it?

As long as Manchin and Sinema stand firm against breaking the filibuster, the Democrats don’t have a prayer of passing their agenda. The only way that agenda has any chance of passage is in the next Congress. That means Democrats will have to drastically increase their majorities, especially in the Senate. But unless Republicans do something really stupid, that is not likely to happen. In 2022, more Democratic Senate seats are up for grabs than Republican seats. That spells trouble for Chuck Schumer’s job as majority leader.