1 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,199 Speaker 1: And we are back with another edition of the Federalist 2 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,920 Radio Hour. I'm Matt Kittle, senior Elections correspondent at the 3 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:29,760 Federalist and your experienced Shirpa on today's quest for Knowledge. 4 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,880 As always, you can email the show at radio at 5 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,039 the Federalist dot com, follow us on x at FDR LST, 6 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,320 make sure to subscribe wherever you download your podcast, and 7 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,520 of course to the premium version of our website as well. 8 00:00:44,039 --> 00:00:47,560 Our guest today is Mike Valante, director of the Center 9 00:00:47,679 --> 00:00:51,920 for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute and 10 00:00:52,079 --> 00:00:56,320 organization that is well, it's a busy organization to say 11 00:00:56,359 --> 00:00:59,600 the very least, and it has to be because election 12 00:00:59,679 --> 00:01:04,799 intake is so very critical, as we found out in 13 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,000 this most recent presidential election. 14 00:01:07,519 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: For sure. 15 00:01:08,879 --> 00:01:11,719 Speaker 1: Today we turn our attention to what the Wall Street 16 00:01:11,799 --> 00:01:17,480 Journal has dubbed the most important election of twoenty twenty five. Mike, 17 00:01:17,519 --> 00:01:21,840 thank you so much for joining usby you bet absolutely. 18 00:01:22,519 --> 00:01:24,599 Let's read a little bit from the Wall Street Journal 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,840 and we'll start there and talk about your efforts, the 20 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:35,159 Center's efforts in making sure that this election that we 21 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:41,000 mention is indeed secure and it is transparent, and it 22 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:45,640 is within the law, because we can't always say that, 23 00:01:45,719 --> 00:01:50,159 of course, with our elections. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote, 24 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,120 could the election of a single state Supreme Court justice 25 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,879 redraw a state congressional delegation up and the balance of 26 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:04,159 the US House block? Donald Trump, Welcome to Wisconsin, twenty 27 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,640 twenty five's election of the year. It's right. The Wisconsin 28 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,360 State Supreme Court election coming up on April first will 29 00:02:12,479 --> 00:02:17,159 ultimately decide first and foremost whether that court is controlled 30 00:02:17,199 --> 00:02:21,800 by liberals or conservatives, And as we have reported at 31 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:26,400 The Federalist extensively in recent weeks, it also could decide 32 00:02:26,439 --> 00:02:30,120 the fate of the House. Mike, let's begin there. You 33 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:36,080 have been obviously extremely active in Wisconsin. How important is 34 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,240 this race? I don't think a lot of people have 35 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,159 been following it, and it is something that has a 36 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,159 significant impacts surrounding it. 37 00:02:48,159 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 3: It's a huge impact that can have an impact on 38 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:55,599 the state of Wisconsin directly for a generation, and certainly 39 00:02:56,599 --> 00:02:58,800 on what's happening around the country. 40 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,159 Speaker 2: It's kind of funny. 41 00:03:01,159 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 3: In a previous life, I had done some work nationally 42 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,680 for a tort reform organization, and one of the key 43 00:03:09,879 --> 00:03:13,400 races always was the Wisconsin Supreme Court because for the 44 00:03:13,439 --> 00:03:17,800 longest time, those that like to gain the system, the 45 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,520 ambulance chasing attorneys used to use the Wisconsin Court and 46 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,960 it always was so important to make sure it did 47 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,360 not fall into the wrong hands. And you fast forward, 48 00:03:28,719 --> 00:03:31,560 you know, almost a decade later, and you see it's 49 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,840 still on the forefront on. 50 00:03:33,759 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: The national level of importance. So the Wall Street Journal 51 00:03:37,199 --> 00:03:38,000 hit it on the button. 52 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: There's a governor's race in New Jersey, governor's race in Virginia, 53 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,599 legislative races in both states as well as I think 54 00:03:44,639 --> 00:03:50,560 in Kentucky. Probably as it relates to the future. For 55 00:03:50,639 --> 00:03:53,599 Wisconsin certainly and for the country, I think the Supreme 56 00:03:53,639 --> 00:03:57,479 Court race in Wisconsin cannot be undersold. 57 00:03:58,159 --> 00:04:00,919 Speaker 1: Certainly the money shows you as much, doesn't it. And 58 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,879 the people who are engaged nationally in this race twenty 59 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,319 twenty three, I'll take us back there. I remember covering 60 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,800 that race extensively for the news organization as working for 61 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,120 at the time for the Federalists. But that was the 62 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,079 most expensive judicial stage judicial race in the history of 63 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:26,199 this country, and at about fifty plus million dollars of spending, 64 00:04:26,879 --> 00:04:32,680 and ultimately the Left won that contest and changed control 65 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,439 of that Court to a liberal majority for the first 66 00:04:35,439 --> 00:04:40,040 time in fifteen years. That has had a massive impact 67 00:04:40,199 --> 00:04:44,759 thus far that we'll talk about as we proceed. But 68 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,959 this race April first, twenty twenty five, which again has 69 00:04:51,079 --> 00:04:55,160 the ability to know it has something to say about 70 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,600 the control of the court, is on pace to be 71 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:05,319 the most expensive judicial race in US history. Why is that, Mike, I. 72 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:09,519 Speaker 3: Think because I think people understand both in and out 73 00:05:09,519 --> 00:05:12,319 of state, how important this race is, what a bell 74 00:05:12,399 --> 00:05:16,000 weather is, and also how much it can affect one 75 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,040 of the most important and swing states that we have 76 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,120 in the country. You know, we have half a dozen 77 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,800 swing states you know that affect presidential elections, and obviously 78 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,759 Wisconsin is at the top of the list, along with Pennsylvania. 79 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:35,120 The other part I think that impacts people as they 80 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,560 look at it is redistricting. 81 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 2: You know. 82 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,519 Speaker 3: Obviously in Wisconsin they did state legislative redistricting. Next up 83 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,160 is the congressional redistricting. 84 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 2: You know. 85 00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:50,639 Speaker 3: My understanding is the Democrat candidate there was on a 86 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:54,639 phone call that was raising money to change you know, 87 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,360 at least two of the congressional districts there to flip them, 88 00:05:58,439 --> 00:06:01,639 which could cause you know, obviously with the slim majority 89 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,600 Republicans have in the House could cause the House to flip, 90 00:06:06,399 --> 00:06:11,439 which would certainly put a a roadblock. Or I don't 91 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,040 think there's any such thing as a roadblock for President Trump. 92 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,319 Speaker 2: He just plows through everything. So maybe a bump in the. 93 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:20,439 Speaker 3: Road is probably a better way of putting it, so 94 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,839 that you know there's that possibility as well, so that 95 00:06:23,079 --> 00:06:26,279 I think everybody recognizes. It's not only the volume of money. 96 00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:29,879 It's like who's putting the money in on both sides. 97 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,439 I mean you see you know, Elon Musk and others 98 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,879 on the Republicans. On the conservative side, you see certainly 99 00:06:35,879 --> 00:06:40,879 Planned Parenthood, the Democratic National Committee, the Labor Union's George Soros. 100 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,120 On the other side, the traditional ones that you would 101 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:44,040 expect to see. 102 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:44,879 Speaker 2: I think the. 103 00:06:44,879 --> 00:06:49,199 Speaker 3: Difference though, is while in reading and watching it, while 104 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:54,560 the Liberals are, you know, claiming foul because Elon's organization 105 00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:57,839 has put money into it, what's actually happened is it's 106 00:06:57,879 --> 00:07:01,079 been a level of a playing field. Before it would 107 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,759 be one sided with the outside money coming in. Now 108 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,439 it's not. It's more competitive. So I think that's one 109 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:11,199 of the things you look at, is not just the 110 00:07:11,319 --> 00:07:13,040 volume of money, but where it's coming from. 111 00:07:13,279 --> 00:07:16,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, it's interesting two points on that. You know, 112 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,000 it reminds me of what happened in around twenty twenty 113 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,600 two when Elon Musk took over Twitter brought a level 114 00:07:24,639 --> 00:07:28,560 playing field to the you know, to the marketplace of 115 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,120 ideas in social media in this country at least began 116 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,959 the process of balancing it. That's what is happening with 117 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,600 Elon Musk involved in this race. The other part of 118 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:44,319 all of this is, look at all of the left 119 00:07:44,399 --> 00:07:49,120 wing money from you know, the from the billionaire elitist 120 00:07:49,279 --> 00:07:54,000 left class, the socialist George Soros, Governor J. B. Pritzker 121 00:07:54,199 --> 00:07:58,399 in Illinois, Reid Hoffman, and you go down the campaign 122 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,399 finance list and you see these massive contributions. The left 123 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,600 wants something for its money, does it not. 124 00:08:07,879 --> 00:08:09,439 Speaker 3: They want you know, they say they want a pound 125 00:08:09,439 --> 00:08:12,279 of people say they want their pound of flesh. They 126 00:08:12,279 --> 00:08:14,639 want a pound and a half. There's a lot about it, man, 127 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,439 you know. They It's kind of interesting to me because 128 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:22,959 obviously abortion is a big issue in this race, but 129 00:08:23,439 --> 00:08:25,839 there's also a bunch of other issues. There's the issue 130 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:29,639 of the will of the people, you know, the people 131 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,240 deciding at the ballot box in terms of referendum what 132 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,320 they want in their state. And you know, I've lived 133 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,080 in California for twenty five years and finally made the 134 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:40,159 great escape out of there. 135 00:08:40,279 --> 00:08:43,799 Speaker 1: I was going to say my condolences, Yeah, Noel, but 136 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:45,840 you but you made it so God bless you. 137 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 3: Yes, I think free to Last comes in handy here. 138 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:53,399 But what's happened there is you see, referendum will go 139 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,240 to the ballot and you'll see people vote, and they'll 140 00:08:56,279 --> 00:08:58,480 vote a certain way, and then all of a sudden, 141 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,679 you know, a I wouldn't even call it a conservative 142 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,320 way in California, I would call it a common sense way. 143 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,480 And all of a sudden, you know, the left doesn't 144 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:08,159 get what they want. 145 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:08,919 Speaker 2: So what do they do. 146 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 3: They go to the heavily biased leftist, progressive and activists 147 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,879 Supreme Court in California and they get them to overturn 148 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:19,159 the will of the people. And I think that's one 149 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,120 of the fears that folks in Wisconsin should have, is 150 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:25,600 with an activist court like that, you know, despite what 151 00:09:25,639 --> 00:09:27,960 you may want. And I'll use election integrity as a 152 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,519 perfect example. On the ballot on April first, Besides the 153 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:36,039 Supreme Court race is the ballot initiative for photo ID. 154 00:09:36,799 --> 00:09:40,480 Now one candidate has called photo ID a poll tax 155 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:42,960 and she and I won't say who it is, but 156 00:09:43,039 --> 00:09:44,919 she has also called it draconian. 157 00:09:46,759 --> 00:09:48,639 Speaker 1: I'll say who it is, Mike, because I think our 158 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,240 listeners want to know who these people are, that you 159 00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:54,799 know where the focal point of attention is, and that is, 160 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,480 of course, Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge. And for 161 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:03,480 those who don't know Wisconsin political geography, Dane County maybe 162 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,480 one of the is I believe, one of the top 163 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,159 five liberal counties, the most far left county that you 164 00:10:11,159 --> 00:10:15,720 will find in America. Just as you talked about leftists 165 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:22,240 taking their arguments to the California Supreme Court, that's exactly 166 00:10:22,279 --> 00:10:24,679 what the left has done for a long time here. 167 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,200 They know they're going to get a victory from their 168 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,159 ideological point of view in Dane County. Susan Crawford has 169 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:36,080 represented that ideological point of view in Dane County for 170 00:10:36,159 --> 00:10:42,120 several years. She is opposed. Her opponent is Brad Shimmel, 171 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,519 Waukeshaw County judge. And again, for those looking at the 172 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,720 geo political map in Wisconsin, Waukeshaw has historically been, although 173 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,360 it's changing somewhat, one of the most conservative regions in 174 00:10:55,399 --> 00:10:57,960 the state and perhaps the country. 175 00:10:59,039 --> 00:11:00,799 Speaker 3: I agree with you, Matt, I mean I would call 176 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,440 Dame County. I would call for perspective for people that 177 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:09,039 are listening from outside of Wisconsin, it's probably, if not more, 178 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,080 but as progressive as San Francisco, except it has probably 179 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,240 better cheese than San Francisco has. 180 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,519 Speaker 1: It does and much colder weather, at least in the winter. 181 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:24,039 Speaker 3: Yes, so you're absolutely right, But you know what you 182 00:11:24,159 --> 00:11:27,000 have here is and it gets to the point I 183 00:11:27,039 --> 00:11:29,480 think of how it impacts people. 184 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 2: You could have a situation. 185 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 3: On April first where this ballot initiative, which you know 186 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:40,679 would require photo ID to vote, which America First policy 187 00:11:40,759 --> 00:11:44,960 was very involved with the legislature of encouraging and educating 188 00:11:45,039 --> 00:11:46,759 to try and make sure that got on the ballot. 189 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,799 You could have a situation where people vote for that, 190 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,120 which I think they will because it is an issue 191 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:57,320 that over seventy five to eighty percent of the voters 192 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,240 around the country support. Yes, because it's common sense. I mean, 193 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,080 if you have to have an ID, a photo ID 194 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,320 to get on a plane, to buy a bottle of 195 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,080 liquor in some places to buy cosmetics. It makes sense 196 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,879 to be able and have to do that. But on 197 00:12:11,919 --> 00:12:16,080 the flip side, if you elect someone that is going 198 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,360 to have an activist court mentality, then the will of 199 00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:25,120 the people could easily be overturned quickly. So that's the 200 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,399 thing that folks have to understand is that, yes, there's 201 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,039 all these national folks that are weighing in on it, 202 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,080 but you know, one of the keys here is will 203 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,519 the will of the people be able to be sustained 204 00:12:37,639 --> 00:12:41,120 and will laws that are passed constitutionally by the Wisconsin 205 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:48,320 legislature be upheld? And those are two huge issues that 206 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:52,759 folks in Wisconsin need to understand that that's why this election. 207 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 2: Is so important. 208 00:12:56,279 --> 00:12:59,879 Speaker 4: New York State has a new recruitment process for Democrat voters. 209 00:13:00,039 --> 00:13:02,799 Speaker 5: The watch Dout on Wall Street podcast with Chris Markowski. 210 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,679 Every day, Chris helps unpack the connection between politics and 211 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:07,559 the economy and how it affects your wallet. 212 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,759 Speaker 4: After DOJ's purge of the federal workforce, Governor Kathy Hogel 213 00:13:11,799 --> 00:13:15,000 is recruiting federal workers to move to New York. Does 214 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:17,639 she really want employment or just more votes? 215 00:13:17,799 --> 00:13:19,879 Speaker 5: Whether it's happening in DC or down on Wall Street. 216 00:13:19,879 --> 00:13:21,080 It's affecting you financially. 217 00:13:21,159 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 2: Be informed. 218 00:13:21,759 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 5: Check out the Watch on Wall Street podcast with Chris 219 00:13:23,919 --> 00:13:26,879 Markowski on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 220 00:13:30,799 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Mike, and you know, there's much that we can learn, 221 00:13:33,879 --> 00:13:37,159 as always by the company that people keep that doesn't 222 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:42,039 necessarily always say that a judge in this case will 223 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,840 vote this way or that way basically because they have 224 00:13:46,919 --> 00:13:51,039 an endorsement here or there. But when you see the 225 00:13:51,159 --> 00:13:55,919 leftist mob, the amount of endorsements from the likes of 226 00:13:56,519 --> 00:14:03,879 Planned Parenthood and the socialist anti Trump Indivisible, for instance, 227 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:10,679 when you see endorsements for a candidate from leftist judges 228 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,879 that actively support it. And I bring this up because 229 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:16,759 of the timing, it's hard to believe, but this is 230 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,320 you know, we're looking at this week as the fifth year, 231 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:24,559 fifth anniversary of when the lockdowns truly began to take 232 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:31,919 form in this country. Wisconsin's Supreme Court played a critical 233 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:39,559 role in adjudicating those health policies. Some of Susan Crawford's 234 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:45,120 dearest leftist friends were involved in the continuation of those lockdowns. 235 00:14:45,799 --> 00:14:52,080 That's I think a policy matter that Wisconsin voters will 236 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,279 remember when they had the polls in the coming weeks. 237 00:14:56,559 --> 00:14:57,600 How do you feel about that? 238 00:14:58,159 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's interesting. 239 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 3: You're right, was almost to the day five years ago 240 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,159 when when the world changed. 241 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,799 Speaker 2: And and the you. 242 00:15:10,759 --> 00:15:15,799 Speaker 3: Know, the borders were sealed and and you know, people 243 00:15:15,799 --> 00:15:23,559 were sent home, and ironically enough, you know, people you know, 244 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,200 just started living a completely different life. And in each 245 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,840 state it was a little bit different. Uh. And I 246 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,919 think and certainly people do remember that because you know, 247 00:15:33,039 --> 00:15:37,799 that's a life changing event. And yes, the courts played 248 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,480 the state courts played a huge role in what you know, 249 00:15:41,679 --> 00:15:45,440 initially was a health thing. And then you know, you 250 00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:50,000 saw other states like Florida and Texas and other states 251 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,080 you know, come out of it and you know, start 252 00:15:53,159 --> 00:15:55,440 to be able to stand on their own two feet 253 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,519 and decide what they wanted to do and had their 254 00:15:58,559 --> 00:16:01,120 court systems back them up and doing that. But in 255 00:16:01,159 --> 00:16:03,840 other places you had the courts that were overruling with 256 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,039 elected officials wanted to do. And so yeah, I think 257 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,200 people will remember that it was such a you know, 258 00:16:09,279 --> 00:16:12,559 an important event in our history. But you know the 259 00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:16,080 other thing too, I look at you mentioned endorsements, and 260 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,840 I'll just put my political hat on of thirty plus 261 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,399 years when you have a candidate, because I noticed one 262 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:27,399 of the things is that Susan Crawfortt has refused to 263 00:16:27,399 --> 00:16:30,159 say whether you know, how she's voting on that ballot 264 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,279 initiative to require a photo I D. She said, you know, 265 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,039 She's like, well, I'm not going to you know, I'm 266 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,120 not going to say how I'm voting on that. And 267 00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:41,720 so again you just use the common sense thing. Someone 268 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,879 that calls voter I D draconian and a poll tax 269 00:16:46,279 --> 00:16:47,120 but won't say. 270 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,679 Speaker 2: How she's going to vote on the issue. 271 00:16:49,399 --> 00:16:51,559 Speaker 3: That should that right, there should be a red flag 272 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,960 and vote any voter's mind because you know how they're 273 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,039 going to vote, why don't they just say it? And 274 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,279 that should be the kind of thing that folks get 275 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,360 and say, you know, is this going to be someone 276 00:17:03,399 --> 00:17:05,920 that's actually going to, you know, deal fairly on the 277 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,000 court and take a look at each thing, you know, 278 00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:12,759 on its merits or is it going to be skewed 279 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:17,759 to a particular philosophy or a particular belief system. And 280 00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:22,000 you're right, those that endorse, those that put money in 281 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,839 will is a good indication. But what they say and 282 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:29,359 what they don't say is also a great indication as well. 283 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and take a look at their actions. I mean, 284 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,240 they can say a lot of different things, but their 285 00:17:35,279 --> 00:17:40,720 actions speak volumes. And we know that Susan Crawford as 286 00:17:40,759 --> 00:17:44,160 an attorney, as a prosecutor, as someone who worked in 287 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:50,160 the former a long time ago Democrat Governor Jim Doyle's 288 00:17:50,279 --> 00:17:56,319 administration back in the early part of this century, you know, 289 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:01,279 her actions do speak volumes, including in her battles against 290 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:08,960 what has been a very successful public sector union reform 291 00:18:09,039 --> 00:18:12,599 measure that was signed by Governor Scott Walker, a Republican, 292 00:18:12,759 --> 00:18:17,880 back in twenty eleven. That was the Act ten law, 293 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,680 if you remember, that created all kinds of havoc from 294 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:28,599 the public sector unions, organized labor descended on Madison at 295 00:18:28,599 --> 00:18:31,759 the state capitol. There were a massive protest over this 296 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:36,319 whole thing. There were court challenges, and Susan Crawford was 297 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,720 involved in a Madison law firm to try to kill 298 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:47,279 Act ten, which has saved Wisconsin taxpayers billions upon billions 299 00:18:47,279 --> 00:18:52,240 of dollars. That's an issue that will come before this 300 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,640 court ultimately as well. So much at stake in this election. 301 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,079 Speaker 2: Very much so, and. 302 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: It does hit close to home because it's it impacts 303 00:19:06,039 --> 00:19:07,160 your everyday life. 304 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:07,839 Speaker 2: You know. 305 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,519 Speaker 3: One of the things that strikes me is and I 306 00:19:11,559 --> 00:19:15,119 have family that live in Wisconsin. I've got a ton 307 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:20,359 of friends that live in Wisconsin. You know, there's conservative, 308 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,839 there's liberal, and then there's just out what I call 309 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,519 out there, which is where California has become. But you know, 310 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,759 a governor like you have in Wisconsin that calls mothers 311 00:19:31,759 --> 00:19:36,119 inseminated persons. You know, those kinds of things are the 312 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,799 kinds of things that should send a warning message whether 313 00:19:39,839 --> 00:19:45,480 you're you know, slightly left, slightly right, whatever that you know, 314 00:19:45,519 --> 00:19:49,480 And I think that's what people in twenty twenty four 315 00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:55,480 responded against. Those kinds of extreme things, those kind of 316 00:19:55,519 --> 00:19:59,880 extreme characterizations, those kind of extreme measures. I think they 317 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:03,119 revolted against that in twenty twenty four, which is why 318 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,559 you saw President Trump do so well in places they 319 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,519 didn't think he was going to do well with or 320 00:20:08,759 --> 00:20:12,400 with groups and constituencies folks didn't think he was going 321 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,640 to do well with. He did, you know, amazingly well 322 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,599 with is because people look and say, let's just have 323 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,519 a touch of common sense here. And you know, so 324 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,119 in May is wisconsinly going to celebrate inseminated person's Day 325 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:25,799 or are they going to celebrate Mother's Day? 326 00:20:26,839 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 2: And you know, as stupid as it may. 327 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 3: Sound to people and ridiculous, this is stuff that an 328 00:20:32,039 --> 00:20:35,319 activist court can weigh in on and you know, have 329 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:40,279 an impact on. And so it's everything from as you said, 330 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:47,480 the economy and the working folks, it's everything from from 331 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,319 our standpoint, especially election integrity. All of that is on 332 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,000 the line on April first, And I think that's one 333 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,839 of the reasons. I guess what I'm saying is I 334 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:04,839 hope that the voters of Wisconsin are as aware and 335 00:21:05,079 --> 00:21:08,839 energized about this race and what it has for the 336 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,039 future of Wisconsin as people outside of Wisconsin are, because 337 00:21:13,079 --> 00:21:15,079 it is that critical of a race for the folks 338 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,000 that live there, pay taxes there, work there, and race 339 00:21:18,039 --> 00:21:18,759 families there. 340 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: Our guest today is Mike Lanti, director of the Center 341 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:27,559 for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute. We're 342 00:21:27,599 --> 00:21:30,960 talking today about what the Wall Street Journal has dubbed 343 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,000 the most important election of twenty twenty five. That is 344 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:39,440 April first election of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, an election 345 00:21:39,559 --> 00:21:42,759 that will determine whether the left or the right controls 346 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:47,319 that Court for some time, and ultimately that court could 347 00:21:47,839 --> 00:21:52,400 decide on who controls the House. Will delve a little 348 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,279 bit more into that coming up in just a bit. 349 00:21:54,279 --> 00:21:57,519 But back to what you mentioned about Wisconsin far left 350 00:21:57,559 --> 00:22:06,640 Governor Tony Evers, who certainly has a shares political ideology. 351 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,559 I think with Susan Crawford, based on her record and 352 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,799 based on the people who endorse her. That situation you 353 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,559 talked about with Governor Tony Evers putting in a budget 354 00:22:17,599 --> 00:22:24,559 bill language that would change the word mother to inseminated person. 355 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,400 How much do you think those kinds of things. There's 356 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,720 another incident we wrote about the Federalist this week where 357 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:36,680 the drag queens are coming out in full force for 358 00:22:36,759 --> 00:22:40,680 a fundraiser for Susan Crawford. We had the Bernie Sanders 359 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:48,519 Abortion on Demand rally in Kenosha a while back, where 360 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:53,039 you had a punk rock transgender punk rocker singing the 361 00:22:53,079 --> 00:23:01,279 most profane and hideously offensive songs about Christianity. These cultural 362 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:07,279 issues played a big part in the presidential election of 363 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:08,559 November twenty twenty four. 364 00:23:08,599 --> 00:23:09,039 Speaker 2: How much of. 365 00:23:09,039 --> 00:23:12,079 Speaker 1: Those cultural issues, how much do you think those cultural 366 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:16,319 issues will play a part in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race? 367 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,599 Speaker 3: I think they do play a part. I think, you know, 368 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,519 people pay attention and they see that. The key is 369 00:23:22,559 --> 00:23:25,640 for someone to make the connection that what you're seeing 370 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,680 here is not something. You know, you may look at 371 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,400 it and say, oh, that's a spectacle or you know, yeah, 372 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,519 that's you know, one day, one night, whatever. What they 373 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:41,559 what people need to understand is if the court is 374 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,960 if you have an activist court, regardless of what the 375 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:49,319 legislature passes, regardless of what the people vote for, those 376 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,519 kinds of things could become the norm, even if people 377 00:23:52,559 --> 00:23:54,960 don't want it, even if the legislators who are duly 378 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,440 elected to you know, create the laws don't want it. 379 00:23:57,839 --> 00:23:59,920 If you have an activist court, and you certainly have 380 00:24:00,079 --> 00:24:02,000 one in Wisconsin right now, and I think it would 381 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,200 be hyperactive as court, you know, come April second, if 382 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,319 you know the vote goes a certain way, those kinds 383 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,279 of things may not be an anomaly or an unusual spectacle. 384 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,519 It may be an every day occurs because you know, 385 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,160 that's the reality that you have to deal with. So 386 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,359 I do think people see that and they pay attention. 387 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:30,319 Hopefully they understand you know, again, it's it's just a 388 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:33,799 matter of degrees. If you will that that people should 389 00:24:33,839 --> 00:24:36,200 look at and say, is this what we want for 390 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,759 our state. It's a legitimate question that they should ask. Again, 391 00:24:40,839 --> 00:24:44,880 our focus is on election integrity, and I want to 392 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,920 talk about that in a second, because there are issues 393 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,680 that the Supreme Court in Wisconsin currently has done that 394 00:24:50,799 --> 00:24:54,200 have taken down barriers on election integrity. But certainly I 395 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,799 do think the cultural issues will play a part. I 396 00:24:57,799 --> 00:25:00,680 think it played a part in twenty twenty four, and 397 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,480 I think it was because it's moved so far off 398 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:09,079 off to the left that people of even liberals were 399 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:10,720 just like, hey, that's too much. 400 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, that is an interesting position to be in 401 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,640 for this liberal court. And I think you're absolutely right. 402 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:24,279 I think this liberal, narrowly liberal controlled court at a 403 00:25:24,319 --> 00:25:29,880 four to three majority, could have done significantly more activist 404 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:34,960 damage from the leftist point of view. But I think 405 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:40,039 they kept this critical election in mind because if the 406 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:47,039 Liberals win again this April, they will control the court. 407 00:25:46,839 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 2: For some time. 408 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,279 Speaker 1: It's just the way that the election cycles lend. This 409 00:25:52,319 --> 00:25:55,480 will be at least a few years of control by 410 00:25:55,519 --> 00:25:59,359 the left. Now to election integrity, they did of the 411 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,960 cases that they took up, there was one in particular 412 00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:08,319 that was absolutely remarkable to me because it involved absentee 413 00:26:08,319 --> 00:26:11,720 ballot dropboxes. In twenty twenty, these things were all over 414 00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:17,160 the place, particularly in Wisconsin. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin, 415 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,680 under conservative control in twenty twenty two ruled that they 416 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,680 broke state law, and the language is pretty clear on this. 417 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,559 It didn't take a legal expert to understand that the 418 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:32,839 state law and what was being allowed under policy in 419 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:34,240 twenty twenty. 420 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: Did not juib. 421 00:26:37,279 --> 00:26:41,039 Speaker 1: But then given the chance to take up this issue 422 00:26:41,079 --> 00:26:44,720 once again with a liberal court, the liberal court didn't 423 00:26:44,839 --> 00:26:47,880 enter into the merits of the case. Instead, they did 424 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:53,720 something so baffling to me that, more broadly, their interpretation 425 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:59,680 of standing on this issue I think created some bigger 426 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,440 prop problems moving forward. Can you talk about that, because 427 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,200 I know that the Center has been very engaged in 428 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,319 this particular legal arena. Absolutely, and you hit it right 429 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:11,880 on the button. 430 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 3: You know, it's one thing to have for a court 431 00:27:15,039 --> 00:27:18,079 to make a ruling based on the merits of the case. 432 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,839 What they have done and what they have continued to do, 433 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,759 just most recently unmobile voting vans that go into certain 434 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:32,079 demographic areas that are heavily democrat but don't go into 435 00:27:32,599 --> 00:27:36,240 you know, either Republican or independent areas is putting their 436 00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:40,160 thumb on the scale. And what they do is they 437 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,079 make their ruling based on standing. And what that does 438 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:47,440 is it puts up roadblocks for individuals who may be 439 00:27:47,559 --> 00:27:50,920 impacted by this to have to prove that they are 440 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,440 harmed by what's being done. And that is you know, 441 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,119 it's one of those things. And actually it started in 442 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,759 twenty twenty. You saw a lot of the cases that 443 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:05,799 were brought up after the twenty twenty election were thrown 444 00:28:05,839 --> 00:28:10,200 out because of standing, and so you know, it's one 445 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,759 of those things that the courts will use to make 446 00:28:13,799 --> 00:28:18,000 it more difficult for injured parties to be able to 447 00:28:18,039 --> 00:28:22,960 bring a lawsuit forward and never gets to the issue 448 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:27,039 itself of whether the issue of what they're doing is 449 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:32,240 right or wrong according to the law. And it's a 450 00:28:32,319 --> 00:28:35,799 nefarious kind of thing because you know, if you can 451 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,079 get to the point where they are forced to make 452 00:28:38,119 --> 00:28:41,000 a ruling, then you have some kind of precedent that 453 00:28:41,079 --> 00:28:43,960 has been set and some kind of guidance that can 454 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:44,480 be given. 455 00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:45,799 Speaker 2: But when you. 456 00:28:45,799 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 3: Block the attempt or the effort, as they did in 457 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,119 the case you mentioned, as they've done most recently with 458 00:28:53,319 --> 00:28:58,359 the mobile voting vans, it becomes a situation where you 459 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,119 can never get to the content X or the content 460 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,279 of the law itself. And one of the things that 461 00:29:04,279 --> 00:29:06,319 we have said is, and especially on these kinds of 462 00:29:06,359 --> 00:29:10,720 things like the ballot drop boxes, the early voting polling places, 463 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:15,480 the mobile voting vans, you know, our point is and 464 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,880 sending letters and AFPI has done this, sent letters to 465 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:24,920 certain counties and to the the Wisconsin Election Board that 466 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,559 if you're going to do that, you have to do 467 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,200 it equally across the board. You can't cherry pick where 468 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:32,880 you want to do it and who you want to 469 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:37,160 target it too. That's what political parties do, and that's 470 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:41,279 perfectly fine. They know they're constituencies they need to turn out, 471 00:29:41,319 --> 00:29:44,039 and they target those people. But you're the government, you're 472 00:29:44,119 --> 00:29:47,880 using taxpayer dollars. Your job is to do it equally 473 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,799 across the board, whether it helps your perceived constituency or not. 474 00:29:52,319 --> 00:29:53,960 So if you're going to have a mobile voting ban 475 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,359 going through a place that is heavily democrat, you should 476 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,799 have another mobile voting plan van going through place that 477 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,920 is heavily Republican or independent. You have to play it 478 00:30:04,039 --> 00:30:07,240 across the board equally without putting your thumb on the 479 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,519 scale when you're using taxpayer dollars. That's one of the 480 00:30:10,559 --> 00:30:14,400 things that hasn't happened there that I think will happen 481 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,720 more frequently if we never get to the point of 482 00:30:18,079 --> 00:30:22,799 getting some of the core issues of these legal interpretations 483 00:30:22,839 --> 00:30:23,480 taken care of. 484 00:30:24,799 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: It's a great loop. It's not a great loophole. It's 485 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,480 a terrible loophole, but a great. 486 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 3: Point that you make that not getting to the issue 487 00:30:34,359 --> 00:30:39,200 or the germaneness of the issue itself, is a really 488 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,440 terrible thing, not just for election integrity, but for the 489 00:30:42,519 --> 00:30:43,160 law itself. 490 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, there's been a lot of this 491 00:30:46,519 --> 00:30:51,319 going around over the last several years, particularly in twenty twenty. 492 00:30:51,759 --> 00:30:56,480 What we saw, of course with Zuckbucks, the hundreds of 493 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,319 millions of dollars poured into particularly swing state elections, into 494 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:06,720 heavily democrat areas to attract Democrat voters in the name 495 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:13,079 of so called nonpartisan election administration grants that were run 496 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:17,799 by highly partisan leftist organizations. That's what we're dealing with here, 497 00:31:17,799 --> 00:31:23,160 And I misspoke what the standing question in particular was. Indeed, 498 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:28,480 as you mentioned, Mike, the racine mobile voter van which 499 00:31:28,519 --> 00:31:32,519 has been labeled as a polling site on wheels. The 500 00:31:32,519 --> 00:31:38,160 city of Racine, which was so immersed in this Zuckbuck scandal, 501 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:44,319 used Zuckerbuck money. That's the thing that I think people forget. 502 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,440 They used one hundreds of thousands of dollars from Mark 503 00:31:47,559 --> 00:31:52,960 Zuckerberg's large s to purchase this voting booth on wheels, 504 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:57,680 and they drove it into highly Democrat areas. The Wisconsin 505 00:31:57,759 --> 00:32:05,359 Supreme Court, under liberal control, said, after a lower court said, Houston, 506 00:32:05,359 --> 00:32:08,519 We've got a problem here with this because state law 507 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,599 clearly lays out the fact that you can't make these things, 508 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,279 as you mentioned, Mike, a partisan issue. You can't favor 509 00:32:15,359 --> 00:32:19,720 one party over another. What you had was the left 510 00:32:19,799 --> 00:32:22,640 led Wisconsin Supreme Court saying, We're not even going to 511 00:32:22,759 --> 00:32:25,039 take this case. We're not even going to rule on 512 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:29,039 this case because the guy who brought it, a Raceine 513 00:32:29,559 --> 00:32:34,200 County residence resident, does not have standing. How can a 514 00:32:34,279 --> 00:32:41,000 Racine County, a Racine City resident, not have standing? That individual, 515 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,920 a Republican, was indeed arguably harmed, was he not? 516 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:51,759 Speaker 3: It's his city absolutely, that's you know, I mean again, 517 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,519 if it was you know, someone from out of state 518 00:32:54,599 --> 00:32:55,640 saying something. 519 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:56,839 Speaker 2: You know, you can understand that. 520 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 3: Again, it goes to that common sense I keep saying, 521 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:05,039 the and sense test or thermometer. You know, the person 522 00:33:05,119 --> 00:33:09,240 lives there, the person elects their local officials there. You 523 00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:11,480 can't get any more basic than that. As someone that 524 00:33:11,559 --> 00:33:16,039 has an interest in and an impact on these policies 525 00:33:16,519 --> 00:33:19,559 and so, and you bring up a good point. They 526 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:24,599 used Zuckerbuck's money to buy this mobile van, and so 527 00:33:24,799 --> 00:33:27,200 you could see the thread that runs through a lot 528 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:30,039 of this stuff. Most people don't see that because they 529 00:33:30,079 --> 00:33:33,000 go about their daily lives every day, but it does 530 00:33:33,079 --> 00:33:37,039 have an impact on your local you know, on how 531 00:33:37,039 --> 00:33:40,160 you're able to live your life, and that's why people 532 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,720 need to pay attention to this kind of stuff. But 533 00:33:43,279 --> 00:33:46,920 it is an interesting to me. That's a huge one 534 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,160 because again it's kind of playing it's not kind of 535 00:33:50,279 --> 00:33:55,599 it's playing with the law and saying you know, you don't. Again, 536 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,160 people's rights are kind of being taken away from them. 537 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,920 You know. They first, you have their right to be 538 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,839 able to express their their desire, their vote in the 539 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,680 polling place through the referendum. They elect elected officials at 540 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:12,280 the state, at the local and legislative level, to represent them. 541 00:34:12,519 --> 00:34:15,679 And now you've got someone who's impacted by something that's 542 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:19,079 happening in their town, who's a taxpayer, and they're not 543 00:34:19,159 --> 00:34:21,239 even being able to be given a voice saying they 544 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:25,000 don't have any standing. It's it's not what democracy is 545 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:25,480 all about. 546 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: It feels like thumb on the scale, on the digicial 547 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:35,760 scale on the scale absolutely. Speaking of which, I will 548 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:40,559 point out the story that we reported on at the Federalist, 549 00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:47,280 but the Center for Election Integrity for the American Policy 550 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,639 Institute has filed a complaint. I wanted to get an 551 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:52,480 update on that. It's something we alluded to earlier. It's 552 00:34:53,119 --> 00:34:57,079 Judge Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme 553 00:34:57,159 --> 00:35:02,119 Court race earlier this year, was on a phone call 554 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:07,840 with a bunch of well healed leftist donors. That phone 555 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:12,039 call was orchestrated and put together by Reid Hoffman, billionaire 556 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:17,960 leftist donor. And I'm my understanding according to the reporting, 557 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:26,440 is that former Obama administration Attorney general was in the room. 558 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:28,039 Speaker 2: Too, Eric Holder. 559 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:31,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, And what they were talking about was this was 560 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:37,119 not only Wisconsin's big chance, but it was Democrats nationally, 561 00:35:37,199 --> 00:35:42,559 They're big chance to have a justice on the Supreme Court, 562 00:35:42,679 --> 00:35:49,159 a liberal majority that would reconfigure the congressional maps that 563 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:54,800 could give Democrats. That would give Democrats a significant advantage 564 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:58,559 in the twenty twenty six midterm elections, in which it 565 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:04,000 could be very likely that control of two congressional districts 566 00:36:04,039 --> 00:36:07,800 now held by Republicans could swing to Democrats. As you 567 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:13,679 mentioned before, Mike, that could have a significant impact on 568 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:18,159 who ultimately controls the House in twenty twenty six. Give 569 00:36:18,199 --> 00:36:20,360 us an update, if you would, on the complaint what 570 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,920 it's about in where all of this is heading. 571 00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:25,440 Speaker 2: Yes, it's you know, it's. 572 00:36:27,599 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 3: Again you kind of look at it and say, better 573 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:35,880 judgment would have said that if you're running for Supreme 574 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:40,320 Court position and you're joining a call and you use 575 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:45,119 the word well healed, which is my life goal to 576 00:36:45,159 --> 00:36:47,559 someday be included in the words well healed. 577 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,039 Speaker 2: As his mind, you know, it's it's a good goal 578 00:36:51,079 --> 00:36:52,000 to have in life. 579 00:36:52,159 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I like to be I like to be healed 580 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,559 on all frunts, particularly when it's well and involves money. 581 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:00,280 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, but you know. 582 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:03,679 Speaker 3: I mean comments again, I keep it to saying this, 583 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,280 but common sense says, if you're a candidate for. 584 00:37:06,239 --> 00:37:09,880 Speaker 2: An office, you should probably be on that phone. 585 00:37:09,559 --> 00:37:14,199 Speaker 3: Call where they're raising money and and you know, the 586 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:17,840 whole press uh premise of it is, this is an 587 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,280 opportunity to get a court that will you know, put 588 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:25,400 in redistricting lines that will benefit one political party and 589 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:30,239 you know, gain two seats that indeed, if everything says 590 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,599 the way it is, would change the makeup of the 591 00:37:33,679 --> 00:37:37,800 United States House of Representatives. And so people should ask 592 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:41,320 the question, honestly, and I'm not going to answer it 593 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:43,800 for you, but ask the question, you know, shouldn't you 594 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:45,719 have enough common sense to not be on that kind 595 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:48,280 of phone call when you're the candidate. I mean, that's 596 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:50,079 how I looked at it when I read that story. 597 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:55,000 And yes, a AFPI has been sent some letters about 598 00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:00,400 not only that, but especially the whole thing about the 599 00:38:01,679 --> 00:38:06,360 polling mechanics of the election, the polling places and things 600 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,199 like that. But those are the kinds of things that 601 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:14,960 are a window into what is actually taking place that 602 00:38:15,079 --> 00:38:18,760 people should pay attention to because there are. 603 00:38:19,119 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 2: Greater forces involved. 604 00:38:22,079 --> 00:38:26,039 Speaker 3: You know, it will impact the everyday life this election 605 00:38:26,199 --> 00:38:30,360 will impact the everyday life of wisconsin Ites, but it 606 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:36,159 also is something that people outside of Wisconsin are clearly 607 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:40,239 using as you described as a platform or a springboard 608 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:45,159 to something larger. And that's why I think, you know, 609 00:38:45,639 --> 00:38:47,519 to kind of put the bow on it. The Wall 610 00:38:47,519 --> 00:38:49,400 Street Journal has said what they've said that it's the 611 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,159 most important election in twenty. 612 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:53,159 Speaker 1: Five Quickly you raised the issue. I think this is 613 00:38:53,159 --> 00:38:57,000 an important point. A complaint that you have filed involves 614 00:38:57,199 --> 00:39:02,199 what is known as polling site jerry mandering. What is 615 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:06,280 polling site jerry mandering? What's that stake? What's that issue? 616 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:06,960 In Wisconsin? 617 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:11,440 Speaker 3: It's you know, it's where you take a particular county 618 00:39:11,559 --> 00:39:14,440 and you know a certain section of the county is 619 00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:20,360 more blue than red, and the election officials decide to 620 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:24,320 put more early voting in polling places, early voting places 621 00:39:24,639 --> 00:39:27,800 and polling places in the blue areas to make it 622 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,599 more easier and convenient than it is for the people 623 00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:37,199 that are either independent or more conservative. And so again 624 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:39,360 my point, which goes to what I said earlier, is 625 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:42,679 this should be across the board. It should be you know, 626 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,679 if you've got fifteen polling places in a particular county, 627 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,760 it should be spread out where the population is, not 628 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:54,480 where the voter registration, the party affiliation is or the. 629 00:39:56,480 --> 00:39:59,400 Speaker 2: Affiliate, you know, the candidate affiliation is. 630 00:40:00,079 --> 00:40:04,559 Speaker 3: So what we found is doing some research that the 631 00:40:04,639 --> 00:40:08,320 early voting polling places and the polling places themselves in 632 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:11,559 some of these counties like Dane County and others, are 633 00:40:11,639 --> 00:40:15,719 more heavily more polling places that put in the more 634 00:40:15,719 --> 00:40:19,880 heavily Democrat voting areas than they are either where there 635 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:23,840 are ticket splitters or Republicans, and that should not be 636 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:24,440 the case. 637 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:26,119 Speaker 2: Again, it. 638 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,280 Speaker 3: Should be equal across the board without the thumb being 639 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:36,360 on the scale for any side. That's what nonpartisan elections, 640 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:40,119 that's what good election integrity is about. It doesn't favor 641 00:40:40,159 --> 00:40:42,559 one side or the other side. It is equal across 642 00:40:42,599 --> 00:40:46,199 the board. And clearly, if you've got more polling places 643 00:40:46,199 --> 00:40:49,199 in a certain area that favors a certain party, that's 644 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:50,480 not equal across the board. 645 00:40:50,679 --> 00:40:53,559 Speaker 1: I agree with you, but I guess the question that 646 00:40:53,639 --> 00:40:57,000 comes up. As a former resident of Dane County and 647 00:40:57,039 --> 00:41:00,400 one of the six card carrying members of the Concernative 648 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,880 Movement there again, I've said this many times. We used 649 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:06,360 to have, you know, a meeting where we'd come together 650 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:08,360 and everyone would say I would I would walk in, 651 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,880 I would say hi, everyone, I'm Matt and I'm a conservative. 652 00:41:13,519 --> 00:41:16,000 That's how Madison is. So how do you find a 653 00:41:16,079 --> 00:41:19,679 place in Madison in particular that isn't you know, a 654 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:25,239 massive leftist neighborhood. I know that the complaint also notes Lacrosse, 655 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:29,880 which indeed, you know, has it's changed its demographic over 656 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,960 the years. It has many more Republicans. But Madison's a 657 00:41:34,519 --> 00:41:37,960 that is, you know, a leftist enclave this side of Havana. 658 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:40,039 Speaker 2: Oh no, yes it is. 659 00:41:40,079 --> 00:41:42,960 Speaker 3: But but and again it's you know, one of the 660 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:46,079 things I lived, I said, said for twenty five years 661 00:41:46,079 --> 00:41:48,199 in southern California. I also was born and brought up 662 00:41:48,199 --> 00:41:51,840 in Providence, Rhode Island. And you know, literally the place, 663 00:41:52,039 --> 00:41:53,639 you know, the area that I lived in. I think 664 00:41:53,639 --> 00:41:59,679 they were something like five thousand Democrats and seven hundred Republicans. 665 00:42:01,199 --> 00:42:03,760 You know it should just the point is, yes, there 666 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:07,880 will be uh, you know places. The way to look 667 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:11,039 at where you put your polling places is not based 668 00:42:11,159 --> 00:42:15,559 on the registration. It's based on the population. What they're doing, 669 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,199 what we're saying they're doing is it's based on registration, 670 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:21,440 not population. Now, will that mean that there are more 671 00:42:21,719 --> 00:42:26,079 polling places necessarily in a Democrat area, because it is 672 00:42:26,119 --> 00:42:30,519 heavily democrat possibly, but that should be based on the population, 673 00:42:30,719 --> 00:42:34,800 not the registration. And that's the key of determining how 674 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:37,679 these things are set up. That's what they're supposed to 675 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:41,400 be doing. And you know from the research our attorneys 676 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:46,639 at America First Policy looked at that's that's certainly in question. 677 00:42:46,679 --> 00:42:47,719 It needs to be looked at. 678 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:48,800 Speaker 2: Very good. 679 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,679 Speaker 1: You've been very generous with your time. Final way, final, 680 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:54,559 final question for you, and it is this, and I 681 00:42:54,559 --> 00:42:58,400 won't ask you to put on you know, your soothsayer 682 00:42:58,559 --> 00:43:02,920 cap no addictions, but I will ask you this, what 683 00:43:03,159 --> 00:43:08,280 happens if conservatives take back this court in Wisconsin. What 684 00:43:08,519 --> 00:43:11,639 happens if the left retains control of this court? 685 00:43:12,559 --> 00:43:16,079 Speaker 3: Well, I think if the answer is the same. If 686 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:18,800 I think, if the conservatives win control of the court, 687 00:43:19,719 --> 00:43:24,719 then what you have is the power of the legislature 688 00:43:25,159 --> 00:43:29,800 to make the laws is enforced the will of the 689 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:33,480 people that vote at the ballot box on referendum, even 690 00:43:33,519 --> 00:43:37,079 the referendum on abortion. You know, if it's the will 691 00:43:37,119 --> 00:43:39,000 of the people, then it's the will of the people. 692 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:41,719 I mean, that's what the President has said over and 693 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:45,880 over about the issue. And so I think the will 694 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:51,119 of the people and the Constitution is upheld. If the 695 00:43:51,199 --> 00:43:57,280 left wins, then it becomes it becomes a situation where 696 00:43:57,719 --> 00:44:01,679 the court is driving the policy of the state, and 697 00:44:01,719 --> 00:44:04,360 that's not the way things should be. It should be 698 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:07,000 the policy of the state is driven by the will 699 00:44:07,039 --> 00:44:11,000 of the people. They're elected representatives, and I think if 700 00:44:11,039 --> 00:44:13,159 the left wins on this, it will not only be 701 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:16,840 something that the folks of Wisconsin will have to deal with, 702 00:44:17,159 --> 00:44:21,320 but it'll be something that folks around the country will 703 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:24,360 see as a path to circumvent the will of the 704 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:28,360 people and circumvent the Constitution and the states that have 705 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,519 the legislators making the laws. 706 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:34,320 Speaker 1: Well. With all apologies to some very important gubernatorial races 707 00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:38,800 in twenty twenty five, this Wisconsin Supreme Court race is 708 00:44:38,840 --> 00:44:41,440 the most important election of twenty twenty five for all 709 00:44:41,480 --> 00:44:44,159 the reasons that we laid out. It is thanks to 710 00:44:44,199 --> 00:44:47,239 my guest today, Mike Delante, director of the Center for 711 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:52,039 Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute. You've been 712 00:44:52,079 --> 00:44:54,760 listening to another edition of the Federalist Radio Hour. I'm 713 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:58,440 Matt Kittle, Senior elections correspondent at the Federalist. We'll be 714 00:44:58,519 --> 00:45:02,000 back soon with more. Until then, stay lovers of freedom. 715 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:03,719 I'm anxious for the fraid. 716 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:15,559 Speaker 3: I heard the fame, voice the reason, and then it 717 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:16,960 faded away.