1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,679 Speaker 1: This is your old experience SHIPA on the Quest for Knowledge. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,119 Matt Kittle, Senior Elections correspondent at The Federalist. We talked 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,439 to a lot of interesting people, a lot of interesting 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,039 perspectives on this podcast. We couldn't do any of it 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,000 without you. The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit and we 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,039 depend entirely on our listeners and readers, not corporations. If 7 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:30,760 you value fearless independent journalism, please consider a tax deductible 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,679 gift today at the Federalist dot com backslash donate. That's 9 00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:40,719 the Federalist dot com backslash. Donate. Your support keeps us going, 10 00:00:41,280 --> 00:01:01,560 and we thank you and go back with another edition 11 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,599 of the Federalist Radio Hour. I'm Matt Kittles, Senior Elections 12 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:09,400 correspondent at the Federalist and your experienced Shirpa on today's 13 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,560 Quest for Knowledge. As always, you can email the show 14 00:01:12,599 --> 00:01:15,920 at radio at the Federalist dot com, follow us on 15 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,719 x at FDR LST, make sure to subscribe wherever you 16 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,159 download your podcast, and of course to the premium version 17 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,560 of our website as well. Our guest today, I am 18 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,879 proud to say, are the members of the best damn 19 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,840 Election Integrity team in the entire country for a conversation 20 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,400 about the year that was in election news and what's 21 00:01:39,439 --> 00:01:43,280 to come in the critical mid year midterm year ahead. 22 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:48,599 El Pernell is a Federalist assignment editor, an election integrity 23 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,760 team chief or guru. Is that the correct title? 24 00:01:52,879 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: El, I'll answer to any of the above, Well. 25 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,239 Speaker 1: You do an excellent job leading the team, and you 26 00:02:01,319 --> 00:02:05,000 have for some time now are exceptional Reporter Sean Fleetwood, 27 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:11,479 Beth Brellia, Brianna Lynman, and Election Team Content editor Mazie 28 00:02:11,599 --> 00:02:14,960 Jefferson perhaps the hardest working member of this team because 29 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,000 she has to deal with all of us. Let us 30 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:23,439 delve into first and foremost from the reporter's perspective, what 31 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,879 do you think are the biggest headlines in terms of 32 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,479 election integrity securing our elections in twenty twenty five? And 33 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,159 I want to ask that question in context of what 34 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,840 we experienced in twenty twenty four, and let's take that 35 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,199 back a few years from what we experienced in twenty 36 00:02:43,479 --> 00:02:46,840 twenty and I guess the ultimate question, and I'll begin 37 00:02:46,879 --> 00:02:54,039 with you, El, are our elections more secure today than 38 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,360 they were a year ago? I think I hope they're 39 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,000 definitely more secure than they they were five years ago. 40 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think they're certainly more secure than 41 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,479 they were five years ago. There's a lot more people 42 00:03:09,479 --> 00:03:14,360 paying attention, and I mean I think right now they 43 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,319 probably are at least as secure as they were a 44 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,800 year ago. But you see a lot of threats emerging 45 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,719 even this year. So for anyone who thinks, hey, we won, 46 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,599 you know, we had successful elections that were secure in 47 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,879 twenty twenty four. Now we don't have to worry about it. 48 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:32,599 We can move on to the next thing. That is 49 00:03:33,039 --> 00:03:36,360 quite the misguided approach. So one of I think the 50 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,000 biggest election related issues this year is the redistricting battle. 51 00:03:41,039 --> 00:03:43,120 And I'm sure we'll get into that more, but you 52 00:03:43,199 --> 00:03:49,240 have states like California who are already dramatically jerrymanderd seizing 53 00:03:49,319 --> 00:03:53,159 even more power to redraw the state and draw Republicans 54 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,639 out of the state entirely. So that's going to pose 55 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,680 a threat, you know, because that's rigging the elections before 56 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,159 the elect even starts, right. And then I think another 57 00:04:03,319 --> 00:04:07,520 really interesting thing that's going to we'll have to watch 58 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,280 is you know, one of the biggest ways that Democrats 59 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,479 rig elections is via legal persecution. Now that might be 60 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,199 investigations like the Russia collusion hopes that we saw plague 61 00:04:18,199 --> 00:04:21,399 the Trump campaign in twenty sixteen. It might be criminal 62 00:04:21,439 --> 00:04:25,079 prosecutions like what we saw in twenty twenty four, but 63 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:29,519 those will only ramp up. There are already Democrats promising 64 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:34,720 to prosecute Trump officials for following legal orders. And we 65 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,519 really need to have a conversation about how to hold 66 00:04:37,519 --> 00:04:41,360 people accountable for those acts of election rigging that are 67 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,279 very damaging to our republic or they will happen again. 68 00:04:44,519 --> 00:04:46,639 Speaker 1: I think you raise a good point about lawfair and 69 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,879 I just want to linger on that point for a 70 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,519 while with Sean Fleetwood. Fleetwood, you have covered the lawfair 71 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,199 issue in elections in this country for a long time. Now, 72 00:05:00,079 --> 00:05:03,199 what do you see? I guess as we look back 73 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,959 at twenty twenty five, what are the battles one on 74 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,519 that front? What are the battles lost? And what should 75 00:05:11,519 --> 00:05:14,920 we be concerned about in the lawfair front in twenty 76 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:15,959 twenty six. 77 00:05:17,519 --> 00:05:20,519 Speaker 3: So I think as far as the lawfair goes, I'm 78 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,279 just kind of pigging back off a little bit of 79 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:25,959 what Elle was talking about, you know, and holding people accountable. 80 00:05:25,959 --> 00:05:28,800 I think to kind of avoid this going forward, you 81 00:05:28,879 --> 00:05:33,160 have to understand the reality of actually holding people accountable. 82 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,879 And I think the difficulty for the Trump administration or 83 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,720 any Republican is when you are filing charges against Democrats 84 00:05:41,079 --> 00:05:43,839 for wrongdoing and to kind of discourage and deter this 85 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,759 behavior going forward. Part of the challenge that you're going 86 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,480 to face is you know where you're having the jury 87 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,399 pools come from. If you're filing charges in a place 88 00:05:52,439 --> 00:05:55,000 like DC or Northern Virginia, that's going to be a 89 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,759 tough sell to actually get juries which you're going to 90 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,839 be predominantly crazy leftists Democrats from actually agreeing to bring 91 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,920 those charges and convict these people for wrongdoing. So I 92 00:06:05,959 --> 00:06:09,319 think that's going to be a problem going forward for Democrats. 93 00:06:09,639 --> 00:06:11,439 Speaker 4: But as far as the lawfair that. 94 00:06:11,399 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 3: We currently see right now, I think on the positive side, 95 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:17,199 I think what you've been seeing in recent months is 96 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,160 this kind of filtering out of Democrat lawfair, specifically state 97 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:24,519 based lawfair, not just against Donald Trump, but against a 98 00:06:24,519 --> 00:06:27,360 lot of the Republican alternate electors that you saw on 99 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:33,360 twenty twenty. Recently, Fannie Willis, the DA from Fulton County, Georgia, 100 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,279 her case against Trump and the Republican electors there was 101 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,480 just thrown out. You had a Michigan judge who throughout 102 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,079 the Democrat AG's lawfair in that state. You also have 103 00:06:46,319 --> 00:06:51,040 in Nevada and Arizona those state based lawfair prosecutions against 104 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,519 the Republican electors that are seemingly filtering out and might 105 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,120 ultimately get smacked down in the court systems there. So 106 00:06:58,439 --> 00:07:01,879 I think those are some good positive developments. But as 107 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,199 Elle is kind of alluding to, you have Democrats that 108 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:07,199 are already saying that you know, they're going to prosecute 109 00:07:07,879 --> 00:07:11,120 Republicans are basically anyone who's aligned with Trump as soon 110 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,519 as they get back in power. So I think Republicans, now, 111 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,360 whether that be at the state level, whether that be 112 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,759 at the federal level, need to be looking at ways 113 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,120 to insulate, you know, our people from that type of 114 00:07:22,519 --> 00:07:24,519 grace abuse of power going forward. 115 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,639 Speaker 1: Now that raises a good question too, Beth. I'll ask 116 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,480 you this, and it's something as we talk about we 117 00:07:31,519 --> 00:07:36,360 move through twenty twenty five, we finish up this interesting year, 118 00:07:36,519 --> 00:07:40,680 to say the least, But twenty twenty six, Donald Trump 119 00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:44,079 isn't on the ballot, and I think we have seen 120 00:07:44,319 --> 00:07:47,680 some warning signs at least they should be warning signs 121 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,839 for Republicans that they're going to have to do a 122 00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:54,000 lot more heavy lifting, perhaps even than they did in 123 00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:59,680 twenty twenty four, to get particularly low propensity voters out 124 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,560 of vote in an election where they don't think Trump 125 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,319 is on the ballot. And I say that because obviously 126 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,480 his name is not there, but certainly his policies, his agenda, 127 00:08:12,399 --> 00:08:17,680 America First strategies, all of that are up for grabs. 128 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,920 What do the Republicans need to do and what are 129 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,800 they failing to do in terms of getting that message 130 00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:29,319 out that there is so much at stake for this 131 00:08:29,439 --> 00:08:33,240 republic in twenty twenty six in a midterm where the 132 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,759 incumbent party traditionally doesn't do very well. 133 00:08:36,879 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, for one thing, there are very few 134 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,519 people that are really working the ground game. There are 135 00:08:45,519 --> 00:08:48,879 some nonprofits that are doing that, but this should be 136 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:55,240 like full party, everybody in. And there's this issue where 137 00:08:55,279 --> 00:08:58,200 people they only want to vote in the presidential election, 138 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,039 so we have super low voter turnout. 139 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 6: But like in the. 140 00:09:01,919 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 5: Midterms, people forget that in some districts, some congressional districts, 141 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,519 the election is going to be won at the primary level. 142 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,799 People think forget the primary. I'll just show up for 143 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,559 the general election. Well, let's say like in Minnesota, ilhan 144 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,080 Omar's district, right, that's Minneapolis. That is like ninety eight 145 00:09:26,159 --> 00:09:32,360 percent Democrat registered Democrat voters. So there's no way a Republican's. 146 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:32,039 Speaker 1: Going to win. 147 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:37,639 Speaker 5: So every primary, whoever wins the primary is pretty much 148 00:09:37,639 --> 00:09:41,080 a shoe in for that position, and people need to 149 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,639 vote like it. I just don't think voters understand that, 150 00:09:45,279 --> 00:09:46,840 and I don't think the media does a really good 151 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:51,519 job of putting that out there. I also think for 152 00:09:51,799 --> 00:09:57,240 local news it can be hard to get reporters that 153 00:09:57,399 --> 00:10:04,279 understand how congressional elections work, and there are so many candidates, 154 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,519 especially at the primary level, that they're not really sure 155 00:10:08,919 --> 00:10:12,320 you know, how to handle that, how to report it out. 156 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:17,519 But I think that more attention on the primary and 157 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,879 getting people to show up for these elections is going 158 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,679 to be a big you know, we really let just 159 00:10:24,919 --> 00:10:29,240 a handful of people. Whatever candidate can get more people 160 00:10:29,279 --> 00:10:34,000 to the poll wins, obviously, but that isn't the same 161 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,120 as having the majority of the population say this is 162 00:10:39,159 --> 00:10:41,320 the candidate we want to lead us for the good 163 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:42,919 of our of our area. 164 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,919 Speaker 1: Quick follow up question for you on that. You've covered 165 00:10:46,039 --> 00:10:51,039 a lot of stories out of Minnesota. Interesting state, almost 166 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,159 it almost feels like another country in Minneapolis for sure. 167 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,399 But just a quick question on that front. Is Governor 168 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,879 Tim Walls mentally challenged? 169 00:11:02,919 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 6: Well? 170 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 5: Or are the voters? I don't know Minnesota voters, but 171 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:08,799 how does. 172 00:11:08,639 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: That Well, the Somalis are making a good deal of 173 00:11:10,759 --> 00:11:15,360 money off of Walls, so no problem there, no wonder 174 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,679 they're turning out in droves in Minnesota. 175 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 5: Like like in New York, Minnesota is a more advanced 176 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:27,799 version of New York where the Democrat Socialists of America 177 00:11:27,919 --> 00:11:32,879 have taken over the df L, the Democrat Former Labor Union, 178 00:11:32,919 --> 00:11:36,600 which is Minnesota's version of the Democrat Party, and within 179 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,759 that party there's a lot of argument over who's in charge, 180 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:45,320 and they're the DSA has overtaken the more traditional Democrat, 181 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,960 leaving traditional Democrat nowhere to go because they don't support 182 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,519 the you know, they can't they can't stand to vote 183 00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:57,960 for a Republican. But they don't like the candidates that 184 00:11:58,039 --> 00:12:00,080 are put in front of them either. And I'm and 185 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,600 I've been on the ground there in Minnesota, and they 186 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,360 really they don't know what to do, so that's a 187 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,440 real problem for them. 188 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:11,399 Speaker 2: Matt On, I take one more thing about your original question, 189 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,360 how Republicans can get people to turn out and vote 190 00:12:15,399 --> 00:12:16,360 for them in the midterms. 191 00:12:16,639 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 4: I think the. 192 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: Number one easiest and also maybe hardest for them thing 193 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,960 that they can do is just give people something to 194 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,480 vote for. Republicans in Congress have done zilch. They have 195 00:12:28,879 --> 00:12:32,000 gone that they've been at the pace of a snail. 196 00:12:32,279 --> 00:12:36,240 They've failed to codify many of the things that President 197 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,159 Trump has implemented through executive order. As we all know, 198 00:12:39,279 --> 00:12:43,000 executive orders can easily be overturned. Right now, they're talking 199 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,399 about giving Democrats. Some Republicans are talking about giving Democrats 200 00:12:47,399 --> 00:12:51,360 the Obamacare subsidies that the whole first shutdown was staged over. 201 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,919 So I think, you know, I don't blame voters for 202 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,919 not turning out for Republicans because Republicans are completely uninteresting 203 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,240 and unmotivating. I think there were a lot of things 204 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,559 that President Trump ran on that did excite voters, and 205 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,240 if Republicans want to capitalize on his success, they need 206 00:13:09,279 --> 00:13:11,399 to advance the same kind of things. 207 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,399 Speaker 1: Now, now, el are you telling me that Speaker Mike 208 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:17,320 Johnson isn't inspiring. 209 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 2: He is such he seems like such a nice guy. 210 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 7: I like him, but he's totally. 211 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, no, no, remember he's praying on the situation. 212 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,399 And let me tell you something right off the bat. 213 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:42,320 I love the Lord, and I certainly appreciate and have 214 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,840 experienced the power of prayer. But Mike Johnson needs to 215 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:47,799 do a little less praying and a little more acting. 216 00:13:47,919 --> 00:13:52,799 Because I think you are absolutely right. What do Republicans, 217 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:56,879 what do conservatives? What do grassroots conservatives really have to 218 00:13:57,039 --> 00:14:00,240 count on victories from Congress? They got a lot of 219 00:14:00,279 --> 00:14:07,000 victories from executive orders from the most that I can remember, certainly, 220 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,559 and I've been around the sun several times, so to speak, 221 00:14:11,879 --> 00:14:16,080 on this planet. But you know, the most ambitious, the 222 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:21,200 most action pack, the most motivated administration that we have seen, 223 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,879 certainly in our lifetimes, and certainly one of the most 224 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,960 outside of James K. Polk, in the history of this 225 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,679 great Republic. Briann, I want to turn to you because 226 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:36,600 on the two points, you are our New York based reporter. 227 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:41,559 God love you. You should get casually pay. You should 228 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:47,240 also get casually paid because you're our Fox correspondent, opinion 229 00:14:47,279 --> 00:14:52,600 contributor there and you've also appeared on CNN. So I'll 230 00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:56,639 ask you first and foremost, when you're finished with a 231 00:14:56,759 --> 00:14:59,600 session with those folks, how many times do you have 232 00:14:59,679 --> 00:15:00,840 to show after that? 233 00:15:01,919 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 7: Matt, there is not enough showers in the world that 234 00:15:04,279 --> 00:15:08,279 can rid me. I'm just to discuss that they make 235 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,200 me feel when I finish a Senate segment. 236 00:15:11,159 --> 00:15:14,399 Speaker 1: I can imagine. I have seen it, I have watched it. 237 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:19,399 You know, you are trying to speak truth to Marxist power, 238 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,120 but it is it is difficult. Now onto the New 239 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:27,399 York the serious side of things. Your state, your city, 240 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:33,639 New York City, in this election elected an absolute socialist, 241 00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:40,600 if not a communist, in Moron Mandami. Where do you 242 00:15:40,759 --> 00:15:44,159 see that as a sign of things to come for 243 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,799 the leftist movement in America, the Democrat Party and for 244 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,480 Republicans in next year's election. 245 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,879 Speaker 7: Yeah, I think for a long time of people have 246 00:15:54,919 --> 00:15:57,879 assumed that there was just a socialist wave, but it 247 00:15:57,919 --> 00:16:00,960 appears that it's a socialist tsunami that is crashing into 248 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:05,200 the Democratic establishment because Hakim Jeffrey's Chuck Schumer. This was 249 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:09,120 an opportunity with Mom Donnie running to reject the socialist 250 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,320 wing of their party. That is really encroaching on the 251 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,960 entire party, and they didn't do that, and instead you 252 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,360 had members of the Democratic establishment either implicitly or explicitly 253 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,159 endorse Mom Donnie. And it sent the signal that socialism 254 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,679 and communism and Marxism is permissible. 255 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: And it's acceptable. 256 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 7: And so you're going to see that socialism wave grow 257 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,360 larger and larger. And when you think about that, you think, well, 258 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,480 what are Republicans doing to counter that? While we all know, 259 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,960 thank god, they passed a resolution recently condemning socialism, which 260 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,919 will definitely do a lot. And she went Axios, who 261 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,720 reported a few weeks back, and it said, Republicans are 262 00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:49,120 excited about this Mam donni one because they're going to 263 00:16:49,279 --> 00:16:51,360 use it in the midterms and they're going to tell 264 00:16:51,399 --> 00:16:55,759 people socialism is bad. If that line of reasoning worked, 265 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,759 then we would never have a Mom Donnie because Republicans 266 00:16:58,759 --> 00:17:01,000 have been banging that drum for years. They did it 267 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:02,720 with Bernie, they did it with AOC, they did it 268 00:17:02,759 --> 00:17:05,440 with other members of the squad. Socialism is bad. That 269 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,440 doesn't change that people are still going out there and 270 00:17:07,519 --> 00:17:10,279 voting for the socialists. In fact, there was an internal 271 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:13,039 pull from Axios this past summer in which they found 272 00:17:13,079 --> 00:17:16,240 that the issue with Mom Donnie wasn't that people didn't 273 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:18,759 know who he was or what his policies were. It's 274 00:17:18,759 --> 00:17:21,480 that there were enough people who knew who he was 275 00:17:21,559 --> 00:17:24,960 and liked his policies. So Republicans have no real game 276 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,599 plan on how do they fight this wave of socialism 277 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:30,400 that is taking over the Democratic Party and becoming mainstream. 278 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,839 And I think one of the issues is is we 279 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,079 are in an age of technology, and Mom Donnie campaigned. 280 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,119 I saw him all over Instagram, TikTok, Twitter with thirty 281 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,640 second sound bites, and unfortunately he wasn't saying anything that 282 00:17:43,839 --> 00:17:44,759 sounded extreme. 283 00:17:44,799 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 4: At first. 284 00:17:45,319 --> 00:17:47,839 Speaker 7: He was saying people should be able to afford food, 285 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,200 you should be able to put a roof over your head. That, 286 00:17:50,279 --> 00:17:53,039 I say, very simple and populous message. It's the same 287 00:17:53,039 --> 00:17:56,000 message that Donald Trump uses. Of course, they have very 288 00:17:56,039 --> 00:18:00,000 different means to get to those ends. But the average 289 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:02,599 is in listening past that thirty second SoundBite, they're not 290 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,119 listening to how Mom Donnie wants to put food on 291 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,079 the table or wants to have a roof over your head. 292 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,279 And so when you hear those short soundbites from Mom Donnie, 293 00:18:10,279 --> 00:18:13,680 AOC and Sanders. That is something that could attract voters 294 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,200 who maybe don't spend all day long reading and consuming 295 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,599 the news and you know political philosophy. 296 00:18:19,759 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and see that's the disconnect that we see in 297 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,000 the Republican Party. Trump gets it. He understands affordability, or 298 00:18:27,079 --> 00:18:32,880 as the wooden headed Democrat strategists said a long time ago, 299 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,799 it is the economy stupid. It's still the economy stupid. 300 00:18:36,039 --> 00:18:38,839 More so than anything, it's the fact that you have 301 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,720 to in this country be an average age of forty 302 00:18:41,799 --> 00:18:45,079 before you can afford your first house, and even then 303 00:18:45,319 --> 00:18:50,200 it's a struggle. The issues that we're seeing still plaguing 304 00:18:50,319 --> 00:18:57,119 us from the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, ill named 305 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:01,799 as it was and absolutely did not reduce inflation. We're 306 00:19:01,799 --> 00:19:05,079 still paying the bills on that. Mazie. You read a lot. 307 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,559 You have to, because that's the gig as a content editor. 308 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,720 You read a lot of political reporting. You read a 309 00:19:11,759 --> 00:19:16,920 lot on election integrity, what's happening in other states? What 310 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:23,240 most concerned you this year when it came to the 311 00:19:23,279 --> 00:19:29,880 election integrity battles in particularly swing states? You know, and 312 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:36,559 I know Beth Covers has covered extensively Pennsylvania, Sean and 313 00:19:36,599 --> 00:19:39,880 our other reporter who's not here today, election integrity reporter 314 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:46,160 b Reckon. He has covered Virginia quite extensively. Where do 315 00:19:46,279 --> 00:19:50,000 you see the battle lines being drawn as we wrap 316 00:19:50,079 --> 00:19:53,559 up twenty twenty five in election integrity law in these 317 00:19:53,599 --> 00:19:54,440 critical states? 318 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 8: Yeah, for sure. Well, to kind of piggyback of what 319 00:19:59,079 --> 00:20:03,559 Beth and l pointed out, I think Republicans have a 320 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:08,200 history of pushing really hard during like the presidential election years, 321 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:13,119 and then essentially dropping the ball on off years. And 322 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:18,319 there are great grassroots orgs and conservative law firms, you know, 323 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:23,519 getting involved in these swing states. I think of Michigan 324 00:20:23,599 --> 00:20:31,279 and suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, which I'm sure 325 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:36,079 I know you've covered, Matt, But it seems like these 326 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,880 orgs don't get the same level of air support from 327 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,599 the RNC or from Republican leaders unless it's a quote 328 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:48,160 unquote big election. And ahead of November twenty twenty four, 329 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,279 it felt as though more Republican lawmakers, more RNC members 330 00:20:52,279 --> 00:20:55,039 were pushing the need for election reform, especially in these 331 00:20:55,079 --> 00:20:59,880 swing states where you know, the vote, the vote really counts, 332 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:05,799 where elections are easily riggable, but once Trump made it 333 00:21:05,839 --> 00:21:08,880 across the finish line, it seems like this these efforts, 334 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,039 at least at the higher level, sort of dissipated. And 335 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:17,720 while some state lawmakers and governors have enacted common sense 336 00:21:17,759 --> 00:21:23,200 election integrity laws since last November, I think of Arizona 337 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:29,440 and Wyoming, and overall, it seems many Republican state leaders 338 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,160 have warmed up to the idea that reform is needed, 339 00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:35,480 but we're not really seeing this as much in swing 340 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,799 states from my perspective. And now is the time to 341 00:21:39,799 --> 00:21:45,759 be enacting federal policy, common sense policy, introducing and advancing 342 00:21:45,799 --> 00:21:50,599 bills that, for example, require proof of citizenship for federal elections, 343 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:55,119 like the Save Act. But what are Congressional Republicans doing instead? 344 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,200 They're sitting on this legislation and getting involved in infighting, 345 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:03,440 instead of focusing on the agenda that got Trump elected 346 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,519 in the first place, that you know, clinched those swing 347 00:22:07,559 --> 00:22:11,079 state wins. So I'm nervous about how little ground is 348 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,720 being gained, particularly. 349 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 4: In the swing states. 350 00:22:14,799 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 2: I think we should ask Brianna what she thinks about 351 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,759 the Republicans in Congress who have so far failed to 352 00:22:21,799 --> 00:22:22,759 pass the Save Act. 353 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 4: Oh yes, please. 354 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 7: Please, they're also they're all so squishy. There's only one 355 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,640 Congressman or maybe if you actually Brandon Gill chip Roy, 356 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,759 who seem intent on doing what they were elected to do, 357 00:22:35,839 --> 00:22:39,000 which is do something. So the Save Act is out there. 358 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,839 There's also the Pause Act for Immigration, which would work 359 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,880 in conjunction with the Save Act. And we just saw 360 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,319 a few weeks ago, of course, an unelected Inferior Court 361 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,119 judge put a block on President Trump's executive order which 362 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,359 would require proof of citizenship to vote. And it's like, yeah, 363 00:22:55,559 --> 00:22:58,359 that happened, but it wouldn't be a problem if Congress 364 00:22:58,559 --> 00:23:01,240 passed the Save Act and l to your point earlier, 365 00:23:01,839 --> 00:23:04,759 the only thing Republicans have done legislatively is the one big, 366 00:23:04,799 --> 00:23:06,720 beautiful bill, and they think they can write on that 367 00:23:06,759 --> 00:23:10,039 for the next however many years as oh, look, we're 368 00:23:10,039 --> 00:23:12,559 actually doing our job. That is not enough. It does 369 00:23:12,599 --> 00:23:15,440 not answer many of the requests that Republicans had when 370 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,839 they turned out and voted last year. And if Republicans 371 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:19,799 don't get their act together, they deserve to lose. 372 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: Good point, Saul and Brianna. You know as much as 373 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,319 you and I and the rest of this team have 374 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,279 been repulsed by the lack of action on the Save 375 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:37,480 Act again, which would demand require that everyone who registers 376 00:23:37,519 --> 00:23:41,559 to vote show documentary proof of citizenship. I don't think 377 00:23:41,599 --> 00:23:44,000 that's a big ask. And you know what, the vast 378 00:23:44,039 --> 00:23:48,599 majority of Americans don't think that is a burden or 379 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,440 is a real issue when it comes to election integrity. 380 00:23:53,559 --> 00:23:57,759 In fact, you know, the vast majority of American voters 381 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,119 are with those who have pushed forward the Save Act. 382 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,039 But Sean, let me let me ask you this, because 383 00:24:04,039 --> 00:24:07,480 you've covered this issue, and you've covered this man quite 384 00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:09,160 a bit, and I know he's one of your all 385 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:14,440 time favorites. We as we understand it, some very good 386 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:20,319 sources have told this election Integrity team that Mitch McConnell 387 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,240 is the one who is blocking any movement on the 388 00:24:25,319 --> 00:24:30,599 Save Act in the Senate. What do you think about 389 00:24:30,839 --> 00:24:34,160 those reports and does any of that surprise you. 390 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,599 Speaker 3: I'm inclined to believe them, just given what we know 391 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:45,000 about Mitch McConnell, but it doesn't really surprise me. I mean, well, well, 392 00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:47,559 first off, I should say this about Mitch McConnell. Are 393 00:24:47,599 --> 00:24:50,079 even clear that he's the one who's actually running his 394 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:51,319 Senate office right now? 395 00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 4: And you know, it's very. 396 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 3: Sad that he's getting up there in age and going 397 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,839 through these health problems like any person. But I think 398 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:03,000 it's pretty disgrace that he's very clearly unable to execute 399 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,240 the duties of his office and is really just having 400 00:25:06,319 --> 00:25:09,839 his unelected staffers run the show and represent the people 401 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,519 of Kentucky. And if you're unable to execute those duties, 402 00:25:13,519 --> 00:25:15,680 you need to resign and step down and make room 403 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:19,599 for someone who is capable of doing those duties. You know, 404 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,559 Mitch McConnell's accomplished great things for Republicans and Conservatives throughout 405 00:25:23,599 --> 00:25:26,039 the years, but he's also done a lot of terrible things, 406 00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:28,759 and so blocking the Save Act, as we've heard from 407 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:33,079 these reports, doesn't really surprise me at all, you know. 408 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:34,880 As far as to why, I don't know if it's 409 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:38,680 a policy disagreement or a personal grudge against President Trump, 410 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,519 although I would probably suspect the ladder. It doesn't really 411 00:25:42,559 --> 00:25:45,480 surprise me because Mitch McConnell has been in DC for 412 00:25:45,559 --> 00:25:49,119 decades and it's largely just been about himself and putting 413 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:53,079 his interest in his family's interests first. So at the 414 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,480 end of the day, it doesn't shock me that even 415 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,160 though he stepped down as majority leader, he's still kind 416 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,279 of pulling the strings in many respects in. 417 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: The background to that end, do you think what has 418 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:07,160 ever left of his cognition chamber is all concentrated on 419 00:26:07,279 --> 00:26:09,480 his loathing and hatred for Donald Trump. 420 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 4: Many, I would say a good deal of that. 421 00:26:12,599 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 3: I mean, we certainly saw that during the confirmation for 422 00:26:15,279 --> 00:26:20,519 many of President Trump's cabinet officials, Secretary Haig Seth, Tolsey Gabbard, 423 00:26:20,599 --> 00:26:23,240 people of that nature who he you know, went to 424 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:25,839 the Senate flor and voted no against and made those 425 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,799 votes a lot closer than they should have been. So, 426 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,480 you know, it doesn't totally surprise me that if that 427 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,680 was one of, if not the main, reason as to 428 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:38,279 why he's holding up significant legislation that you know, as 429 00:26:38,279 --> 00:26:41,880 you guys mentioned, is broadly supported by a large segment 430 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,200 of the American public and certainly supported by a large 431 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:46,519 chunk of the Republican base. 432 00:26:49,559 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 9: The Treasury just made a huge announcement regarding illegal immigrants. 433 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:56,039 The watched Out on Wall Street podcast with Chris Markowski. 434 00:26:56,079 --> 00:26:58,960 Every day, Chris helps unpack the connection between politics and 435 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,759 the economy and how toffects year wild. The Treasury says 436 00:27:01,759 --> 00:27:05,519 illegal immigrants will be removed from the financial system completely. 437 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,440 If you can't get a job here and you can't 438 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,599 get benefits, you're not going to come. This should have 439 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,240 been done years ago. Whether it's happening in DC or 440 00:27:12,279 --> 00:27:14,839 down on Wall Street, it's affecting you financially. Be informed. 441 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:16,960 Check out the Watchdot on Wall Street podcast with Chris 442 00:27:17,079 --> 00:27:19,920 Markowski on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. 443 00:27:23,759 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: Our guests today are members of the best dang election 444 00:27:27,319 --> 00:27:30,920 integrity team in the country. We're talking about the year 445 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,200 that was in election news and what's to come in 446 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,559 the critical midterm year ahead with our very own Federalist 447 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:42,119 election integrity team. Lots of stories filed this year, l 448 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,480 on so many different issues, but Brianna brought it up. 449 00:27:45,519 --> 00:27:48,279 Maysi brought it up. As we look ahead at twenty 450 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:54,599 twenty six and behind in this rapidly ending twenty twenty five, 451 00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:01,440 we have seen the real insurrection in American politics that 452 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:07,119 coming from the lower federal courts. How much will these 453 00:28:07,839 --> 00:28:11,319 I'm not even going to call them rogue judges because 454 00:28:11,599 --> 00:28:17,119 it's systemic, it's happening throughout how much of you know, 455 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,200 the judicial coup that's going on. How much will that 456 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,240 shape the outcome of the twenty twenty six elections. 457 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:29,279 Speaker 2: Well, potentially very much so. And I mean that that 458 00:28:29,319 --> 00:28:33,839 could be because the lower court judges are blocking things 459 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,960 like President Trump's Election Integrity Executive Order, or it could 460 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,440 be through you know, other ways that are less directly 461 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,839 related to elections. The courts are interesting, though, and there 462 00:28:44,839 --> 00:28:49,480 are some interesting cases that are coming to Scotus about 463 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,839 elections between now and the midterms. So one that I 464 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,240 think is worth talking about is I believe it's called 465 00:28:56,359 --> 00:28:59,480 R and C versus Wetzel, and it's a case arising 466 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:04,240 out of Missus where the provisions that are being challenged 467 00:29:04,599 --> 00:29:09,359 are the state's acceptance of ballots arriving after election day. 468 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,000 And you know, you think, like, oh, election, you can't 469 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,240 you can't go to the polls after election day and vote. 470 00:29:14,519 --> 00:29:17,480 Election day used to be when the election is over. 471 00:29:17,559 --> 00:29:20,799 You heard on election night who won. But now we 472 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:25,680 have this extension of election day, not just before election day, 473 00:29:25,839 --> 00:29:28,519 but also after election day. You have I think it's 474 00:29:28,519 --> 00:29:32,480 about thirty states that accept ballots coming in after election day. 475 00:29:33,279 --> 00:29:35,960 And the Supreme Court has agreed to hear this case. 476 00:29:36,319 --> 00:29:38,960 I believe we'll have a decision on it next year, 477 00:29:39,839 --> 00:29:42,079 so that could be really huge. Just to give one example, 478 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,000 in Nevada in the twenty twenty two midterms, according to 479 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,440 a reporter with the Nevada Independent, there were thirty nine, 480 00:29:50,119 --> 00:29:53,880 nine hundred and fifteen male ballots that arrived after election day, 481 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,960 So that's nearly forty thousand ballots. The Senate race that 482 00:29:58,039 --> 00:30:01,079 same year, which was won by the Democrat in Cortez Masto, 483 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,759 was one by nine thousand and seven votes, So you 484 00:30:04,799 --> 00:30:07,119 had mail ballots coming in after election day that were 485 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,680 equivalent to four times in the margin of victory. That's 486 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:13,640 something that if the Supreme Court comes in and says no, 487 00:30:13,799 --> 00:30:17,119 that's clearly unconstitutional, that could have really seen a different 488 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:18,799 consequences for the midterms and beyond. 489 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, I remember that election. I remember that story. I 490 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,279 just I still am amazed how that was allowed to happen. 491 00:30:27,359 --> 00:30:31,759 But that's exactly what gets at this Mississippi case that's 492 00:30:31,799 --> 00:30:37,359 so critical. Beth. You've reported on a great many stories 493 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:45,880 involving the courts getting involved in deciding election law one 494 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:50,599 way or the other. What are some of the more 495 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:55,400 interesting cases that you've seen on election integrity. I know 496 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,440 there have been quite a few in your home state 497 00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:58,279 of Pennsylvania. 498 00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:04,559 Speaker 5: Yeah, and you know, again low voter turnout. The state 499 00:31:04,599 --> 00:31:09,240 Supreme Court is handling most of those cases. And uh, 500 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:17,039 Republicans had a chance to change that Democrat heavy and 501 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:22,400 Democrat favoring uh the Supreme Court this past election, and 502 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,480 did not have enough voter turnout to make that happen. 503 00:31:26,799 --> 00:31:29,279 Speaker 4: But you know, we put. 504 00:31:29,359 --> 00:31:38,599 Speaker 5: Garbage data into our elections, voter registration and voter ID right, 505 00:31:38,839 --> 00:31:41,680 these are it seems like a lot of stuff boils 506 00:31:41,759 --> 00:31:44,079 down to that. Of course, the timing what I was 507 00:31:44,119 --> 00:31:47,440 talking about, we have that in Pennsylvania as well, the 508 00:31:47,599 --> 00:31:51,880 debate over you know, when you know, how long can 509 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:58,599 we continue counting ballots and ballots from overseas and we have. 510 00:31:58,839 --> 00:32:07,119 Speaker 6: The the envelopes, like the signature on the envelope, the 511 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:08,920 data on the envelope, Do we count it? 512 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,279 Speaker 5: Do we not? The naked ballots, So they are all 513 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:17,599 those things are subjects of lawsuits that have been appealed 514 00:32:17,599 --> 00:32:20,759 and appealed and appealed back and forth with the decisions. 515 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:22,599 Speaker 4: So what we. 516 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,119 Speaker 5: Really need to do is figure it out and boil 517 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:31,480 it down to getting our voter registration right by requiring 518 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:34,920 a photo id to save Act right. It comes back 519 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:37,079 down to that against why it's such a strong love 520 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:40,839 we can get it across the finish line, because what 521 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:46,480 ultimately happens is, no matter how messy the election is, 522 00:32:46,839 --> 00:32:51,000 ultimately they're going to certify the results even if the 523 00:32:51,039 --> 00:32:54,519 results feel really yucky. And when that happens, we just 524 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:59,000 lose our trust, whether we like the results or not. 525 00:32:59,599 --> 00:33:02,559 How can we possibly trust the results if they certify 526 00:33:02,599 --> 00:33:06,400 an election that looks so messy. Here in Pennsylvania this 527 00:33:06,599 --> 00:33:12,559 last go around in November, we had pull books that 528 00:33:12,839 --> 00:33:16,720 were people come in to sign a pull book and 529 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:22,720 they gave one county distributed the wrong poll book. You 530 00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:27,720 can't vote in Pennsylvania primaries unless you're a registered Republican 531 00:33:27,839 --> 00:33:32,279 or Democrat. Well, there were seventy seven thousand independents or 532 00:33:32,319 --> 00:33:36,680 third party registered voters whose names did not appear in 533 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,279 the pull books, and about twelve thousand of them showed 534 00:33:40,359 --> 00:33:43,720 up to vote in November, and they all had to 535 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,720 do provisional ballots. Normally that county does like one thousand 536 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,079 or fewer provisional ballots in an election. They had to 537 00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:56,880 go through twelve thousand provisional ballots. Elections certified. People feel 538 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,000 funny about it. We can't have that. 539 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:04,079 Speaker 1: No, that is the cornerstone of our elections. 540 00:34:04,799 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 2: Matt, I'm so sorry. I have to correct my numbers. 541 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:11,119 They're even more outrageous than I said. That forty thousand 542 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,840 male ballots after election day numbers not for the whole 543 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:17,679 state of Nevana. That was for Clark County alone. 544 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,840 Speaker 1: No, that I remember, I remember that, well, I don't. 545 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,800 I didn't remember all the numbers. I knew it was 546 00:34:24,039 --> 00:34:27,840 an incredible amount. But Clark County, as our good friends 547 00:34:28,039 --> 00:34:32,480 at the Public Interest Legal Foundation will tell you, has 548 00:34:32,559 --> 00:34:36,360 been a serious problem for a long time. That's why 549 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,760 PILF has been involved there and elsewhere in terms of 550 00:34:41,559 --> 00:34:45,719 the voter rolls, and Bethew mentioned it the curing of ballots. 551 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,199 That's similar to what Elle was talking about in these 552 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:55,400 long expanded election timelines where ballots are counted, allowed to 553 00:34:55,400 --> 00:35:00,519 be counted days, sometimes over a week after the actual 554 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:05,280 election day. I mean, it is astounding, and I think 555 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:10,960 a lot of Americans are rightly concerned that that too, 556 00:35:11,559 --> 00:35:16,519 is part of an overall rigging of the election. Sean, 557 00:35:16,599 --> 00:35:21,760 you have covered these issues a great deal over the 558 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:25,920 last year. In particular, you have covered the Supreme Court 559 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,880 and where it is heading, as we talked about before, 560 00:35:30,519 --> 00:35:35,239 not only with some of these critical election integrity laws, 561 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:40,000 but also with the handling of these lower courts. Where 562 00:35:40,039 --> 00:35:45,000 do you see the Supreme Court weighing in particular, as 563 00:35:45,039 --> 00:35:48,639 Elle mentioned at the outset of our conversation, as we 564 00:35:48,679 --> 00:35:54,440 move forward with these mid decade redistricting plans that we 565 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:59,000 have seen in Texas and California, talk of that in 566 00:35:59,079 --> 00:36:06,280 Illinois and Virginia. Illinois, of course, already I think, without 567 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,320 a doubt the most jerrymandered state in the country, right 568 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:12,360 up there with Massachusetts. Where do you see all of 569 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,079 that going on the redistricting side? 570 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,039 Speaker 4: Sure, so two points on that one. 571 00:36:18,079 --> 00:36:20,840 Speaker 3: We've kind of already seen them step into some degree 572 00:36:21,199 --> 00:36:23,480 with Texas. I believe it was last week or the 573 00:36:23,519 --> 00:36:26,960 week prior, they came out and issued an order basically 574 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:31,039 staying a lower court order that prohibited Texas from implementing 575 00:36:31,079 --> 00:36:34,039 its new map. So that will allow Texas to use 576 00:36:34,079 --> 00:36:36,199 its new map for the twenty twenty six mid terms, 577 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:39,480 which will favor Republicans. But I think one of the 578 00:36:39,519 --> 00:36:42,639 more notable cases that we're seeing that will be decided 579 00:36:42,679 --> 00:36:47,400 sometime next year is the old Louisiana Versus Klai. This 580 00:36:47,599 --> 00:36:49,960 was a case that was originally supposed to be decided 581 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:53,000 last year during its twenty twenty four term, that the 582 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,079 Court announced on the last day of its session that 583 00:36:55,119 --> 00:36:57,760 it was punting it to this year, and so they 584 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,679 heard or arguments on that back in October were and 585 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:02,800 this is a case that centers around the use of 586 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:04,639 race in the redistricting process. 587 00:37:05,559 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 4: So I'll try and numb down. 588 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,119 Speaker 3: The proceedings as much as possible, But basically what happened 589 00:37:10,159 --> 00:37:13,320 is Louisiana created this congressional map that had a single 590 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:17,920 black congressional district or black majority congressional district district. Court 591 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,599 judge granted a request from plaintiffs to block that new 592 00:37:22,639 --> 00:37:26,679 map's implementation. The plaintiffs alleged that it was a violation 593 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,000 of Section two of the Voting Rights Act and that 594 00:37:29,119 --> 00:37:33,239 it was an unlawful you know, basically ignoring the use 595 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:36,280 of race in the redistricting process, that it diluted the 596 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:40,000 black vote. And so the court agreed placed in a 597 00:37:40,079 --> 00:37:43,239 pause on that. The Supreme Court lifted that, but as 598 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:46,320 litigation continued, the state ended up drawing a new map, 599 00:37:46,559 --> 00:37:50,880 this time with two black majority congressional districts, different group 600 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:54,920 of plaintiffs sue alleging that the state unlawfully prioritized race 601 00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:57,280 and drawing the map, and that that's a violation of 602 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:01,800 the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. Different district court comes 603 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,800 out issues in order and blocks the new map. And 604 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:07,239 so basically what the Supreme Court is going to do 605 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:10,840 is rectify. Okay, well, who's right, But to the bigger 606 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:15,239 question is the use of race in the redistricting process 607 00:38:15,559 --> 00:38:18,199 a violation of the fourteenth and fifteenth Amendment in the 608 00:38:18,199 --> 00:38:21,119 case of Louisiana, And I think depending on how the 609 00:38:21,159 --> 00:38:24,280 Court comes down on that issue and the scope of 610 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:28,360 that ruling will have major implications for how states grapple 611 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:31,199 with redistricting and the use of race in that process 612 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:35,960 moving forward. Now, it's been such a convoluted issue that 613 00:38:36,039 --> 00:38:39,239 has plagued the lower courts for decades. The Supreme Court 614 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:41,519 has had a couple of rulings on it in prior 615 00:38:41,559 --> 00:38:45,000 decades that haven't really offered much clarity to states on 616 00:38:45,039 --> 00:38:48,199 how to deal with these issues. So hopefully whatever the 617 00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:51,719 Supreme Court produces in this Louisiana case will provide that 618 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:55,760 guidance and kind of concrete you know, rules for states 619 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:57,840 moving forward when it comes to this process. 620 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, you are absolutely right. Now you're going to say 621 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,719 that is at the core issue that we are seeing 622 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:08,400 play out in real time now. California is absolutely in 623 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:12,480 my opinion, and I think, you know, the maps will 624 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:16,920 show you that is an absolute race based jerrymander, which 625 00:39:17,159 --> 00:39:22,800 is there are few times where that is acceptable. And 626 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:27,199 you know, political gerrymanders are the spoils of war. That's 627 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:30,559 basically how this Court has looked at it. But yeah, California, 628 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:36,599 you got the state of Wisconsin now entering the redistricting area, 629 00:39:36,639 --> 00:39:40,559 where you have a leftist Supreme Court that is rigging 630 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:47,320 this system and basically delivering what the latest leftist elected 631 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:52,679 in April. You know, the massive amounts of money that 632 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:55,840 the left put into the Wisconsin Supreme Court election to 633 00:39:56,039 --> 00:39:59,760 elect this liberal. You know, they're getting what they paid for. 634 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:07,119 Do you believe the Supreme Court will reject California's redistricting 635 00:40:07,239 --> 00:40:13,280 plan ultimately and some of these others based on racial jerrymanderin. 636 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:17,280 Speaker 3: So, I think ultimately it will, and I think it 637 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:19,480 will have to be well, first, I think we'll have 638 00:40:19,519 --> 00:40:22,039 to see what they decide in the Louisiana case, and 639 00:40:22,119 --> 00:40:25,440 I think that that will ultimately, uh, you know, impact 640 00:40:25,559 --> 00:40:26,519 how the lower. 641 00:40:26,199 --> 00:40:27,519 Speaker 4: Courts handle that case. 642 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:30,199 Speaker 3: But I think ultimately, if it does come up to 643 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:32,760 the Supreme Court, which I'm sure it will at some point, 644 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,119 that the Justice is if they were to rule in 645 00:40:36,159 --> 00:40:39,920 the Louisiana case that yes, the state unlawfully used race 646 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:41,239 in the redistricting process. 647 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:43,559 Speaker 4: If they were to rule that way, I see. 648 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:47,119 Speaker 3: A majority on the Court ultimately agreeing that, yes, California, 649 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:50,039 if the facts bear out that, yes, you guys unlawfully 650 00:40:50,199 --> 00:40:54,000 used race in the redistricting process, which as it already seems, 651 00:40:54,039 --> 00:40:57,800 they most certainly did on this on. 652 00:40:57,760 --> 00:40:59,239 Speaker 1: This Yeah, Actually, Brion, I was going to ask you 653 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:02,760 that because speaking of the fourteenth Amendment, and we'll get 654 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:04,400 to your point in just a moment, But speaking of 655 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:06,960 the fourteenth Amendment, we have the Supreme Court now weighing 656 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:11,760 in on birthright citizenship, and that is another facet of 657 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:16,199 all of this, particularly in places like California that have 658 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:21,400 used non citizens to bolster their reputation, their representation in Congress. 659 00:41:22,199 --> 00:41:23,880 Speaker 7: Yeah, mat, that's a lot of question. I'm going to 660 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:26,559 start with Fleewood's to keep it in lot. I actually 661 00:41:26,639 --> 00:41:29,000 would argue that there is a better chance that the 662 00:41:29,039 --> 00:41:33,039 Supreme Court does hold up California's map because in Alito's 663 00:41:33,079 --> 00:41:36,440 recent announcement regarding Texas, in which he issued the stay, 664 00:41:37,159 --> 00:41:40,239 he said that Texas appeared to have drawn their new 665 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:43,480 map for partisan and political purposes, which is legal, and 666 00:41:43,519 --> 00:41:45,400 then at the very end he notes and it appears 667 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,000 that California did the same. So it almost seems to 668 00:41:48,039 --> 00:41:50,639 me like Alito's alluding that Texas read drew its maps 669 00:41:50,639 --> 00:41:53,559 for parts and purposes, and it apparently seems like California 670 00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:55,800 did too. So I would say that right now it 671 00:41:55,840 --> 00:41:59,079 appears that the Supreme Court believes California to some degree 672 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:02,159 use partisan or political reasons to redraw. 673 00:42:02,239 --> 00:42:05,280 Speaker 1: So that might be yes, yes, but didn't Texas get 674 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:09,880 around that? Based on what I've heard from some constitutional 675 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:16,440 law experts, by you, a, what was it? The Fifth 676 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:23,000 Circuit had weighed in on this issue and changed its position, 677 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:28,960 and Texas followed the Fifth Circuits ruling basically and putting 678 00:42:28,960 --> 00:42:33,360 together its maps. That's why Texas survives where California doesn't. 679 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:34,199 What do you think of that? 680 00:42:34,679 --> 00:42:36,679 Speaker 7: Well, so that's what makes this a hire case in 681 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:39,559 Texas in particular. Interesting, So what you're referring to is Galveston. 682 00:42:39,679 --> 00:42:42,519 So the Bible with the Deberation decided to gamble Congress 683 00:42:42,559 --> 00:42:44,400 away back and I think it was twenty twenty two 684 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,880 when they sued the County of Galveston because Galveston Redistrict 685 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:51,320 did and it eliminated the sole district in which a 686 00:42:51,559 --> 00:42:55,199 black man I believe was holding the seat. And Texas 687 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,039 ended up Galveston sued and made its way up to 688 00:42:57,039 --> 00:42:59,199 the Fifth Circuit. And what the Fifth Circuit ruled is 689 00:42:59,199 --> 00:43:03,800 that coalition districts are unconstitutional. Now, a coalition district is 690 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:08,360 when you don't have a majority minority community, you are 691 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:13,079 allowed to combine multiple minority groups to create a minority 692 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:16,360 majority district. So let's say there aren't enough you know, 693 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:20,199 black presidents to create a predominantly black district that gives 694 00:43:20,199 --> 00:43:23,280 them the representation that they say they need. Right, you 695 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:26,039 can cobble together Hispanics with the blacks. And that's what 696 00:43:26,159 --> 00:43:28,400 Texas was doing. And the Fifth Circuit said, no, you're 697 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:31,960 using race. You can't do that. So Texas read threw 698 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,400 its maps. But here's the problem. When Harmie Dyllon sent 699 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:39,079 a letter to Texas on the basis of you must 700 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:43,559 you know, redistrict in order to comply with the you know, 701 00:43:43,679 --> 00:43:46,800 race based findings. That's when the left said, oh, this 702 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:49,639 is a race based redistricting that you're doing. But what 703 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:53,440 Texas responded to that argument is, look, Harmie Dillon sent 704 00:43:53,519 --> 00:43:57,199 a letter, yes, but ultimately there was political pressure from 705 00:43:57,239 --> 00:44:00,559 the Trump administration and political pressure from our con stituents 706 00:44:00,920 --> 00:44:04,559 to redraw these maps because we want to hold the House. 707 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,559 So that's actually their ultimate argument in the court is 708 00:44:08,559 --> 00:44:11,960 that this was still political. Nonetheless, like, yes, Galveston happened, 709 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:14,320 the Fifth Circuit happened, but we drew these only for 710 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:16,159 political reasons, nothing to do with race. 711 00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:21,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, amazing. That's sticking on the redistricting topic because it 712 00:44:21,079 --> 00:44:26,119 is such a significant issue this year and definitely as 713 00:44:26,159 --> 00:44:31,880 we move forward, what are we seeing from the polling, 714 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:34,559 what are we seeing from voters, What are we seeing 715 00:44:34,639 --> 00:44:39,639 from grassroots groups out there in this battle and in 716 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:44,039 their arguments? And personally, where do you think those where's 717 00:44:44,079 --> 00:44:46,119 the line where do the arguments prevail? 718 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:55,239 Speaker 8: Well, I mean I was reading up on this redistricting 719 00:44:56,039 --> 00:44:59,719 issues sort of leading up to today's meeting, and I 720 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:03,599 ran across this interesting piece that Sean actually wrote earlier 721 00:45:03,639 --> 00:45:10,000 this year about how with these redistricting conversations, I mean, 722 00:45:10,559 --> 00:45:16,559 as Brianna and you Matt as well mentioned, the Democrats 723 00:45:16,559 --> 00:45:20,159 have basically jerrymandered all they can, right, and at the 724 00:45:20,199 --> 00:45:24,679 same time they're saying Republicans are attempting to re elections 725 00:45:24,679 --> 00:45:30,039 by doing their own redistricting and own jerrymandering, which is interesting. 726 00:45:30,079 --> 00:45:33,159 But this piece that Sean wrote made an interesting point 727 00:45:33,199 --> 00:45:42,639 about how sorry, I'm finding my place here. Sure, so, 728 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:48,639 multiple states, the US Census Bureau released a report in 729 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:53,960 after the twenty twenty census that revealed significant errors favoring 730 00:45:53,960 --> 00:46:00,400 Democrats in counting, basically revealing population undercounts in swing states, 731 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:04,800 but swing states that are considered red states. And so 732 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:08,400 it's it's interesting to see how this has, this redistricting 733 00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:15,159 issue has It's not just there are more than just 734 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:18,960 political reasons to do this right there. There are significant 735 00:46:19,360 --> 00:46:22,480 census errors and census concerns in the mix as well. 736 00:46:23,039 --> 00:46:26,840 And I think grassroots I think that's an effective angle 737 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:31,800 for grassroots organizations to kind of play into, is this 738 00:46:31,920 --> 00:46:36,679 isn't just about the midterms, This isn't just about winning 739 00:46:36,719 --> 00:46:42,079 the next election. But it's about rectifying some serious counting 740 00:46:42,199 --> 00:46:50,599 errors and representation errors in elections, in elections where voters 741 00:46:50,639 --> 00:46:52,599 need to have a voice and need to be accurately 742 00:46:52,639 --> 00:46:57,719 represented and not be over not have their districts be 743 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:05,960 I guess tainted by essentially illegal or non citizens who 744 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:08,079 have been counted in the census as well. 745 00:47:08,679 --> 00:47:12,199 Speaker 1: I think that's a great word, tainted. That's what we 746 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:15,079 have been dealing with for a long time. And it 747 00:47:15,159 --> 00:47:20,840 is in these blue states California and Massachusetts, and New 748 00:47:20,960 --> 00:47:23,159 York and Illinois, and the list goes on and on. 749 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:28,679 But you know, really it's not only about representation, which 750 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:35,760 is bad for our republic and our representative democracy. It's 751 00:47:35,800 --> 00:47:40,960 also about how much money is flowing, our taxpayer dollars 752 00:47:41,239 --> 00:47:46,360 flowing because of who is part of the population, who 753 00:47:46,360 --> 00:47:51,280 has represented how much population, And the Census Bureau itself 754 00:47:52,079 --> 00:47:55,679 said that there are serious flaws in that, so much 755 00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:59,400 so that there have been recommendations to have a mid 756 00:48:00,119 --> 00:48:05,000 decade recount. I think ultimately they're going to have to 757 00:48:05,119 --> 00:48:08,199 clean all of this up, will they, That's a big question, 758 00:48:09,199 --> 00:48:13,000 and really get a handle on this as we move 759 00:48:13,119 --> 00:48:17,039 into the twenty thirty census. But this is a huge, 760 00:48:17,199 --> 00:48:20,719 huge problem that does not get enough attention. I want 761 00:48:20,719 --> 00:48:22,920 to go around the table now as we close out 762 00:48:23,239 --> 00:48:27,280 our conversation on election integrity, about really this question for 763 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:31,719 all of you, what, as reporters and editors frightens you 764 00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:36,039 most about the current state of election integrity heading into 765 00:48:36,039 --> 00:48:43,320 twenty twenty six? What gives you comfort or a positive sense? Beth, 766 00:48:43,639 --> 00:48:44,760 I'll begin with you on that. 767 00:48:46,159 --> 00:48:51,079 Speaker 5: You know, I think we need to recognize how much 768 00:48:51,719 --> 00:48:59,599 immigration affected our election integrity. I mentioned earlier about a 769 00:48:59,679 --> 00:49:04,880 voter registration. We have people driving on the roads who 770 00:49:04,960 --> 00:49:11,760 have CDL driver's licenses, non domiciled driver's licenses, so it 771 00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:14,400 says right in their license they're not a US citizen, 772 00:49:14,440 --> 00:49:18,519 they're non domiciled, but they have a driver's license number. 773 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:22,079 And when you register to vote, when you ask for 774 00:49:22,159 --> 00:49:26,599 a mail in ballot or you remotely register to vote 775 00:49:26,639 --> 00:49:30,400 without a photo ID, all you have to provide is 776 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:34,719 a social Security number or a driver's license number. There 777 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:37,880 is no box on there to say you're non domiciled 778 00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:42,480 or not. So once we give people driver's licenses, and 779 00:49:42,480 --> 00:49:45,920 now we know, of course, there are many illegal aliens 780 00:49:45,960 --> 00:49:50,559 who are driving with these bogus driver's licenses they were 781 00:49:50,599 --> 00:49:54,440 somehow issued, they're actually real licenses, so they have the 782 00:49:54,559 --> 00:49:59,599 ID to get registered to vote. We see through just 783 00:49:59,679 --> 00:50:04,559 go the Federalist archives and it is rich with stories 784 00:50:04,599 --> 00:50:09,639 about they say it doesn't happen, but non citizens are 785 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:12,840 indeed voting. So we need to get a handle on that. 786 00:50:12,880 --> 00:50:15,440 And again it really comes down to a photo ID 787 00:50:15,840 --> 00:50:19,079 and a real background check before we give someone. We 788 00:50:19,119 --> 00:50:22,719 want to make it accessible for people accessible, but we 789 00:50:23,519 --> 00:50:26,039 really need to know who's voting, and it cannot be. 790 00:50:26,039 --> 00:50:29,519 Speaker 1: So sense John, that is yeah, yeah, I know, you're 791 00:50:29,519 --> 00:50:32,400 absolutely right, John, That's a huge issue and it ties 792 00:50:32,440 --> 00:50:34,760 into the Save Act and all of those other things. 793 00:50:35,519 --> 00:50:41,760 For my greatest concern has to be at least near 794 00:50:41,840 --> 00:50:45,519 the top of the list dirty voter rules across the 795 00:50:45,559 --> 00:50:49,920 country in so many states. What's your biggest concern on 796 00:50:49,960 --> 00:50:52,800 election integrity as we head into twenty twenty six in 797 00:50:52,840 --> 00:50:53,480 the midterms. 798 00:50:55,079 --> 00:50:57,840 Speaker 3: I think it's a more general and kind of broader 799 00:50:57,920 --> 00:51:01,519 point about voting and citizenship in general. I mean, we 800 00:51:01,519 --> 00:51:04,960 were talking earlier about the complacency of the Republican Party 801 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:08,639 and how they're not doing anything with their majorities in Congress, 802 00:51:09,159 --> 00:51:12,519 and I think you know, money and resources in the 803 00:51:12,559 --> 00:51:15,239 power of the establishment is obviously a big part of 804 00:51:15,519 --> 00:51:19,000 keeping that system in place and keeping that infrastructure in place, 805 00:51:19,559 --> 00:51:23,360 But it ultimately boils down to the everyday citizen. Being 806 00:51:23,400 --> 00:51:26,400 a voter and being a citizen are two very different things, 807 00:51:26,880 --> 00:51:29,599 and I think, unfortunately, what we've seen, even in the 808 00:51:29,639 --> 00:51:33,119 Trump era is a great deal of complacency among the 809 00:51:33,159 --> 00:51:37,400 everyday Republican voter. How many of your Republican voters who 810 00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:40,920 vote in a general or presidential election bother to show 811 00:51:40,960 --> 00:51:43,559 up in the Republican primary, and how many of those 812 00:51:43,599 --> 00:51:46,079 people who vote in the primary actually vote for a 813 00:51:46,119 --> 00:51:49,760 candidate that actually agrees with them and actually will do 814 00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:53,199 what they believe in. Too often, what we've seen throughout 815 00:51:53,239 --> 00:51:58,400 the years, in the decades is this repeated disinterest among 816 00:51:58,400 --> 00:52:00,920 the American people and among a lot of the Republican 817 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:04,320 base to actually be a citizen, to get involved in 818 00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:07,119 the primary process and vet candidates and make sure that 819 00:52:07,159 --> 00:52:10,599 there are people who actually will uphold the promises that 820 00:52:10,639 --> 00:52:12,920 they're making and if they don't throw them out of 821 00:52:12,920 --> 00:52:16,840 office in the next primary, you know, being engaged with local, state, 822 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:20,440 and federal government. We can get mad at the Republicans 823 00:52:20,480 --> 00:52:23,159 in Congress for not doing anything all day long. But 824 00:52:23,360 --> 00:52:25,880 until we the people are actually willing to step up 825 00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:29,119 and be citizens and be involved in our government, none 826 00:52:29,159 --> 00:52:32,320 of that's going to change. And unfortunately, you know, I 827 00:52:32,360 --> 00:52:35,320 hope I'm wrong, but unfortunately I don't see that happening 828 00:52:35,360 --> 00:52:38,079 anytime soon. I think that, you know, we need a 829 00:52:38,119 --> 00:52:41,360 lot of spiritual revival in this country, and the only 830 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:43,400 way we're going to get back to being citizens is 831 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:47,519 through that spiritual revival. So that's something I'm always concerned about, 832 00:52:47,559 --> 00:52:50,400 not just this coming election cycle, but for the long 833 00:52:50,480 --> 00:52:51,800 term future of our country. 834 00:52:52,440 --> 00:52:54,639 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree with you more on the spiritual revival 835 00:52:54,719 --> 00:52:57,079 side of things. There is a deep void, of deep 836 00:52:57,159 --> 00:53:01,880 chasm in so many lives out there. It's also frustrating 837 00:53:02,039 --> 00:53:06,039 to be a conservative and you know, believe in conservative 838 00:53:06,119 --> 00:53:10,119 values and vote for people who espouse conservative values, but 839 00:53:10,760 --> 00:53:13,639 don't show up when it's time when the rubber hits 840 00:53:13,679 --> 00:53:17,800 the road. Brianna, if you look at and this is 841 00:53:18,159 --> 00:53:21,199 it's not a harbinger necessarily, but there are some troubling 842 00:53:21,280 --> 00:53:25,159 signs from the special elections this year. The turnout for 843 00:53:25,360 --> 00:53:31,320 Republicans been Florida and certainly in the Blue states, Virginia 844 00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:36,599 and New Jersey is and the special election recently in 845 00:53:36,719 --> 00:53:40,159 Tennessee where you have an absolute Marxist on the ballot. 846 00:53:40,199 --> 00:53:43,920 There is no other way to describe aften Ben or Bean, 847 00:53:44,559 --> 00:53:50,719 who is the Nashville state representative who just has you know, 848 00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:53,840 they call her the AOC of Tennessee, and she goes 849 00:53:53,880 --> 00:53:57,519 beyond AOC, that's for sure. But there are some troubling 850 00:53:57,599 --> 00:54:01,880 signs about where the grassroots stand as we enter the 851 00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:04,440 twenty twenty six election. I don't know if that's your 852 00:54:04,760 --> 00:54:08,840 biggest concern, but as Sean said, it definitely plays into 853 00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:10,519 everything we've talked about today. 854 00:54:11,400 --> 00:54:12,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I agree. 855 00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:14,000 Speaker 7: You know, if you don't have voters who turn out, 856 00:54:14,039 --> 00:54:15,760 then you don't have people who vote, and you don't 857 00:54:15,800 --> 00:54:19,639 elect Republicans. And you know Tell's earlier point, the easiest 858 00:54:19,639 --> 00:54:22,360 way for Republicans to ensure voter turnout is to just 859 00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:25,320 do something right, do something that you were elected to do. 860 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:30,880 That being said, Republicans are traditionally low propensity voters. Getting 861 00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:32,960 them to turn out and off your election cycles is 862 00:54:33,199 --> 00:54:35,480 very difficult. It's not that it's something that just happened 863 00:54:35,480 --> 00:54:38,599 this tast election cycle. So you know, could this past 864 00:54:38,639 --> 00:54:41,440 November be a bellweather suore. But will it one hundred 865 00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:43,920 percent be a bell weather no, because Republicans have a 866 00:54:44,079 --> 00:54:47,159 tendency to only turn out, you know, in presidential elections 867 00:54:47,199 --> 00:54:50,960 the most, and then midterms. That being said to be 868 00:54:51,119 --> 00:54:54,119 on a positive note, I think what I'm hopeful about 869 00:54:54,239 --> 00:54:58,119 is the R and c's election day integrity efforts were 870 00:54:58,119 --> 00:55:00,519 actually really impressive last year. They they were on the 871 00:55:00,519 --> 00:55:03,000 ground everywhere, they made sure there was parody and all 872 00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:06,800 these polling locations, and there were lawyers in all of 873 00:55:06,840 --> 00:55:10,519 these big cities to catch incidents that people suddenly were 874 00:55:10,559 --> 00:55:12,719 flagging that were questionable. In a lot of cases it 875 00:55:12,719 --> 00:55:15,679 turned out to be nothing. But having those Republican eyes 876 00:55:15,760 --> 00:55:19,159 there really adds a layer of comfort to voters to 877 00:55:19,239 --> 00:55:21,760 know that people are actually working there on their behalf 878 00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:24,760 to ensure that things are being done properly. So I 879 00:55:24,760 --> 00:55:27,800 think going into November, if we have one that same 880 00:55:28,079 --> 00:55:31,159 R and C turnout for election integrity at these polling locations, 881 00:55:31,199 --> 00:55:34,079 that's something really good. And two the other thing is 882 00:55:34,119 --> 00:55:36,440 if we can get people to turn out, that will 883 00:55:36,440 --> 00:55:39,280 be a recipe for success. So Republicans have eleven months 884 00:55:39,280 --> 00:55:40,000 to get stuff done. 885 00:55:40,440 --> 00:55:44,159 Speaker 1: The election integrity team of the RNC. You're absolutely right, 886 00:55:45,280 --> 00:55:48,800 did some really great work on the ground. I think 887 00:55:48,840 --> 00:55:53,920 it mattered. It made a difference in the twenty twenty 888 00:55:53,960 --> 00:55:57,079 four election. We'll see if they come out in the 889 00:55:57,159 --> 00:56:02,639 same way full force in twenty twenty six. One of 890 00:56:02,679 --> 00:56:08,079 the things that I'm concerned about is that the Democrats 891 00:56:08,199 --> 00:56:12,840 are so desperate They're going and they always find new 892 00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:18,760 evolutionary ways to rig elections or put their thumb on 893 00:56:18,920 --> 00:56:22,920 the scales. And I really do believe they want to 894 00:56:23,039 --> 00:56:27,639 impeach Donald Trump again multiple times so much, and they 895 00:56:27,679 --> 00:56:30,599 want to completely shut down his agenda. They're desperate to 896 00:56:30,639 --> 00:56:35,760 do that, and that desperation speaks of the potential and 897 00:56:35,880 --> 00:56:40,639 higher probability that there will be Shenanigans coming up in 898 00:56:40,639 --> 00:56:43,440 twenty twenty six. How do you feel about that and 899 00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:45,880 what is your biggest worry moving ahead? 900 00:56:47,159 --> 00:56:51,199 Speaker 8: Yeah, for sure. So I think Elle mentioned earlier. Trump 901 00:56:51,280 --> 00:56:56,480 passed or signed an election or sorry not executive order 902 00:56:56,480 --> 00:57:00,880 on election integrity, and like all of his exact pecutive actions, 903 00:57:00,920 --> 00:57:03,519 this has been met with lawsuits and law fairs and 904 00:57:04,159 --> 00:57:07,440 media claims that he's attempting to rig elections or the midterms. 905 00:57:08,920 --> 00:57:13,280 And as I've been following election stories this year. Trump 906 00:57:13,280 --> 00:57:18,679 has requested voter data from multiple states, presumably to investigate 907 00:57:19,239 --> 00:57:22,199 to what extent our elections have been infiltrated by non 908 00:57:22,239 --> 00:57:26,239 citizens or to determine if states are actually upholding federal 909 00:57:26,320 --> 00:57:31,079 law by maintaining clean voter roles, And the media has 910 00:57:31,119 --> 00:57:35,320 of course run cover for these states in their non compliance, 911 00:57:36,960 --> 00:57:40,320 and the media and Democrats say Trump is on a 912 00:57:40,360 --> 00:57:43,440 witch hunt for information that will feel his claims about 913 00:57:44,119 --> 00:57:48,719 US elections being unreliable and riggable. And I just don't 914 00:57:48,719 --> 00:57:52,639 think it's a witch hunt, considering report after report revealing 915 00:57:52,679 --> 00:57:57,440 non citizens on the roles in multiple states, and lawsuit 916 00:57:57,559 --> 00:58:01,280 after lawsuit alleging election officers are not doing their jobs 917 00:58:01,320 --> 00:58:04,360 to ensure election security. You know, we've seen that since 918 00:58:05,199 --> 00:58:08,360 before the twenty twenty four election, and it's still happening now. 919 00:58:09,639 --> 00:58:13,559 And as I said earlier, Democrats accused Trump of rigging 920 00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:17,159 elections while he attempts to prevent them from rigging elections. 921 00:58:17,199 --> 00:58:20,159 So I'm just nervous that he's going to get so 922 00:58:21,039 --> 00:58:24,440 his agenda has been so bogged down in this kind 923 00:58:24,480 --> 00:58:29,039 of judicial lawfair coup that's been happening. But that coup 924 00:58:29,079 --> 00:58:34,719 is essentially just extremely hypocritical because it's this lawfair is 925 00:58:34,760 --> 00:58:40,880 preventing him from actually, you know, safeguarding elections from being rigged. 926 00:58:42,119 --> 00:58:44,880 Speaker 1: And never forget, these are the same people who confuse 927 00:58:45,000 --> 00:58:51,239 accountability with weaponization, and they, the Democrats, are experts when 928 00:58:51,280 --> 00:58:56,760 it comes to weaponization of the justice system. Al you're 929 00:58:56,800 --> 00:58:59,639 the boss, you get the last word on all of this. 930 00:59:00,239 --> 00:59:03,280 I know you've got a plan. That plan is evolving 931 00:59:03,400 --> 00:59:05,800 for coverage in twenty twenty six. Where do you see 932 00:59:05,800 --> 00:59:06,440 all of this going? 933 00:59:07,599 --> 00:59:11,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, to answer your original question, as far as 934 00:59:11,320 --> 00:59:15,119 my biggest concern in this next year and beyond in 935 00:59:15,159 --> 00:59:19,360 general and specifically as a Virginia resident, my biggest election 936 00:59:19,519 --> 00:59:23,320 related concern is that Democrats are willing and even eager 937 00:59:23,400 --> 00:59:27,639 to elect people who want Republicans and their families, people 938 00:59:27,639 --> 00:59:30,840 who believe similar things to many of us, to be murdered. 939 00:59:31,599 --> 00:59:35,519 This propensity toward political violence on the left, it's terrifying. 940 00:59:35,559 --> 00:59:38,800 We've seen you with the murder of Charlie Kirk this year. 941 00:59:40,440 --> 00:59:43,199 But you know, we should not think of these intimidation 942 00:59:43,280 --> 00:59:48,599 tactics as unrelated to elections and campaigns. And as exhibit 943 00:59:48,639 --> 00:59:50,760 one of that, I'll just remind all of you of 944 00:59:50,800 --> 00:59:53,239 what happened in Butler last year, as I'm sure you 945 00:59:53,239 --> 00:59:56,119 don't need to be reminded. So I think this is 946 00:59:56,119 --> 00:59:58,320 going to be one of the big fights, and we 947 00:59:58,599 --> 01:00:03,960 shouldn't overlook relation to elections and how candidates are able 948 01:00:04,000 --> 01:00:07,320 to stage campaigns when we have that push from the 949 01:00:07,400 --> 01:00:08,719 left toward political violence. 950 01:00:09,480 --> 01:00:10,840 Speaker 7: And to end on a positive. 951 01:00:10,480 --> 01:00:12,960 Speaker 2: Note, as far as something I'm encouraged by, it does 952 01:00:12,960 --> 01:00:16,880 seem like the trumpet administration really does care about election reform. 953 01:00:17,199 --> 01:00:21,559 They're doing what they can, They're you know, being sidelined, 954 01:00:21,559 --> 01:00:27,679 They're being the courts are stepping in and doing what 955 01:00:27,719 --> 01:00:31,079 they can to knock them off course with that, but 956 01:00:31,800 --> 01:00:36,119 both with elections and with illegal immigration is a big, 957 01:00:36,199 --> 01:00:41,119 obviously area where the Trump administration is focused and that 958 01:00:41,159 --> 01:00:45,159 I think will have effects in the election integrity space, 959 01:00:45,159 --> 01:00:47,480 as we've talked about the problem of non citizen voting 960 01:00:47,519 --> 01:00:50,719 and non citizens on voter rolls. One thing, if they're listening, 961 01:00:50,840 --> 01:00:53,880 I'd love to see the Trump administration do is investigate 962 01:00:54,119 --> 01:00:57,280 the five oh one C three's and the nonprofits on 963 01:00:57,360 --> 01:01:01,760 the left who benefit from nonprofit status but clearly funnel 964 01:01:01,960 --> 01:01:05,400 money and other kinds of support toward Democrat candidates in 965 01:01:05,480 --> 01:01:11,280 violation of nonprofit laws. So that's my I'll end with 966 01:01:11,320 --> 01:01:13,320 that suggestion. There's plenty more. If you want to hear 967 01:01:13,360 --> 01:01:17,239 more suggestions, read the pages of The Federalist absolutely. 968 01:01:16,760 --> 01:01:19,920 Speaker 1: Every day and amen to that. All of these leftist 969 01:01:19,960 --> 01:01:24,599 nonprofit groups, or so many of them, really are nothing more, 970 01:01:24,639 --> 01:01:29,000 as we learned with Stacy Abraham, nothing more but funnelers 971 01:01:29,000 --> 01:01:35,400 of cash into Democrat campaigns and initiatives. Thanks to my 972 01:01:35,559 --> 01:01:40,840 guests today, really just a tremendous group of people, not 973 01:01:40,920 --> 01:01:45,159 just reporters, but people el pronell Federalist Assignment Editor and 974 01:01:45,239 --> 01:01:50,480 Election Integrity Team chief are exceptional reporter Sean Fleetwood, Beth Brellia, 975 01:01:51,159 --> 01:01:56,480 Breonna Lyman, and Election Team content editor Mazie Jefferson. It 976 01:01:56,519 --> 01:01:59,880 was a pleasure having a sit down, this sit down conversation, 977 01:02:00,079 --> 01:02:02,920 and it's a real privilege to work with all you 978 01:02:02,960 --> 01:02:06,599 great professionals. They're the members of the best damn election 979 01:02:06,679 --> 01:02:10,280 integrity team in the country, and they joined us for 980 01:02:10,280 --> 01:02:14,119 a conversation about election integrity and elections this year and 981 01:02:14,159 --> 01:02:19,079 what we can expect in the critical midterms twenty twenty six. 982 01:02:19,599 --> 01:02:22,159 You've been listening to another edition of the Federalist Radio Hour. 983 01:02:22,440 --> 01:02:26,320 I'm Matt Kittle's senior elections correspondent at the Federalist. We'll 984 01:02:26,360 --> 01:02:29,400 be back soon with more. Until then, stay lovers of 985 01:02:29,440 --> 01:02:31,679 freedom and anxious for the fray 986 01:02:32,119 --> 01:02:34,679 Speaker 2: Where've been out walk