"Trump's 2020 losses still sting"
Summary
Host Nicole Wallace and guests Ari Berman, Michael Waldman, and Claire McCaskill discuss Trump’s failed attempts to overturn Arizona election results and his meeting with convicted election fraudster Tina Peters. The segment highlights how courts and public servants are blocking these efforts to protect the upcoming midterms. The episode then shifts to an interview with Michael Lewis about his new book, *Blockers*, which profiles federal employees who resisted Elon Musk’s DOGE team, including a standoff at the Institute of Peace and the protection of sensitive IRS data.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship: WISE and Fanatic Sportsbook
Trump's 2020 election grievances and Maricopa County audits
Introduction of guests Ari Berman and Michael Waldman
Tina Peters' presence and the SAVE Act debate
Intelligence community findings on vote flipping
Legal limits on presidential election control
Court rulings blocking federal election interference
Voter confusion and the mood in battleground states
Maricopa County's Republican leadership and Trump's isolation
Republican strategy and the MAGA vote in 2026
Post-election risks: counting, certifying, and federal force
Call to action for protecting democracy and promoting Michael Lewis
Sponsorship: Hair care and Stamps.com
Michael Lewis: The standoff at the U.S. Institute of Peace
The radical transformation of the federal government
Origins of the Institute of Peace and Colin O'Brien's character
Chaos, power seizure, and the co-opting of law enforcement
The importance of human stories in government reporting
Sponsorship: YouTube Premium and Pantene
Fire science and the 9/11 investigation
The fire scientist's career and the 9/11 findings
Wildfire risks and the erosion of federal support
The challenge of reporting on preventive government work
The IRS and the misuse of sensitive data
The ITIN database and ICE enforcement tactics
Connecting the dots: data leaks and housing inspections
The moral implications of data misuse and historical parallels
Promoting the Best People podcast with Judge Esther Salas
Sponsorship: Tremfya medication
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