Election Under Siege: Trump vs. Democracy with Virginia Solomon of Common Cause.
Sep 8, 2026 · 36m
Summary
Bill Press interviews Virginia Case Solomon, CEO of Common Cause, about threats to the upcoming midterm elections. They discuss President Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots, the potential deployment of ICE agents at polling places, and the seizure of voter files. Solomon outlines the legal challenges filed by the Election Protection Coalition to uphold state authority over elections. The episode concludes with a call to action for citizens to vote early and sign up as election protection volunteers to ensure a fair and safe voting process.
Topics discussed
Intro: Midterm threats and guest Virginia Solomon
Assessment of election risks and faith in state officials
States' rights and the Election Protection Coalition
Widespread use of mail-in ballots across the US
Evidence of fraud and safety of mail voting systems
Partisan trends in mail voting and historical context
Impact of confusion and chilling effect on voters
Trump's executive order on mail ballots and USPS role
Operational impossibility of implementing new rules
Legal challenges and current court proceedings
Supreme Court intervention and whistleblower concerns
Outlook for 2026 and 2028 elections
Trump's personal history with mail voting
Sponsor segment: Common Cause mission and goals
Return from break and introduction of other threats
Concerns over ICE agents at polling places
Military presence at polls and constitutional crisis
Federal seizure of ballots and chain of custody
Encouraging citizens to become election workers
State-level voting rights and gutted VRA protections
Hope for new federal voting rights legislation
How to volunteer for election protection
Final advice: Vote early and sign up to help
Outro: Upcoming news and next episode preview
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