Trump’s War on Mail-In Voting
Sep 9, 2026 · 27m
Summary
Reporter Nick Corisinni explains the legal chaos surrounding President Trump’s executive order, which empowers the Postal Service to restrict mail-in voting in midterm elections. The episode details the conflict between the administration and 24 states, highlighting the Supreme Court’s recent decision to delay a ruling until the implementation of a voter data portal. With ballots already in transit, local election officials are scrambling to manage voter confusion and prepare contingency plans.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and introduction
Overview of Trump's mail-in voting plan
Current status of early voting and ballots
Executive order and USPS role in elections
Impact of mail voting post-pandemic
Political motivations behind the restrictions
Timeline of the executive order signing
Ballot design and barcode regulations
Voter data upload requirements for states
Arguments for election integrity vs. overreach
Constitutional limits and state practical concerns
The impossible situation for democratic states
Legal battles and fear of implementation chaos
Sponsorship and New York Philharmonic promo
Federal court ruling in Massachusetts
Supreme Court's initial 'not ripe' decision
Surprise at the High Court's delay
Whistleblower reveals ongoing portal development
Latest Supreme Court plea and expectations
Predictions for the final Supreme Court ruling
Local election officials' contingency planning
Voter confusion and questions about ballots
Advice for voters on casting mail ballots
Erosion of trust in electoral institutions
Closing remarks and NYT app promotion
Sponsorship and banking promo
UK, Canada, and France sanctions on Israel
Conflicting court orders in Missouri redistricting
Credits and final sponsorship
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