Air Date: 9-9-2026

Today we look at the strategies being deployed by the Trump administration and their enablers to undermine the midterm elections and what it actually takes to fight back. The lawyers fighting in court against the efforts to destroy our democracy are clear-eyed that you cannot litigate your way to a free election. The most durable defense is a turnout margin too large to plausibly contest, and organizers are building toward it now.

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: President Trump Is Trying to Change How Elections Are Run. Where Do Things Stand - Consider This - Air Date 8-28-26

KP 2: Trump's Strategy to Rig the Midterms + Jake Lang's Christian Nationalist Spectacle Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-25-26

KP 3: Protecting the Midterms—at the Grassroots and in the Courts Part 1 - Start Making Sense - Air Date 8-19-26

KP 4: Is SCOTUS Letting Trump Meddle in the Midterms Part 1 - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-31-26

KP 5: Will Dems Risk Being Called 'Election Deniers' If They Need to Challenge Midterms - The BradCast - Air Date 8-27-26

KP 6: Will Data Centers Cost Republicans the Midterms - Runaway Country with Alex Wagner - Air Date 8-27-26

KP 7: Protecting the Midterms—at the Grassroots and in the Courts Part 2 - Start Making Sense - Air Date 8-19-26

(00:54:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

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DEEPER DIVES

(01:00:47) SECTION A: THREAT AND BACKFIRE

A1: What Happens if Trump Tries to Mess with the Midterms - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 8-28-26

A2: Trump's Strategy to Rig the Midterms + Jake Lang's Christian Nationalist Spectacle Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-25-26

A3: Trump Accidentally Wrecks GOP Midterm Message in Dumbest Self-Own Ever - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 8-28-26

(01:32:06) SECTION B: CRACKS AND CONSTRAINTS

B1: Trump Election Scheme Suddenly Blocked in Late Night Order Part 1 - Legal AF - Air Date 8-29-26

B2: Is SCOTUS Letting Trump Meddle in the Midterms Part 2 - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-31-26

B3: Alarming Voting System Vulnerabilities Persist, with Guest Susan Greenhalgh, Election Security Expert Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-10-26

B4: Trump Election Scheme Suddenly Blocked in Late Night Order Part 2 - Legal AF - Air Date 8-29-26

B5: Alarming Voting System Vulnerabilities Persist, with Guest Susan Greenhalgh, Election Security Expert Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-10-26

(02:14:39) SECTION C: RESISTANCE AND RESPONSE

C1: Distraction Drugs For America; A Crucial Voting Strategy For Before November Part 1 - The Politicrat - Air Date 9-2-26

C2: Powerful, Brave, and Free with Tamika Middleton Part 1 - The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast - Air Date 9-2-26

C3: Distraction Drugs For America; A Crucial Voting Strategy For Before November Part 2 - The Politicrat - Air Date 9-2-26

C4: Powerful, Brave, and Free with Tamika Middleton Part 2 - The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast - Air Date 9-2-26

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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