Democracy
Election Day Went Mostly Fine, Despite Washington Trying to Hover Over It Like a Seagull Over Your Fried Clams
AP reported relatively few Election Day problems, even as the Trump administration kept pressing its noncitizen-voting narrative and ICE posted a threat to “track down, arrest, and prosecute” alleged violators. Because apparently running elections needs more federal heckling.
California Ballot Panic Special: Supreme Court Says No, DOJ Still Finds a Rake
The Supreme Court rejected the administration’s last-minute bid to isolate 20,000 California ballots, while a federal judge said DOJ’s pressure on state election officials likely violated the Constitution. Great work, everybody: democracy gets another night of sleep.
Nightly Roundup: DOJ’s Election Hail Mary, a Dubious Voter List, and Deportation via Pakistan
Late Saturday brought a tidy little sampler platter of federal overreach: Alaska rebuffed a Trump-directed ballot lawsuit, California’s flagged-voter list looked wildly unreliable, and court records showed planned Afghan deportations through Pakistan. Great system, no notes.
Washington’s Latest Public-Trust Bogey: Shut the Municipal Course, Explain It Later
DOJ confirmed Trump’s East Potomac Golf Course redesign and November 15 closure plan after a federal judge had already blocked further tree damage and demanded real notice. Terrific process, fellas: announce first, find the paperwork on the floor of the car later.
DOJ Wants California to Go Ballot-Fishing With a Butter Knife
A federal judge heard the Trump administration’s bid to hold up to 20,000 California ballots while DOJ checks citizenship claims. California says returned mail ballots are already separated from voter identities. Real smooth operation, boys.
DOJ Tried to Hit California’s Ballot Count With a Last-Minute Folding Chair. The Ninth Circuit Said: Try the Actual Court First.
A Ninth Circuit panel declined the Trump administration’s emergency bid to make California segregate roughly 20,000 ballots tied to a disputed federal list of “likely” noncitizens, sending the fight back to district court. Nice little election-administration fire drill.
California’s Ballots, DOJ’s Guess List, and the Ninth Circuit’s Raised Eyebrows
A Ninth Circuit panel questioned DOJ’s late bid to quarantine California mail ballots tied to 20,000 people it calls “likely” noncitizens. County officials say the federal list appears riddled with bad matches. Great system, no notes.
Nightly Roundup: DOJ Treats the Ballot Box Like a Late-Night Bar Fight
From Alaska to California, the Justice Department escalated election-related actions days before voting: a federal bid to block certification in Alaska and demands that California counties isolate ballots tied to suspected noncitizens. Real soothing stuff.
Nightly Roundup: Bad Voter Data, Student-ID Whiplash, and a Federal Evidence Freeze
A judge put DHS’s shaky voter hunt on ice; the Supreme Court let New Hampshire toss student IDs; and Minnesota says the feds stopped sharing shooting evidence. Democracy: paperwork, secrecy, and a side of onion rings.
DHS Is Knocking on Doors About Voting Now, Because Apparently the Country Needed Another Bad Idea
CBS reports armed DHS agents have gone door-to-door in several states asking residents about immigration status and voting. DHS calls it election-integrity work; critics warn the timing and show of force could chill lawful voters.