Politics and views in the United States

Senate Democrats brace for White House disruptions to the midterms, the House and Senate remain divided over Trump's war authority and a federal judge pauses another state voter ID law.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times. 80% of them would agree he's trying to steal the election.

The trouble is they're too damn scared to say anything about it.

But if we keep at it and keep at it and keep at it, every so often you get someone on our side.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Republicans speak differently in private about the president and his plans to disrupt the midterms.

He says Democrats have been running what he calls doomsday scenarios to prepare for disinformation campaigns or ICE agents at the polls.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. is close to launching a massive attack on Iran because its leaders, quote, haven't received enough pain.

A Senate resolution against the war failed Thursday.

John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat voting no, Susan Collins of Maine the only Republican voting yes.

With support from four Republicans, the House again passed a non-binding war powers resolution.

Washington Democrat Pramila Jayapal pointed to the 18 service members killed and hundreds injured so far.

Vast majorities of Americans, of all parties, believe that this is an unconstitutional and legal war that needs to stop.

It was not authorized by Congress, and it has cost us incredible tolls.

Nearly half of the states are suing the White House over election rules the administration is trying to impose.

Homeland Security is warning states to switch to paper ballots and adhere to new proof-of-citizenship requirements or risk losing anti-terrorism grants.

A federal judge is keeping a New Hampshire polling place proof-of-citizenship law on hold pending appeal.

A lawsuit filed by the New Hampshire Youth Movement argues the requirement of a birth certificate or passport to vote violates their rights.

Democratic State Senator Rebecca Perkins-Quocca says the law has already caused eligible voters for town elections to be turned away.

This is your right to vote.

You know, it's a constitutionally protected right.

And so if we're going to infringe upon it, we need to make sure we're doing that for a very good reason.

And there's simply no evidence of voter fraud to support it.

New Hampshire's law is similar to the Save America Act.

House Republicans are trying to force portions of that bill through by attaching them to the massive defense budget passed this week.

They stand a good chance of being stripped out in the Senate.

The man who shot and killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and shot another state rep and his wife has been given two life sentences plus 40 years.

Prosecutors described the attacks as political assassinations.

And the White House says the president won't block extradition of online influencer Andrew Tate and his brother.

They face multiple rape and human trafficking charges in the U.K., but are close to Trump's sons.

I'm Catherine Carley for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.