Wendy Weiser

Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center and voting rights expert, explains who actually runs U.S. elections. She walks through legal limits on presidential powers, how officials prepare for midterms, and risks from federal demands for voter data. She also covers why armed federal agents at polls would be unlawful and how proposed laws could restrict voter access.

Mark Joseph Stern, a legal expert and senior writer at Slate, sheds light on the erosion of judicial patience with Trump’s legal claims. He discusses the complexities surrounding the Alien Enemies Act and the potential for Supreme Court intervention. Meanwhile, Wendy Weiser, a voting rights specialist at the Brennan Center, critiques Trump's executive order on election integrity, which could disenfranchise millions. Together, they explore the risks of new voting regulations and the urgent need to protect democratic processes.

Natalie Adona, Marin County registrar of voters who runs local ballot operations; Wendy Weiser, democracy expert from the Brennan Center; and David Graham, political reporter at The Atlantic. They discuss risks of attempts to subvert the midterms, how ballot processing and observer rules work, threats and harassment of election workers, legal limits on federal seizure of ballots, and steps officials take to protect voting.