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Defeating Trump’s Attacks on Voting, plus the Coming End of the Trump Era

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Trump’s efforts to interfere with voting, and with certification of the results, have not been successful. Rick Hasen of the UCLA Law School says “We’re doing well on election protection”: the courts have been strong, the blue states have been a bulwark, and—most important—early voting has been big. Rick is also director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project and editor of the Election Law Blog.

Also: If the election goes roughly as the polls say it will, next Tuesday will mark the beginning of the end of the Trump era. Harold Meyerson comments, focusing on getting to 51 in the Senate—or, better yet, 52. Harold is editor-at-large of The American Prospect.

Transcript HERE   10-28-2026

Big Dem Victories Coming: Harold Meyerson; Rape at Cornell: Katha Pollitt; Elvis: Peter Guralnik.

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Republicans are spending hundreds of millions on the midterms, but their money hasn’t been able to counter the crisis of affordability, the disgust with Trump’s corruption, and the quality of many of the Democratic candidates. Harold Meyerson comments – he’s editor at large of The American Prospect.

Also: Katha Pollitt argues that the gang rape at a Cornell fraternity party could have been stopped–if someone had bothered to intervene. But no one did. “Where were the good guys?” She asks.

Plus: From the Archives: Twenty Minutes without Trump: Q: Who is the opposite of Trump in American History? A: Elvis. Peter Guralnik wrote the definitive two-volume biography of Elvis “Last Train to Memphis” and “Careless Love” – and he co-authored “Elvis Day by Day” – we discuss Elvis’ purely American rags-to-riches story (originally recorded in 2010).  10-23-2026

Massive GOP Spending Hasn’t Slowed the Coming Blue Wave—Plus, the Cornell Rape Case

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Republicans are spending hundreds of millions on the midterms, but their money hasn’t been able to counter the crisis of affordability, the disgust with Trump’s corruption, and the quality of many of the Democratic candidates. Harold Meyerson comments – he’s editor at large of The American Prospect.

Also: Katha Pollit argues that the gang rape at a Cornell fraternity party could have been stopped–if someone had bothered to intervene. But no one did. “Where were the good guys?” She asks.  Transcript HERE   10-21-2026

Democratic Governors are Crucial: Harold Meyerson; the real danger of AI: Garrison Lovely; plus John Powers on John Berger

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Most political reporting has been about Democrats’ chances of taking control of Congress, but the Governors’ races hold the key to election protection in the 2028 presidential vote. Harold Meyerson explains, and examines the contest now underway in Nevada. Harold is Editor-at-Large of The American Prospect.

Also: The real threat of AI is not the destruction of humanity, but rather replacing human labor with machines—that’s what Garrison Lovely argues. He’s the author of Obsolete: The AI Industry’s Trillion Dollar Race to Replace Us—and How to Stop It.

Plus: John Berger, author of the classic “Ways of Seeing,” was more than a Marxist art critic. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, John Powers comments on his life and work—both of which were extraordinary. John is critic-at-large on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross.  10-16-2026

GOP Election Deniers running for Governor; plus John Berger’s Ways of Seeing

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Most political reporting has been about Democrats’ chances of taking control of Congress, but the Governors’ races hold the key to election protection in the 2028 presidential vote. Harold Meyerson explains, and examines the contest now underway in Nevada. Harold is Editor-at-Large of The American Prospect.

Also: John Berger, author of the classic “Ways of Seeing,” was more than a Marxist art critic. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, John Powers comments on his life and work—both of which were extraordinary. John is critic-at-large on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Transcript HERE  10-14-2026

Dem. Winners in Kansas and Nebraska? Harold Meyerson; Protest: Annie Leonard; Koch Bros. in Minnesota

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The big question about the midterms — control of the Senate. Statistician and political analyst Nate Silver estimated the Democrats winning the Senate at 74%. Harold Meyerson comments

Also: Our right to peaceful protest is under assault. To save it, we need to “respect it, defend it, and more than anything – use it.” that’s what Annie Leonard says – she’s a longtime activist who spent 17 years with Greenpeace USA, then she helped launch the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. And she’s co-author of the new book, “Protest.”

Plus: The secret history of the Koch Brothers: how the key to their empire, and their fortune, is a refinery south of St. Paul. “Kochland” author Christopher Leonard has that story (originally recorded 5/28/2020).  10-9-2026

AI: What Is to Be Done? Plus Protest Under Assault

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The real threat of AI is not the destruction of humanity, but rather replacing human labor with machines—that’s what Garrison Lovely argues. He’s the author of Obsolete: The AI Industry’s Trillion Dollar Race to Replace Us—and How to Stop It.

Also: Our right to peaceful protest is under assault. To save it, we need to “respect it, defend it, and more than anything – use it.” that’s what Annie Leonard says – she’s a longtime activist who spent 17 years with Greenpeace USA, then she helped launch the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. And she’s co-author of the new book, “Protest.”

Transcript HERE  10-7-2026

The Next No Kings Day: Leah Greenberg; The Supremes and Purging Voters: Rick Hasen; Minnesota iron–and steel

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Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, answers the question, “What’s the Plan – for the next No Kings Nationwide Day of Action?” This one shifts from mass protest in the streets to organizing for early voting – and preparing for whatever Trump does to disrupt or undermine the vote, the count, and the certification.

Also: The Supreme Court last Friday issued an order allowing states to use Trump’s SAVE database to purge their voter rolls of people the DHS considers ineligible – but it’s too late to apply to the midterms. Rick Hasen explains – he teaches law at UCLA and he’s Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project and editor of the Election Law Blog.

Plus: Your Minnesota Moment: Trump’s TEN-billion dollar announcement about Minnesota iron and steel: he said that ore processed in Minnesota, with a TEN-billion dollar loan from the Trump administration, is to be moved to Iowa to support Iowa Republicans, throwing Minnesota Republicans overboard.  10-2-2026

The Plan for No Kings-Vote Early Day, plus The Supremes and Trump’s voter list purge

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Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, answers the question, “What’s the Plan — for the next No Kings Nationwide Day of Action?” This one shifts from mass protest in the streets to organizing for early voting – and preparing for whatever Trump does to disrupt or undermine the vote, the count, and the certification.

Also: The Supreme Court last Friday issued an order allowing states to use Trump’s SAVE database to purge their voter rolls of people the DHS considers ineligible – but it’s too late to apply to the midterms. Rick Hasen explains – he teaches law at UCLA and he’s Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project and editor of the Election Law Blog.

Transcript HERE 9-30-2026

Norm Eisen on the media consolidation fight; John Nichols on Trump and the press; the National Popular Vote campaign

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The primary force behind the settlement that will allow Trump’s allies at Paramount to take over Warners-Discovery and CNN was Gavin Newsom, who pressured California Attorney General Rob Bonta to end the anti-trust fight defending media independence. Norm Eisen explains – he’s co-founder and executive chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund and Democracy Defenders Action, and, the New York Times reported, “the leader of a coalition of entertainment and news industry professionals who opposed the deal.”

Also: After Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House newsroom, the TV networks united in refusing coverage of his events – including Fox News. John Nichols has our analysis.

Plus: Your Minnesota Moment: Minnesota has joined the national popular vote interstate compact — that’s a way to assure that the presidential candidate who gets the most votes nationwide is elected president. The compact has been enacted into law by 19 states with 220 electoral votes; we need 48 more in 2027 in order to make the 2028 presidential election the first where the national popular vote will determine the president.  9-25-2026