Tanya Mosley

You've pointed out that most election-related cases are actually decided in lower courts where Trump and his allies haven't had much success historically.

But if election-related cases are appealed and make their way to the Supreme Court, which has shown a willingness to defer to executive authority at times, what kind of timeline could we be looking at as we think about the midterm elections?

Could cases tied to the 2026 midterms realistically be resolved before votes are cast or counted?

Let's take a short break.

If you're just joining us, my guest is David Graham from The Atlantic.

And we're talking about his reporting on election systems and political power ahead of the 2026 midterms and what those efforts reveal about the current state of American democracy.

We'll be right back after a short break.

This is Fresh Air.

I want to play a clip from a speech President Trump gave at a conservative turning point action summit in the summer of 2024, where he talks about voting.

Let's listen.

So that was President Trump at a conservative turning point action summit in the summer of 2024.

His people later said that he was referring to fixing the problems with voting.

But I could also see where it sounds like he could also be saying there won't be a need to be any more elections.

How have scholars that you've spoken to interpreted this?

Is there a scenario where he could declare a national emergency around the 2026 elections if the turnout isn't what he expected or wants?

Can you talk also about some of the other things that are happening, maybe not at the federal level, not with the administration, but with other folks who are supporters of Trump's agenda?

There was this story that came out recently of a former GOP election official buying Dominion voting systems, saying that he'll push for paper ballots.

There are other actors who are also working in ways to shift and change the way we actually vote.

You know, one of the things that has been talked about is President Trump seeking a third term.

What have the folks that you have talked to who are making projections or fearful of making projections said about this particular concern?