The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for March 17, 2026
When asked in January about his 2020 threat of having the National Guard seize voting machines, President Trump told the New York Times, “Well, I should have.” There are signs of such authoritarian action in the 2026 midterm.
We recently reported that a former Trump January 6th election lawyer and current special White House employee, Kurt Olsen, was behind the Fulton County, Georgia ballot seizure. ProPublica reported February 28th that Olsen and other 2020 Trump allies met in Washington, where a draft national emergency order implementing federal election rules was discussed.
Trump’s DOJ has also now sued 29 states to compel them to turn over voter and election data. Courts denied DOJ in California, Oregon and Michigan cases, but States News reported March 13th that DOJ is appealing those cases, arguing the “security and sanctity” of midterm elections in those states “would be questioned” without federal control of the lists. It may be laying out a pretext for seizing the 2026 midterm ballots.
The courts so far have made it clear that the states, not the President or his administration, control elections, and most constitutional scholars agree that applies to emergencies, too. But the Fulton County ballot seizure case, executed without an emergency, is still pending, leaving the door open to other potential federal interference in November. We’ll be watching.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information
The Guardian – Trump regrets not seizing voting machines after 2020 election loss
ProPublica – Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms
Center for American Progress – The Trump Administration Has No Legal Authority To Invoke National Security and Take Over Elections
Lawfare – In Case of Emergency: The Dubious Legality of Trump Allies’ Draft EO
Votebeat Michigan – In fight with DOJ over voting roll access, Michigan may be poised to go the distance
States Newsroom –In bid for voter data, Trump’s DOJ lays groundwork to undermine confidence in midterms
Electronic Privacy Information Center – DOJ Wants Sensitive Voter Data But Can’t Be Bothered to Protect It
US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – United States v. Weber ON APPEAL FROM THE ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Meeting of 2020 Trump Election Operatives Considers 2026 Litigation Strategies and Declaring a National Emergency to Interfere with the Midterms
American Democracy Minute – Federal Circuit Courts Block Trump DOJ from Obtaining California and Oregon Voter Data
Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, FairVote, Issue One
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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