Donald Trump is quietly doing exactly what you would do if you wanted to overturn the result of an election you did not like, according to a detailed analysis by US Political Editor Mikey Smith. Undermining faith in American elections is not new for Trump, but the systematic way in which he is targeting and neutering little-known, bipartisan barriers to meddling is becoming harder to ignore. With the Midterm elections just months away, it increasingly looks like he is not in a mood to wait for the result.
Gutting the Election Assistance Commission
Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump had the power to shape the membership and leadership of government bodies designed to be independent. Yesterday, he used those powers to effectively dismantle the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). He fired the two Democratic members of the four-person board and accepted the resignation of a Republican member. The other Republican had quit earlier in the year.
The EAC is responsible for maintaining voter registration forms and certifying voting machines and equipment. It was formed after the farce of the 2000 election, where the result took weeks to be finalised because of recounts and court challenges in Florida. The White House said Trump "reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted."
Pushing the SAVE America Act
Trump continues to try to force Congress to pass his election meddling bill, the SAVE America Act. This bill would demand strict photo ID to register to vote, seize control of voter rolls on an unprecedented scale, and dramatically clamp down on postal voting, which Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed is vulnerable to fraud. The bill will never pass through Congress because Trump does not have the votes, and Congress will not give up the filibuster to force it through.
A filibuster is where one party can block another party's bill from getting to a vote by literally standing up and talking without stopping. It requires 60 votes in the Senate to break a filibuster, and Republicans only have 51. They can change the rules with a simple majority to ban the filibuster, but that would risk Democrats tearing up many laws they like with no way of stopping them next time they get in. It is like mutually assured destruction but for Congress.
Holding the Housing Bill Ransom
Trump's latest method of extortion against his own party has been his refusal to sign the Housing bill. The current housing bill has broad bipartisan support and is generally considered to be a good thing. Trump could not be less interested in it, regardless of whether it makes it easier for regular Americans to buy or build homes. He has referred to it as a "yawn."
In it, Trump saw an opportunity and held it to ransom. He refused to sign it at the very last minute, denying Congress what could be its last bill signing before the election. However, he can only sit on it for 10 days, at which point it becomes law whether he signs it or not, unless he vetoes it. He posted on Truth Social today saying it was a point of protest and effectively threatened consequences for those who did not let him get his way. "I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT," Trump wrote. "THE SAVE AMERICA ACT'S non-passage is CRAZY, and a serious threat to any politician who votes against it!"
Threatening to Bomb Iran from Beyond the Grave
Donald Trump has told the New York Post that he has left instructions "if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before." He added: "I've been No. 1 [on Iran's kill list] for a long time, and it's the way life is, you know. I hope you'll miss me." There is no legal basis for this. If Trump dies, it would be up to his successor to decide whether to honour his wishes.
Kristi Noem Divorce
Shortly after she was sacked as Homeland Security Secretary by Trump, Kristi Noem was "blindsided" by a story about her husband, Byron. Mr Noem had been participating in online fetish forums, posting photos of himself wearing pink hot pants and enormous fake breasts. The revelation came after speculation about the nature of Mrs Noem's relationship with close aide Corey Lewandowski. Asked at a Congressional committee if they were in a sexual relationship, Ms Noem branded the allegation "tabloid garbage" and a "disgusting lie." It came as no surprise today when it was revealed that Kristi and Byron Noem are to divorce.
Permanent Fence for Lafayette Park
There are currently two ways to see the White House in person: from Lafayette Park to the north and from the Ellipse to the south. In normal times, it is impressive how close you can get to the "People's House," though the huge iron fences serve as a reminder that it is one of the most secure premises on the planet. Increasingly, one or both of the Ellipse and Lafayette Park is fenced off. This is an annoyance for tourists and for protesters, as Lafayette Park is the traditional place for protests.
Since Trump returned to office, the park has often been closed for renovations, including adding RGB lighting to fountains and repaving paths. There is suspicion the renovations were planned to prevent people from getting close enough to see the bulldozed East Wing. Tonight, the Trump Administration submitted a proposal to put Lafayette Park behind a permanent fence. The plan indicates it would still allow public access, but it would mean the Secret Service would no longer have to erect temporary fencing every time they close the park, lowering the barrier to closure. For journalists, activists, and tourists, this would be a terrible move.
