Topic: Ballots

The Supreme Court is considering Watson v. Republican National Committee, a case that could end the practice of accepting ballots that arrive after election day even if postmarked on time. While any ruling is unlikely to be retroactive for past California elections, it could significantly alter the rules for the upcoming November general election.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days after Election Day if postmarked on time. The Republican National Committee argues that federal law mandates a single "Election Day," making late-arriving ballots invalid. A ruling in favor of the RNC could force changes in 18 other states with similar grace periods for ballot processing.

An investigation into Washington State voter records allegedly found individuals registered at homeless shelters, libraries, and memory care facilities in numbers exceeding capacity. The hosts also claim that the immediate destruction of ballot envelopes after signature verification prevents meaningful audits of election results.

The hosts discuss the vulnerabilities of mail-in ballots and the practice of ballot harvesting in states like Washington and California. They argue that the lack of strict voter ID laws allows for potential fraud, particularly in nursing homes and hospice facilities.

A tangent explores the voting systems in the Pacific Northwest, noting that Oregon and Washington utilize 100% mail-in ballots. The discussion links these "shadow systems" to broader themes of political corruption and the influence of the American Academy of Pediatrics on regional health policy.

President Trump has proposed an executive order to end mail-in voting, claiming the system is prone to corruption. Legal experts, including UCLA Professor Rick Hasen, note that the Constitution grants states the primary authority to regulate election procedures, making a presidential decree legally unenforceable. While some states like Oregon have used mail-in systems for decades without widespread fraud, the issue remains a central point of political contention.

A viral TikTok trend features "Delulu" (delusional) women claiming that Kamala Harris will still be inaugurated due to secret Department of Justice investigations into ballot fraud. The segment mocks these theories, which cite obscure legal codes and Obama-produced movies as evidence of a plan to overturn the election.

House Democrats unveiled the $3 trillion "Heroes Act," which included stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and funding for state governments and the U.S. Postal Service. President Trump criticized the package as a "voting package," expressing strong opposition to provisions for expanded mail-in balloting. Trump argued that mail-in voting is subject to corruption and would negatively impact Republican election prospects.

The U.S. Postal Service warned states that it might not be able to handle the volume of mail-in ballots in time for the November election. California became the first state to top 600,000 confirmed cases, leading Dr. Fauci to warn against reopening the economy too quickly. Plans for vaccine distribution began to take shape, with the CDC identifying priority groups and storage requirements in major cities.

Eloise of the Woods describes her experience working as a 24-7 stakeout guard for ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington. Another donor points out that investors are accidentally buying "Blue Sky Digital" stock, a penny-stock crypto company, thinking it is the social media platform Blue Sky. The segment concludes with various "karma" requests for jobs and health.

MSNBC contributors and Democratic lawyer Mark Elias are preparing the public for a lengthy vote-counting process that could last weeks. Elias used the term "Stalingrad" to describe the legal and procedural battles expected after November 5th. Critics argue that the media is moving away from traditional statistical analysis and exit polling to delegitimize a potential Trump victory by delaying results.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is facing calls for resignation after it was revealed that a spreadsheet containing partial passwords for voting machines was publicly accessible on her office's website for months. While Griswold maintains the leak did not pose an immediate security threat due to "layers of security," Republican lawmakers have criticized her for incompetence. The discussion also covers the prevalence of paper ballots in the 2024 election.

The FBI is investigating arson attacks on ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state. Incendiary devices used in the attacks were reportedly marked with the words "Free Gaza." Investigators are searching for a male suspect driving a dark-colored Volvo sedan. Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in Clark County, Washington, leading to concerns about election interference.

NPR reports that over 40 million Americans have already cast their ballots as early voting begins in Michigan. The segment covers the candidates' closing arguments, with Harris focusing on healthcare and Trump appealing to first-time voters at Penn State, while election officials warn of potential mail delays.

The concept of "targeted fraud" is discussed as a more effective strategy than "widespread fraud" due to the mechanics of the Electoral College. The media's role in calling election results is critiqued, citing Fox News's early call of Arizona in 2020. Historical clips from 2016 are referenced to show that both political parties have expressed skepticism regarding election integrity and the security of mail-in ballots.

The Georgia State Election Board, controlled by a Republican majority, voted to require a manual hand count of all ballots on election night in addition to machine tabulation. Supporters argue the move ensures accuracy and transparency, while opponents, including Governor Brian Kemp, claim the last-minute change will cause significant delays and increase costs. The decision has become a focal point in the national debate over election security and potential interference.

Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, appeared as a headliner at a Texas event to discuss his experiences with de-platforming by American Express and Chase Bank. Lindell detailed his financial investment into investigating voting machine deviations and advocated for a return to paper ballots. The discussion transitions into the mechanics of the Electoral College and the importance of swing states like Pennsylvania in the upcoming election.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reported that the DNC is actively suing to remove him from ballots in New York and other states despite his campaign gathering over a million signatures nationally. Kennedy criticized the modern Democratic Party for moving away from the voting rights principles championed by his father and uncle.

Gavin Newsom is viewed as positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run by cleaning up California's public image. Concerns are raised regarding the integrity of mail-in ballot systems in Washington, Oregon, and California. Speculation continues that Newsom could still be "slipped in" as a candidate if the current Democratic ticket falters.

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival, outlines the legal complexities of removing Biden from the ballot in swing states and Ohio. He notes that major Hollywood donors, led by Jeffrey Katzenberg, are beginning to divert funds toward Congressional and Senate races as confidence in the presidency wanes.