Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about safety voting in person, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott used his emergency executive powers to add six days to early voting. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 13, Texans can head to the polls — unless a lawsuit filed this week by the Republican Party of Texas and a number of current and former Republican office holders puts a stop to that. They don’t want to see early-early voting. Harris County Republican Party Chair Keith Nielsen, who is part of the lawsuit, explains why.
Anti-Voting Lawsuit
Voting rights organizations in Texas are reacting to the lawsuit, saying this is another example of an anti-democracy agenda that has become central to the Republican Party. Wesley Story is the spokesperson for Progress Texas.
Trump Refuses Peaceful Handoff
This week, a reporter asked President Trump if he would abide by the U.S. tradition of a peaceful handoff of presidential power if he should lose the election. He refused. Since then, the White House has tried to soften this refusal. But Trump's words stand. And they are feeding a dark mood in the nation. Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat, says we should take the president at his word.
The Election That Could Break America
There is a dark idea that somehow the results of the election could be overridden and Trump could retain the presidency despite losing the popular vote and the Electoral College. How "out there" is this idea? Where is this coming from? Barton Gellman is a staff writer for the Atlantic magazine and the author of the article, “The Election That Could Break America.”
SCOTUS
With the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the rush to fill the seat before Election Day, President Trump is increasing his odds if the election ends up in the hands of the high court. John Nichols, a writer for The Nation, weighs in.
