Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content

#384 - Stress Testing Our Democracy

Sep 23, 2024
Barton Gellman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and election integrity expert, delves into the vulnerabilities of American democracy. He shares insights from war games he's conducted, simulating responses to authoritarian threats. They discuss the implications of voter identification laws, the challenges posed by political control over election certification, and the logs of historical events like the Bush-Gore election. Gellman also examines the potential for unrest following upcoming elections and the impact of Trumpism on the Republican Party.
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ANECDOTE

Gubernatorial Powers

  • Christie Todd Whitman sought to prevent federalizing the National Guard in New Jersey.
  • This highlighted the unclear boundaries of gubernatorial and presidential powers regarding the National Guard.
ANECDOTE

Michigan Certification

  • A Republican on the Michigan Board of Elections certified the 2020 results despite pressure.
  • This upheld the democratic process in a key swing state.
ANECDOTE

Texas Voter ID

  • Texas's voter ID law allowed gun licenses but not university IDs.
  • This exemplifies partisan efforts to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters.
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