THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump Blurts Out Vile Plot to Steal Midterms as GOPers Grow Unnerved
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Aug 12, 2026 
Rick Hasen, election law scholar and Election Law Blog author, explains legal limits and real dangers to voting integrity. He walks through Trump’s national emergency remarks, why federal seizure of elections is legally fraught, the intimidation tactics being used, and practical steps voters can take to prepare. Short, urgent, and focused on what to watch next.
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Trump Signals National Emergency Possibility
- Donald Trump hinted he might declare a national emergency to take over midterms, saying "stranger things have happened."
- Greg Sargent framed the remark as partly bluster but serious enough to warrant attention because it signals intent to search for ways to rig the midterms.
SAVE Act Would Deeply Disenfranchise Voters
- The SAVE Act would force re-registration and documentary proof of citizenship, likely disenfranchising millions if enacted.
- Rick Hasen said the bill lacks even 50 Republican votes and cannot pass without changing Senate support or the filibuster.
Emergencies Unlock Many Powers Not Election Control
- National emergency declarations unlock about 50 statutory powers, but none specifically grant control over elections.
- Hasen emphasized emergencies can reallocate funds, but Congress created those powers and they're not election-specific.