Trump's Election Power Grab: Can Democrats Hold Together?

Trump’s election power grab just got a boost from the Supreme Court. But can Democrats hold together long enough to stop him?The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward, for now, with its effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterms. What does the ruling actually mean for voters — and is the bigger danger the immediate restriction of voting rights, or the chaos and distrust it could create around the election?I’m joined by Michaeleen Crowell, former Chief of Staff to Bernie Sanders, former legislative director for John Lewis, and a longtime voting-rights advocate, for a wide-ranging conversation about the stakes for American democracy.We dig into:What the Supreme Court's mail-voting ruling actually does — and doesn't doWhy the Trump administration's effort could create confusion and post-election chaosWhether the Supreme Court has become too powerful — and how Democrats could rein it inWhy Congress needs to reclaim its constitutional roleThe growing tensions between the Democratic Party, progressives, and the Democratic Socialists of AmericaWhy Michaeleen says the progressive movement is bringing energy the Democratic Party desperately needsWhether the DSA controversy is being exaggerated — and when Democrats should draw a line with its fringe leadershipWhat Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign can teach Democrats todayWhy Democrats need to stop fighting a circular firing squad before the 2026 electionWhat the party should do after the election to resolve the deeper conflictAnd the bigger question: Can Democrats become the party of change while keeping their coalition together?Michaeleen and I have known each other for nearly 25 years and have often occupied different wings of the Democratic Party. That makes this conversation especially interesting: we agree on the need to defeat Trump, but we have a real debate over how Democrats should handle the progressive movement, the DSA, and the future of the party.The immediate goal is simple: save the republic. The harder conversation comes afterward.Chapters00:00 — Trump, the Supreme Court & the fight for the 2026 election04:00 — Why Democrats are the last firewall06:00 — Michaeleen Crowell joins the conversation07:00 — What the Supreme Court's mail-voting ruling means09:00 — Is mail-in voting really a Democratic advantage?10:00 — Trump's bigger goal: chaos and distrust11:00 — Could the election become a post-election fight?13:00 — The problem with Trump's “citizenship lists”15:00 — The voting paperwork nightmare17:00 — The Supreme Court's power and “judicial supremacy”20:00 — How should Democrats rein in the Supreme Court?22:00 — The MAGA catch-22: win elections, then change the system24:00 — The fight to protect voting rights27:00 — Can threats to democracy actually drive turnout?28:00 — The Democratic Party's fight with its progressive wing30:00 — The four camps in the DSA debate31:00 — Michaeleen: “I'm a lifelong Democrat”33:00 — What Democrats are missing about the progressive movement35:00 — Why Democrats can't form a circular firing squad37:00 — Where Michaeleen and I disagree about the DSA40:00 — Is the DSA actually part of the Democratic Party?41:00 — Why Democrats need to hold together now43:00 — What Bernie Sanders supporters still remember from 201645:00 — The fight Democrats need to have in 202847:00 — Can AOC help define the future of Democratic socialism?49:00 — What Bernie got right about Democratic politics52:00 — Accountability, affordability and the demand for change54:00 — A surprise interruption: Dolly Parton56:00 — What Democrats need to do nextSubscribe to Worth Knowing with Matt Robison for conversations about politics, science, economics, psychology, technology, and the forces shaping the world around us.#Trump #SupremeCourt #2026Midterms #Democrats #DSA #MailInVoting #DemocraticParty #Election2026