Politics and views in the United States.

El Salvador's President rejects returning a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported. The US stock market improves, but confusion lingers around tariffs. And universities try to comply with President Trump's DEI orders.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2025 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

Those who raise their hand and get first in line to serve our country should not now be first in line to have their votes tossed.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs says she'll fight as long as it takes to ensure every vote cast in the November state Supreme Court race is counted, despite beating her Republican challenger by more than 700 votes.

A state court has ruled some 1,400 military and overseas ballots will be discarded, unless those voters provide a copy of their photo ID within 30 days.

Some military spouses have sued to block the verification process.

Democratic lawmakers are in El Salvador pushing the release of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the White House says was deported and sent to a maximum security prison due to an administrative error.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his release, but officials say their hands are tied.

Garcia's wife Jennifer says she remains hopeful.

Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong.

God hasn't forgotten about you.

Meanwhile, a federal judge says he's found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating orders to temporarily halt deportation flights.

The State Department's main office for fighting foreign disinformation will close.

Republicans have accused it of coordinating with social media companies to stifle conservative opinions worldwide.

Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga says American voices were also silenced in the process.

Freedom of speech is a God-given right enshrined in the First Amendment of our nation's Constitution.

It is a right that President Trump and his administration are committed to zealously protecting.

The Trump administration has fired or reassigned dozens of officials who monitor U.S. elections for foreign interference and protect against cyber attacks.

GOP-led states are complying with President Donald Trump's recent executive order prohibiting the counting of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.

At least 18 states and the District of Columbia allow grace periods, often due to slow postal service.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox says the public wants to know the winner on election night.

"Anything we can do to help people have more faith, restore their faith in Utah's elections, we should be doing that, while still balancing that we should make it as easy as possible to vote."

Republicans argue without evidence that mail-in ballots are a source of voter fraud.

The New Hampshire Senate has passed a bill requiring people who vote by mail to provide proof of citizenship with their ballots.

The bill also applies to voter registration by mail.

I'm Katherine Carley for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.