Politics and views in the United States.

Israeli government promises to cooperate on tariffs. U.S. Secretary of State says markets are not crashing, just adjusting. And budget legislation moving in Congress makes room for Trump's tax cuts.

TRANSCRIPT

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

I worry if what my opponent seeks here in North Carolina happens, it's like dropping a match in a very dry forest and the wildfire will spread rapidly and we have to guard against that.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Alison Riggs says the foundations of democracy are at risk.

And five months since she narrowly won re-election to the state's high court, her Republican challenger is still suing to disqualify more than 60,000 legitimately cast ballots, which he claims lacked voter ID information.

A lower court ruling gave these voters two weeks to fix their ballots or have them tossed.

The state's Supreme Court has paused that order.

Labor unions rallied in more than 50 cities against proposed cuts to higher education and a crackdown on international students.

University of Massachusetts Boston lecturer Joe Ramsey says it's tough to teach students when they're afraid to speak their minds.

The injury being done to our most vulnerable international immigrant students and workers right now is an injury to all of us.

Our ability to know the world so that we can change it and engage it meaningfully.

The State Department has so far revoked around 300 student visas, many for students involved in pro-Palestinian and anti-war activities.

The Department of Homeland Security and the IRS have reached an agreement to share information on undocumented taxpayers.

Murad Owauda with the New York Immigration Coalition says the move threatens the safety of thousands and forces them into the shadows.

The federal government should be expanding pathways to legal status, not punishing people who are doing everything they can to contribute to our economy.

Critics point out that the migrants pay billions in taxes, often without collecting Social Security or other benefits.

The Trump administration says the information is essential to public safety and election integrity.

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to require proof of citizenship for both new and existing voter registrations.

Opponents say it could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack the documents.

Republican State Representative Brian Hughes calls it "common sense."

Part of the reason for this bill is so we'll have some idea of how many folks are registered to vote or seeking to register to vote but don't have proof of U.S. citizenship.

The bill would require existing registrations be canceled if a voter's citizenship has not been verified.

Election workers could face felony charges if they register a non-citizen.

A federal judge has ruled Pennsylvania's requirement that voters handwrite the date on their mail-in ballot's outer envelope violates the First Amendment.

And a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration restore access for the Associated Press.

AP reporters were banned from the Oval Office and Air Force One after the organization refused to recognize the Gulf of America in its style book.

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

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.