Politics and views in the United States

Minority Leader Schumer says Americans need more information about Trump's Iran deal. Michigan voters want new limits on corporate political spending and the Senate starts the confirmation process for Jay Clayton as intelligence director.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

In these high-stakes negotiations, the devil is in the details.

But Trump hasn't even revealed the text of his, quote, understanding with Iran.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump must brief Congress on the Iran peace deal.

It's confirmed Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. is unfreezing billions in Iranian assets, but little else is clear.

After a signing on Friday, there will be another 60 days of negotiations about Iran's nuclear program, but, in contradiction to previous remarks, Trump is now dismissing Iran's enriched uranium, saying, quote, why do you even bother because it's not very valuable.

Tehran has always said it didn't want nuclear weapons, but critics of the war argue the regime now has more reason to get them and none of the barriers in the Obama-era agreement.

They also say although Iran's civilian economy and infrastructure has been badly damaged, its government was not overthrown and is, in fact, hardened.

Meanwhile, state election officials are resisting a White House executive order limiting mail-in ballots.

A new Postal Service rule would severely restrict voting by mail, which is widely used with few problems in multiple states, including several with large conservative rural populations.

Trump hasn't presented evidence of mass fraud, and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes says any attempt to hinder mail-in ballots is voter manipulation.

It's the administration's attempt to pick their own voters.

They don't want their voters to be disabled veterans or older folks.

They don't want their voters to be from rural Arizona.

This is a time-tested method by which Arizonans vote.

Election officials also say they're increasingly concerned the Department of Homeland Security may interfere in the midterms.

DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen is defending the White House push for citizenship checks in federal elections.

Mullen and others in the administration are refusing to rule out sending ICE to polling stations, which would directly violate federal law.

Supporters of a proposed Michigan ballot initiative say voters, not corporate money, should drive decision-making.

The proposal would put new limits on campaign contributions from utility companies and major government contractors while expanding disclosure about political ads.

Local utility DTE Energy says its contributions comply with state and federal laws.

Calvin Carter with Up North Advocacy says the new restrictions could impact how state lawmakers approach rural issues like developing data centers.

DTE and Consumers Energy could stand to benefit greatly from lax regulations around the development of these hyperscale data centers.

We want Lansing making good decisions on behalf of the people and not necessarily of these corporations.

The Senate is beginning the confirmation process for New York U.S. Attorney and former Securities and Exchange Commissioner Jay Clayton to be the next director of national intelligence.

His nomination quelled a firestorm from Trump naming federal housing director Bill Pulte to be the acting DNI.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he sees bipartisan support, noting some Democrats are already behind Clayton.

The Democrat vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee noted on Thursday, and I quote, I have known and respected Jay Clayton for many years and believe he is a capable public servant.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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