Politics and views in the United States

Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new Federal Reserve chairman. President Trump's influence hangs over the midterms and New Mexico voters prepare for a new, open primary process.

Transcript

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

It's the honor of a lifetime to be called back into public service.

And with this oath, I've accepted a high and solemn responsibility.

Kevin Warsh has officially been sworn in as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve.

The wealthy banker previously served on the Fed's board during the Bush and Obama administrations, and he's been a close ally of President Donald Trump.

Some lawmakers have questioned whether Warsh will take interest rate cues from Trump, but he says his goals are a strong dollar and controlling inflation in spite of pressure from tariffs and the Iran war.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is resigning, citing her husband's recent bone cancer diagnosis.

Gabbard's anti-war stance helped her with Trump until she contradicted a key assertion that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon.

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons is also leaving at the end of this month to work in the private sector.

Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn and State Attorney General Ken Paxton are in the final days of an ugly and expensive primary runoff for the seat Cornyn holds.

The populist Paxton holds an edge after being endorsed by Trump and polls show him with a wide lead.

Cornyn is a more conventional Republican, a strong fundraiser, and member of the Senate leadership.

He says Paxton's scandalous history would make him weak in the general election.

If Ken Paxton is at the top of the ballot, he will have no coattails.

He will be an albatross around the neck of all of our candidates.

This will have a ripple effect, not only through the statehouse, through our judges, our county officials, and all the way down the ballot, and we simply can't risk that.

Next week, New Mexico holds an open primary.

In 2024, lawmakers decided the nearly quarter of state voters registered as independents or unaffiliated can now cast ballots in party votes that had been limited to members.

Election officials say they hope that will, quote, open the floodgates.

Even if he's not on the ballot, Trump's shadow is long.

It's not clear if a possible peace deal will slow inflation, but many Americans are also bracing for safety net cuts from the 2025 budget mega bill.

Speaking at a rally for New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, Trump bragged of his continued dominance in the GOP.

He also touted the benefits of the long-stalled Save America Act, including its strict voter ID rules and limits on absentee ballots, which he falsely said enables widespread fraud.

Mail-in voting is a disaster.

If you have military, if you're going to be away, if you're not feeling well, if you're in any way disabled, absolutely we have it.

We'll Trump has previously floated the idea of canceling elections, most recently saying states could call off primaries to allow for redistricting under new rules drawn by the Supreme Court.

David Becker heads the Center for Election Innovation and is one of the nation's leading election experts.

We have never canceled or postponed a federal general election in American history, and I'm confident it won't happen even if the president is worried, even if the president says he wants to.

It's not going to happen.

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

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.