Politics and views in the United States

Senate Democrats press Homeland Security over immigration agents at polling places, Montana voters weigh constitutional protections for nonpartisan judicial elections, and Republicans seek Latino support ahead of the midterms.

Transcript

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

Every voter that votes should know that their vote counts.

It shouldn't be canceled by an illegal or someone illegally voting in those elections.

That's Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen arguing that ineligible voting can cancel out legitimate votes.

Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman and 33 other Senate Democrats are now pressing Mullen over a different election concern, whether immigration agents could be sent to polling places.

Mullen says ICE would only respond to specific threats or serve warrants.

A Montana ballot measure would put nonpartisan judicial elections into the state constitution.

Supporters of the measure say judges should be elected on qualifications, not politics.

Katie Butler with Montanans for nonpartisan courts.

Montanans have been voting in judicial elections in a nonpartisan way for over 90 years.

We believe that now is the right time for Montanans to have their say in whether or not this is essentially important enough for them to enshrine in their constitution.

The measure follows a 2025 law allowing political parties to contribute nearly $90,000 to judicial candidates.

The Montana Republican Party argues it would limit candidates from revealing their political affiliation.

President Donald Trump says immigration enforcement has been the hardest issue of his presidency.

Speaking at a White House Hispanic Heritage Month event, Trump said he faces pressure to be both tougher and softer.

On immigration, his comments come as Republicans seek support among Latino voters ahead of the midterms.

In the lead-up to the midterms, ESPNS is highlighting important polls.

A new Harvard Caps-Harris poll finds 57% of registered voters believe the economy is on the wrong track.

Another 57% say President Trump, rather than former President Joe Biden, is more responsible for recent inflation, with tariffs cited as the leading cause.

Georgia landscaping business owner Victor Johnson told WSB-TV gas prices are forcing him to go out less.

Now that it's getting colder, I don't have to so much go out as much, you know what I'm saying?

So I'm slowing down and I'm trying to consolidate my routes.

And a House-passed bill restricting congressional stock trading has stalled in the Senate.

The Stop Insider Trading Act failed seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

It would bar lawmakers, their spouses, and dependent children from buying individual stocks but allow them to keep existing holdings.

Democrats said the restrictions were too weak and opposed voter ID provisions Republicans added to the bill.

Republicans say the measure would help restore public trust in Congress.

I'm Joe Ulori for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.