{"id":1079,"date":"2026-07-17T19:24:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T19:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=1079"},"modified":"2026-07-17T19:24:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T19:24:45","slug":"trumps-election-fraud-speech-was-a-sick-joke-and-a-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=1079","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Election Fraud Speech Was a Sick Joke\u2014and a Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785501.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Trump\u2019s Election Fraud Speech Was a Sick Joke\u2014and a Threat\" title=\"Trump\u2019s Election Fraud Speech Was a Sick Joke\u2014and a Threat\" \/><\/div><p><\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"\">\n<div id=\"article-title-block_c30b3ff18ad35210e08d7bbdc09568eb\" class=\"article-title \">\n<div class=\"article-title__container\">\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Not even Fox News buys Trump\u2019s new lies, but they will be used to undermine the midterms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad-block ad siderail-ad float-r-w-3 break-r-4\">\n<p>                                    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"ad-policy\" target=\"_blank\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n                                    <\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Monitors display Donald Trump during a prime-time address to the nation in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on Thursday, July 16, 2026. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"credits\">(Aaron Schwartz \/ UPI \/ Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"is-style-dropcap\">Surprisingly, there are some lies so outrageous that even Sean Hannity is reluctant to endorse them.<\/p>\n<p>As expected, Donald Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/watch-live-trump-to-address-nation-from-white-house\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">address to the nation<\/a> on Thursday night was a farrago of nonsense promoting his conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Trump has been pushing this lie since the moment he lost that race, and, as his latest speech showed, even his victory in 2024 wasn\u2019t enough to stop him from trying to rig American election laws to favor the Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>The speech was long on claims of shadowy conspiracies by China and the Deep State and short on actual evidence. While Trump presented China as the main threat, he also alluded to possible election hacks by North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela. None of these claims were credible.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the speech was so disgracefully packed with lies that even some of the president\u2019s most loyal lapdogs decided to keep their distance from it. Before the speech, Republican officials were already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/16\/republicans-brace-trump-speech-election-fraud-00999640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leaking<\/a> to <em>Politico<\/em> their concern that Trump was wasting his time rehashing conspiracy theories that appeal to the base rather than offering a positive economic message that would win over moderate voters in the midterms.<\/p>\n<p>Fox News <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarioNawfal\/status\/2077934797951754473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">was<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2077939065949663376\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">even more cautious<\/a>, as <em>The New York Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/16\/us\/trump-speech-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Fox News, which paid $787 million to settle a defamation suit over false statements about the 2020 election, took a careful approach in covering Trump\u2019s remarks. Sean Hannity, a Trump ally, said that the president\u2019s claims were \u201cpretty remarkable,\u201d but was careful not to endorse Trump\u2019s allegations. \u201cI\u2019m sure anybody that cares about truth will want to do a deep dive into all of this,\u201d Hannity told viewers.<\/p>\n<p>A Fox News correspondent, Aishah Hasnie, then stated bluntly on-air that the network \u201cis not in a position to evaluate the accuracy of the president\u2019s statements and claims at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The lukewarm response from flunkies like that is telling. They were right to want nothing to do with the speech.<\/p>\n<div id=\"current-issue-block_6d978293c99bb328debf427d71004d52\" class=\"current-issue  float-l-w-2\">\n<h4 class=\"current-issue__title\">\n                    Current Issue<br \/>\n            <\/h4>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/july-august-2026-issue\/\" class=\"current-issue__cover\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cover0726-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cover of July\/August 2026 Issue\"\/><br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Trump\u2019s allegations added up to virtually nothing. One of the incendiary claims he made was that \u201craw intelligence obtained by the FBI in 2020, yet buried by rogue bureaucrats, stated that Chinese activities even included an attempt to manufacture illegal ballots for Joe Biden.\u201d But as the <em>Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/16\/us\/trump-speech-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notes<\/a>, this \u201craw intelligence\u201d stems from a tip sent to the FBI by someone with no direct knowledge of the claims being made (a \u201csub source,\u201d in the lingo of law enforcement).\u00a0Further, \u201cmore senior agents questioned whether the source, who was new, was getting good information or random, erroneous gossip.\u201d One reason to be suspicious of this \u201csub source\u201d was that they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebulwark.com\/p\/youll-never-believe-where-kash-patel-election-fraud-bombshell-wray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">also claimed<\/a> the Chinese government was operating <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/willsommer\/status\/2077929631345209652\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">underground military bases<\/a> in the United States spreading Covid.<\/p>\n<p>Reporters from outlets such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/16\/us\/trump-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Times<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/samstein\/status\/2077928586007252996\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Bulwark<\/em><\/a> are doing the necessary but tedious work of fact-checking Trump\u2019s lies. But the main objection to the speech was well made by Senator Mark Warner, who <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkWarner\/status\/2077926367820181547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stated<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Trump\u2019s shocking \u201cbombshells\u201d about China are totally bogus. The fact is our intelligence agencies unanimously agreed that China did not even try to change a single vote in the 2020 election. A single concurring opinion suggested China may have tried to sway voters\u2019 opinions\u2026 but that\u2019s been public knowledge since 2021.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Maverick Republican Representative Thomas Massie made a similar objection in more colorful terms, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2077735995210883522\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">telling<\/a> MS NOW:\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think the problem is that our elections aren\u2019t secure because we control the House, Senate, White House, and to some degree we control the Supreme Court. So I ask my Republican colleagues, why are you complaining about election fraud? We won all the damn elections!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The speech is unlikely to convince anyone who is not already a MAGA diehard. Aside from the fact that Fox News was visibly trying to keep a distance, it was not <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/media\/5973325-networks-not-carrying-trump-speech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">carried live<\/a> by ABC, NBC, or CNN. CNN\u2019s Kaitlin Collins <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/brianstelter\/status\/2077921897237324038\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">offered a perfectly rational explanation<\/a> for not running the speech: \u201cWe\u2019ll be monitoring what the president says tonight, as we always do, but aren\u2019t taking it live, given the president has a well-documented history of saying blatantly false things about elections.\u201d True to form, Trump ranted against two of these networks in the speech, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/16\/trump-calls-for-revocation-of-abc-nbc-licenses-over-speech-snub-01002580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">threatening<\/a> to revoke the licences of ABC and NBC.<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"cta-block_d6cbfe28b496658725843b3d3908195d\" class=\"cta float-l-w-2\">\n<p>But even though the speech was ridiculous, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not dangerous. He made his outlandish claims as a preemptive move to discredit the results of the midterms. As political scientist Norman Ornstein <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NormOrnstein\/status\/2077944330807828747\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notes<\/a>, Trump has ample means to subvert the election:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Trump is trying to lay the groundwork for seizing ballot boxes in key states and congressional districts based on false claims of foreign interference.<\/p>\n<p>Beware of Trump declaring a national emergency and abusing the emergency powers. He has to overturn the legitimate election results. Remember, he also has the power under the telecommunications act of 1934 to seize control of electronic communications outlets.<\/p>\n<p>Deploying military &amp; Homeland Security are clearly dangers we need to face at voting precincts. Blue State governors, secretaries of state, mayors, Attorneys General need to be prepared for this, mobilizing national guards and state and local police to protect their sanctity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ornstein\u2019s scenario is a dire one, but it must be taken seriously. The lies in Trump\u2019s speech were clearly made with the intent to destroy faith in the electoral system. But as president, Trump has the power to do more than just make speeches: He can also try to use his executive authority, including his position as commander in chief, to intimidate voters. The coming midterms will, like the 2020 election itself, be a test of American democracy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-end-\" class=\"article-end \">\n<div class=\"article-end__authors\">\n<div class=\"article-end__author\">\n<h5 class=\"article-end__author-name\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\">Jeet Heer<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/h5>\n<p>                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HeerJeet\" class=\"article-end__author-twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"14\" viewbox=\"0 0 17 14\" fill=\"none\"><br \/>\n\t<default:path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M15.2054 3.54558C15.2122 3.6951 15.215 3.84463 15.215 3.99527C15.215 8.58792 11.7194 13.8834 5.32683 13.8834C3.36455 13.8834 1.53779 13.3083 0 12.3221C0.271606 12.354 0.548252 12.3702 0.828257 12.3702C2.45677 12.3702 3.95536 11.8147 5.14483 10.8829C3.62384 10.8543 2.34085 9.84963 1.89844 8.4692C2.11068 8.51008 2.32797 8.53136 2.55253 8.53136C2.87006 8.53136 3.17695 8.48936 3.46815 8.40984C1.87772 8.09008 0.680414 6.68501 0.680414 5.00273C0.680414 4.98705 0.680414 4.97305 0.680414 4.95793C1.14858 5.21833 1.68452 5.37514 2.25461 5.39362C1.32219 4.76921 0.708415 3.7063 0.708415 2.5006C0.708415 1.8633 0.879778 1.26633 1.17882 0.753361C2.89302 2.85621 5.45395 4.23887 8.34249 4.38392C8.28313 4.12967 8.25233 3.86423 8.25233 3.59206C8.25233 1.6729 9.80861 0.117188 11.7278 0.117188C12.7274 0.117188 13.6301 0.539436 14.2641 1.21425C15.0559 1.05913 15.8002 0.769041 16.4716 0.370873C16.2118 1.18289 15.6602 1.86386 14.9428 2.29395C15.6462 2.20939 16.3159 2.02235 16.9392 1.74626C16.4739 2.44292 15.8842 3.05557 15.2054 3.54558Z\" fill=\"#666666\"\/><br \/>\n<\/default:svg><br \/>\n                        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-end__author-bio\">\n<p>Jeet Heer is a national affairs correspondent for <em>The Nation<\/em> and host of the weekly <em>Nation<\/em> podcast, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/time-of-monsters\/\"><em>The Time of Monsters<\/em><\/a>. He also pens the monthly column \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/morbid-symptoms\/\">Morbid Symptoms<\/a>.\u201d The author of <a href=\"https:\/\/chbooks.com\/Books\/I\/In-Love-with-Art\"><em>In Love with Art: Francoise Mouly\u2019s Adventures in Comics with Art Spiegelman<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2013) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/books\/sweet-lechery-reviews-essays-profiles\/9780889843783\"><em>Sweet Lechery: Reviews, Essays and Profiles<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2014), Heer has written for numerous publications, including <em>The New Yorker<\/em>, <em>The Paris Review<\/em>, <em>Virginia Quarterly Review<\/em>, <em>The American Prospect<\/em>, <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0<em>The New Republic<\/em>,\u00a0and <em>The Boston Globe<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_incontent_2 --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<!-- Tag ID: thenation_registration_billboard --><\/p>\n<section class=\"collections collections--col-0\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h2 class=\"collections__title\">More from <span class=\"not-italic\">The Nation<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"collection__row\">\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/if-hakeem-jeffries-wont-save-the-democratic-party-maybe-he-can-try-saving-baseball\/\" aria-label=\"If Hakeem Jeffries Won\u2019t Save the Democratic Party, Maybe He Can Try Saving Baseball\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285785879.jpg\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump gestures after addressing the nation on July 16, 2026.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<p class=\"dek\">\nIn this week\u2019s\u00a0Elie v. US, our justice correspondent schools the Democrats on the proper response to Trump\u2019s speech. Plus: Where have all the African American baseball player&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/democrats-israel-aid-vote-pelosi\/\" aria-label=\"Even Nancy Pelosi Is Voting to Cut Aid to Israel Now\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2278321754.jpg\" alt=\"Nancy Pelosi puts her ballot envelope in a ballot box during the Get Out the Vote rally in San Francisco, California, on Friday, May 29, 2026.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Yet Democrats such as Haley Stevens, Angie Craig, Wesley Bell, and Greg Stanton are still voting for blank checks. Their primary rivals have something to say about that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\">John Nichols<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/trump-administration-racist-attacks-maga-authoritarianism\/\" aria-label=\"The Politics of Cruelty Starts With the Vulnerable\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpIran.jpg\" alt=\"President Donald Trump mimics gunfire during an April press conference on the Iran War.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Trump\u2019s attacks on Somali kindergarteners, immigrants, and the rule of law form a coherent authoritarian project. But voters and the courts are pushing back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/column\/\" class=\"collections__label\">Column<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/sasha-abramsky\/\">Sasha Abramsky<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/trump-cuts-snap-ed-los-angeles-youth-garden\/\" aria-label=\"Trump\u2019s Cuts Kill an LA Youth Garden\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tomatoharvest.jpg\" alt=\"Trump\u2019s Cuts Kill an LA Youth Garden\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>SNAP-Ed helped children in food-insecure Los Angeles neighborhoods grow fresh produce. Trump\u2019s Big Beautiful Bill cuts have ended the program that made those gardens possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/studentnation\/\" class=\"collections__label\">StudentNation<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/zachary-clifton\/\">Zachary Clifton<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_btf_medrec --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpContentAuthor\" value=\"Jeet Heer\"\/><br \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpTags\" value=\"campaigns-and-elections,elections,government,politics,donald-trump,election-2026,voter-suppression,voting-rights\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"dff5360f318accee95fa6e73-text\/javascript\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '233793277040432');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView');\n\t\t\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not even Fox News buys Trump\u2019s new lies, but they will be used to undermine the midterms. Ad Policy Monitors display Donald Trump during a prime-time address to the nation in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on Thursday, July 16, 2026. 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