Trump drops bombshell election threat - Brian Tyler Cohen

Democracy Watch episode 477: Marc Elias addresses Trump’s election threats.

Here are the key points from the video:

- The SAVE Act would require mandatory proof of citizenship (passport or original birth certificate) to vote, which critics argue could disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters who lack those documents.
- Driver's licenses, including Real ID, do not prove citizenship in most states, making them insufficient under the proposed requirements.
- Trump's stated goal — that Republicans "won't lose a race for 50 years" if the SAVE Act passes — is interpreted by Brian and Marc as an admission of intent to suppress opposition votes rather than prevent fraud.
- Beyond legislation, Trump is accused of planning to use executive orders, DOJ action, and potentially illegal means (e.g., seizing ballots, defunding states) to restrict voting, even without Congressional approval.
- Legal pushback is already underway — attorney Marc Elias and his firm (Democracy Docket) are actively preparing lawsuits in anticipation of executive actions, claiming they can file within minutes of any order being signed.
- Disinformation is identified as a key tool — by repeatedly claiming elections are rigged, Trump aims to erode public trust so that future Democratic wins can be more easily delegitimized.