Trump's Receipts Didn't Cooperate
CIA analyst Julia Curlee explains Trump's strange new election claims. Plus: DHS demands voter rolls. The Pentagon's bro science. Smoke without borders. And News That Doesn't Suck for women's health.
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Last night, Trump delivered a bizarre, convoluted speech that seemed designed to justify extraordinary federal interference in elections: pressuring states to hand over voter rolls, laying the groundwork to dictate which voting systems they use, and sowing doubt about the results.
He declassified documents that contradicted his own claims. The bottom line: He never presented evidence that a single vote was changed.
The speech was sloppy. The threat is real. So I spoke with someone exceptionally qualified to explain it. Julia Curlee is a public service fellow at Lawfare and a career CIA analyst with 25 years of national security experience. She served on the National Security Council under Presidents Biden and Trump, including in the current Trump White House until recently, and worked in the CIA’s China Mission Center and across the Middle East and South Asia.
Her analysis is clear, crisp and powerful. And the interview is short so you can listen while you brush your teeth. This one is worth your time.
In today’s newsletter: Trump’s election proof comes up short. DHS threatens states over voter rolls. Hegseth’s hormone directive. Canada’s fire sends dangerous smoke across the US. Keeping it in the family in South Carolina. And in News That Doesn’t Suck, endometriosis meets innovation.
Here Are Your Headlines
Conspiratorial: President Trump revived his thoroughly debunked claims about the security of American elections last night. He released a trove of newly declassified documents. They did not back up his extreme allegations and, in some cases, reached the opposite conclusions. Ultimately, he presented no new evidence supporting his lies about the 2020 election. Even his allies acknowledged that; John Solomon, the head of Trump’s declassification task force, told reporters the files show no evidence that a foreign power flipped the vote in 2020, 2022, or 2024. Fox News, one of the few major networks to carry Trump’s speech live, warned viewers multiple times that it could not verify the president’s claims. (Executives were, perhaps, thinking of the $787 million Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit over the network’s promotion of 2020 election conspiracy theories. Some lessons are expensive.) Trump used the speech to make another call for the SAVE America Act, despite GOP lawmakers repeatedly saying it has virtually no chance of becoming law. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) vowed to stall any renewed effort to force it through, arguing it is “fundamentally flawed and impossible to implement by this election.”
Pure Bunk: We broke down some of Trump’s claims, including those involving Venezuela and voting machines, here. Trump made a couple other claims worth addressing.
China: He alleged that China had illegally obtained hundreds of millions of voter files, and that the “deep state” had hid this fact from him and the public. But China’s efforts to collect voter data — much of which is freely available online, or can be purchased — have been known for years. Possessing that data would not have allowed China to change votes. It could have supported an influence campaign, but the newly declassified documents, along with reports released by Trump’s own intelligence agencies, conclude that China did not pursue one in 2020, or alter votes. (They do confirm that Russia tried to help Trump, though.)
Voter Rolls: Trump claimed roughly 280,000 noncitizens were registered to vote. He apparently based that on a DHS document asserting the agency identified over 250,000 noncitizens registered across four states. Neither Trump nor DHS provided evidence. Officials in at least two of the states have rejected the claim. Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin said officials used the controversial SAVE database to identify noncitizens. The system is notoriously inaccurate and has repeatedly flagged eligible voters as noncitizens, one reason a federal judge last month blocked the administration from using it to purge voter rolls.
Doubling Down: Secretary Mullin doubled down on Trump’s false claims in a press conference today. He threatened criminal charges for any election official who does not comply with the administration’s demand that states hand over voter rolls to be run through the SAVE database. Courts have repeatedly ruled that the executive branch has little authority to demand or alter state voter rolls, and have repeatedly sided with states refusing to hand them over. The Constitution is stubborn this way.
What Else: For more on the sloppy allegations about China, Venezuela and the way the president is weaponizing intelligence, see the interview at the top of this newsletter.
Blanched: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with a group of Epstein survivors after Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) warned that his support depended on it. The meeting apparently satisfied Tillis — but not the women, who described it as “demoralizing” and urged senators not to confirm Blanche. So did Liz Oyer, a former pardon attorney who said Blanche fired her after she refused to “rubber stamp a political favor for a friend of the president” — Mel Gibson. Oyer warned Blanche is “running the DOJ as Donald Trump’s personal law firm.” A defection by any one of the eleven Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee would kill Blanche’s nomination.
Lettuce Eat Something Else: The CDC has linked the ongoing cyclospora outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Several outlets are reporting that the lettuce came from Taylor Farms, a major producer that was implicated in a 2013 outbreak of the same parasite, which can cause severe diarrhea. Taylor Farms put out a statement in which they did not take responsibility. Taco Bell said it is removing the lettuce from its supply chain. The affected lettuce may have been sent to other restaurants, too, and is likely not the sole source of the outbreak, which is on track to be the largest on record. Experts recommend avoiding bagged or pre-washed lettuce and pre-mixed salads; washing your hands and fresh produce thoroughly; and, if you develop symptoms, getting tested, staying hydrated, and avoiding preparing food for others. Cooking food should kill the parasite. More here.
Not Crossing His Ts: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unusual announcement this week. He’s instituting mandatory testosterone screenings for servicemembers age 30 and older, and voluntary screening for those under 30. Those found to have “testosterone deficiency” may receive testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. It’s unclear whether his order for a “High-T” military will apply to the hundreds of thousands of women serving in uniform. The order could also undermine the Pentagon’s ban on transgender troops, which it justified in part by arguing that soldiers must be able to fight “without the benefit of routine medical treatment or special provisions.” Clinically low testosterone is a real medical issue. But experts usually test people only when they have symptoms and often recommend lifestyle changes first. TRT is generally considered a life-long treatment, and it can have serious side effects, including acne, hair loss, increased blood thickness, and potentially irreversible infertility. High-T. Side effects may vary.
Wild Fires: Nearly 900 wildfires are burning across Canada and Minnesota in what one professor called an “unprecedented run,” forcing thousands to evacuate and unleashing a “firehouse of smoke.” The smoke has drifted south and east, bringing unhealthy and dangerous air quality to more than 100 million people from Minnesota to Virginia. Experts warn that climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and more intense. Wildfire smoke can cause serious health issues, some lasting for years, and can be fatal. Officials recommend limiting time outdoors, wearing an N95 mask, and using an air purifier inside. The EPA has a map of air quality here and guides on how you can mitigate exposure here. Stay safe.
Bad Neighbor: Trump today threatened to impose tariffs on Canada in retaliation for the smoke. He described the government’s handling of its forests and fires “willful negligence.” Some noted that Canada responded to previous US wildfires by sending aid. Others pointed out that the Trump administration is shuttering multiple government labs studying wildfires, enforcing a discredited wildfire suppression policy that’s being questioned after multiple firefighters died last month, and decimating the US Forest Service.
Hereditary: Trump endorsed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to run for his seat. She’s currently serving the rest of Graham’s term after being appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster, despite having never served in public office. Trump’s advice: “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
Iran Updates
War, Again: Trump formally notified Congress that the US is once again at war with Iran. He claimed the notification restarts the 60-day window during which he can use the military without congressional approval, and told Americans they’d “see the fruits of that labor very, very shortly.” Democrats argued this is a misreading of the law and called for lawmakers to act to prevent another forever war. Senate Democrats protested by blocking a $1.5 trillion annual defense bill.
Higher Tempo: The US military struck Iran every night this week. Many of the targets were reportedly the same sites struck at the start of the war. Others included bridges and energy facilities, which Trump threatened to “knock out” unless Iran negotiated. Iran said the strikes killed several people and accused the US of targeting civilian infrastructure, which could constitute a war crime. (The US denied this.) Iran widened its strikes on US allies throughout the region. Among its targets was a desalination plant in Kuwait; many countries in the Gulf rely on such plants for drinking water. More on that here.
Straitjacket: The US and Iran fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as each tries to assert control over the vital waterway. The US struck a tanker, boarded another, and redirected multiple others as part of its blockade of Iran. Iran called on Yemen’s Houthis to shut down the oil shipping route through the Red Sea if the US targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure. Oil prices continue to rise.
News That Doesn’t Suck
Putting the End in Endometriosis: In the US, over 6.5 million people are thought to have endometriosis. For those with the condition, tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, causing a range of painful symptoms and fertility issues. Adding to the frustration is how hard it can be to get an actual diagnosis. In the US, it takes an average of 4.5 years. But many people are forced to wait more than a decade — and up to 60% of cases remain undiagnosed. That’s partly due to stigma, bias, and a widespread lack of understanding about the condition and menstrual health. It’s also because endometriosis can currently be confirmed only through invasive surgery. That might soon change. The UK’s National Health Service just approved two new, non-invasive tests, which can produce results in as little as 45 minutes. One analyzes a sample of saliva. The other uses sensor pads on the abdomen to measure electrical signals in the gut. “Having a diagnosis makes you feel human,” said one woman who had to wait eight years for a diagnosis and treatment. “You know, it is not in my head and you are not crazy. A quicker diagnosis system would make a huge difference to people.” One gynecologist hailed the new tests as a “gamechanger” that can deliver answers and treatment sooner. “An earlier diagnosis doesn’t just change one person’s life,” she explained. “It frees up appointments and surgical slots for everyone waiting for care.” Good news for patients. And for every woman who has been told it’s “probably just stress.” 😉
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