From Federal 'Election Observers' to a Third Term
Trump seems to be on a world tour, courting headlines from Venezuela to Japan. And yes, these global crises and trips matter. But one of the most significant things keeping me up at night isn’t happening abroad. It’s unfolding here, at home, in plain sight.
“Election Integrity” or Intimidation by Design
On October 24, 2025, the Department of Justice announced it would deploy federal election observers to California and New Jersey, two Democratic states with off-year elections, at the request of state Republican parties.
Attorney General Pam Bondi framed it as a push for “transparency and faith in the process.” But transparency isn’t the same as trust, and history teaches that difference matters.
Observers will be sent to Passaic County, New Jersey, and five California counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside, and Fresno—all diverse, high-turnout areas.
Bondi insists it’s about “faith in elections.” Democrats call it what it looks like: intimidation.
Related Knowledge Center: Democracy and politics
News organizations are scrambling to find a coverage approach that adequately informs the American public about the country’s slide from democracy to authoritarian rule.