ThinkTankWeekly

DHS: We'll "Direct" States to Remove Voters and Imprison Non-cooperators

CATO | 2026-07-21 | society

Topics: Cybersecurity, United States

Visit original source

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

The article details plans by the Trump administration to interfere with state election processes, citing DHS directives aimed at forcing states to remove voters—particularly noncitizens—from voter rolls. This alleged federal overreach is backed by threats from officials, such as Secretary Mullin, who suggested local election workers could face imprisonment for non-compliance. However, the author argues that these actions exceed both statutory and constitutional authority, noting that the claims of large numbers of ineligible voters are based on flawed data and methodology. Ultimately, this strategy establishes a dangerous precedent of using federal legal threats to undermine state autonomy in managing elections.

中文摘要

本文詳述了川普政府計畫干預州級選舉流程的舉措,援引國土安全部(DHS)的指令,旨在迫使各州從選民名冊中移除選民——特別是非公民。這種所謂的聯邦權力過度擴張行為,甚至得到官員如穆林部長的威脅支持,他暗示地方選舉工作人員若不遵守規定可能會面臨監禁處分。然而,作者主張,這些行動已超越了法定和憲法賦予的權限;同時指出,關於大量無資格選民的主張是基於有缺陷的數據和方法論。最終而言,此一策略樹立了一個危險的先例,即利用聯邦法律威脅來削弱各州管理選舉的自主權。

Related Entries

  1. 1.
    2026-11-07 | defense | 2026-W45 | Topics: Indo-Pacific, Middle East, United States

    The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.

    Read at Foreign Affairs

  2. 2.
    2026-11-07 | middle_east | 2026-W45 | Topics: China, Middle East, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.

    Read at Foreign Affairs

  3. 3.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: AI, China, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.

    Read at CFR

  4. 4.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: United States

    The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.

    Read at Brookings

  5. 5.
    2026-11-07 | diplomacy | 2026-W45 | Topics: Climate, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The U.S. is drastically reducing core funding to multilateral institutions, withdrawing from numerous bodies due to perceived misalignment with national interests. While multilateral channels offer critical advantages—such as pooling resources for global public goods and managing risk in fragile settings—the U.S.'s funding remains heavily 'earmarked,' which effectively 'bilateralizes' the system and undermines shared burden-sharing. This practice, coupled with deep cuts, diminishes the multilateral system's effectiveness and efficiency, particularly in humanitarian aid. Policy recommendations suggest the U.S. must adopt a systematic, published strategy for aid channel choice and shift from restrictive project-level earmarking to broader thematic funding to restore global cooperation.

    Read at Brookings