Voters go to the polls amid Trump's declining popularity

Summary

The Beat with Ari Melber (Host: Jacob Soboroff)

Episode Title: Voters Go to the Polls Amid Trump’s Declining Popularity
Date: August 5, 2026

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Overview

On this pivotal Election Night, guest host Jacob Soboroff leads coverage from Detroit, Michigan—a key battleground as voters head to the polls for crucial Senate primaries and House races in five states. The episode explores the significance of Michigan’s elections, the influence of money and outside interests, the impact of Trump-era DOJ actions, and pressing issues such as ICE detention deaths and government surveillance of protesters. Featuring on-the-ground reporting, panel analysis, voter voices, and in-depth interviews, the episode serves as a microcosm of the nation’s current political crossroads.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Michigan Senate Primary: Progressive vs. Establishment

• Candidates:
  • Abdul El Sayed (Progressive, former public health official)
  • Congresswoman Haley Stevens (Party-backed, moderate)
• Significance:
  • Seen as a bellwether for the Democratic Party’s future and as a referendum on Donald Trump.
• On the Ground:
  • High early voting turnout, notably among “low propensity” voters:
    • 53,000 early voters had only voted in one of the last three presidential elections.
    • 18,386 absentee ballots from people who hadn’t voted in the last three general elections.
    • ”Abdul El Sayed is a candidate who they wanted to see…bring people either back to the fold…or people who frankly, have never been involved because they don’t really believe that their vote makes a difference.” —Chris Jansing (05:14)
• Voter Sentiment:
  • Voters are deeply concerned with representation, money in politics, and the need for party unity against Trump.

2. DOJ Election Monitoring and Trump’s Election Fraud Narrative

• DOJ sent federal monitors to key Democratic strongholds (Detroit, Hamtramck, Lansing, East Lansing).
  • Raises concerns about federal interference and partisan targeting.
  • ”Targeting Democratic cities in a key battleground state raises serious concerns that President Donald Trump will directly interfere in this fall’s midterm elections.” —Jacob Soboroff quoting Democracy Docket (01:35)
  • Mixed local reaction: measures seen both as routine and as politically motivated.
  • No major complaints about monitor conduct, but "why" they are there is questioned.

3. Money in Politics: A Central Voter Issue

• Spending Imbalances:
  • "Almost $81 million has been spent in one Democratic primary. It’s the most expensive ever for a Senate race primary." —Chris Jansing (09:21)
  • 63.9M by Super PACs and allied orgs for Stevens; 20M of that spent opposing El Sayed.
  • El Sayed running a low-budget, no-corporate-money campaign.
  • Voters associate outside money with lack of authentic representation, including big influence by AIPAC (related to Israel/Gaza).
  • "I don’t want other corporations outside of Michigan people telling me who I should vote for." —Voter Quote relayed by Chris Jansing (09:55)

4. Voter Voices: Key Quotes & Perspectives

• Voter Alex:
  • "People died for the right to vote. I’ve never missed an election. Never." (15:42)
  • On why voting for El Sayed: seat traditionally held by African American since 1965; feels underrepresented.
• Voter Darnell:
  • "I like that she [Haley Stevens]’s not a millionaire. She’s one of us." (16:38)
  • Prepared to support El Sayed if Stevens loses, prioritizes party unity.
• Voter Olivia:
  • "Haley Stevens had took in a lot of, like, AIPAC money...that turned me off from her…Abdul said he had a lot of the things in his campaign were things that I cared about and that aligned with me politically." (17:24)

5. Panel & Reporter Analysis

• Craig Mauger (Detroit News):
  • Progressive, anti-establishment voters may be 30-40% of the Democratic electorate—potential game-changer.
  • "Abdul has a chance to overturn how people see Democratic politics in this battleground state." (06:58)
• Ali Velshi:
  • Offers district-level "big board" analysis, emphasizing key House districts and how Detroit returns are critical for the night's results (11:48–14:34).
  • Notes the importance of Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Dem unity.

6. Broader Political Context: Trump’s DOJ and Senate Confirmation

• Controversy Over Trump DOJ Nominee Todd Blanche:
  • Advanced out of committee on party lines; accused by Democrats of lying under oath and risks being a partisan shield.
  • "Mr. Blanche's willingness to casually lie under oath…shows the lengths he will go to to avoid offending President Trump." —Sen. Dick Durbin (24:12)
• Joyce Vance (Legal Analyst):
  • Warns Blanche could use creative mechanisms to funnel judgment funds in unethical ways.
  • "It's clear that he's still acting as the president’s lawyer, not the people’s lawyer." (25:28)

7. Human Cost of Trump Immigration Policy

• ICE Detention Deaths:
  • 54 deaths in ICE custody during Trump’s second term.
  • Recent: Edwin Lopez Cornejo, 39, at Delaney Hall, NJ—sparked protests and calls for oversight.
  • "No one should be losing their lives at these facilities…this is why oversight is extremely important at these facilities." —Rep. LaMonica McIver (29:54)
• Calls for Accountability:
  • House Dems say regaining power would allow robust oversight and investigation of abuses.
  • "We have people…engaging in cruelty and brutality at these facilities and even those who are killing, you know, ICE agents…" —Rep. McIver (31:30)

8. Surveillance and Crackdown on Dissent

• ICE Social Media Surveillance:
  • Wall Street Journal’s Hannah Critchfield breaks news that ICE is monitoring public speech, subpoenaing data, and pressuring Americans to sign “acknowledgement” letters regarding critical speech.
  • Raises constitutional red flags:
    • "At times ICE has cracked down on online speech that is actually protected by the First Amendment.” —Hannah Critchfield (35:34)
  • No charges in many cases, but chilling effect palpable.
  • "If you care about democracy…this is something that everybody should be paying attention to." —Jacob Soboroff (40:06)

9. Youth Vote and Political Disaffection

• Marcus Johnson (Oakland University Student Leader):
  • Youth turnout in Michigan is among the nation’s highest.
  • Young voters overwhelmingly support El Sayed; little engagement from Stevens’ campaign in youth circles.
  • "Part of it is you have a generation that's not really pleased with the status quo. So…who’s representing the status quo we don’t want and who wants to change that?" —Marcus Johnson (44:34)
  • Threat that some youth voters may stay home or cross party lines if the progressive is defeated.
    • "I've talked to some who have told me they would rather see a term from Mike Rogers than see Haley Stevens win." (45:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Polls don’t vote. People do." —Voter Alex (18:02)
• "Get money out of politics, baby." —Voter commenting at Eastern Market (04:26)
• "Do you think it buys loyalty to you or to…the PAC…Almost $81 million has been spent in one Democratic primary." —Chris Jansing (08:49–09:19)
• "Detroit is north of Canada…when you’re looking south from Detroit, you’re looking at Canada, not Indiana or Ohio." —Ali Velshi’s trivia (11:48)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:03] — Coverage opens from Detroit; setting the stakes for Michigan’s importance.
• [03:14] — On-the-ground voter interviews at Eastern Market.
• [05:14] — Panel analysis: turnout, new/young/low-propensity voters.
• [08:31] — Money in Michigan politics—scale and impact.
• [11:48] — Ali Velshi’s big board: crucial House districts, what to watch.
• [15:16] — Interviews with three voters: their motivations, concerns, and voting rationale.
• [16:47] — Discussing the importance of unity in the Democratic Party.
• [20:27] — Transition to other big national stories (Trump admin, Todd Blanche).
• [22:47] — Correction on Obama’s non-endorsement; Todd Blanche hearing fallout.
• [24:12] — Senator Durbin calls out Blanche for “lying under oath.”
• [25:28] — Joyce Vance’s legal perspective on DOJ fund abuses.
• [28:42] — Activists protest ICE detention deaths, leading to interview with Rep. McIver.
• [32:54] — McIver: Human consequences and voter response to Trump’s immigration policy.
• [35:34] — Hannah Critchfield: ICE surveillance of protest and online speech.
• [42:10] — Marcus Johnson: Youth voting and engagement analysis.

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Episode Tone & Language

The episode balances urgency, empathy, and political insight. There’s candid, informal banter (especially between Jacob and field guests), alongside passionate and sometimes outraged commentary about abuses of power and democratic principles. The language throughout is direct, personal, and accessible, aimed at energizing viewers and spotlighting voices rarely heard in standard election analysis.

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Final Takeaways

• Michigan’s primary is both a test for progressive momentum and a stress test for Democratic unity against Trump.
• Money in politics—especially outside and corporate money—continues to dominate voter anxiety and shape races.
• Federal interventions at the polls and government surveillance remain hot-button topics, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s confrontational approach.
• ICE abuses and deaths are contributing to activist turnout and influencing national debates on human rights.
• Youth voters are deeply engaged but disillusioned with establishment politics, which could dramatically impact future races.

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For listeners who missed the episode, this summary captures the urgent, multifaceted conversation at the center of America’s 2026 political crossroads—focusing on the voices, issues, and themes shaping the present and future of U.S. democracy.

Transcript

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[Jacob Soboroff]

Welcome to the Beat. Greetings from Detroit, Michigan. I am Jacob Soboroff in for Ari Melbourne. It is my favorite night of the year, election night in America. And we have got some very, very special coverage lined up for you right now on Ms. Now. Voters are heading to the polls tonight for primaries in five states in Kansas and in Missouri, Virginia, Washington, and right here right now in Michigan. We are live at a polling site at Wayne County Community College District's Northwest campus in the Motor City. And Michigan is a pivotal state. Democrats need to flip at least four seats to gain Senate control. The path is a lot easier if they hold on to this state, to Michigan in November and today. An important development in Michigan, the Democrats say, highlights the need to take back power in Washington so that they can check Donald Trump's abuses of power. Listen to this. Quote, the Trump Justice Department announced that the department was monitoring poll sites in Detroit, hamptramck, Lansing and East Lansing, all Democratic strongholds. As the voting rights group Democracy Docket writes, quote, it's not unusual for the US Department of Justice to send election monitors to observe voting in federal elections. But targeting Democratic cities in a key battleground state raises serious concerns that President Donald Trump will directly interfere in this fall's midterm elections. I can report tonight from right here in Detroit. According to Detroit's Election Department, DOJ officials have visited five different polling sites in Detroit alone. Donald Trump has targeted Michigan with unfounded claims of election fraud for years, even though he won the state in 2024 when Biden was president. As for tonight's key Senate primary, Michigan Democrats are choosing between progressive Abdullah Sayed, a former public health official, and Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who is supported by party leaders. Many observers see it as a microcosm of the party's larger debates. I don't take Pokemon.

You haven't seen as many of my ads because I'm not willing to be

[Abdul El Sayed]

bought off by DTE or giving the awesome shield or Big Tech or Big Pharma. And you have an opportunity to think beyond all parties.

[Jacob Soboroff]

You know, talking about the values of universal healthcare, of paid family leave, of good environmental quality and sustainability for jobs of the future.

[Haley Stevens]

You know, I believe in a fair

[Jacob Soboroff]

tax code that benefits our middle class when we know the outcome of this election. Tonight, the winner will face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. Running unopposed in the Republican primary, Democrats will seek to tie him to an increasingly unpopular Donald Trump. Earlier today at the legendary Eastern Market here in Detroit, I was shooting Prediction Markets, the segment for my show Connect. I talked to voters about today's race. El Sayed or Stevens?

El Sayed. You think he's gonna win?

[Nicole Wallace]

I do.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Stevens or El Sayed?

El Sayed by a hair.

Why Stevens over El Said?

She does what she says she's going to do and she's very honest, trustworthy.

Stevens or El Sayed? I voted for Stevens.

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

I voted for El Sayed.

[Jacob Soboroff]

But wait a minute.

The two of you here shopping, Great friends.

[Producer/Assistant]

Great friends agree on most everything.

[Jacob Soboroff]

We got El Sayed and we got Stevens. What's the difference for the two of you?

[Christian Harlan]

I'm going progressive this election. I'd like to blow everything up and start from scratch.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And you went with the trusted voice or for you, the trusted voice here in Michigan.

[Haley Stevens]

Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

So who are you for? What's your prediction? Elsa? Are you kidding me? Come on, get money out of politics, baby.

It's a toss up. And that is where we begin. The balance of power in the United States Senate running through right here in Michigan. We have a huge show ahead. Our very own Ali Belshi has a breakdown at the Big board. We are also tracking the news on Todd Blanche as well as the Trump administration surveilling protesters. You are not going to want to miss that. But we are going to start with our panel. My dear friend Chris Jansing, MS, now Chief national correspondent, and Craig Mauger, state politics reporter with the Detroit News. It's good to see you both. It's an extraordinary day. I've been saying this all day. It doesn't look like long lines. But, Chris, because of the way that they vote here, you may not be able to tell. And I know you've been tracking enthusiasm on the ground.

[Christian Harlan]

Yeah. And I think early voting has been very high. I think you would agree with that. What is it, 1.3? Over 1.3 million now. But the number that folks who I talked to before I came here told me to track was low propensity voters. And here's why. Abdul El Sayed is a candidate who they wanted to see. Would he bring people either back to the fold, people who have gotten so sick of the political process, they think it isn't answering their needs, that they've kind of dropped out, or people who frankly, have never been involved because they don't really believe that their vote makes a difference. Let me show you the numbers that I got from the Secretary of state's office. 53,000 people who early voted. 53,000 had only voted in one of the past three presidential elections.

[Jacob Soboroff]

These are generally nonvoters or low propensity voters, as you say.

[Christian Harlan]

And this is the lowest propensity voters. 18,386 people cast absentee ballots who did not vote at all in the last three general elections. So I talked to Abdul El Sayed this afternoon when we were over at Eastern Market. Look, they see that as a good sign, but in places like where we're sitting, I think that could be a little bit of a different story.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What are you seeing, Craig? This election, they keep saying it's a bellwether on the Democrats, but ultimately I have talked to so many Democrats who say they are going to unite behind whomever emerges here as a referendum ultimately on Donald Trump come November. And this is a state which I said earlier in the broadcast that he has hit time after time with allegations of voter fraud.

He has come here and said he

has become the Michigan man of the Year, a position that does not exist. I think voters here seem to be tiring of Donald Trump's message, at least that's what what I'm saying.

[Craig Mauger]

Yeah, I mean, I talked to one Republican voter who said Trump's endorsement didn't matter to her because she was tired of him. So, I mean, there are views all over the place about how people see the president right now. This is really a test of the Democratic electorate in Michigan and maybe nationally. Right now, as you all have outlined, there is a theory that in Michigan, these progressive, anti establishment voters make up about 30 to 40% of the electorate. That's how it's always been. Abdul can't win this race, heads up with Haley. That's what people thought going into this summer and now the voters have turned that on their heads. Abdullah has a chance to win. He has a chance to overturn how people see Democratic politics in this battleground state. And that's why the eyes of the nation are on this state right now.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What do you hear?

What's your reporting tell you? I said to our viewers that I heard from the Detroit elections officials that there have been at least five sightings because they have to sign in actually inside the polling places like the one that we're outside of, of these federal election monitors. And they say that they're looking into issues like poll watcher readiness. What's your reporting tell you about this monitoring operation sent by the federal government?

[Craig Mauger]

Yeah, I think there's two tracks here. There's one track that is so far today it seems to be going smoothly. No one's raising any concerns about the monitors are doing. The other track is why are they here and the basis for what the Justice Department has said, the reasoning is for them to be in Michigan today. It doesn't line up with what election officials from either side of the aisle have seen. So their actions are not concerning the questions as to what this portends for November. That's what I think concerns a lot of people.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Chris, the money has been, oh my gosh, just as big a part of the conversation here as the substance of the issues. Abdul Al said continues to point out the outside spending on behalf of the congresswoman and it is exponentially larger than anything that he's gotten. What are the numbers?

[Christian Harlan]

Yeah, central to his theme is no outside money, no corporate money in his campaign. And he believes that so many people take out outside money and this I, I've watched it resonate with people when he's talked to them one on one. I went canvassing with him last night and he talks about what do you think that money buys? Do you think it buys loyalty to you or to the, the corporation or the company or the PAC that gave it to him? Almost $81 million has been spent in one Democratic primary.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It's the most expensive in Michigan history, if I'm not mistaken.

[Christian Harlan]

Most expensive ever for a Senate race primary. It's unbelievable. And 63.9 super PACs and other well funded organizations for Haley Stevens, 34 pro Haley Stevens, 20 million opposing Abdul El Sayed compared to 7.3 million that, that he's been the advertising is incredibly lopsided. And look again, I spent a lot of time in crowds with El Sayed supporters. But today just walking through the eastern market talked to one Republican who said, you know, I've been Republican for a long time but I just can't do it anymore. And I'm going to vote for El Sayed. And one of the things that he mentioned was this influence of outside money. And so many people have said who support El Said. I don't want other corporations outside of Michigan people telling me who I should vote for. I'm going to make that decision.

[Jacob Soboroff]

In a state where data centers, the cost of living, people looking for jobs is clearly top of mind to anybody that you talk to. This money thing has become so central to the conversation both on the airwaves but and in people's brains. The Israel, Gaza war, the spending of aipac. He has turned it into an issue against Haley Stevens.

[Ali Belshi]

I'll say it.

[Craig Mauger]

Yeah. I mean that's what Abdul has done, I think so skillfully this summer is he has tied the spending to people's concerns about prices. I don't think Democrats have been able to do that in the past. Tie the outside influence to, hey, this is how it's actually impacting your life. This utility company has supported Representative Stevens in the past. This is the utility company that you're upset about. And Abdul has worked that angle so well. I've talked to numerous voters today who have tied that outside money to their own frustration with how the political system works. And it gets down to that question I think people will be asking in the fall, is this a change election? Is this an anti corruption election? Is it some combination of both? And if you're Abdul El said he's kind of prepared for both of those possible outcomes this November.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It really does feel extraordinary to be here in this moment. I know you're going. You'll be at his campus headquarters tonight. Okay, so everybody stick around because Chris Jansen will be there during the special when it kicks off with Rachel and the gang. Chris Craig, thank you both so much. It's good to see you here. Thanks. Thank you. All right, I wanna go right now to Ali Belshi, another one of my dear, dear friends who's at the big board with a preview of tonight. Mr. Belshee, take it away.

[Ali Belshi]

I'm so jealous of you. First of all, I've spent probably more time in Detroit, Michigan than most other places in America. Little trivia for you, my friend, since you do prediction markets. If you are sitting in Detroit, Michigan and you look south, are you looking at Indiana or Ohio? Okay, don't answer it. I won't make you answer. The answer is when you are looking south from where you are right now, you know you're looking at Canada, right? Detroit is north of Canada, so that's number one. Number two, let's take a look at some House races in, in and around the area that you're in right now. There are two that I'm keeping an eye on very carefully. Number one is the seventh district in New York, which is in and around Lansing. This is an interesting race. There are three people competing in it right now. The most prominent name was Bridget Brink. She was the US Ambassador to Ukraine, most recently resigned under the Trump administration. She felt that he wasn't doing what needed to be done. She's running against Matt Masdam. The two of them probably occupy a similar ideological lane versus William Lawrence, who's coming in in that progressive lane. So we're gonna watch very carefully. In addition to that state Senate race that you've just been talking about, what happens in Michigan 7, I also wanna go to Michigan 13. This is part of Wayne County. It's where you are. It's Detroit and the southern part of Wayne county in which an incumbent, Shri Hanedar, is being chall by Donovan McKinney. Same thing. An incumbent being challenged by somebody from the left. We're gonna see how that goes. Sri Tanidar would, if he loses tonight, become just one of a handful of Democratic incumbents to lose. But again, it's far, far too early to tell how that's gonna go. If you go one district west of where you are right now, this is 12. Rashida Tlaib is the incumbent there. She's expected to win very handily. And if we go out to the Senate race that you were just talking about with Craig and Chris Jansing, we're gonna be looking results really coming in from the Detroit area. This will be late. The bulk of the state's population is in the Detroit metro area. Detroit is part of Wayne County. So that whole district will be very. That whole region will be very important. But as Al Said has pointed out, he may have support in areas that are just outside of Detroit as well. So as early results come in, Haley Stevens is going to say, hold on, don't do anything till you see the Detroit numbers, which might be several hours from now. Al Said is going to say, not just Detroit numbers, it's areas like Dearborn and Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck in which his, his Power base is. But in the end, this is going to come down to some of that conversation that you aired at the top of the show, where people are making decisions not based on who they are, where they come from, what their internal politics are, but what they're sick of or what they want more of. And we're going to be watching that very closely through the course of the night. Jacob.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It's going to be. You know, it could be a late night here, Ali, because not only do the polls close here in Detroit at eight, but in the Upper Peninsula, as you and I were talking about offline earlier, they close at 9. And Detroit, it's a very interesting system here in Detroit because while Wayne county tabulates all the votes from the different municipalities and townships, each of them, and I know you're gonna monitor them all very closely, tabulate their own vote results, and then bring them back to a central headquarters. So we're gonna be going through this together tonight, my friend.

I'll be out here.

Call me anytime, even when we're not on tv, and we'll keep the conversation going. All right?

Ally, Belshi, thank you so much.

And I want to introduce. Yes, I want to introduce all of you guys at home to three people that I just met. They're all here voting as part of this process.

And as I said earlier, it is

not an indication that there isn't enthusiasm because you're not seeing long lines. In fact, it's the opposite. Let me get all of your names. Tell me who you are.

[Voter Alex]

Alex.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Alex.

[Voter Darnell]

Darnell.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Darnell.

[Voter Olivia]

Olivia.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Olivia. And have you all voted already today? Okay, if I'm not mistaken, you voted absentee, and you have voted here in person. And you voted here in person. Talk to me about the race. What brings you out today? Why did you decide to come out in a primary election?

[Voter Alex]

Well, because I always vote. People died for the right to vote. I've never missed an election. Never.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And in particular, of the two candidates, Stevens and El Sayed, who's got your attention? Who's got your vote today?

[Voter Alex]

Unfortunately, El Sayed, because that seat has been held by an African American occupant by 19, since 1965.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And your decision, in terms of the issues, what are the issues that are most important to you?

[Voter Alex]

Well, the people who live in that district aren't being represented. They just aren't.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And why absentee? You're here in person. Did you drop your absentee? Thank you very much. Why did you drop your absentee? You dropped it off here today.

[Voter Darnell]

No, I dropped it off in the mail like, four weeks ago.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And so what brings you out to the polling place today? If you voted four weeks ago, you

were on top of it.

[Voter Darnell]

My husband goes to school here.

[Jacob Soboroff]

I see.

[Voter Darnell]

And I just came up. But, yes, I voted like your husband.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Did you go for Mr. El Sayed?

[Voter Darnell]

Dr. Al said I did.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Hayley, why Haley?

[Voter Darnell]

First of all, Barack, he, you know, endorsed her. And then I like the fact that, you know, she's not a millionaire. She's one of us.

[Jacob Soboroff]

She worked in his administrator.

[Voter Darnell]

Yeah, yeah. So I like that about her.

[Jacob Soboroff]

If she doesn't prevail tonight, will you back Al Sayed like your husband in the general election?

[Voter Darnell]

Yeah. Yes, I will.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And do you think that the Democrats can hold on here to power? It's critical if they want to regain control of the Senate?

[Voter Darnell]

Yes, I hope so. Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And how about you?

You came out today to vote. Are you a regular voter?

[Voter Olivia]

Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Okay, so why'd you wait till the last day? Why'd you vote on election day?

[Voter Olivia]

It's just the timing of everything. But I made sure I came out today.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And El Sayed or Haley Stevens? El said, okay, talk to me about what spoke to you about Abdul? Al Said.

[Voter Olivia]

Well, I heard that Haley Stevens had took in a lot of, like, AIPAC money.

[Jacob Soboroff]

We were just talking about that with my fellow colleagues here.

[Voter Olivia]

Yeah, that turned me off from her. And then I just feel like Abdul said he had a lot of the things in his campaign were things that I cared about and that aligned with me politically. So it just made the most sense for me to go with him.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Do you think you back Stevens to unify the Democrats if El Sayed doesn't win tonight?

[Voter Olivia]

I mean, if it comes down to it, yes. But I'm hoping Elsa get wins.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It's so nice to meet all of you. Thank you so much for coming by saying hello. And don't be a stranger.

[Voter Alex]

Polls don't vote.

[Jacob Soboroff]

People do. Polls don't vote, people do. So nice to meet you. I want to show you all a little bit more of what's happening here before we go to a commercial break. We have so much more left in this show and so much more left tonight on Ms. Now, as I said, Rachel and the gang are going to be here at 8, but before then, we're going to bring you through all aspects of this election and a lot of other news that's happening. First, these are people that are electioneering here. I was talking about this with Nicole Wallace. They're standing here to the last possible minute in order to Tell people their opinions about the candidates in this race. Some of them. You're not even old enough to vote, right? You said you're 17 years old?

[Christian Harlan]

Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What's your name again? Christian Harlan. How does it feel to be out here and watch people exercise their right to vote today?

[Election Worker]

It feels really nice.

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

I'm really happy that everyone's come and

[Election Worker]

just exercised their right to vote.

[Jacob Soboroff]

You have a little FOMO that you're not able to vote yourself today?

[Voter Olivia]

Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Well, you got. Next year, you'll be up. It's so nice to meet you. And the last thing that I want to show everybody is that these nice. Before you guys go, can I say hello to you? You guys are doing the curbside voting. How many people are showing up? You feel like that there's a large presence, a large turnout at the curbside vote today.

[Craig Mauger]

Now?

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Yes, now there is.

[Jacob Soboroff]

There's a little bit of rush. Yeah, Last minute rush. People seem to always want to wait till the last minute. Have you ever done anything like this before?

[Election Worker]

Oh, yeah, Every year.

[Joyce Vance]

Yes.

[Jacob Soboroff]

You're feeling like one of the things that the Trump administration was talking about is that they're sending people out here to monitor the integrity of the vote. Is everything going smoothly from your estimation?

[Election Worker]

Yeah, definitely. Everybody knows what they're doing.

[Jacob Soboroff]

As somebody who's experienced in this, what's the sign that things are going well?

[Election Worker]

Everybody's working well together?

[Jacob Soboroff]

Say it again.

[Voter Darnell]

No spoiled ballots.

[Jacob Soboroff]

No spoiled ballots. Your name is? My name is Trina and Molly, thank you so much for what you do. Thank you so much for your service. You are doing the civic duty. And I always say it time and again, when anybody, this administration or others come after election workers in this country, it should drive all of us crazy. This is probably not your day job, right?

[Voter Olivia]

No.

[Christian Harlan]

No.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What do you normally do?

[Election Worker]

I'm a declutterer and organizer.

[Jacob Soboroff]

A declutterer and an organizer. And what do you normally do if you weren't here today? Take care of my grandchildren. Taking care of your grandchildren. I love it. I love it. Thank you for your service. Thank you for being here. We appreciate you very. Thank you very much. It really is an extraordinary day out here in Detroit, and we have so much more to come. On this very special edition of the Beat, we're going to talk all about Democrats accusing Todd Blanche of lying under oath.

Joyce Vance will be here. Also, we have revelations on the Trump administration using social media surveillance against protesters, a critical issue in this election. And Congresswoman LaMonica McIver will be here a new tragedy in ICE custody. It is election night in America. We will have a whole lot more coming up after this very short break. Stay with us.

[Dave Farenthold]

Normally in these ads, you'd expect someone like me to ask you to buy something, but I want to ask you to do something different. I'm Dave Farenthal and I'm a reporter for the New York Times. I'm an investigative reporter, which means that I follow the money inside of government and outside of government. The point of my job is to find things people are trying to hide. It involves talking to lots of people. It involves looking through lots and lots of documents. And if there weren't folks like me to go beyond the surface to understand who was really shaping what the government does, the public will be left in the dark about what the government's doing with your tax money, what the government's doing to youth through regulations and spending. If you're like me and you think this kind of journalism is important, seek out a news source that does firsthand fact based reporting. If that's the New York Times, thank you. If that's your local paper, that's great too, because where you get your information matters.

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[Election Worker]

Did you include the differentiation angle the CMO asked for?

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Already in there. Three angles. No competitors using right now. Just need your approval approved.

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Thanks.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Oh, agents, where would we be without you?

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[Election Worker]

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[Jacob Soboroff]

It is Election Day in Detroit and we are back. Just a moment ago, we heard a voter say that Barack Obama had endorsed Haley Stevens. I just want to correct that voter. That is incorrect. President Obama has not endorsed in this race, although he has endorsed her in the past. And now I want to turn to a controversy back in Washington, D.C. where Donald Trump's attorney general nominee took another step closer to confirmation today despite widespread backlash as the Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance Todd Blanche to the full Senate. And that vote could Come as soon as this week. That all happened after two Republican holdouts agreed to move Todd Blanche along after he posted documents rescinding Trump's controversial slush fund. Although experts point out that there are numerous loopholes. Here's what one of those Republican senators, John Cornyn, said earlier today.

[Senator John Cornyn]

As to the idea that it could be revived in the future, I think it's highly unlikely that that could happen without the cooperation of the Department of Justice. And I think Mr. Blanche gave us the assurances that it was dead and would not be revived. And in this case, we have no altern. But to take his word for that.

[Jacob Soboroff]

You will not be surprised to know that Democrats disagreed. Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, even said Todd Blanche. He said Todd Blanche lied under oath.

[Senator John Cornyn]

Mr. Blanche's willingness to casually lie under oath about a statement he made in a room full of witnesses shows the lengths he will go to to avoid offending President Trump.

[Ali Belshi]

The most brazenly corrupt and unethical thing this administration has.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Att. Can you trust Todd Blanche going forward? I will tell you I do not.

[Abdul El Sayed]

He is about to become Trump's sword against his adversaries and shield against any scrutiny.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Coons said. The most brazenly corrupt and unethical thing this administration has attempted. Just moments ago, Maine Senator Susan Collins announced she would vote against the Blanche nomination. Her defection, it's important to note, though, will not be enough to sink Todd Blanche in the full Senate. She has, of course, that tough reelection campaign in a purple state in Maine against an opponent who has criticized her for voting too often with President Trump. Joining me now is Joyce Fance, former U.S. attorney and Ms. Now legal contributor. Joyce, thank you so much for being here. I want to read what you wrote earlier today that, quote, the one $1.776 billion slush fund isn't as dead as Senators Cornyn and Tillis seem to be willing to believe. Can you elaborate?

[Joyce Vance]

Well, the senators, and specifically Senator Cornyn in the comments that you noted, seem to be willing to suspend disbelief, as though there's no context for thinking about whether or not Todd Blanche is trustworthy. And the problem here is federal judges across the country in court cases have found that they can no longer employ a presumption of singularity where DOJ is concerned. That means that judges, many of them Trump appointees, don't believe that the Justice Department is telling them the truth or acting ethically when it's in their courtrooms. So it really defies belief that Senator Cornyn, who is himself A trained lawyer, someone who understands how the Justice Department is supposed to work, would accept this sort of PABLA that Blanche has been delivering. It's clear that he's still acting as the president's lawyer, not the people's lawyer. And when he makes these paper promises, they're just that, paper promises that he could take back or that the Trumps could challenge down the road.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Tell me if I'm right about this. The Department of Justice doesn't necessarily need to funnel. It doesn't need to be the DOJ as the entity. It doesn't need the fund to funnel the taxpayer money to Trump allies. Is there a way to do this despite the new document from Top Blanch? That's what you're saying?

[Joyce Vance]

Yeah, absolutely. You're correct about that. And the issue is this, if you're committed to doing what you want to do as opposed to respecting norms and laws, then there are a number of creative ways that the administration could find to do this. DOJ has a settlement fund that's typically reserved for paying, or rather a judgment fund that's used to pay judgments that are adverse to the departments where prosecutors have done something wrong, agents have done something wrong. And you could imagine, imagine wholesale abuse of those funds, which are a line item on DOJ's budget. There's actually, I think, unlimited access up to the amount that's needed to satisfy those sorts of judgments. So this administration could play loose and fast with that, among other mechanisms.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Yeah. And just a reminder to everybody that the nomination advanced out of committee. It's a 12 to 10 party line vote, but the full Senate vote, that's what Susan Collins is talking about. Could be as soon as this week. Joyce fans, thank you so much for being here on a very busy, very consequential day, particularly here in Michigan, but across the country, including in Washington, D.C. thank you.

[Election Worker]

Thanks.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Still ahead, everybody, I have a very special guest that will be a familiar face to many of you on the

primary fight here in Michigan and the youth vote.

I am so excited about this one, so stay with us for it.

Plus, absolutely stunning revelations on the Trump administration surveilling protesters.

We'll be right back.

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Back.

[Producer/Assistant]

We need answers. We need justice. We need truth. For the folks who are highly vulnerable in detention, I am pleading and begging the legislators to help us so we can push to get them released as soon as possible.

[Election Worker]

All right, listen up.

[Jacob Soboroff]

This is important. Activists today are protesting the death of yet another person while in ICE custody in this country as it's part of a wave of backlash And a wave of revulsion to Donald Trump's deportation agenda that is driving turnout in this midterm season, including here in Michigan. His name is 39 year old Edwin Lopez Cornejo and he died while in ICE custody at Delaney hall in New Jersey. That's a detention center that advocates, that advocates, excuse me, say have, has inhumane living conditions. He had a 12 year old daughter. ICE hasn't revealed the cause of his death. But During Donald Trump's second term, 54 people have died while in ICE custody. 54. Joining me now is Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, Democrat from New Jersey, where Delaney hall is located. The Congressman, you might remember is facing federal charges from the Trump Justice Department after she and other Democratic politicians tried

to visit Delaney Hall.

You're looking at that exchange there in a bid to exercise just some oversight over that facility last year. Congresswoman, it's good to see you. And I want to start with this awful news. Another immigrant dying while in ICE custody at Delaney Hall. What do you know? What is your reaction here?

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Well, it's heartbreaking. It is, you know, so sad. It's devastating and it's truly disturbing. But it's not surprising, Jacob. This is a pattern, you know, with this specific location, but also with the deaths that we see all across the country underneath Trump 2.0. It's horrible and it, it really should not be happening. No one should be losing their lives at these facilities. And at the same time, we're dealing with the same kind of behavior from ICE and from the detention centers. We're trying to get answers. We're calling, we're visiting, asking for explanations, and we're constantly getting the door shut on our face to demand answers regarding what happened to this gentleman. This is the second death at Delaney Hall. If you remember, last fall, early winter, Jean Wilson Brutus was murdered there after just being for 24 hours, literally came out in a body bag a healthy 42 year old Haitian immigrant. And this is why oversight is extremely important at these facilities.

[Voter Darnell]

Jacob?

[Jacob Soboroff]

Yeah, it's part of a pattern and I spoke about it on my show this weekend. The ACLU has two new reports out, one about the conduct and there's all this discovery of agents that have been out in the field and the racist language that they have used against people as they have gone across the country. But also abuses, alleged abuses inside these detention facilities like the one that we're talking about right now. You mentioned the word oversight. It's why I'm here in Michigan. If Democrats take back some power in the fall. How could oversight of these detention centers and honestly ICE overall change?

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Oh, it would change drastically with Dems being back in the majority. One, we would be holding people accountable, specifically calling them in front of different committees to hold them accountable. And that's part of what needs really to happen. We have people who are literally committing crimes at these locations, you know, engaging in cruelty and brutality at these facilities, and even those who are killing, you know, ICE agents who are killing people on the street in broad daylight in front of us and abusing them and beating them. I mean, this is horrible. And these matters need to be truly investigated. And we're not seeing that happening right now underneath Trump 2.0.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It's part of why we're talking about it right now. And I'm sure this happens to you. I was actually as a Madison Square Gardener last week, and a woman came up to me who was an employee there and said that she was grateful for us talking about what the immigrant experience is like in this country right now. Because too often we turn our heads away and we forget. And after family separation, it was called, you know, one of the most shameful chapters in the history of our country by a Republican appointed judge who stopped that policy, yet they're able to continue this, a mass deportation effort, on an exponentially larger scale. What do you hear from people? What do people say when they come up to you, not not just immigrants, but Americans as well, on this issue and how it's affecting how they're gonna come out to vote in the midterm elections?

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Well, people are exhausted. They're sad by what they see. They are angry about what they're seeing happening. And I hear people talk about it all the time, talking about how it's just not right. Especially when you hear about the inhumane treatment that is happening at these detention centers. Jacob. I mean, people are literally being mistreated, abused, not given proper food, not given medical att. And these are the kind of conditions that this country has talked about other countries doing for so long, about the brutality and cruelty and these other countries. And now the United States of America has become one of those countries where they are using your tax dollars and public dollars to literally, you know, participate in these inhumane activities and to and to implement cruelty. And it's, it's harm. It's just hurtful. We are better than this.

[Jacob Soboroff]

This.

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

It's sad to see the country at this state and to see Republicans in this administration and this president okay with that. This is not okay. This is wrong. And we should be Better people and should not be operating like this.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Your point is so well taken. And it is our taxpayer dollars. Not only is it our taxpayer dollars, but oftentimes, Congresswoman McIver, they're going to for profit companies. And I have said it once, and I will say it again. There is a prison for children in the United States of America and families. The Dilley Detention center in South Texas, owned and operated by a private company. You yourself, Congressman Joaquin Castro, so many people have been down there. It was closed during the Biden administration. It is reopened right now. Those are the types of detention centers when you talk about taxpayer dollars, that's what this is going to. Congresswoman McIver, thank you so much. Keep us posted on your case and all of the work you're doing. Thank you again. Appreciate it.

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Thank you, Jacob.

[Voter Darnell]

Thanks.

[Jacob Soboroff]

We turn now to a related story. I mentioned it earlier about protests against ICE raids as Americans all across the country turn against what they are seeing as brutal conduct by this government. This is a report from the Wall Street Journal. It is a bombshell. And it says ICE is actually, quote, weaponizing social media against its critics. They report this, quote, ICE has deployed a round the clock digital dragnet to scour the public Internet for speech that could endanger the agency's mission. But experts argue, quote, the approach has swept up people expressing opinions that are protected by the First Amendment. Joining me now is Hannah Critchfield from the Wall Street Journal, one of the reporters who broke this extraordinary story. Thank you for being here and thanks for talking about it with me. How does ISIS program just bare bones conflict with normal First Amendment protection?

[Election Worker]

So, you know, I just would say that the program that they've launched is in response to this massive increase in threats to its officers and their families. We spoke with folks that specialize in civil rights, defense attorneys who said that at times ICE has cracked down on online speech that is actually protected by the First Amendment. And you know, our reporting suggests that Reddit, one of these social media companies that ICE is monitoring through private contractors, at times pushed back because the agency had requested information about users who had posted speech that was critical of the federal government, but that Reddit determined was protected by the First Amendment. So it's, I think it really depends on who you ask, how this program is being used.

[Voter Olivia]

Right.

[Jacob Soboroff]

And I guess ultimately that's, that is sort of what is, what is important to note about your reporting. I want to, I want to read some more of it. You say to unmask anonymous online critics, the Department of Homeland Security has sent hundreds of subpoenas to social media companies. According to people familiar with the matter, its agents have tracked down Americans at work and on the road, asking them to sign letters acknowledging their online speech about id ice quote, may be a crime. So what happens if you sign that letter? If ICE shows up at your office? What does that mean for these Americans?

[Election Worker]

That's a great question. You know, we spoke with experts and former agency officials who said that these letters appear to be a new thing. They were not familiar with them being used previously, and they inform posters that, you know, this is what the law is. You may have broken the law. Sign this, and we may take it into consideration should you continue to break the law. I believe is a rough summary of what the. What the letter says. And this is interesting. We don't know why these are being used now, but one of the things that came up with constitutional experts is that the bar for criminal violations for sharing an ICE officer's information is actually pretty high. You need to have evidence of criminal intent. And so some of the folks we talked to theorize that these letters might be a way for DHS to start to build a case. If a user continues to express the kind of conduct that they've expressed online, and after signing that letter, it may be used to build evidence of criminal intent.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What experts tell you about, I mean, the obvious question here is what happens beyond ice? This is, you know, according to critics, criminalization or attempted criminalization of speech, of protected First Amendment rights. Here in Michigan, there's people talking about politics and Donald Trump and this administration. As I'm speaking to you right now, some of them are behind me. How fine is the line between these folks speaking out against ICE and people speaking out against the Trump administration generally?

[Election Worker]

It's an interesting question. I think that one of the things that came up in our reporting is, you know, DHS says we are investigating credible threats towards our employees, towards our officers, and towards our families. One of the.

[Joyce Vance]

The.

[Election Worker]

The sort of questions that I think remains from our reporting is what kind of oversight exists over this and what kind of reporting internally DHS is doing. I. I think I should note that the agency has successfully prosecuted a handful of Americans over online speech, including for threatening to kill ICE agents online. But one of the things that came up in our reporting is that a handful of people we identified whose identities had been the subject of these subpoenas from DHS have not yet faced any charges. So DHS has their identities, but at this time, you know, there hasn't been a criminal investigation or criminal charges filed beyond that. But the people that we spoke to.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Exactly.

[Election Worker]

There's still a chilling effect on their speech as a result of that.

[Jacob Soboroff]

It's such a critically important point. No charges against, at least at this point, the people they're investigating. And if you care about democracy, you don't even have to care about ICE or what's happening in this country. Although I urge you to. This is something that everybody should be paying attention to. This incredible reporting from Hannah Critchfield from the Wall Street Journal. Thank you so much.

[Congresswoman LaMonica McIver]

Much.

[Joyce Vance]

Thank you.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Up next, I will have a very, very special guest here in Michigan to talk all about this critical primary.

It'll put a smile on your face when you see him.

Stay with us.

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[Jacob Soboroff]

We are back with our special coverage of the Michigan Senate election and I am joined by a very, very special guest, Marcus Johnson. Marcus is a political science major at Michigan's Oakland University. Marcus went VIRAL during the 2024 campaign, you might remember, for absolutely dismantling J.D. vance's argument that Kamala Harris, as the vice president of the United States, should have somehow implemented her own policy ideas.

[Ali Belshi]

Watch.

[Abdul El Sayed]

If anybody took high school civics class, they'd know what the vice president can do and what the vice president can. I want to make a quick point. Neither candidate on that stage talked about what executive action they're going to take on day one to do what they want. Nor were they asked because they know that they can't. That's not how the vice presidency works. You don't get to do what you want. You do what The President delegates you

[Senator John Cornyn]

to do

[Jacob Soboroff]

Marcus Johnson. The great Marcus Johnson joins me now. I'm so happy to see you.

[Abdul El Sayed]

It's always good to see you.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Jake, what's going on before we get into today's election? Are you confident now that JD Vance understands the limits to the power that the Vice President, United States has?

[Abdul El Sayed]

No, I'm about as confident in that as I'm confident that this grass is blue.

[Jacob Soboroff]

So not.

[Abdul El Sayed]

Not a shot? No.

[Jacob Soboroff]

I talked to some on my show. I talked to some good friends of yours on the broadcast the other day about young people voting in Michigan. And Michigan, a lot of people don't know, has some of the highest youth voter turnout in the entire country. It seems like the young people that I speak with are trending towards Abdul El Sayed. Do I have an accurate read on. On that?

[Abdul El Sayed]

I'd say so. I've tried to find one who wasn't and I was not very successful. For the sake of your show, I think I can answer your question with a question. Okay, I didn't watch the clip, but correct me if I'm wrong. Did you reach out to the Congresswoman's office about how she's engaging with young voters?

[Jacob Soboroff]

That's exactly right. We asked Congresswoman Stevens, who appeared with Rev Al on his show, to come on the show, but she didn't come on my show.

[Voter Olivia]

Yeah.

[Abdul El Sayed]

You didn't get much from that, did you?

[Jacob Soboroff]

Well, why do you bring it up?

[Abdul El Sayed]

Well, I only say that because it's sort of indicative of the experience young voters have had. When it comes to the two candidates who's engaging with younger voters, young people

[Jacob Soboroff]

don't feel like they're relating to Representative Stevens.

[Abdul El Sayed]

No. And from my experience, I haven't really heard much from her in a lot of youth circles. I know she's investing a lot of time in many other circles, especially the black community in Detroit, but as far as the youth circles go, I've not really heard much.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Now, Abdul El Sayed is talking a lot about big money interests and he has been outspent by just an extraordinary margin when it comes to outside money. 10 tens of millions of dollars to virtually none for him. AIPAC and Israel Gaza are sort of central to that conversation, but it is a lot of other corporate interests. Is that the thing that's drawing young people to it?

[Abdul El Sayed]

Oh, it's definitely a big one.

[Jacob Soboroff]

What else are people talking about?

[Abdul El Sayed]

I think part of it is you have a generation that's not really pleased with the status quo. So you have to look at the candidates and Ask who's representing the status quo that we don't want and who wants to change that. I invite you to evaluate the difference.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Well, and that's the question, I guess, in the end. And I was at Eastern Market today. It was such an amazing place. It was so cool. And most of the people that I spoke with, even the ones who were gonna go for Abdul El sayed to me, I'm gonna go for Haley Stevens when it comes to the general election because we wanna take down Mike Rogers, we wanna take back the Senate, we wanna stand up to Donald Trump. Are young people also in that category? Or do you believe young people might stay home? Shit. Abdul El Sayad not win tonight?

[Abdul El Sayed]

I've talked to some who have told me they would rather see a term from Mike Rogers than to see Haley Stevens win.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Wow.

[Abdul El Sayed]

So I'll let you take that information with what you can do with it.

[Jacob Soboroff]

You parlayed your appearance with us on the vice presidential debate night into becoming the head of the student body president of Oakland University and Oakland University. Oakland county is a critical, critical place when it comes to the presidential election, but also to the midterms. What do you think? Which way does Oakland county go in this election? Election?

[Abdul El Sayed]

I don't know. I would say Congresswoman Stevens has represented Oakland county in Congress for a long time. So I imagine the investments she spent there are going to pay off for her. In the end, it inevitably gets down to the youth voter turnout.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Marcus Johnson, one of the great political philosophers. I know. It's so great to see you. Thank you for being here and we'll check in with you on the next election.

[Abdul El Sayed]

No, I got you.

[Jacob Soboroff]

Okay, we'll see you. That does it for this edition of the Beat. Full team coverage of tonight's primary starts at 8pm Eastern. But first, stay with us. The weeknight is up next. Next, I'll see you on our special coverage.

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