Politics and views in the United States

Speaker Mike Johnson says he’ll accept the midterm election results, though President Trump may not, voters are feeling a strong sense of apathy leading up to Election Day, and Puerto Rico's Governor signs a bill asking Congress to admit the island as a state.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

The Constitution says when a state certifies the election of members of Congress and they're administered the oath, that's what I'll be doing on January 3rd to everybody who's there.

I may not like some of those outcomes, but that's our system.

And for anybody to suggest otherwise is absurd.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says he'll accept the midterm election results and remains optimistic Republicans will retain control of Congress.

But this puts him in direct contrast with President Donald Trump, who says he'd only the results, quote, if they're honest elections.

Trump and his administration are casting doubt on election integrity despite data showing elections have never been more secure.

It comes after Trump ordered the Justice Department to prevent Alaska from certifying results in its Senate race if incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan loses.

Polls show Democrats are poised to gain seats in both chambers of Congress, but it's uncertain what they'll accomplish with a Republican president who may veto much of the legislation they pass and possibly not gaining enough Senate seats to break a GOP filibuster.

Voters' frustration in some states is morphing into Election Day apathy.

Alabama has one of the highest voter registration rates in the nation, but only 23 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the May primaries.

Older voters say they're frustrated after redistricting negated some primary votes in state Senate races.

Kenesha Brown is with the Roll Into the Polls Voting Initiative, a nonpartisan group.

She says apathy is the real barrier this year, but they're fighting back with education and information.

We also educate on what's on the ballot and who's on the ballot.

For example, we have been pushing out information on constitutional amendments and local ballot measures that will be on the ballot this November election.

The Department of Labor is finishing its work rescinding a 60-year-old executive order that established requirements for non-discriminatory practices in hiring and employing U.S. government contractors.

President Trump rescinded the initial order last year as part of his administration's work to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Dr. Kate Bond is with the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

While the administration continues to deny the prevalence of workplace discrimination, decades of research consistently show systemic bias and racism remain a persistent and structural reality.

Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon signed a joint resolution calling for Congress to admit the island territory as a state.

This is a first because it's not coming from any territory-wide referendum, but rather legislation passed by Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly.

Polls show this is a make-or-break issue for midterm candidates among Hispanic Americans and Puerto Ricans on the mainland, but some concerns about making Puerto Rico a state include what the partisan makeup of the island's congressional representatives would be.

Martín Rivera, with the Puerto Rico Statehood Council, considers the island more of a swing state.

There are conservatives, there are progressives on the island, and I feel that for either party, Democrat or Republican, they have an electorate there that is attainable.

However, for the political parties, they need to be aware of those gains that are possible.

Since 2012, Puerto Rico has voted four times on its status, with statehood winning out.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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