2020 US election

Observers warn the days between the US midterms and final vote counts — the so-called 'counting window' — could be exploited by Donald Trump to cast doubt on results he dislikes, echoing his 2020 election fraud claims. The Guardian's First Thing briefing highlights the delayed-count period as the most vulnerable moment for baseless fraud allegations to spread and for officials to face pressure over certification.

Kurt Olsen, a lawyer who worked to challenge the 2020 US election results on behalf of Donald Trump, has left the Justice Department. Olsen had been serving at the department and was known for pursuing election fraud claims that courts repeatedly rejected. His departure is drawing attention from critics of Trump's efforts to overturn the election and from observers tracking political influence inside the department.

A Maricopa County election official spoke with NPR about the county's efforts to address public mistrust in election security. The discussion centered on steps Arizona's most populous county is taking to reassure voters about the integrity of its election processes, an issue that has drawn sustained scrutiny in the state since 2020.

Former special counsel Jack Smith, who prosecuted Donald Trump in two federal cases, is set to testify before US senators and say he will not be silenced by threats of prosecution. Smith faces calls from Trump allies for his own prosecution over the cases. His appearance comes amid ongoing controversy over the investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents.

Discussion is circulating about a government-developed AI system and what it says about the 2020 US presidential election. The claim drawing attention is that the system has addressed the election, an area where federal agencies have generally avoided direct comment. There is no additional factual detail available about what the AI stated, which agency built it, or how officials have responded.

Kurt Olsen, an attorney known for promoting claims that the 2020 election was stolen, has left the Department of Justice after failing to uncover evidence of election fraud. Coverage by Democracy Docket highlights the departure as the latest setback for efforts to substantiate stolen-election allegations. The move has drawn attention given Olsen's prominent role in pushing unfounded election conspiracy claims.

The Justice Department has indicted 10 noncitizens as part of an effort to substantiate President Trump's claims of widespread election fraud. Reporting frames the indictments as a search for evidence supporting assertions that noncitizens voted illegally. Critics see the move as politically motivated, while supporters view it as accountability. Details of the charges and the defendants' alleged conduct remain limited so far.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who led the federal investigations into Donald Trump, is the subject of renewed focus in Congress. Lawmakers are examining his work on the classified documents and 2020 election cases, both of which were dropped after Trump's election victory. Coverage across regional US outlets shows interest in whether Smith will answer questions about his decisions and the handling of the cases.