David Frum opened this week’s episode of The David Frum Show by condemning a racist AI video of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama that was briefly posted on President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account before being deleted. He then welcomed former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer to discuss the ongoing election‑denial narrative, the Trump administration’s activities in Georgia and upcoming threats to election integrity in 2026.
Trump’s Rhetoric and Election‑Denial Tactics
Frum noted that the president’s apply of an “internet troll” style post undermines any legitimate actions taken by his administration. Richer, a Republican who served as Maricopa County’s chief election official from January 2021 to December 2024, described how he was pressured to endorse false claims about the 2020 election and faced repeated allegations in 2022 and 2024.
Richer explained that a pending affidavit in Fulton County, Georgia, could soon reveal why a federal warrant was issued, but he could not confirm whether the FBI’s involvement aims merely at prosecuting individuals or at a broader effort to challenge the 2020 results. He also addressed fringe theories linking Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to alleged “magic” voting technology and the belief that companies such as Smartmatic and Dominion were tied to former President Hugo Chávez.
According to Richer, the case of Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, convicted under Colorado state law, illustrates how Trump may leverage federal influence—such as pulling funds from Colorado or vetoing a water bill—to aid allies despite constitutional limits on presidential pardons.
How U.S. Elections Are Run
Richer walked through the day‑to‑day process: voters either hand‑mark a paper ballot or use a touchscreen that prints a paper record, which is then fed into a tabulator. The resulting paper ballots and the tabulator’s memory device are sealed in tamper‑proof packaging and taken to a central counting facility, where bipartisan teams verify that the number of scanned ballots matches the physical count.
He emphasized that 98 percent of American voters cast paper ballots, which are later audited by bipartisan observers. In Maricopa County’s 2024 presidential election, about 2.6 million registered voters were served by more than 3,000 temporary workers, illustrating the scale of staffing needed to safeguard the vote.
Richer noted that the United States has roughly 9,000 separate voting jurisdictions, meaning any large‑scale conspiracy would require the participation of thousands of individuals—an implausible scenario given the difficulty of maintaining secrecy.
Legislative Proposals Targeting Election Administration
Republicans are advancing several bills, including the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote, changing the current practice of a simple attestation under penalty of law. Richer expressed concern that the premise of widespread non‑citizen voting is unsupported by evidence.
The MEGA Act, another Republican initiative, seeks to ban ranked‑choice voting, prohibit universal mail‑ballot distribution, and restrict post‑Election‑Day mail‑in ballots, effectively federalizing many aspects of election administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the racist AI video that sparked controversy?
The video depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in a scurrilous, racist manner and was posted on President Trump’s Truth Social account before being quickly deleted.
What does the SAVE Act propose?
The SAVE Act would require voters to present documented proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote, replacing the current requirement of a simple attestation under penalty of law.
How many people helped run the 2024 Maricopa County election?
For the 2024 presidential election, Maricopa County served about 2.6 million registered voters with the assistance of more than 3,000 temporary workers across voting locations, warehouses, signature verification, and ballot handling.
What steps can citizens grab to better understand and protect the integrity of their local elections?
