The Hound | May 11

Hi there,

It’s Monday. The GOP’s efforts to redraw maps in southern states has led to mass voter confusion, with voters not knowing what district they’re in, what candidates are running, or even when primary elections are. Hawaii’s legislature passed a bill combatting corporate money in state elections — a first-in-the-nation effort to fight Citizens United. Donald Trump and his allies are increasingly signaling efforts to challenge, undermine, or delegitimize the 2026 midterm elections before votes are even cast.

From attacks on mail voting and election administration to rhetoric suggesting unfavorable outcomes would be illegitimate, these actions are not isolated political complaints—they are part of a broader effort to shape the rules and public perception of the election itself. Yet too much media coverage treats these developments as campaign strategy, partisan messaging, or political spectacle rather than confronting the democratic stakes. When threats to election integrity are framed as routine politics, the public is left without a clear understanding of how trust in elections can be eroded long before Election Day.

🖊️ Add your name to call on major news organizations to cover these efforts with urgency and clarity—examining how attacks on election systems, voting access, and certification processes could affect the 2026 midterms.

The public deserves reporting that clearly explains when democratic norms are under pressure and who stands to benefit from undermining confidence in elections.

Read about this, and more, with today’s stories:

Trump Blurts Out Vile Plot to Steal Midterms as Polls Take Brutal Turn (The New Republic)

Voter confusion and headaches for election officials follow hasty GOP push to redraw US House seats (AP News)

Hawaii Legislature passes first-in-nation bill targeting Citizens United ruling (Courthouse News Service)

Surveillance Reform Hinges on How Congress Defines ‘Query’ (The American Prospect)

As ranks of uninsured grow, charity care can be hard to come by at many hospitals (NPR)

Puerto Rico Lawmakers Call for Investigation Into Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report (ProPublica)

Plugging Away at the Millions of Derelict Oil and Gas Wells in the US (Inside Climate News)

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

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