The Biggest Election Story Just Got Sent On A Flash Drive. Also: Hegseth Might Be Cooked.

18 days to November 3rd. Two stories today, both of which tell you exactly where we are. The DOJ sent letters to California's Secretary of State and the head of elections in Los Angeles County demanding they purge more than 190,000 alleged noncitizens from the voter rolls in 48 hours, with 18 days to the election and millions of ballots already sent. The list was on a flash drive. The password was handwritten on a Post-It note stuck to the letter. LA County has 5.8 million registered voters, more than 27 states. Federal law requires individual voter reviews during the 90-day quiet period before an election. The head of elections in LA County said they haven't plugged in the drive because they don't know what's on it and it could be a security risk. The DOJ's track record on voter data lawsuits is 0 for 26. When states have used DHS information to find alleged noncitizen voters, error rates have ranged from 20% in Texas to 100% in Nevada. By noon today California hadn't complied and the DOJ sued, with the list now somehow shrunk to 20,000 names. Grant explains why California specifically, why now, and why this is the administration chumming the waters to claim fraud in a state with 52 House seats. Then: Trump called off the Fort Hood shooter's public execution by livestream after 8 days of near-universal backlash, including 80% of Americans, 64% of Republicans, 67% of veterans, and the Pope. The reason he actually pulled back had nothing to do with principle: he didn't know the man was in a wheelchair, and he doesn't like how people with disabilities look on television. The national security argument that the clip would be used to make a martyr helped. But the political fallout lands on Pete Hegseth, who announced the execution gleefully and made it about himself rather than Trump. When members of this administration stop putting their loyalty to Trump above everything else, they get shown the door. Hegseth has a problem. **CHAPTERS:** The DOJ's California voter purge demand: 190,000 names, 48 hours, 18 days before the election 2:00 The flash drive on a Post-It: what was actually in the envelope and why LA County won't plug it in 4:00 Basic math: 5.8 million registered voters, the 90-day quiet period, and why this is physically impossible 6:00 The DOJ's track record: 0 for 26 on voter data lawsuits, 20% error in Texas, 100% error in Nevada 7:30 California sues back: the list shrinks to 20,000 and why Article One makes this unconstitutional 9:00 Why California and why now: 52 House seats, the ICE operation already running, and chumming the waters for fraud claims 11:30 What happens if the judge says yes and what happens if the judge says no 13:00 Sponsor break. **VOTE.ORG** 14:30 Trump calls off the Fort Hood execution livestream: what changed in 8 days 16:00 The polling: 80% of Americans opposed, 64% of Republicans, 67% of veterans, the Pope 17:30 The real reason Trump backed down: a wheelchair, TV ratings, and a national security argument 19:00 10 to 20 million Americans who wanted to watch: what we have to reckon with about that 20:30 Why this is Hegseth's problem: he made it about himself, stole the spotlight, and handed Trump an embarrassment 22:00 "Severe problems." What Trump said at a Rose Garden event today and what it might mean. 23:30  When cabinet members stop making it about Trump, they get shown the door. Hegseth’s pattern fits. Support the show **Follow along on social media**  SaySo: @GrantHermes  X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant\_\_Hermes Tiktok: Grant\_Hermes