Dr Lauren Prather talks about the US internal political landscape, ongoing litigation over ballot access and redistricting, as well as debates over federal versus state control of elections and the effect on public trust, institutional legitimacy, and the broader stability of US democracy. Dr Lauren Prather is Associate Professor of Political Science at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy and co-Director of the Centre for Transparent and Trusted Elections.

In this session, Dr Lauren Prather analyses the complex US political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms. During the interview, Dr Prather investigates people’s sentiments regarding the SAVE America Act and its impact on individuals who may not have access to proof of citizenship. She also addresses the possibility of President Trump postponing or influencing the election to keep control over the representative institutions and the effect of the current US-Israeli operations in Iran, claiming that if the US’s active involvement decreases or ceases, it will have no impact on the midterms.

Interviewers: Federico Sergio and Anurag Mishra - US Team