Trump casts latest suspicion on US midterm elections

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe shark at least waited to be asked before biting. Anyway, the president says he'll accept the midterm results if the elections are honest.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat sounds reasonable on its face. Everybody wants honest elections. What's the catch?

3. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe catch is who decides.

4. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorReporters asked at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland whether he'd accept the results, and he said, quote, I will, if they're honest elections.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd then what? Did he explain what honest means?

6. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTruthout reports he walked away from reporters after that, seemingly to avoid follow-up questions. He then flew to rallies in Texas.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the follow-up question is still sitting there.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOn the tarmac, yes. Now, how did we get here? He said in February he'd accept the midterms only if he deemed them honest.

9. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHe added that otherwise, quote, something else has to happen.

10. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHe told a Milwaukee paper in May of twenty twenty-four the same about the presidential race, if everything's honest.

11. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSame sentence, two years apart.

12. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIt's a very durable sentence.

13. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe Hill also reports a Truth Social post saying the only way Michele Tafoya can lose in Minnesota is if they cheat by playing games with the ballots.

14. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo who does this actually affect? Regular voters, right?

15. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorEveryone who votes. Yahoo News says polling points to a possible blue wave, with Democrats widely favored to win the House.

16. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo a loss is on the table, and he's already got a condition.

17. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorMinnesota Senator Tina Smith says he's laying the groundwork to steal the election.

18. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThat's her accusation, and I assume the view from his side is that he's just asking for honest elections.

19. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIs there anyone in his own party saying something different?

20. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHouse Speaker Mike Johnson, per CNN, committed to a peaceful transfer of power in Congress if Democrats win.

21. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWell, that's a clear answer. Good for him.

22. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIt is, and it's the only one I can see without an if attached. There's no if attached.

23. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat should folks watch for next?

24. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWhether he ever defines honest before election day, and what he means by something else has to happen. Nobody has said yet.

25. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the one-sentence version: he'll accept the midterms if they're honest.

26. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAnd honest is whatever he says it is. Here we go.

27. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBut who judges honest, Dale? Is there a referee?

28. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAsk him. Though he's already walking to the helicopter.