Overview of SCOTUS Hears Arguments on Mail-In Ballots, Trump Eyes Cuba, ICE Deploys to Airports: AM Update 3/24
This AM Update (SiriusXM, Megan Kelly — March 24, 2026) summarizes three major stories: the Supreme Court heard a high‑stakes case about whether mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later can be counted; the Trump administration is openly discussing tough measures toward Cuba, including possible regime‑change options; and ICE agents are being deployed to major U.S. airports to assist TSA amid a partial DHS shutdown that has caused large staff absences and long security lines. The show also covers President Trump’s Memphis visit touting a federal task force crackdown on violent crime.
Supreme Court case on late‑arriving mail‑in ballots
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What’s at issue
- The Court heard challenges to a 2020 Mississippi law that counts mail‑in ballots if postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days afterward.
- Plaintiffs (RNC, Mississippi GOP, a voter and a county official, later joined by Libertarian Party of Mississippi) argue a federal statute establishes a single national “Election Day” (the Tuesday after the first Monday in November) and that ballots must be received on that day.
- Mississippi argues “the election” occurs when voters cast ballots (i.e., when postmarked), not when officials receive/count them, so timely postmarking satisfies federal law.
- The constitutional tension: states control times/places/manner of elections, but Congress can set rules for federal elections.
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How oral arguments went
- Several conservative justices (Thomas, Roberts, Barrett) pressed Mississippi’s solicitor general with skeptical questioning about the limits of postmark‑based finality and vote delegation (e.g., handing ballots to neighbors).
- Justice Alito emphasized the ordinary meaning of the phrase “Election Day” as a single day; Justice Kagan questioned whether the challengers’ view would also undercut early voting; Justices Alito and Kavanaugh raised concerns about late counts undermining public confidence.
- Mississippi counsel maintained there’s little evidence late mail ballots produce fraud.
- The case drew lines over whether voting must both be cast and received on Election Day for federal general elections.
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Wider impact and expert view
- About 18 states plus D.C. currently allow late‑arriving, postmarked‑by‑Election‑Day ballots; a ruling against Mississippi could force changes in those jurisdictions for federal general elections.
- Thomas Lane (America First Policy Institute) told the show the case affects only the federal general election in November (not primaries) and predicted the Court will likely strike down Mississippi’s receipt deadline — suggesting a 5‑4 or 6‑3 majority to invalidate it.
- A decision is expected by late June.
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Key quotes
- Justice Alito on the phrase “Election Day”: “If I have nothing more to look at than the phrase election day, I think this is the day in which everything is going to take place.”
- Justice Kagan on early voting: pointing out the challengers’ view could call early voting into question.
- Justice Thomas/Roberts/Barrett pressed on how and when a vote becomes final.
Trump, Cuba and talk of regime change
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Recent developments
- Cuba has suffered repeated nationwide blackouts and a failing power grid amid fuel shortages and reduced Venezuelan support.
- President Trump publicly spoke about “taking Cuba” and suggested he could act against the regime; Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly leading negotiations and tying sanctions relief to sweeping reforms, including removal of President Miguel Díaz‑Canel.
- The Atlantic reported an administration official saying “regime change is lined up,” possibly modeled on a Venezuela‑style approach that removes the head of state while preserving parts of governing structures aligned with U.S. interests.
- Cuban officials warn they are preparing militarily for possible aggression.
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Context
- U.S. sanctions on Cuba date to the 1960s and have been tightened in recent years to target finance, tourism, and energy.
- Cuba relied heavily on subsidized Venezuelan oil; recent U.S.-backed actions against Maduro have reduced that support and worsened Cuban shortages.
- The administration’s language and reported planning mark a significant escalation in rhetoric and potential policy options.
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Notable quotes
- President Trump: “I do believe I'll be the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba... Taking Cuba. Taking Cuba in some form, yeah. Taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I can do anything I want with it.”
ICE deployed to airports amid DHS funding impasse
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What happened
- Between 100 and 150 ICE agents were sent to 14 major airports (including Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta Hartsfield‑Jackson, Houston George Bush Intercontinental) to support overwhelmed TSA staff during a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
- ICE personnel are assigned to non‑screening roles: crowd control, monitoring exit lanes, ID checks — freeing TSA officers to focus on security screening.
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Why it matters
- TSA is facing a staffing crisis during the shutdown: more than 3,450 TSA officers failed to report on a single recent Sunday (about 11% of scheduled workforce); some airports reported call‑out rates of 37–42%.
- Operational impacts have included multi‑hour security lines. Examples from the broadcast:
- George Bush Intercontinental: wait times topped 3–4 hours with only two of eight checkpoints open.
- Atlanta Hartsfield‑Jackson: wait times improved from 3–4 hours to about 40 minutes after interventions.
- The effectiveness of ICE deputies varied by airport.
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Political angle
- The deployment occurred as Congress remains deadlocked on DHS funding. President Trump urged Senate Republicans to tie any DHS funding deal to the SAVE/Save America Act (voter ID, proof of citizenship), urging Republicans not to “settle” without election‑integrity provisions.
Memphis Safe Task Force and crime crackdown
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Overview
- President Trump highlighted the Interagency Memphis Safe Task Force (established in September) for combating violent crime in Memphis.
- Officials presented claimed results over ~six months: thousands of arrests, seizures and reductions in major crimes.
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Key figures reported by the administration (as presented on the show)
- Arrests and charges highlighted in recent reporting: dozens of homicide charges (44 cited), hundreds of drug and gang‑related offenses (812 drug offenses; 757 gang‑related offenses), more than 1,200 illegal firearms seized, and 150 missing children recovered.
- Claimed crime reductions: 43% reduction in total serious crimes, 37% in murder, 40% in sexual assault, 56% in robbery, 68% in motor vehicle thefts, and a 65% increase in solvability of crimes.
- Administration emphasized arrests of gang members (770+ cited) and high‑profile prosecutions.
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Notes
- Some transcript numbers were unclear; the summary uses the figures as reported by officials during the event.
Key takeaways
- The Supreme Court case could reshape mail‑in voting rules for the federal general election and affect 18 states + D.C. if the Court bars postmarked‑by‑Election‑Day but late‑received ballots; a decision is due by late June.
- The Trump administration’s rhetoric and planning on Cuba signal a possible hardline push, with discussion of “regime change” options tied to sanctions and conditions for relief.
- DHS shutdown effects are severe enough that ICE personnel are being used at airports; staffing shortages at TSA have produced multi‑hour lines at some hubs, and funding negotiations remain contentious.
- The Memphis task force is being showcased as an example of the administration’s law‑and‑order priorities, with officials citing large arrests and claimed drops in violent crime.
What to watch next
- Late June: Supreme Court opinion on the Mississippi mail‑in ballot dispute.
- Congressional negotiations on DHS funding and whether any package will include the SAVE/Save America Act provisions.
- Any formal White House policy announcements regarding Cuba or follow‑through on reported regime‑change planning.
- Continued operational impacts at major airports and whether further federal personnel deployments will be needed.
Sponsors & production notes
- The episode included sponsor reads for IXL, Shopify, Relief Factor, and Angie — typical for the AM Update format. Numbers and some quoted lines in the transcript had minor transcription glitches; where possible the summary presents corrected context and flags unclear figures.