In this episode of Santa Clarita Weekly, we examine the fault lines in American democracy — from Trump’s tariffs and their impact on jobs, to his call to “nationalize” elections, to a looming partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. We connect these national fights to Santa Clarita, including controversial positions taken by local City Council candidate Denise Lite, and what they reveal about voting rights and civil liberties. We close by reflecting on what this moment means for democracy and how we move forward together