Experts warn Republicans may try to sow distrust and claim ‘foreign interference’ in crucial hours after counting begins. Plus, two pandas have a new home thanks to US-China diplomacy Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Election experts have warned that Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results after struggling to enforce the crackdown it wanted on voting. After a succession of court setbacks to plans to restrict voting access, and with less than six weeks remaining until polls close, the post-election “counting window” is being seen as a particularly vulnerable moment by former US federal government officials. How might Republicans cause doubt over results? Caitlin Durkov