Overview of The Art of the Steal (Vox)
This episode examines how former president Donald Trump's continuing fixation on the 2020 election is shaping actions inside the White House and across federal agencies in 2026 — and how those efforts could influence the 2026 midterms. Reporters from The Wall Street Journal and CNN describe a coordinated push inside the administration to investigate and “prove” 2020 fraud claims, the use of federal power to pressure states for voting data, and growing alarm among Democrats and state election officials about possible intimidation or interference.
Key points / main takeaways
- Trump remains obsessed with overturning the accepted outcome of the 2020 election and is using government resources to chase that narrative even after winning in 2024.
- The White House has reportedly assigned high-level officials (cited in the episode: Tulsi Gabbard as DNI and a lawyer Kurt Olsen) to investigate ballots and push fraud claims—sometimes involving direct interactions between the president and FBI agents on active searches.
- The Department of Justice has litigated to obtain state voter rolls and other registration data from multiple states; some interactions have raised ethical concerns (e.g., a reported offer to pull back ICE enforcement in exchange for voter data).
- Trump publicly floated nationalizing voting in “15 places,” an idea widely criticized as unconstitutional and alarming to state election administrators.
- Election officials, especially Democratic secretaries of state, are preparing contingency plans and are fearful of federal intimidation tactics (ICE deployments, law enforcement shows of force) that could suppress turnout.
- Nonpartisan election experts say the system is resilient with many safeguards (local election workers, courts, bipartisan officials), but they recommend taking threats seriously given recent history.
- Republicans inside government largely do not publicly rein in Trump; some back his voter-integrity priorities even if many operatives believe the 2020 focus is politically unhelpful for midterms.
Topics discussed
- Inside-White-House efforts to validate 2020 fraud claims (personnel, coordination with DOJ and FBI)
- Fulton County, Georgia ballot seizure and the broader Georgia recount/legal history
- Past and present legal efforts and lawsuits by Trump and allies to challenge election outcomes
- Targeting of perceived political enemies via the justice system (examples: James Comey, Tish James, Adam Schiff, Jack Smith as discussed by sources)
- Trump’s public statements about “nationalizing” voting and his remarks at events (e.g., National Prayer Breakfast) framing 2024/2020 as ego/legacy issues
- DOJ suits demanding voter registration data from multiple states and the political/ethical questions raised
- Potential tactics that could influence the midterms: litigation, data demands, ICE or federal deployments, threats that could depress turnout
- Assessment from election-administration experts on system resilience and safeguards
Notable quotes and passages
- On motivation: “I had to win it. I had to win it. I needed it for my own ego.” — attributed to Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast (as quoted in the episode).
- On nationalization idea: “The Republicans should say we want to take over… We should nationalize the voting… 15 places.” — paraphrase of Trump’s public comments reported in the show.
- On DOJ/state tension: reporting that Attorney General Pam Bondi (as described) sent a letter offering to pull back ICE from Minnesota in exchange for voter rolls — framed as a quid pro quo that scared election officials.
Implications and risks
- Political: Continued fixation on 2020 could be politically damaging for Republicans in midterms, but rhetoric and partial administrative moves may energize core supporters.
- Electoral integrity: Legal actions to access voter rolls and aggressive federal involvement risk creating administrative chaos, privacy concerns, and potential voter intimidation—even if not all threats materialize into concrete suppression.
- Institutional norms: Putting partisan disputes at the center of federal agencies (DOJ, DNI, FBI) can erode trust in nonpartisan institutions and increase polarization around basic election administration.
- Voter behavior: Threats of enforcement or last-minute federal action could depress turnout among intimidated or uncertain voters, creating a “soft” avenue for altering outcomes even without blatant fraud.
What experts recommend / next steps (implied)
- For election officials and states: bolster legal defenses and contingency plans, protect sensitive voter data, and coordinate with bipartisan partners to maintain election administration continuity.
- For journalists and watchdogs: closely follow DOJ lawsuits for voter data, the reported role of administration officials in ballot investigations, and any deployments that could affect voter participation.
- For voters and civic groups: be aware of potential intimidation tactics, verify official guidance from local election offices, and encourage turnout through reliable information and voter-protection resources.
- For lawmakers: consider legislative or oversight responses to protect state control of elections and guard against misuse of federal powers in election administration.
Bottom line
The episode argues that Trump’s campaign to rewrite 2020 is an active, government-backed project in 2026 that goes beyond rhetoric—creating legal battles, data grabs, and fears of intimidation that could affect the midterms. While election experts emphasize institutional resilience and multiple safeguards, the combination of federal pressure and public threats is being taken seriously by state officials and poses tangible risks to voter confidence and turnout.