Impolitic with John Heilemann Marc Elias: Start the Steal
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Feb 16, 2026 
Marc Elias, a leading Democratic election lawyer who founded Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket, breaks down threats to U.S. voting. Healyzes Trump’s talk of taking over elections and tactics like local intimidation, ICE near polls, and voter ID laws. Discusses Pam Bondi’s conduct and legal strategies to defend voter access.
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Trump's Election Interference Signals Are Serious
- Trump repeatedly signals he intends to interfere with midterm elections by suggesting cancellation or federal takeover.
- Marc Elias warns these statements show serious intent and must be taken both literally and politically.
The Real Target: Counting And Certification
- Elias sees the current threat as more focused on controlling post-election counting and certification.
- He argues Trump learned from 2020 and aims at who counts and certifies ballots, not just registration rules.
Don't Take Grand Jury Rejections As A Fix
- Grand jury no-bills don't prove the system reliably blocks politicized prosecutions.
- Elias cautions against complacency because grand juries usually indict and are swayed by prosecutors.