Slate News What Next - Trump Starts the Steal
Feb 9, 2026
Ari Berman, a voting rights reporter and author focused on American elections, explains why Fulton County matters to Trump and the strange details of the FBI raid. He outlines how seized ballots and legal changes could reshape control of state elections. He also traces tactics that could spread to other states and what legislative fights might follow.
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Raid As Prelude To Future Election Battles
- The Fulton County raid signals a broader attempt to target 2020 officials and shape future elections, not just re-litigate the past.
- Ari Berman warns this could be the opening move in a campaign to undermine electoral legitimacy ahead of 2026.
Officials Who Won't Say No
- The administration has staffed agencies with people unlikely to resist Trump's election grievances.
- Ari Berman says that creates a far greater danger now because officials who might have checked abuses are gone.
Georgia As Trump's Obsession
- Fulton County became a fixation because Trump demanded Georgia officials "find" thousands of ballots to flip the state in 2020.
- The raid removed 656 boxes of 2020 ballots and left many local questions unanswered about custody and purpose.