The Art of the Steal - Today, Explained Recap
Podcast: Today, Explained
Published: 2026-02-09
Duration: 26 minutes
Guests: Josh Dawson, Marshall Cohen
Summary
President Trump remains focused on the 2020 election, leveraging government resources to investigate alleged fraud and influence future elections.
What Happened
President Trump has continued his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results by appointing Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, tasking her with proving he won the election. This has involved the federal government seizing voting ballots in Georgia and Trump directly communicating with FBI officials during investigations, reflecting an unusual level of presidential involvement in such matters.
Despite previous investigations and recounts indicating no widespread fraud, Trump has hired Curt Olson to continue probing these claims, even as many legal battles have been lost. The episode highlights that Trump's obsession with the 2020 election is influencing his approach to the 2026 midterm elections, with potential plans to nationalize or cancel them.
Republicans, traditionally supportive of Trump, have expressed concern over his recent actions, fearing they might harm their chances in the midterms. This concern is exacerbated by incidents like Trump's posting of a racist video, which he later removed after significant backlash.
Trump's administration has also targeted individuals who previously investigated him, such as James Comey and Tis James, attempting to bring charges against them, though these efforts have largely failed.
Despite winning the 2024 election, Trump remains intent on invalidating the 2020 results for personal reasons, claiming his ego demands it. This relentless focus on past grievances continues to shape his narrative and policies.
Marshall Cohen from CNN discusses how Trump's false claims about the 2020 election are influencing his view of the 2026 midterms. Trump has suggested nationalizing elections in certain states, a move deemed unconstitutional, yet reflects his intent to control election outcomes.
Democrats are alarmed by Trump's rhetoric and potential actions, strategizing to counter his influence. Republicans, while supportive of some election integrity measures, are not as concerned, often providing Trump with political cover.
Overall, the episode paints a picture of a president using his power to address personal vendettas and reshape election processes, raising concerns about the integrity of future elections.
Key Insights
- Trump's still fixated on proving he won the 2020 election, so much so that he appointed Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence to dig up evidence. This obsession has led to seizing Georgia ballots and his direct chats with the FBI, showing just how far he'll go to rewrite history.
- Despite winning the 2024 election, Trump can't let go of 2020, hiring Curt Olson to chase ghost fraud claims. It's like trying to win a race you already lost, and now he's mulling over canceling the 2026 midterms, which feels like a political Groundhog Day.
- Republicans, usually all in on Trump's playbook, are sweating bullets over his antics, especially after he posted then deleted a racist video. They fear his moves are like stepping on political landmines that could blow their midterm chances sky-high.
- Trump's vendetta tour isn't just about ballots; he's also targeting people like James Comey and Tis James who dared investigate him. His failure to bring charges against them shows that some fights are more about ego than justice, yet they still shape the future political landscape.