The Best People with Nicolle Wallace Marc Elias Urges Dems to Replace Nostalgia with Forward Progress
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Dec 22, 2025 
Marc Elias, a prominent elections attorney, discusses the ongoing legal challenges to voting rights and shares insights on the looming 2026 midterms. He stresses the importance of shifting from nostalgic views of democracy to crafting a forward-thinking government approach. Elias critiques the DOJ's tactics and highlights the risks of full voter data in targeted disenfranchisement. He calls for Democrats to stop capitulating to past norms and instead embrace a populist agenda that reconnects with voters.
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2026 Will Be Intentionally Messy
- Marc Elias warns 2026 elections will be intentionally messy to enable executive power grabs and spread lies.
- He says the real test is whether midterm outcomes can constrain Trump's behavior, not courts or protests.
Three Sources Of Election Disruption
- Elias outlines multiple vectors of disruption: government action, inspired violence, and foreign interference.
- He adds the DOJ is simultaneously collecting voter data in unprecedented ways that heighten risk.
Hold DOJ Staff Accountable For Voter Data Work
- Elias urges scrutiny of DOJ employees aiding voter-data collection and suggests moral accountability for participation.
- He warns DOJ-held voter files could enable targeted fraud claims and uncounting of ballots.