Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast Marc Elias & Rep. Ro Khanna
10 snips
Jan 14, 2026 
Marc Elias, a renowned voting rights attorney and founder of Democracy Docket, discusses the threats to election integrity posed by Trump's comments and the potential misuse of federal forces. He warns of a politicized Justice Department and weakened congressional checks on authoritarianism. Meanwhile, Rep. Ro Khanna elaborates on efforts to release the Epstein files, highlighting the importance of transparency and the implications for powerful co-conspirators. Khanna also addresses reforms to ICE and the impact of redistricting on future elections.
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Threat To Elections Extends Beyond State Guards
- Marc Elias warns Trump's rhetoric about seizing voting machines signals intent to rig future elections.
- Elias stresses federal agencies and paramilitary-style forces, not just state guards, are the real threat to fair voting.
Parallel DOJ Units Are The Bigger Risk
- Elias says fear should focus on DOJ, FBI and new parallel prosecution units, not only on National Guard deployments.
- He highlights J.D. Vance and allies building enforcement structures loyal to Trump as the main danger.
Rhetoric Intentionally Shifts Democratic Norms
- Elias flags J.D. Vance's deliberate rhetoric shifting the Overton window toward authoritarianism.
- He warns Vance intentionally misleads by claiming absolute immunity and proposing White House-run prosecutions.
