Trump team confession STUNS THE COUNTRY ahead of election

Steve Bannon, a close associate of Donald Trump, publicly stated that current ICE deployments at airports serve as a 'test run' or 'test case' to perfect ICE's involvement in the 2026 midterm election. He explicitly advocated for ICE agents at polling places to prevent 'illegal aliens' from voting, framing it as a measure to protect American citizens' votes.

Bannon's direct quote: 'We can use what's happening with these ICE helping out uh helping out at the airports. We can use this as a test run, as a test case to get to really perfect IC's involvement in the 2026 midterm election.' He also stated in February: 'You're damn right. We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November.'

The hosts interpret Bannon's statements as a deliberate strategy by the Trump administration and the MAGA movement to deploy ICE agents to polling places nationwide. This deployment is seen as a means to intimidate voters, particularly in 'blue cities' or counties with large Democratic constituencies, and to create long lines, thereby suppressing votes. They suggest agents could challenge valid IDs or create bureaucratic hurdles.

Mark Elias states, 'This is a five alarm fire for democracy and free and fair elections.' He elaborates that ICE at polls could 'try to intimidate voters,' 'staff the desks and check IDs' with biased scrutiny, and 'create long lines at the polls' as a form of voter suppression.

The hosts argue that Bannon's public comments lend credence to the Democratic Party's accusations of a broader conspiracy by the Trump administration to subvert elections. They emphasize that Bannon's close relationship with Trump makes his statements a 'clear window into what they are planning,' and that his claims should be taken seriously as a predictor of actions, even if based on false premises (e.g., stolen elections).

Brian Tyler Cohen asks if Bannon's statements 'lend itself to this broader conspiracy that Democrats are accusing Republicans of being engaged in?' Mark Elias responds, 'Absolutely this is further proof of a conspiracy on the right... to try to, you know, take steps to subvert to undermine free and fair elections this fall.'

The hosts advocate for immediate and aggressive legal and political challenges against any perceived 'test runs' of election subversion tactics. They cite examples like ballot seizures and National Guard deployments as past 'test runs' that, if unchallenged, create 'optionality and tools' for future interference. They argue that pushback forces the administration to alter its plans and understand the costs associated with such actions.

Mark Elias states, 'if there's no push back and he's just allowed to do it, then they learn a lot of information and he also learns that there won't be push back.' He encourages 'Democratic governors and AGs and secretaries of state and airport authorities' to fight this, and his law firm is involved in '90 cases in 45 states' to prevent Republicans from gaining momentum.