Podcast Summary: “Stop the Steal Never Stopped”
Reveal (The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX) – May 9, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Reveal probes the lingering campaign of election denialism in the U.S., focusing on the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement since 2020. The episode examines the recent FBI raid on Fulton County’s election warehouse in Georgia—as both symptom and catalyst—and exposes how obdurate false claims of voter fraud have altered political power, jeopardized local control over elections, and fostered distrust that threatens future U.S. elections. Through investigative reporting, interviews, and on-the-ground observation, Reveal’s team tracks how debunked allegations remain politically potent, culminating in tangible actions that imperil the democratic process.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
1. The FBI Raid in Fulton County, Georgia
(Segment: 02:05–06:17)
- Dana Barrett’s Firsthand Account:
Dana Barrett, Fulton County Commissioner, describes the FBI’s January raid of a warehouse storing 2020 election documents.
- “The press was already there in full force and... the FBI had locked down the building.” (03:42, Dana Barrett)
- Barrett, chased by a right-wing influencer, calls the raid “political theater,” designed to undermine local elections.
- “This is political theater aimed to undermine and set us up for a takeover of our elections.” (04:32, Dana Barrett)
- Aftermath:
Former President Trump immediately pushes for federal takeovers of election administration.
- “We should take over the voting in at least many 15 places.” (05:06, Donald Trump via Steve Bannon)
2. The New Landscape of Georgia’s State Election Board
(Segment: 06:17–20:48)
- Board’s Transformation:
Once staffed by technocrats, it’s now majority “Stop the Steal” believers, empowered to commandeer county elections.
- Board members like Sally Grubbs and Dr. Janice Johnston, known for hyper-skeptical stances, hold sway.
- Election Myths in Action:
Examples include:
- The “shredding truck” incident, widely shared as evidence of ballot destruction, later debunked.
- “You know, if y’all heard the story of the shredding truck in Cobb county... well, that was me. And so there’s pretty much nothing I won’t do.” (08:53, Sally Grubbs)
- Board sessions dominated by minor infractions, most with no impact, but subject to outsize scrutiny and penalties.
- Baseless Prosecutions and Chilling Effect:
Board issues reprimands for tenuous grievances, such as voter registration overlaps (12:31–13:15).
- “I see it as a nationwide problem of the voter rolls... which is why I would like Georgia’s voter rolls to be shared with the Department of Justice.” (12:31, Dr. Janice Johnston)
- The board’s aggressive posture—overturning officials’ recommendations—signals the use of administrative power as a political tool.
3. Local Fears and Institutional Distrust
(Segment: 20:13–21:34)
- Growing Takeover Campaign:
Dana Barrett voices concern over state-level MAGA control seeking to “take over” voting in Democratic strongholds like Fulton County.
- “They want to sow doubt, they want to undermine trust, and they want to make it harder for people to vote.” (21:16, Dana Barrett)
- Weaponization of Process Errors:
County-level errors are recast as evidence of endemic fraud, keeping the false narrative alive.
4. National Trends – CPAC and the Spread of Election Denialism
(Segment: 22:25–35:33)
- Trump’s Call to Arms:
Trump and allies advocate for the SAVE Act, demanding strict proof of citizenship and government IDs to vote. Critics warn this would disenfranchise millions.
- “If you send it up that, you’re going to win the midterms at levels you can’t even believe, and you’re going to win every election for a long time.” (24:32, Donald Trump)
- CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference):
Reveal reporter Najeeb Amini captures on-the-ground sentiment:
- Universal support for strict voter ID laws, ICE presence at the polls, and the SAVE Act.
- “Let’s suppress illegal aliens voting. Those are our elections, our country. This is America.” (28:12, Greg Bavino)
- Widespread belief in threats never substantiated by evidence (e.g., Dominion voting machine conspiracies, widespread non-citizen voting).
- Nostalgia for an imagined era of simple, “pure” hand-counted paper ballots (29:25–29:33, Aaron Kotsbauer).
5. The Election Crime Bureau, Kurt Olson, and the DIY Fraud Movement
(Segment: 37:42–45:07)
- From Fringe to Power:
Conferences like the “Election Crime Bureau Summit” in Missouri serve as incubators for activist-investigators and legal crusaders:
- “Be your own Election Crime Bureau.” (40:06, Kurt Olson)
- Kurt Olson’s Rise:
A little-known lawyer, Olson emerges as a key legal figure in overturning elections (in Texas, Arizona), despite court-sanctioned “unequivocally false” claims.
- “Kurt Olson... was appointed the director of election security and integrity... [now] charged with reinvestigating the results in 2020.” (44:10–45:07, Abby Vasoulas)
- He later leverages his White House position to refer Fulton County to the FBI, triggering the high-profile raid.
6. The Raid’s Real Purpose and the Peril Ahead
(Segment: 45:07–51:38)
- The Mechanics of the Raid:
The FBI’s actions in Georgia stemmed directly from White House referrals and claims by board members with a vested interest.
- “The investigation originally began with a White House referral. A referral from Kurt Olson.” (45:18, Abby Vasoulas)
- Weaponizing Bureaucracy:
Despite years of reviews and no findings of fraud, figures like Sally Grubbs insist on continued investigations.
- “There were many, many, many, many, many complaints that were never brought forward. So I don’t feel like there was ever an appropriate investigation done.” (47:42, Sally Grubbs)
- Legal Perspective:
David Becker, former DOJ lawyer, raises alarm:
- “My first reaction... was how the hell could a court have signed off on a warrant here?... The only thing I can come up with is this is likely being directed to sow the seeds of doubt about a 2026 election that the president might be worried about.” (50:00–50:55, David Becker)
- The concern: Sustained distrust may dissuade people from voting—what Becker calls “self-suppression.”
- “The easiest way to suppress a vote is to get a voter to self suppress.” (51:08, David Becker)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dana Barrett confronts a conspiracy influencer:
“You are hurting America, young man.” (03:46, Dana Barrett)
- On why the “Stop the Steal” battle endures:
“If the system doesn’t change, then they’ll never be able to trust an American election again.” (36:42, Najeeb Amini)
- Kurt Olson’s rallying cry:
“Once people come together, we are unstoppable.” (39:37, Kurt Olson)
- Sally Grubbs on acceptable errors:
“As an American Citizen, I think 0 per reject rate is acceptable.” (48:59, Sally Grubbs)
- David Becker’s warning to voters:
“All of those [accusations of widespread fraud] are provably false. But... just go and vote.” (51:26, 51:38, David Becker)
Key Timestamps
- 02:05 – The FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia
- 06:17 – Transformation and workings of Georgia’s state election board
- 08:53 – Sally Grubbs and the “shredding truck” incident
- 12:31 – Board debates over voter registration “problems”
- 20:13 – New powers enabling state election board takeovers
- 22:25 – National “Stop the Steal” movement’s impact, Trump speech at CPAC
- 28:12 – CPAC attendee support for aggressive voter ID laws & ICE at polls
- 37:42 – Election Crime Bureau Summit and activist mobilization
- 44:10 – Kurt Olson’s appointment and escalation to federal power
- 45:18 – FBI raid origins traced to White House
- 50:00 – Legal experts warn the raid is about sowing doubt in democracy
- 51:38 – Closing advice: Resist self-suppression, go vote
Conclusion
Tone: The episode’s tone is urgent and direct, foregrounding both the real-world consequences of conspiracy-driven activism and the persistent specter of disenfranchisement. Al Letson and Reveal’s reporters present a nuanced, in-depth exploration that combines empathy for confused or fearful citizens with clear-eyed concern for the health of democracy.
Takeaway: The “Stop the Steal” movement hasn’t quit. Instead, it has become more sophisticated, shifting from unsubstantiated claims to the very levers of power needed to act on them. The risk: that continued erosion of trust—fueled by political actors, administrative muscle, and relentless misinformation—may produce what failed lawsuits and failed coups could not: a democracy in which voters simply give up.
Final Word (David Becker, 51:08):
“The easiest way to suppress a vote is to get a voter to self suppress... Just go and vote.”
For more in-depth journalism, visit revealnews.org/learn.
