Podcast Summary: The F.B.I.’s Extraordinary Seizure of Voting Records
The Daily – The New York Times
Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Michael Barbaro
Guest: Devlin Barrett
Episode Overview
This episode of The Daily investigates the FBI’s highly unusual seizure of 2020 election records from Fulton County, Georgia. Host Michael Barbaro speaks with NYT reporter Devlin Barrett to piece together what precipitated the raid, the extraordinary involvement of top intelligence officials, and how President Trump’s personal interest and actions may impact the legitimacy and legal standing of the investigation. The episode explores the raid as both a law enforcement event and as a sign of deeper, potentially destabilizing political strategies aimed at U.S. elections.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Dramatic Fulton County Raid
[01:32 – 03:52]
- FBI agents arrived at the Fulton County Board of Elections warehouse near Atlanta to seize a massive trove of 2020 election records, including paper ballots, voter rolls, and tabulation tapes.
- This operation was unusual due to its scale and because these records have been examined and recounted multiple times with no evidence of fraud.
- The public rationale for the search remains unclear because the affidavits justifying the search are still sealed.
“These ballots have been counted multiple times to make sure they got the count right. And it’s always checked out.”
— Devlin Barrett [03:13]
2. Trump’s Obsession and Revival of Fraud Claims
[03:52 – 04:41]
- President Trump has maintained unsubstantiated claims of fraud in Georgia, making public threats of prosecuting election officials and promising forthcoming legal actions.
- He has recently revived these claims in major public forums, keeping the false narrative alive within his base and broader political discourse.
“It was a rigged election. Everybody now knows that. People will soon be prosecuted for what they did.”
— President Trump [04:28]
3. Unusual Federal and Intelligence Involvement
[05:04 – 08:35]
- The case is being overseen by a federal prosecutor in Missouri, not Georgia—a departure from standard practice since Georgia’s federal prosecutors had previously declined further action.
- Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), was dispatched by Trump to personally oversee the search. This is particularly unprecedented since the DNI’s purview is national security/foreign threats, not domestic law enforcement.
- Gabbard is seen as eager to please Trump and has previously amplified his baseless claims, suggesting political loyalty may have played a significant role in her involvement.
“The president told her to go, and she is there on his direction, and she is acting on his behalf.”
— Devlin Barrett [06:50]
4. The Stunning Phone Call: Trump Speaks Directly to FBI Agents
[11:16 – 15:10]
- After the search, Gabbard visited the FBI field office, called President Trump, and put him on speakerphone so agents involved in the raid could speak with him.
- Trump initially thanked the agents but then began asking investigative questions, creating a “legally fraught” situation, as it undermines claims of independent investigation and bolsters potential defenses of “vindictive prosecution.”
“If you have the President talking directly to the investigators, it suddenly becomes much harder to argue that there isn’t a connection between what the President wants and what the investigators are doing.”
— Devlin Barrett [13:52]
5. Legal and Political Risks of Trump’s Direct Involvement
[13:52 – 16:06]
- Previous prosecutions that Trump sought have failed, in part because of his public, political interference, which defendants cite as evidence of improper and vindictive prosecution.
- Direct presidential interference now risks any future criminal case being thrown out on similar grounds, despite Trump’s belief he is the nation’s top law enforcement official.
“He has said repeatedly, I am the chief law enforcement official in the United States … but that’s a big difference from the courts accepting that this is appropriate behavior.”
— Devlin Barrett [15:32]
6. Response from Local Officials and the Broader Stakes
[16:06 – 18:33]
- Fulton County election officials vow to resist and challenge the seizure, expressing concern that Trump’s administration is abusing federal power to control future elections.
- They tie the raid to the upcoming midterm elections, viewing it as an attempt to lay groundwork for contesting or invalidating unfavorable results.
“Protect your vote at all costs. I’m telling you, everybody says your life depends on it. Oh, your life does depend on it this time.”
— Fulton County Official [17:02]
- Trump’s Justice Department has also been seeking voter data from nearly half the states, further fueling suspicions of groundwork for national election contestation.
7. The FBI: From Law Enforcement to Political Tool
[18:33 – 19:42]
- The very act of launching an FBI investigation has the effect of sowing suspicion and doubt, something Trump is now able to do in office by leveraging federal law enforcement.
“Now that he’s in power, he can use the levers of government … and that suspicion becomes the official posture of the government.”
— Devlin Barrett [19:22]
8. Political Fallout: Calls to "Nationalize" Voting and Democratic Pushback
[20:03 – 20:22]
- In response to the raid, Trump advocated for Republicans to “nationalize” voting, prompting an immediate and harsh response from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the suggestion “outlandishly illegal.”
“Republicans should say, we want to take over. We should take over the voting … The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”
— President Trump [20:03]
“You think he believes in democracy? Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution? What he’s saying is outlandishly illegal.”
— Sen. Chuck Schumer [20:22]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the unusual nature of the raid:
“It takes hours to load all those hundreds of boxes into trucks and bring them to an FBI storage facility.”
— Devlin Barrett [02:28] -
On Gabbard serving at Trump’s direction:
“She is there on his direction, and she is acting on his behalf.”
— Devlin Barrett [06:50] -
On legal risks:
“You’re sort of creating connective tissue … to argue, look, this is unjust, this is unfair, this case should be thrown out because the President is talking to the investigators in real time.”
— Devlin Barrett [14:20] -
On the impact to American democracy and future elections:
“The FBI search should scare everyone, because this, to them, is really about the next election in 2026. The midterms.”
— Fulton County Official [16:49]
Timeline of Important Segments
- [01:32] — FBI agents arrive for Fulton County records seizure
- [03:52] — Trump’s revived fraud rhetoric
- [05:11] — Missouri prosecutor and DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s involvement revealed
- [06:50] — Gabbard acts directly per Trump’s orders
- [11:16] — Gabbard and agents speak to Trump on speakerphone
- [13:52] — Legal implications of Trump’s involvement discussed
- [16:06] — Fulton County officials push back, warn of risk to 2026 elections
- [18:33] — Pattern of DOJ searching for voter data nationwide highlighted
- [20:03] — Trump calls for Republicans to “nationalize” voting, Schumer rebukes
Summary Takeaway
This episode provides a gripping, unsettling account of how President Trump’s direct orders and hands-on involvement have catalyzed an extraordinary federal investigation in Georgia—reviving longstanding fraud claims and positioning federal law enforcement as a tool for political ends. It highlights the legal and democratic perils of presidential overreach, the chilling effect on local officials, and the ongoing battle over the integrity and control of American elections as the nation approaches the contentious 2026 midterms.