There's nothing "elite" about the characters that populate the swamp, or the deep state, not in any sense of the word

Read the original definition you're responding to.

The "elite" is referring to "the establishment"

The "deep state" and the "swamp" represent the establishment. You also have people like RFK Jr whose entire claim to fame is questioning the legitimacy of scientific institutions.

So “establishment” means incumbents? So incumbents are the “elite”?

That’s what you’re saying, which is absurd, but what you’re really thinking is that your people are better than other people

I know is not a deliberate motte-and-bailey, it’s just so fully baked in that you can’t be objective about it

Sorry, but if you don't know what anti-establishment means then you're too uninformed to be part of this conversation.

Wikipedia has a great definition if you care.

Imagine "the establishment" taken over by the worst people as you define it. Perhaps Trump and all the Trump associates you dislike most. Steve Bannon, you name it, the worst people you can think of.

Would you call them elites?