#1704 Weaponization and Capitulation: Trump vs Immigrants, Universities, and Media

<p class="p1"><strong>Air Date 4/18/2025</strong></p> <p class="p1"><em>Before the election, I heard interviews and statistics about Trump supporters responding to his stated desire to weaponize the government against his political enemies. Their response was that 1) they didn't want him to do that and 2) didn't think he would. </em></p> <p class="p1">Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p class="p1"><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1704">Full Show Notes</a> | <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1704_transcripts">Transcript</a></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BestOfTheLeft.com/Support</a> (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>KEY POINTS</strong></p> <p>KP 1: <a href="https://www.aclu.org/podcast/free-mahmoud-khalil-with-ben-wizner-and-baher-azmy"> Free Mahmoud Khalil with Ben Wizner and Baher Azmy - At Liberty - Air Date 3-26-25</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://citationsneeded.medium.com/news-brief-dem-leaders-free-speech-warriors-mostly-shrug-as-trump-disappears-dissidents-33a64d18e46e"> News Brief Dem Leaders, 'Free Speech' Warriors Mostly Shrug as Trump Disappears Political Dissidents - Citations Needed - Air Date 4-2-25</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0bVdiTDzQo">Trump's Revenge - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-1-25</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/10/1243870149/up-first-tariff-pause-business-relief-trump-former-officials-04-10-2025"> Trump Pauses Tariffs, Businesses Welcome Relief, Trump Targets Former Officials - Up First - Air Date 4-10-25</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/mahmoud-khalil-and-a-new-red-scare-plus-press-freedom-under-threat"> Mahmoud Khalil and a New Red Scare. Plus, Press Freedom Under Threat. - On The Media - Air Date 3-14-25</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/03/20/trumps-attacks-on-law-firms-lawyers-and-the-law/"> Trumps Attacks on Law Firms, Lawyers, and the Law - Boom! Lawyered - Air Date 3-20-25</a></p> <p>KP 7: <a href="https://kpfa.org/episode/behind-the-news-march-27-2025/">Trump and the Courts w Samuel Moyn - Behind the News - Air Date 3-7-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:52:02) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On how racism and anti-intellectualism are a self-inflicted injury to society</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(00:59:09) SECTION A: COMPLYING ENTITIES</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(01:46:29) SECTION B: GOVERNMENT WEAPONIZATION</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(03:01:33) SECTION C: JUDGES AND LEGISLATORS</strong></p> <hr /> <p>Listen Anywhere! <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/listen">BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen</a> Listen Anywhere!</p> <p>Follow BotL: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bestoftheleft.bsky.social">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://mastodon.social/@bestoftheleft">Mastodon</a> | <a href="https://www.threads.net/@bestoftheleft">Threads</a> | <a href="https://x.com/BestOfTheLeft">X</a></p>