#1802 Department of Injustice: Revenge Prosecutions, Judges Threatened, and Incompetence All the Way Down

<p class="p1"><strong>Air Date: 6–20-2026</strong></p> <p class="p2"><em>Today we explore how political revenge became official government policy. The Department of Justice has dropped fraud cases while opening vindictive investigations into Trump's critics. Judges who rule against him face death threats at home with no federal protection and thousands of DOJ lawyers have walked out the door, leaving the agency hollowed out by loyalty tests and bent toward retribution.</em></p> <p class="p2"><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1802"><span class="s1">Full Show Notes</span></a></p> <p class="p2"><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1802_transcript">Transcript</a></p> <p><strong>Be part of the show! Leave a <a href="https://podline.fm/best-of-the-left">voice message</a>, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</strong></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>Use our links to shop <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/bookshop">Bookshop.org</a> and <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&amp;awinaffid=262399&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Fswitch"> Libro.fm</a> for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>TOP TAKES</strong></p> <p>KP 1: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-beat-with-ari/trump-eyes-personal-lawyer-avVdNuw_nei/"> Trump Eyes Personal Lawyer to Run DOJ Part 1 - The Beat W Ari Melber - Air Date 6-4-26</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiUU1JLoT2E">This Federal Judge Ruled Against Trump. Then the Death Threats Rolled in Part 1 - 60 Minutes - Air Date 3-1-26</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzzjK7hCE3g">Judges Call Out Rising Acts of Violence Against the Judiciary, Slam Trump's 'irresponsible Rhetoric' - NBC News - Air Date 6-3-26</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://crooked.com/podcast/how-low-can-the-doj-go/">How Low Can the DOJ Go - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 4-27-26</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/6/3/matt_platkin_nancy_gertner_irs_weaponization"> Fraud on the Court Even as DOJ Drops $1.8B Settlement Fund, Judge Reopens Case Over Collusion Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-26</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KfXLd6Rzb0">'The Audacity' DOJ Turns to X to Recruit as Prosecutors Flee Trump's Politicization of Department - MS Now - Air Date 2-1-26</a></p> <p>KP 7: <a href="https://staytuned.substack.com/p/doj-in-crisis">DOJ in Crisis - Stay Tuned with Preet - Air Date 2-10-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:53:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>Trump Built a One-Way Ratchet to Tyranny. Here's How We Break It.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvbkzezUzJQ&amp;list=PLzUltwHj4tX5Hy_t5fG_QySok2EmQ02KJ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">My commentaries on YouTube - Share them!</a></strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:06:27) SECTION A: A DEPARTMENT OF REVENGE</strong></p> <p>A1: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJkgA6DO8Wg">'The Department of Revenge' Explores Trump's Use of DOJ to Settle Political Scores - PBS Newshour - Air Date 6-11-26</a></p> <p>A2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiUU1JLoT2E">This Federal Judge Ruled Against Trump. Then the Death Threats Rolled in Part 2 - 60 Minutes - Air Date 3-1-26</a></p> <p>A3: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-beat-with-ari/trump-eyes-personal-lawyer-avVdNuw_nei/"> Trump Eyes Personal Lawyer to Run DOJ Part 2 - The Beat W Ari Melber - Air Date 6-4-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(01:25:33) SECTION B: MALICIOUS PROSECUTIONS</strong></p> <p>B1: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/opening-arguments/small-doj-energy-ykRd10tYbNA/"> Small DoJ Energy - Opening Arguments - Air Date 2-20-26</a></p> <p>B2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFM4lqndfek">The Vindictive DOJ Part 1 - Law and Chaos - Air Date 6-4-26</a></p> <p>B3: <a href="https://crooked.com/podcast/the-malicious-incompetence-of-trumps-doj/"> The Malicious Incompetence of Trump's DOJ - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 6-15-25</a></p> <p>B4: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFM4lqndfek">The Vindictive DOJ Part 2 - Law and Chaos - Air Date 6-4-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:00:59) SECTION C: WEAPONIZED DEPARTMENT</strong></p> <p>C1: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JVIn-fonFo">Zero Intelligence Part 1 - UnJustified - Air Date 6-7-26</a></p> <p>C2: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/6/3/matt_platkin_nancy_gertner_irs_weaponization"> Fraud on the Court Even as DOJ Drops $1.8B Settlement Fund, Judge Reopens Case Over Collusion Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-26</a></p> <p>C3: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/opening-arguments/35-judges-say-trumps-doj-H02zWMNqel_/"> 35 Judges Say Trump's DOJ Committed Fraud on the Court - Opening Arguments - Air Date 6-5-26</a></p> <p>C4: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSfaAOoitGY">Trump Rewards Criminals with Latest Pardons - The Mary Trump Podcast - Air Date 11-11-25</a></p> <p>C5: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/nx-s1-5606012/icymi-trump-pardons-top-jan-6-conspirators"> ICYMI Trump Pardons Top Jan. 6 Conspirators - 1A - Air Date 11-11-25</a></p> <p>C6: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JVIn-fonFo">Zero Intelligence Part 2 - UnJustified - Air Date 6-7-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:44:07) SECTION D: HOLLOWED OUT</strong></p> <p>D1: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/05/nx-s1-5702356/more-frustrated-prosecutors-at-the-u-s-attorneys-office-in-minnesota-call-it-quits"> More Frustrated Prosecutors at the U.S Attorney's Office in Minnesota Call It Quits - All Things Considered - Air Date 2-5-26</a></p> <p>D2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlqAqhl2lTQ">2900 DOJ Lawyers SUDDENLY QUIT on Trump IN MASS EXODUS - MeidasTouch - Air Date 12-25-25</a></p> <hr /> <p> </p> <p>Produced by Jay! Tomlinson</p> <p>Visit us at <a href="http://www.BestOfTheLeft.com">BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <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> <p>Like at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft</a></p> <p>Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</p>