Podcasts about inspectors general

Corruption defines both the perception and reality of government, eroding trust and even threatening national security. Today, the safeguards meant to keep our government accountable are failing. From the mass firing of inspectors general to congressional stock trading and Supreme Court ethics scandals, abuses of power are weakening public trust and raising fears that the U.S. could slide toward kleptocracy.In this episode, host Simone Leeper speaks with Mark Lee Greenblatt, former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Jodi Vittori, Georgetown University professor and expert on corruption and national security; and Kedric Payne, Vice President and General Counsel at Campaign Legal Center. Together, they trace America's long fight against corruption — from the founders' earliest fears to Watergate reforms — and examine how today's failures of accountability threaten American democracy. The episode closes with solutions for restoring integrity, eliminating conflicts of interest and rebuilding trust in American government. Timestamps:(00:05) — Why did Trump fire 17 inspectors general?(07:36) — How has corruption shaped U.S. history?(11:14) — What reforms followed Watergate?(18:22) — Why does corruption feel worse in daily life now?(23:01) — How did Trump weaken watchdog offices and ethics enforcement?(28:47) — Why does congressional stock trading undermine trust?(33:58) — What do Supreme Court ethics scandals reveal?(39:59) — Could the U.S. slide toward kleptocracy?(46:04) — How does corruption threaten national security?(56:57) — What reforms could restore accountability and integrity? Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at Campaign Legal Center, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. Prior to arriving at CLC, Simone was a law clerk in the office of Senator Ed Markey and at the Library of Congress, Office of General Counsel. She received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016.Mark Lee Greenblatt is an expert on government ethics and compliance, an attorney and author. Most recently, he served as Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior. His work bolstered the integrity of the agency's programs, rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the Department's $10 billion in grants and contracts and $12 billion in natural resource royalties. Mark was elected by the 74 Inspectors General to serve as the Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency in 2022. He previously served in leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He also served as an investigative counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Anita Brody and was a litigator in two international law firms. Mark is the author of Valor, which tells untold stories of 21st century American soldiers, sailors and Marines who faced gut-wrenching decisions to overcome enormous odds. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, and he regularly appears in the news media. He graduated from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar, and he earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University.Jodi Vittori is an expert on the linkages of corruption, state fragility, illicit finance and U.S. national security. She is a Professor of Practice and co-chair of the Global Politics and Security program at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Jodi is also an associate fellow with RUSI's Centre for Finance and Security and was previously a non-resident fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Before joining the Georgetown University faculty, she was the U.S. Research and Policy Manager for Transparency International's Defense and Security Program and a senior policy advisor for Global Witness. Jodi also served in the U.S. Air Force; her overseas service included Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and she was assigned to NATO's only counter-corruption task force. She was an Assistant Professor and military faculty at the US Air Force Academy and the National Defense University. Jodi is also a founder and co-moderator of the Anti-Corruption Advocacy Network (ACAN), which facilitates information exchange on corruption-related issues amongst over 1,000 participating individuals and organizations worldwide. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and received her PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver.Kedric Payne leads the government ethics program at Campaign Legal Center, where he works to strengthen ethics laws and hold public officials accountable at the federal, state and local levels. He conducts investigations into government corruption and initiates legal actions against officials who violate the law. At CLC, Kedric has been at the forefront of advancing reforms on issues such as congressional stock trading, Supreme Court ethics enforcement, executive branch conflicts of interest, and state ethics commission autonomy. His legal work and analysis have been featured in major media outlets. He has also testified at congressional hearings on government ethics and accountability. Before joining CLC, Kedric built a broad legal career across all three branches of the federal government and in private practice. He began as a litigator at Cravath and later practiced political law at Skadden. He went on to serve as Deputy Chief Counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics and as a Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he advised on federal ethics laws. Earlier in his career, he clerked for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.Links: Understanding Corruption and Conflicts of Interest in Government – CLC Holding Government Officials Accountable for Unlawful Conflict of Interest Violations – CLC Ethics Pledges by Trump Cabinet Draw Questions and Skepticism – NY Times CLC Sues to Stop Elon Musk and DOGE's Lawless, Unconstitutional Power Grab – CLC Elon Musk Stands to Gain Even More Wealth by Serving in Trump's Administration – CLC Is Musk Using the FAA to Benefit Himself and His SpaceX Subsidiary, Starlink? – CLC Have Wealthy Donors Bought the Trump Administration? – CLC How a Second Term Introduces More Conflicts of Interest for Trump – CLC CLC's Kedric Payne on Trump's Brazen Removal of Nation's Top Ethics Official – CLC The public won't get to see Elon Musk's financial disclosures. Here's why that matters.  – CBS  Justice Clarence Thomas Should Be Held Accountable Under Federal Ethics Law – CLC Judicial Conference Decision Lowers Ethics Standards for Federal Judges and U.S. Supreme Court – CLC Improving Ethics Standards at the Supreme Court – CLC The Justice Department Is In Danger Of Losing Its Way Under Trump – CLC Congress Has an Ethics Problem. Now It's Trying to Get Rid of Ethics Enforcement – CLC A Win for Ethics: CLC, Partners Succeed in Preserving Office of Congressional Conduct – CLC Crypto Political Fundraising Raises Questions About Senate Ethics Committee Efficacy – CLC Stopping the Revolving Door: Preventing Conflicts of Interest from Former Lobbyists – CLC The Trump Administration Has Opened the Door to More Corruption – CLC Solving the Congressional Stock Trading Problem – CLCAbout CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. Campaign Legal Center fights for every American's freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. Learn more about us.Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ralph welcomes Michael Mann, Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania and author along with Dr. Peter Hotez of “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.” Then we are joined by Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland and one time Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to refute all the lies being told about the state of Social Security.Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a co-founder of the award-winning science website RealClimate.org, and the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries, and seven books, including “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” (co-authored with Dr. Peter Hotez).It's the five actors that we talk about, the five forces that threaten our world: the Plutocrats, the Petro States, the Polluters, the Propagandists, and yes, the Press, not all media outlets, but many of them, including even what we used to think of as legacy. Objective news outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post too often engage in what we call performative neutrality, where anti-science positions are placed on an equal footing with the overwhelming consensus of the world's scientists.Dr. Michael MannPeople like to finger point at China, which currently is the largest emitter (of greenhouse gases) because they industrialized much later than the United States, more than a century later. But their trajectory is actually a downward trajectory. They've contributed far less carbon pollution to the atmosphere than we have, and they're taking greater action.Dr. Michael MannThe United States doesn't get to determine the future course of human civilization at this point. It's going to be the rest of the world. All the United States gets to determine is whether it's going to be on the front line of the clean energy transition, the great economic development of this century, whether they're going to be on board or left behind.Dr. Michael MannMartin O'Malley served as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration from December 20, 2023 to November 29, 2024. He previously served as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, following two terms as Mayor of the City of Baltimore.Once they (the Trump Administration) got rid of the heads of all of the offices of Inspectors General, they started launching these big lies, like the lie that there are 12 million dead people that continue to receive checks. And as Trump said himself to Congress, some of them are as much as 300 years old, which would have had them here for the founding of Jamestown.Martin O'MalleyThey (Republicans) are trying to wreck it (Social Security), wreck its reputation, wreck its customer service, so then they can rob it.Martin O'MalleyNews 10/3/25* Our top story this week is President Trump's chilling speech to the military high command, in which he proclaimed that “America is under invasion from within,” per PBS. Trump went on to say that he plans to use American cities – citing Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland – as “training grounds for our military.” Warning against conscientious objections by the military to this weaponization against domestic opponents, Trump added “I'm going to be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders. And if I don't like somebody, I'm going to fire them right on this spot.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has recently styled himself Secretary of War, reiterated this message, saying “if the words I'm speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” In terms of actual policy, a new draft National Defense Strategy calls for prioritizing defense of the “homeland,” over potential foreign threats, such as from China, per POLITICO. The administration followed up this declaration with a dystopian deployment in Chicago, where federal agents rappelled down from helicopters to raid a South Side apartment building, arresting Venezuelan migrants and Black American citizens alike. In a statement given to ABC7 Chicago, one man detained by feds stated “They had the Black people in one van, and the immigrants in another.” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker decried the presence of “jackbooted thugs roaming around a peaceful downtown,” and demanded federal troops “Get out of Chicago...You are not helping us,” per the New York Times.* Speaking of conflicts abroad, this week Trump unveiled his proposal for a peace deal in Gaza. According to CNN, “The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages.” Once these exchanges have been completed, Israel is to gradually withdraw from Gaza and turn over administration of the enclave to a “Board of Peace,” which will include Trump himself along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a bizarre historical echo of the British mandatory rule over Palestine. If this process proceeds, it will supposedly create “a path for a just peace on the basis of a two-state solution.” The odds of success however are slim.* In more Gaza news, the Global Sumud Flotilla has been intercepted off the coast of Gaza and Israel has detained the activists on board. Video evidence shows the IDF detaining activist Greta Thunberg specifically. According to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, “The Israeli government has illegally abducted over 450 participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including nearly two dozen U.S. citizens…We must demand their immediate release and their protection from abuse and torture in Israeli detention. End the siege and genocide of Gaza now.” According to the Flotilla organizers, one of the ships – the Mikeno – got as close as 9.3 miles from the coast, within Gaza's territorial waters, before they lost its signal. While disappointing, given that this is the largest aid flotilla to Gaza in history and came so close to the shore, it seems that at least the flotilla gave fishermen in Gaza the opportunity to go out on the water without interference from the Israeli navy – a crack in the all-encompassing blockade.* Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Israeli intelligence hijacked all cellphones in Gaza in order to forcibly broadcast Prime Minister Netanyahu's United Nations General Assembly speech last week, in which he accused the leaders of western nations who recently recognized the state of Palestine – France, Australia, and the U.K. among others – of being “Leaders who appease evil rather than support a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate,” adding, “They're already penetrating your gates. When will you learn?” Netanyahu's speech was also blasted into Gaza via loudspeakers on the Israeli side of the border. The families of the hostages still held in Gaza released a statement decrying this provocative action, writing “We know from our children…that the loudspeakers were placed inside Gaza. This action endangers their lives, all for the sake of a so-called public diplomacy campaign to preserve [Netanyahu's] rule…He is doing PR at the expense of our children's lives and security. Today we lost the last shred of trust we had in the political echelon and in the army leaders who approved this scandalous operation.”* In Latin America, Trump is planning to bailout Argentina, which has suffered tremendous economic shocks under the stewardship of radical Libertarian President Javier Milei. According to Newsweek, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has offered Argentina a, “$20 billion swap line and other forms of assistance to help stabilize the Argentine peso, and said the U.S. remained ‘prepared to do what is necessary' to sustain the ‘important strides' taken by Milei.” This kind of ideologically driven foreign assistance flies in the face of Trump's supposed “America First” policies, but beyond that it has infuriated domestic interests, especially in the agricultural sector. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland posted a statement reading, “The frustration is overwhelming…U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. is extending…economic support to Argentina.” This is a particular twist of the knife because following Trump's offer, Argentina lowered export restrictions and sent “20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.” Republicans representing agricultural interests share this fury. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wrote “Why would [America] help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers' biggest market???...We should use leverage at every turn to help [the] hurting farm economy. Family farmers should be top of mind in negotiations by representatives of [the] USA.” North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak added “This is a bitter pill for North Dakota soybean farmers to swallow.”* Moving on from foreign affairs, this week saw the release of a new batch of Epstein files, demanded by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and turned over by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate. These files include “phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft,” along with “copies of financial ledgers and Epstein's daily schedule.” These new releases implicate many big names, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and well-documented Epstein associate, Prince Andrew of the British royal family, per the BBC. The release of these files is the latest victory in the campaign to expose everyone involved with Epstein's underage sex ring, a campaign Republicans in government – led by President Trump – have resisted. According to the Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to allow the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, who was elected last week in a special election to fill the seat vacated by her father's death. In this move, many see an attempt by Speaker Johnson to stave off the discharge petition to release the Epstein files. Grijalva has already committed to signing the petition.* In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Republicans have hammered the left for what they see as violent rhetoric, with the White House going so far as to classify certain ideas – among them anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and “extremism on migration, race, and gender” – as potentially punishable under domestic terrorism laws. Meanwhile, however, the Arizona Mirror reports a Republican lawmaker in the state has called for the Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal to be “tried convicted and hanged.” The lawmaker, state Representative John Gillette, was responding to a video in which Jayapal counseled protestors on “non-violent resistance” to Trump's policies. Gillette on the other hand has vocally supported the January 6th insurrectionaries, labeling them “political prisoners” and calling for their release. Asked for comment, Gillette said “The comment is what it is.” For her part, Congresswoman Jayapal has called for “All political leaders, of all parties, [to] denounce” these comments.* Turning to local news, incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped his bid for reelection, Reuters reports. Adams has been mired in scandal of all kinds, including a federal indictment for bribery. Speculation abounds as to why he chose to suspend his campaign now. It is too late to take his name off of the ballot and he declined to endorse any other candidate, making it unlikely that he did so to bolster the chances of disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is still continuing his independent bid for the mayoralty despite lagging behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani by a substantial margin. On the other hand, Adams has previously been offered incentives by President Trump to drop out of the race, including potential protection from prosecution and an ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, claims “Seven different people,” have offered him a “total of $10 million,” to withdraw from the race, but he adamantly refuses to do so, saying “you can't bribe me, buy me, lease me, I'm not for sale.” This from the New York Post.* Next, on September 25th, Black liberation activist Assata Shakur passed away at the age of 78, per Democracy Now!. Shakur had been convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973, though serious doubts remain about her role in the death. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she received asylum in 1984 and continued to maintain her innocence until her death. In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited Cuba and faced calls to demand Assata's extradition to the United States to “face justice” for the murder. In a highly-publicized letter, Assata wrote “The New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement officials say they want to see me brought to ‘justice.' But I would like to know what they mean by ‘justice.' Is torture justice?... When my people receive justice, I am sure that I will receive it, too.” Rest in power, Assata.* Our final story comes to us from, where else, but Hollywood. Variety reports, AI production studio Particle6 has created an AI “actress” who is “named” Tilly Norwood and thereby created a firestorm within the entertainment industry. Tilly's creator, Eline Van der Velden argues that she sees, “AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool…Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting…nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.” However, SAG-AFTRA – the union representing screen actors – has issued a blistering statement, writing “To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation…It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we've seen, audiences aren't interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience.” The statement continues, “It doesn't solve any ‘problem' — it creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.” This episode is simply the latest clash within the entertainment industry between workers and the rising tide of AI. It will not be the last.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The latest annual report from the CIGIE documents over $70 billion in monetary accomplishments from IG investigations in 2024. Despite the Trump Administration's disruption of the IG community, my next guest assures us that these kinds of investigations continue. Joining me in studio is the Executive Director of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Andrew Cannarsa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, John and Elliot discuss remarks for the former head of CISA and an open letter from JP Morgan Chase's CISO about cybersecurity, allegations from the European Public Prosecutor's Office about corruption in the European Court of Auditors, a GAO report about the need of Inspectors General for beneficial information to detect fraud in federal programs, reports of law enforcement opposition to the rollback of the CTA, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

Fraud in federal programs is a significant and persistent problem. Some fraud is perpetrated by private companies that obscure their ownership information when competing for government contracts or applying for other federal benefits. In a new…

The former Interior Department Inspector General. He was also chairman of the Council on the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Mark Greenblatt received a taunting phone call to his personal cell phone about a month ago as an IG Greenblatt was used to a certain level of negative comments and hate mail. This one went further in this week's federal report. Federal News Network's executive editor, Jason Miller, writes about how Greenblatt's experience is becoming all too common for federal employees and what they can do to protect themselves from harassment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The former Interior Department Inspector General. He was also chairman of the Council on the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Mark Greenblatt received a taunting phone call to his personal cell phone about a month ago as an IG Greenblatt was used to a certain level of negative comments and hate mail. This one went further in this week's federal report. Federal News Network's executive editor, Jason Miller, writes about how Greenblatt's experience is becoming all too common for federal employees and what they can do to protect themselves from harassment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we prevent or catch mismanagement, corruption, and waste of taxpayers' dollars in federal agencies? On January 24, 2025, days into his second administration, President Trump fired Inspectors General from 17 different federal agencies, including the Department of Labor. If no one is watching, does that mean there's nothing to see?In this episode Pam Karlan is joined by Glenn Fine, a former Inspector General of both the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense. Glenn highlights the extensive work involved in detecting and deterring waste, fraud, and abuse within these massive agencies. He discusses the differences between the DOJ and DOD, emphasizing the unique challenges and the importance of understanding each agency's culture and operations. Through detailed examples, including politicized hiring at the DOJ and a tragic incident at the Bureau of Prisons, he illustrates the breadth and impact of the investigations conducted by Inspectors General—and the essential function of these watchdogs in maintaining integrity and accountability within federal agencies. Earlier in his career, Glenn served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington D.C., where he handled criminal cases, including more than 35 jury trials. He also worked in private practice in two law firms.  He is the author of the book Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government, with a foreword by General Jim Mattis. He currently is a fellow at the Brookings Institution and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University—and as a visiting lecturer at Stanford Law School.Links:Glenn Fine >>> Stanford Law pageWatchdogs >>> UVA Press pageConnect:Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast WebsiteStanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn PageRich Ford >>>  Twitter/XPam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School PageStanford Law School >>> Twitter/XStanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X(00:00:00)  Introduction and Overview of the Inspector General's Role(00:03:52) The Impact of Inspector General Reports(00:04:39) Notable Investigations at DOJ and DOD(00:15:56) The Role of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service(00:17:23) Coordinating COVID-19 Relief Oversight(00:27:59) Importance of the IG's role in maintaining government accountability

In this week's Main Justice episode, hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord explore a disturbing pattern of the Trump administration's attack on lawyers and what it means for the rule of law, as firings and demotions continue to reverberate around the federal government. They examine the firing of the three top nonpartisan military JAG lawyers without cause— and why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to these officers as ‘roadblocks'. They look at Trump's decision to revoke security clearances from a law firm with ties to former Special Counsel Jack Smith. And they update a few cases on their radar, to include the firing of Hampton Dellinger as well as the latest in the case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. And before closing, Andrew and Mary zoom out to look at how the Trump administration is redefining the US's role in world, after voting against a UN resolution that condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine, ignoring violations of international law.Further reading: Here is the latest statement from the ABA that Andrew spoke about: The ABA rejects efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.And soonest, we'll add a link here to the letter Andrew and Mary talked about in this episode: A Statement of Conscience and Principle By Those Who Have Served as Assistant United States Attorneys For the District of Columbia Over the Past Fifty Years.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin outlines his strategy to hold the executive branch accountable and shares his concerns about Trump and Musk's actions in a candid conversation.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support!Description: Amidst a hail of executive orders, lay-offs, and threats, Americans are witnessing both early compliance by some of the most powerful institutions in the country, and early resistance, in the courts, in workplaces and in the streets. So where is Congress? In this extended one-on-one interview with Maryland Congressman, Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House judiciary committee, lays out his plans for exerting oversight of the executive branch, and describes the Constitutional limits Trump and Musk are running up against. Raskin served on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol back in 2021 and managed the second impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. Drawing on history, and even the work of his father, political activist Marcus Raskin, Jamie Raskin says he's “. . . ready to lead Democrats in our front-line defense of democracy and freedom." Plus, a commentary from Laura on art and courage.Guest:  Jamie Raskin, Congressman Maryland's 8th Congressional District; Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Oversight of the Executive BranchWatch the episode cut airing on PBS stations across the country at our YouTube channelSubscribe to episode notes via PatreonMusic In the Middle:  “Oh Lord” produced by Groove Junkies and Apex Prey, featuring Indeya & Reverend Murrell Garr courtesy of More House Records.  And additional music included- "Steppin" by Podington Bear. Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•. Corporate Prison Reform Will Not Keep Us Safe: A Report from Los Angeles: Watch / Listen- Podcast Episode•. Black Journalists on Police Violence: Reporting from the Ground Up: Watch / Listen: Podcast Episode and Full Uncut Conversation  •. Emergent Strategies for Abolition: Andrea J. Ritchie's Toolkit for Activists: Watch / Listen- Podcast EpisodeRelated Articles and Resources:•. A Top Democrat Speaks Out on How the Party Will Fight Trump, by Eugene Daniels, February 15, 2025, Politico• Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Jamie Raskin's Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on Trump's Lawless, Pro-Corruption Agenda for the Justice Department. February 25, 2025, Democrat House Committee on the Judiciary•  Raskin:  ‘I'm with Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer' and others saying ‘Watch Elon Musk' by Ashleigh Fields, February 4, 2025, The Hill•. Techno-Fascism Comes to America:  The historic parallels that help explain Elon Musk's rampage on the federal government, by Kyle Chayka, Infinite Scroll Columnist, February 26, 2025, The New Yorker•  Congressional Democrats denied entry to USAID building, by Andrew Solender, February 3, 2025, Axios Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O'Conner. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

In a news cycle that keeps on churning, Main Justice hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord wade through the nonstop dispatches to set some focal points for this episode. They begin with the hearing held by Judge Dale Ho last week over the Eric Adams dismissal and the Judge's appointment of Paul Clement as amicus, a.k.a. a friend of the court. Andrew details the important decisions Judge Ho has before him as Mary drives home why this case will reverberate beyond the embattled New York Mayor. Then, they touch on the latest resignation- this one, from Denise Cheung, the chief of the criminal division in the DC US Attorney's office, after being asked to do something by the administration she believed was unsupportable.  And last up, Andrew and Mary look at the Supreme Court denial of a stay in the case involving Trump's firing of Hampton Dellinger, and the disconnect between DOJ representations about Elon Musk's role in court versus what Musk is saying and doing in practice.Further reading: Here is Andrew's piece on Just Security: Why the Rule of Law Depends on an Evidentiary Hearing in Mayor Eric Adams' Case.And HERE is the letter of resignation from the head of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney's office in D.C.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

The directive sent from acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove to drop the corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams has hit a fever pitch, so hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord use the bulk of this episode to break down this evolving story and what has come to light so far. They tick through how this standoff between federal prosecutors and the DOJ's directive has led to a slew of resignations, and what to watch for as Judge Dale Ho calls for a Wednesday hearing on the matter in Manhattan.  Andrew and Mary then take a beat to preview the first Supreme Court test of Trump's executive power, over his attempt to fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, without cause. (Note: this office is an independent watchdog agency- not part of DOJ). And they wind up this episode by highlighting allegations from whistleblowers that Kash Patel, Trump's nominee to head the FBI, has been directing the firing of senior officials at the FBI.Further reading: Here is Andrew's piece in Just Security: The People of New York v. Mayor Adams: Will Manhattan DA Bragg Come to the Rescue Yet Again?Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

The Trump administration's first weeks saw a wave of firings, including more than 17 inspectors general, independent watchdogs overseeing government waste, fraud and abuse. These actions have already prompted a lawsuit challenging their legality and ongoing protests outside federal buildings. Laura Barrón-López speaks with two of the fired inspectors general, Christi Grimm and Robert Storch. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Trump administration's first weeks saw a wave of firings, including more than 17 inspectors general, independent watchdogs overseeing government waste, fraud and abuse. These actions have already prompted a lawsuit challenging their legality and ongoing protests outside federal buildings. Laura Barrón-López speaks with two of the fired inspectors general, Christi Grimm and Robert Storch. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Inspectors general are the peoples' watchdogs inside government, guarding against fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption by administration employees and officials. In a very real sense, IGs are our cops on the inside. Just days after being sworn in, Donald Trump fired a whole slew of IGs in violation of federal law. Now, some of the wrongfully terminated IGs are fighting back. As The Hill reported, "Eight Fired Government Watchdogs Sue Trump Administration." The federal law requires a president to give Congress 30 days advance notice before firing an inspector general. Trump gave Congress NO NOTICE, violating federal law. The law also requires a president to provide "substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons" for the termination. Trump failed to do so, in violation of federal law.If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support us and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inspectors general are the peoples' watchdogs inside government, guarding against fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption by administration employees and officials. In a very real sense, IGs are our cops on the inside. Just days after being sworn in, Donald Trump fired a whole slew of IGs in violation of federal law. Now, some of the wrongfully terminated IGs are fighting back. As The Hill reported, "Eight Fired Government Watchdogs Sue Trump Administration." The federal law requires a president to give Congress 30 days advance notice before firing an inspector general. Trump gave Congress NO NOTICE, violating federal law. The law also requires a president to provide "substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons" for the termination. Trump failed to do so, in violation of federal law.If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support us and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I went on RISING this morning and got into a tête-a-tête with Robby about Musk and his current rampage through our governmental agencies. To hear Musk tell it, of course, he's just making things more efficient!You don't feed a hungry child because it's efficient, however; you feed a hungry child because it's the right thing to do. Getting rid of government bloat is a good thing, of course, but Musk and his group of computer nerds aren't just cutting the fact. They're cutting the bone. They're rushing into government agencies about which they know nothing, asking no one anything about it, and simply deleting programs at will in the space of a few hours. Sometimes they delete a whole agency! There's a complete absence of democratic, deliberative, Constitutional process here. Congress created those agencies, all of them are overseen by Inspectors General who were fired almost immediately when Trump took office.Don't kid yourself, anyone. As I said to Robby, this has little to do with fighting corruption. The corruption lies with insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, Big Oil, military contractors and the rest of the corporate behemoth by which DC is legally and not-so-legally bribed each day. If you really wanted to fight corruption, you'd go there. What's happening, unfortunately, is right out of the autocrat's handbook. The Trump/Musk administration has a sinister goal in all this: convincing people that democracy doesn't work, so you may as well give up on it. They - and they only - could do a much better job.The lure of autocracy can be very cunning. Don't buy it, of course. This is tyranny masquerading as efficiency, and gaslighting as a political technique. What's going on here is a power grab and an authoritarian maneuver. Stay awake. Hold on. This country belongs to us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.transformarticles.com/subscribe

The flood of memos issued by newly minted Attorney General Pam Bondi in her first days was dizzying, so hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord zero in on several that have significant implications for national security and criminal law enforcement. Next, they give a rundown of litigation happening across the country, as courtrooms become the first defense in challenging some of President Trump's questionable orders. And last up, Andrew and Mary talk through a few legal battles brewing over sanctuary cities and detail Mary and ICAP's latest case aiming to protect places of worship as safe havens from immigration enforcement. And btw, the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams just went poof-- they dissect that too.Further reading: Here is Just Security's Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions.HERE is the DOJ memo dropping the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams without prejudice.And here is the statement from the American Bar Association that Andrew and Mary spoke about: The ABA supports the rule of law.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

During the 2020 Presidential election, I frequently mentioned that there were 11 states that didn't require even half a year of public schooling in American history, government or civics. At this point, I don't know how many there are. But I know many millions of Americans now seem ignorant of how our government functions, and don't seem too bothered by the idea that our democracy could go away. If no one teaches you about the Bill of Rights in the seventh grade, how can you be expected to be horrified thirty years later is someone is trying to do away with it it? People's almost giddy embrace of a situation in which a few guys go in and destroy whatever part of our government they feel like destroying that day, is definitely a sign that someone either 1) has no idea how a democracy functions, or 2) is done with it and wants to burn it all down. They also seem quite unaware of how an authoritarian takeover might affect their own lives. The anger people feel about the unfairness of our system is justified, don't get me wrong. But the brilliantly evil deflection that's occurring - turning people against the federal workforce, for God's sake - is a sign that some serious liars are playing with the national psyche. I have two relatives, one a doctor and one an oceanographer, who are genuinely heartbroken that the good work they were doing for their country has now been put on hold. Multiply them by tens of thousands of other civil servants now vilified by people convinced that such “faceless bureaucrats” are the source of their problems. Really…? Medical researchers are the source of our problems? People who feed starving children are the source of our problems? People who monitor fisheries are the source of our problems? People who dispense education grants are the source of our problems? I think not. “But Marianne,” I'm told, “There's so much fraud and abuse!” Which is why Congress created the role of Inspectors General, people responsible for preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in key government agencies like Defense, State, and Labor. Trump removed 18 of those watchdog officials as soon as he got into office.All of this was planned. So… I hope my videos are keeping you company in this darkened hour. I mention a few books in the video (Strongmen, How Democracies Die, and Tyranny) as well as an excellent Kara Swisher Podcast that I think encapsulates what's going on quite well. It's all going to be okay, you know. Long term, this is going to make us better people and a better country. I just feel that. The short and middle term will probably be rough - it already is - but I'm betting on us to rise, to be courageous, and to save our democracy. Nothing less is at stake.I have faith in us, and I have faith in God. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.transformarticles.com/subscribe

Funds are impounded.  Board members are summarily dismissed.  Funds appropriated by Congress are impounded. Inspectors General are removed without notice or cause.  And arguments are still being made to undermine birthright citizenship.  Are all these actions unconstitutional?  It turns out that it appears that many may well be, but others that may seem nearly identical may if fact be legal, if of questionable wisdom or propriety.  We explain where the constitutional lines are for many of these matters, or in some tricky cases we show how one goes about looking for those lines.  And while we are at it, we believe we have dug the last shovels worth in the grave of the attempt to distort, pervert, or reduce birthright citizenship.  CLE credit is available for lawyers and judges at podcast.njsba.com.

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on fired federal watchdogs suing the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has focused its latest attacks on federal workers and foreign aid. At the forefront of that battle is advisor Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. MSNBC's Alex Wagner heads back to Washington D.C. amidst protests from federal workers and a looming deadline for workers to accept a government buyout. Listen as Alex speaks with Kristina Drye, a former USAID employee, as well as former Inspector General for the Department of the Interior, Mark Greenblatt.  Catch new episodes of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” every Thursday and follow the show. And subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

With the deluge of news about the Trump administration's actions and orders, hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord zoom out to talk through what seems to be the overarching goal here- to clear out all opposition and have a presidency unbound by law. As former officials at the Justice Department and the FBI, they have a clear-eyed view on the broad swath of firings and how this wrecking ball approach will be litigated in court as challenges mount. Then, Andrew and Mary give some legal context to Trump's attempt to cut off congressional aid, both through the funding freeze that already has several temporary restraining orders, and the ongoing news involving attempts to dismantle USAID by Trump and Musk.Further reading: Here is Mary's piece in Just Security asking the Senate to get answers from Bondi and Patel: From Pardons to Purges: Pressing Questions that Bondi and Patel Must Answer NowAnd this is the article Andrew and Mary referenced in this episode from Adam Cox and Trevor Morrison, also on Just Security: Trump's Dictatorial Theory of Presidential Power – What the Executive Orders, in the Aggregate, Tell UsWant to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh episode, we explore the Insignificant Cause Fallacy, starting with Trump getting the Soviet Union wrong, and Ross Clark denying climate change.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Tobias Elwood being wrong about why the Tories lost, and Kemi Badenoch being wrong about Nigel Farage and the Southport murders.In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from ABC News, The Land Unknown, and Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling.Jim and Mark go head to head in Fake News, the game in which Mark has to guess which one of three Trump quotes Jim made up.Then we talk about Trump firing the Inspectors General.And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.The full show notes for this episode can be found at https://fallacioustrump.com/ft167 You can contact the guys at pod@fallacioustrump.com, on BlueSky @FallaciousTrump, Discord at fallacioustrump.com/discord or facebook at facebook.com/groups/fallacioustrumpCreate your podcast today! #madeonzencastrSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/fallacious-trump/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

John Sopko was the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) who revealed the shocking truth about tens of billions of our tax dollars misspent in Afghanistan. He also made a lot of powerful enemies among those exposed by his audits. I interviewed him for my TV program Full Measure as he prepared to wind his office down early, since we aren't spending as much in Afghanistan anymore. Order Sharyl's national bestseller: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the $cience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.” Subscribe to my two podcasts: “The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast” and “Full Measure After Hours.” Leave a review, subscribe and share with your friends! Support independent journalism by visiting the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sharyl Attkisson store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

John Sopko was the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) who revealed the shocking truth about tens of billions of our tax dollars misspent in Afghanistan. He also made a lot of powerful enemies among those exposed by his audits. I interviewed him for my TV program Full Measure as he prepared to wind his office down early, since we aren't spending as much in Afghanistan anymore. Order Sharyl's national bestseller: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the $cience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.” Subscribe to my two podcasts: “The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast” and “Full Measure After Hours.” Leave a review, subscribe and share with your friends! Support independent journalism by visiting the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sharyl Attkisson store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

The next phase of fascism has begun, with Trump dragging out of their offices Inspectors General who refused to recognize his illegal firings. Michael Popok discusses the brave and important resistance of Phyllis Fong, a 22-year apolitical watchdog, who took on Elon Musk's companies, and has been retaliated against, as new lawsuits pile up against Trump tying his administration up in knots. For 20% off your order head to https://LaundrySauce.com/LEGALAF20 and use code LEGALAF20 Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight's rundown:  Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill explains how the media is creating hysteria around deportation, highlighting some of the misinformation being spread. A Catholic charity is under fire after releasing a video offering migrants a step-by-step guide on how to evade ICE. Congressman Tom Suozzi enters the No Spin Zone to discuss Joe Biden, the Democratic Party and President Trump's policies so far. Are critics being honest about Trump firing 17 inspectors general? This Day in History: President Reagan lifts the last domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the U.S. Final Thought: Celebrating Jim Acosta's demise. In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, Follow the Money For a limited time, get Bill O'Reilly's bestselling The United States of Trump and a No Spin Mug for only $39.95. Get Bill's latest book, CONFRONTING THE PRESIDENTS, out NOW! Now's the time to get a Premium or Concierge Membership to BillOReilly.com, the only place for honest news analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Lindsey Graham plainly stated that Donald Trump "technically" violated the federal law by failing to give the Senate the required 30-days advanced notice before firing an Inspector GeneraL.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unleashed: The Political News Hour with Nate Cain – Explore sweeping immigration policy changes under Trump, the latest political shake-ups, and the fallout from Inspectors General firings. Plus, Meteorologist Chuck Weise exposes corruption in climate change advocacy. Get deep insights into executive actions, government oversight, and the battle over scientific integrity in this eye-opening breakdown of today's most pressing issues.

This week on Look Forward, Jay and Brad return to discuss just a few of the massive nightmare changes that happened in Trump first week back in charge. We get the American version of the Night of the Long Knives with the firing of all the Inspectors Generals in the federal government, global aid stops excepts in two countries, Pete Hegseth is confirmed as Secretary of Defense, Trump and Vance both admit that inflation isn't a priority, an amendment to the Constitution is proposed to allow Trump a third term, Colombia demands respect be given to its citizens picked up by ICE raids, alleged plan leaked of how the U.S. will settle the war in Ukraine, and much more!Big TopicFirst Week in HellNews You NeedTrump violates federal law by firing pretty much all the Inspectors General in the Federal GovernmentTrump pauses aid for every country except Israel...and EgyptMeetings with the Joint Chiefs are now a two-drink minimumDude, we told you, you absolute moronic fucksRepublican pushes for amendment to the Constitution for Trump's benefitTrump's very stupid, very pointless 12-hour showdown with ColombiaHow's the “lesser of two evils” working out?Ukraine plan leaked

Senator Lindsey Graham plainly stated that Donald Trump "technically" violated the federal law by failing to give the Senate the required 30-days advanced notice before firing an Inspector GeneraL.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A week into the second iteration of Donald Trump's White House, hosts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord take stock of the abrupt and unrelenting changes to our federal government. Andrew points to security details yanked and security clearances revoked as blatant retaliation against Trump's perceived foes. Mary highlights several judges who are pushing back against blanket pardons for J6 convictions. Then, they turn to Trump's executive action on birthright citizenship, reviewing several challenges already in motion, including a case brought by Mary and her ICAP team. And before wrapping up, our two resident career litigators look at the withering independence of the Justice Department from the White House, and how all roads lead through the DOJ.Further reading: Here is the New York Times' piece on Kash Patel that Andrew mentioned in this episode: F.B.I. Pick Pushed False and Misleading Claims About Trump InvestigationsWant to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

It's News Day Tuesday! Sam and Emma break down the biggest headlines of the day. First, they run through updates on Trump's illegal freezing of government funds, firing of an NLRB commissioner, mass ICE raids, Hegseth's confirmation, Bird Flu, the gutting of consumer protections, Trump's DOJ, labor action among Whole Foods and Delta, Trump's ban order on trans people in the military, the return of Palestinians to North Gaza, and the implosion of AI-adjacent Tech Stocks amid the release of Chinese AI tech DeepSeek, also unpacking Lindsay Graham's predictably slimy response to Trump's improper firing of myriad Inspectors General. After diving a little deeper into the drama behind the emergence of DeepSeek, a drastically cheaper and more efficient LLM AI technology out of China, Sam and Emma shift to Trump's sweeping order to completely freeze all Congressionally-ordered federal funding, parsing through the devastating and overarching impact this order will have on the American public and any federally-funded organizations and Trump's active targeting of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 in an attempt to legitimize this maneuver, as they explore the rapid initiation of the Project 2025 assault on (and “traumatization of” to quote the OMB head) federal workers. They also expand on Trump's recent firing of the third NLRB board member, effectively barring them from taking actions until a new one is confirmed, the emergence of various public health threats in the wake of Trump's killing of any federal public health communications, and wrap up with a killer Kickstarter project without a world without billionaires. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch notorious immigration expert… uh… Dr. Phill engage in a ride-along raid with ICE, and dive deep into Trump's overwhelming anti-immigration orders and the utter dearth of any productive opposition from Democrats with some help from Ronald Raygun. Kyle from Columbus unpacks the Big Tech freakout over China's DeepSeek AI, Josh from Bushwick unpacks the absurdity of charging for public transit, and Jim from Portland highlights his ongoing Kickstarter campaign for an anti-billionaire graphic novel. The MR Team also unpacks developments around RFK Jr.'s impending confirmation hearing, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out the KickStarter page for the new graphic novel "F**K BILLIONAIRES" here!: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/f-ckbillionaires/f-ck-billionaires Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase! Check out today's sponsors: Liquid IV: Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LiquidIV.com and use code MAJORITYREP at checkout. That's 20% off your first order when you shop better hydration today using promo code MAJORITYREP at https://LiquidIV.com. Select Quote: Get the RIGHT life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at https://SelectQuote.com/majority. Go to https://SelectQuote.com/majority to get started. Blueland Cleaning Products: Blueland has a special offer for listeners. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to https://blueland.com/majority. You won't want to miss this! That's https://blueland.com/majority to get 15% off. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

Inspectors General - or "IGs" as they often are called - work in the public interest to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, waste, and abuse by those in government who would abuse their power, their position, and their office. In a very real sense, IGs are shepherds of good government, honest government, and ethical government. So, of course, Donald Trump just tried to fire 15 federal inspectors general. And it looks like Trump may have violated the federal law in the way he went about the terminations. Importantly, it looks like the IGs are not giving in to Trump's lawlessness. As The Washington Post reported, "The chairman of the Council of Inspectors general on Integrity and Efficiecy challenged the White House's action in a letter (to the White House, saying) . . . "I recommend that you reach out to the White House counsel to discuss your intended course of action. At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Inspectors General, . . . "Push back by the inspectors general is a point of light amidst the current Trump-induced darkness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin this episode of The ReidOut with Mark Greenblatt, the former Inspector General of the Interior Department, who was among 18 inspectors general abruptly fired in a Friday night purge by Donald Trump. When questioned, a White House official claimed the firings were part of an effort to shed remnants of the Biden administration that did not align with the new Trump administration. However, inspectors general are apolitical by design, tasked with investigating misconduct regardless of partisan considerations. Moreover, the firings likely violate federal law, which mandates a 30-day congressional notice and justifications for removing an inspector general. Predictably, sycophantic Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, remain unperturbed by this latest move from Trump.

Today's 20-min top headline news brief includes: [1:16] Carl Higbie reviews President Trump's latest achievements. [Carl Higbie Frontline] [7:12] Rob Schmitt: Trump has flipped everything upside down. [Rob Schmitt Tonight] [11:29] Alina Habba has updates on Trump dealings with Greenland, Latin America. [Rob Schmitt Tonight] [15:11] Chris Plante: Why firing 17 Inspectors General is necessary to drain the swamp. [Chris Plante The Right Squad] [21:28] Confirmation hearings this week for Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and RFK Jr. [Newsline] Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  • Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  • X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter • Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG • YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV • Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV • TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX  • GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax • Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  • Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax      • BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com • Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inspectors General - or "IGs" as they often are called - work in the public interest to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, waste, and abuse by those in government who would abuse their power, their position, and their office. In a very real sense, IGs are shepherds of good government, honest government, and ethical government. So, of course, Donald Trump just tried to fire 15 federal inspectors general. And it looks like Trump may have violated the federal law in the way he went about the terminations. Importantly, it looks like the IGs are not giving in to Trump's lawlessness. As The Washington Post reported, "The chairman of the Council of Inspectors general on Integrity and Efficiecy challenged the White House's action in a letter (to the White House, saying) . . . "I recommend that you reach out to the White House counsel to discuss your intended course of action. At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Inspectors General, . . . "Push back by the inspectors general is a point of light amidst the current Trump-induced darkness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Deportation and Retaliation: President Trump slapped Colombia with major tariffs and sanctions today for refusing to admit deportation flights from the U.S. as the new Border Czar says he needs more money to get his job done. I'll ask Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, how far Congress will go to bankroll mass deportations and the rest of Trump's Imperial agenda. "You're fired!" Trump's executive orders are upending the federal bureaucracy and risk disrupting government operations that serve all Americans. Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service and NAACP President Derrick Johnson join me to discuss the consequences of the President's war on federal workers. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.” 

There is a federal law (enacted as a result of Trump's first term) that Congress must be given 30 days notice before an inspector general can be fired.  Laws be damned. Trump and his team fired at least 12 inspectors general over the weekend. These jobs at federal agencies came about after Watergate and were meant to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse in the government. Inspectors General hold agencies to account and help keep everything on up and up. Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warn that this IG firing is Donald Trump's way of showing he's terrified of accountability.We'll check in with iHeart TV and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich to get his take. We welcome Heidi Cuda to the show. She's the host of the “Radicalized Truth Survives” podcast and an Investigative Reporter at the ‘Bette Dangerous' Substack.The Mark Thompson Show 1/27/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

President Trump has reinstated the Mexico City Policy to prevent taxpayer funding of organizations supporting abortion. Meanwhile, tensions rise in Washington over his decision to fire multiple Inspectors General. Plus, Joan Bell, pardoned for FACE Act violations by the president, attends the March for Life.

0:00 CIA Finally admits lab leak is most likely cause of Covid pandemic! Fauci next? Robby Soave 8:13 Trump fires inspectors general. Schumer, Schiff say pres is breaking the law; Tom Cotton defends move 19:34 Colombia caves to Trump's demands, will take in mass deportation flights: White House 26:40 President Trump pushes Egypt, Jordan to ‘clean out' Gaza; expert says it would destabilize region   37:01 Elon musk addresses Germany's AFD party, says that nation should not be ashamed about the past 46:21 Stephen A Smith admits on Bill Maher that he is 'a damn fool' for voting Kamala Harris 55:00 JD Vance clashes with CBS's Margaret Brennan over Tulsi Gabbard, J6 pardons and grocery prices  1:06:12 CNN anchor in disbelief Trump's approval ratings go through the roof: Watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harry talks with Mark Greenblatt, one of the Inspectors General fired suddenly in the “Friday night purge” of the vast majority of Senate-confirmed IG's. They discuss the origin, function, and nature of Inspectors General, who have saved taxpayers nearly $700 billion. Greenblatt talks about his own 20-year + service in the IG community, during which he rotated through several agencies and was elected by his peers to lead the IGs' council. Then they zero in on Friday night and exactly what happened before moving to Greenblatt's current thoughts about how the IG community, Congress, and country should respond to the purge, and whether and how it is possible to safeguard the paramount goal of oversight with integrity and credibility. It's the longest and most detailed and nuance discussion with any of the fired IGs, going well beyond quick sound bites to an in-depth examination of who IGs are and what the country has lost in the purge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's Le Show, we'll hear News of the Godly, News of Inspectors General, It's a Smart World, News of the Crypto Winter, News of the Atom, and Apologies of the Week. We'll also enjoy music selections and skits, including some words from the Bystander of the Month.

Jen Psaki outlines the GOP's empowerment of insurrectionists pardoned by Trump and the dangerous precedent it sets for future political violence in our country. Next, Jen is joined by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for a wide-ranging interview, covering topics including Trump's pardons, her fight to protect abortion rights, the risk of proposed tariffs, and more. Then, Former White House Ethics Czar Norm Eisen joins Jen to discuss why he believes Trump's purge of Inspectors General is illegal, and why he thinks they shouldn't just "roll over for Trump's dictatorial decrees". Later, Jen is joined by Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn who shares his reaction to Trump's pardons of thousands of Jan. 6 convicts and why he feels motivated to continue speaking out in face of the "crushing" news. Jen also shares some thoughts on Pete Hegseth's unprecedented confirmation as Defense Secretary in the face of an avalanche of red flags. Finally, Jen reflects on the various individuals who had the courage to push back against Trump in his first week in office. Check out our social pages below:https://twitter.com/InsideWithPsakihttps://www.instagram.com/InsideWithPsaki/https://www.tiktok.com/@insidewithpsakihttps://www.msnbc.com/jen-psaki

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': The Purge: President Trump fires at least a dozen Inspectors General of federal agencies, who are responsible for investigating fraud, waste and abuse. Why this stunning moveis a blow against government accountability.  And, Birthright: With the stroke of a pen, President Trump attempts to wipe out an entire class of U.S. citizen. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins me to talk about how states are leading the charge to uphold the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.  Plus, Riot Act: Trump's pardon of hundreds of violent Jan. 6th rioters is an affront to the rule of law. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg weigh in on the damage done and the consequences to come.  All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.” 

Michael Fanone, one of the many DC police officers brutally attacked on January 6th, reacts to being told that he is “no longer a victim” after Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of the rioters. Plus, former CIA Director John Brennan discusses having his security clearance revoked as the president launches his retribution tour.

Sorry...he's not sorry...President Trump isn't feeling any shame after he unceremoniously fired 18 inspectors general. He told reporters that it's a "very common thing to do," despite the fact that it's actually not and there's actually a Congressional requirement to give these employees 30-days' notice. Congressman Steven Horsford talks about that as well as what Trump had to say during a visit to his Congressional district. Plus, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester is about to grill RFK Jr. in one of his two days of confirmation hearings. She talks about what she expects.

In Episode 128 of The Liberty Den, the hosts unpack President Trump's eventful week, including his confrontational stance against California's leadership over wildfire management and voter ID requirements. They analyze Trump's decisive executive orders, including the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations and the elimination of birthright citizenship. Key discussions include Rick Grenell's unique role in the administration, the sudden dismissal of multiple Inspectors General, and the geopolitical implications of the Gulf of America renaming. The episode concludes with reflections on California's insurance crisis, Trump's federal aid conditions, and the challenges of restoring accountability in government.