To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Special Episode: Pam Bondi Might Be Coming After You
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Dec 10, 2025 A new memo from AG Pam Bondi sparks controversy by creating a secret list of groups accused of domestic terrorism, which Congress never approved. This document shifts the focus from illegal actions to vague ideological criteria, effectively criminalizing dissent against the administration. It calls for increased surveillance and mapping of decentralized movements while selectively framing threats. The chilling effect on civic engagement, alongside potential sentencing enhancements, raises serious concerns about authoritarian overreach in domestic security.
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Ideology Replaces Behavior As Target
- Pam Bondi's eight-page memo reframes domestic terrorism from criminal acts to ideological indicators.
- This shift makes political beliefs the primary target rather than concrete illegal behavior.
Crisis Framing Echoes Past Security Moments
- Sykes frames the policy's origin as a crisis response to Charlie Kirk's assassination.
- He compares that rhetorical move to past triggers that created security apparatuses like 9/11.
Vague Criteria Invite Mission Creep
- The memo lists vague ideological markers like 'hostility towards traditional views' that invite subjective enforcement.
- Such vagueness enables mission creep and risks surveilling constitutionally protected expression.