Big Take Inside Trump’s Retribution Campaign
23 snips
Nov 25, 2025 
Nancy Cook, a senior political reporter at Bloomberg, and Chris Strohm, a DOJ reporter for Bloomberg, delve into Trump’s aggressive retribution agenda. They discuss the recent dismissal of criminal cases against Comey and Letitia James, highlighting how these fits into Trump's strategy against political adversaries. The conversation reveals the Trump administration's use of federal power to target opponents, the erosion of DOJ norms, and the troubling implications for future administrations. Expect a robust analysis of upcoming legal challenges and the changing landscape of U.S. politics.
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Retribution Is Policy, Not Rhetoric
- The Trump administration treats retribution as a central second-term policy, not just rhetoric.
- They apply executive power broadly and with tactical precision to target perceived enemies.
DOJ Reshaped To Pursue Political Targets
- The Justice Department has been reshaped to actively pursue individuals Trump labels as enemies.
- Hundreds of career prosecutors and staff have been pushed out while prosecutions increased against critics.
Norms Protecting DOJ Independence Are Eroding
- Longstanding norms protecting DOJ independence have eroded under this administration.
- Trump presents himself as the chief law enforcement officer who can direct prosecutions and bypass traditional separations.