Slate Daily Feed Political Gabfest | Tough It Out, Pregnant Ladies!
Sep 25, 2025
Beverly Gage, a Yale historian and author of the Pulitzer-winning biography on J. Edgar Hoover, joins the discussion to delve into the historical context of McCarthyism. She sheds light on the Red Scare's origins and its chilling effects on free speech and civic life. The panel debates how past political repressions echo in today's climate, emphasizing strategic responses to modern political bullying. From anti-communist blacklists to the power of media pushback against overreach, the conversation explores essential lessons for contemporary democracy.
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Weaponizing Prosecution Undermines DOJ Norms
- Since Watergate, DOJ norms separate presidential influence from individual prosecutions to prevent political weaponization.
- Trump’s replacement of a U.S. attorney and public orders to prosecute enemies breaks that norm and threatens impartial justice.
Reverse-Engineering Crimes Damages The System
- Prosecutors are being pressured to reverse the normal process: start with a person and hunt for a crime rather than start with suspected wrongdoing.
- That reversal produces wasted resources, declining morale, and potential vindictive prosecutions that could be checked by courts but mainly require political remedies.
Use Political Pressure To Check DOJ Abuse
- Use political tools like congressional pushback and ultimately voters to check presidential meddling in prosecutions.
- Legal checks (grand juries, judges) may block vindictive cases, but political accountability is crucial.
