Big Take Trump Promised Revenge. He’s Using the DOJ to Make It Happen
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Nov 12, 2025 Nancy Cook, a senior national political reporter at Bloomberg, and Chris Strohm, a DOJ reporter, delve into Trump's second-term retribution agenda. They explore how the Department of Justice has been used as a tool for punishing political enemies, including notable indictments of figures like James Comey and Letitia James. The discussion highlights the erosion of norms within the DOJ and the implications for future administrations, raising concerns about a chilling effect on dissent and the unsettling precedent being set.
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Retribution As Policy
- Trump treats retribution as a core second-term policy rather than mere rhetoric.
- His administration uses institutional levers deliberately to pursue perceived enemies.
DOJ Reshaped To Pursue 'Enemies'
- The Justice Department has been reshaped to pursue individuals Trump labels enemies through broad investigations.
- Cases now span allegations from Russia to classified documents, tied together as a single long-running conspiracy.
Norms Replaced By Discretion
- Longstanding norms shielding the DOJ from White House influence have eroded into discretionary practices.
- Trump has treated himself as the chief law enforcement officer, sidelining traditional guardrails.