Jacobin Radio Jacobin Radio: Trump’s War on Dissent w/ Pema Levy
Sep 23, 2025
Pema Levy, an investigative reporter at Mother Jones, dives deep into the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. United States. She reveals how this ruling grants Trump sweeping immunity, allowing him to weaponize the Justice Department against his critics and facilitate questionable ICE raids. Levy discusses the alarming convergence of legal and political practices that heralds a shift towards authoritarianism in America. This conversation highlights the erosion of institutional independence and the rising threats to democratic checks, especially for marginalized groups.
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Roberts Expanded Presidential Immunity
- The Supreme Court in Trump v. United States broadened presidential immunity beyond prior expectations.
- That expansion can shield unlawful official acts and potentially permit politically motivated prosecutions.
Core Powers Now Shield Illicit Conduct
- The opinion expanded the president's "core powers" to include actions that may be illegal.
- That expansion arguably protects both presidents and cooperating prosecutors from liability for fabricating evidence.
DOJ Recast As Presidential Legal Office
- The decision reframed the attorney general as the president's law enforcement officer, not the nation's.
- That reinterpretation weakens prosecutorial independence and normalizes political interference in DOJ decisions.
