Impolitic with John Heilemann Claire McCaskill: Trump, Bovino, Noem, The Boss & The Streets of Minneapolis
22 snips
Jan 30, 2026 Claire McCaskill, former Missouri senator and prosecutor, brings sharp political and legal perspective. She reacts to the Minneapolis shooting and federal tactics. She critiques Republican leadership and debates DHS, ICE and accountability. They discuss reaching disaffected Trump voters and which Democrats might rise in 2026.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Todd Akin vs January 6th Republican Silence
- McCaskill recounts how Republicans once immediately rejected Todd Akin after his remark.
- She contrasts that with Republican inaction after January 6th, blaming fear and self-preservation.
An Aggressive Ethos Drives Escalation
- Federal rhetoric and leadership cultivated an aggressive 'turn and burn' ethos in some ICE/CBP units.
- McCaskill says that ethos explains repeated escalations and public revulsion.
Phones Changed Accountability
- McCaskill recalls reviewing excessive-force cases as a prosecutor and how rare clear video evidence was then.
- She credits modern phone videos with making prosecutions and accountability far more feasible.