Impolitic with John Heilemann Miles Taylor: Anonymous No More
Jun 6, 2025
Miles Taylor, former DHS chief of staff and author of the NYT op-ed under the pen name Anonymous, shares his intense battle against an executive order aimed at investigating him. He discusses the personal and professional fallout from being labeled a traitor for standing up to Trump, the legal strategies he's considering, and the broader implications for democracy. Taylor reflects on the moral dilemmas of whistleblowing within a politically charged environment and underscores the urgent need for accountability and unity in facing political power abuses.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Longstanding Threat of Prosecution
- Miles Taylor faced the threat of prosecution by Trump since 2020 after his anonymous op-ed revealing resistance inside the administration.
- He anticipated severe personal and professional consequences long before threats materialized publicly.
Hearing the Execution Order Live
- Miles heard Trump's executive order while returning from the dog groomer, receiving urgent calls to turn on the TV.
- The order was a shocking, unprecedented use of presidential power aimed directly at him.
Coordinated Legal Response
- Taylor and Chris Krebs coordinated their legal defense after being targeted, recognizing shared threats.
- They filed complaints with inspectors general as a first step to challenge the unconstitutional investigations.
