Rachel Maddow Presents Burn Order - Ep. 2: The Jitters
Jan 19, 2026
A wartime scramble on the West Coast after Pearl Harbor fuels panic and urgent debates. Military leaders push sweeping, racially targeted removal plans while Justice Department lawyers fight for legal process. Investigations into loyalty and night arrests reveal community terror and deep institutional conflict over sweeping wartime powers.
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Jitters Created A Dangerous Power Vacuum
- Lieutenant General John DeWitt's command on the West Coast became consumed by unfounded fears and wild rumors after Pearl Harbor.
- Those jitters created a power vacuum that allowed a clever junior officer to reshape policy toward mass racial removal.
Justice Department’s Hearing Process
- The Justice Department, led by Edward Ennis, created individual hearings for arrested 'alien enemies' to determine release or internment.
- That process aimed to preserve individuated justice and avoid wholesale racial detention.
Nighttime FBI Arrests Terrorized Families
- The FBI arrested and detained thousands of community leaders overnight after Pearl Harbor, terrifying families.
- Parents were taken in the middle of the night, often never to return during the war.
