Bulwark Takes: "The DOJ Is Burning Down—and She’s Tweeting Through It"

Release Date: May 1, 2025
Host/Author: The Bulwark
Episode Title: The DOJ Is Burning Down—and She’s Tweeting Through It

Introduction

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, Hosts Sam Stein and Will Sommer delve into the tumultuous developments within the Department of Justice (DOJ), focusing on Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon's controversial tenure as the head of the Civil Rights Division. The discussion highlights Dhillon's prolific use of Twitter, the mass resignation of DOJ attorneys, and the broader implications for the department's effectiveness and focus.

Harmeet Dhillon’s Role and Social Media Presence

Sam Stein introduces Harmeet Dhillon, emphasizing her significant role as the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ. Dhillon, a long-time lawyer within conservative circles and a former Trump representative, has garnered attention not only for her professional responsibilities but also for her active and often unconventional use of Twitter.

• Dhillon's Social Media Activity:
  • Will Sommer points out that since her swearing-in on April 8th, Dhillon has tweeted over 200 times, averaging 11.9 tweets per day [01:27].
  • Sam Stein remarks, “That’s like my level and I’m bad” [01:48], highlighting the unusually high frequency of her posts for someone in her position.
  • Her tweets range from personal anecdotes, such as recommendations for dealing with pollen in Washington D.C., to engaging directly with online trolls about everyday matters like the color of her Tesla [01:48].

DOJ Civil Rights Division Resignations

A significant portion of the episode addresses a recent CNN report detailing a mass resignation within the Civil Rights Division under Dhillon's leadership.

• Mass Resignations:
  • According to the CNN story, approximately 70% of the DOJ Civil Rights Division—around 340 federal workers—were offered a second resignation incentive to leave their positions, with over 200 attorneys expected to accept [02:16].
  • Dhillon’s Public Statement:
    • On Glenn Beck’s podcast, Dhillon commented on the resignations: “Over 100 attorneys decided that they'd rather not do what their job requires them to do... This is bound to happen because these, they want a rapid change of direction. They just want to reduce the footprint of the government” [04:08].
    • She criticized the departing attorneys for what she perceives as a focus on ideological agendas rather than enforcing federal civil rights laws [04:48].

Criticisms and Public Reactions

The hosts explore the backlash Dhillon faces from both within and outside the DOJ, particularly from those aligned with Trump’s grassroots movements.

• Public Backlash:

  • Sam Stein highlights Dhillon’s aggressive approach to handling criticism on Twitter, including blocking and unfollowing users who challenge her [05:32].
  • Will Sommer observes, “They say, hey, where are the arrests we were promised? And she says, muted for dim wittery” [06:34], illustrating the disconnect between Dhillon’s public persona and the DOJ’s operational focus.

• Role Model Behavior:

  • The hosts note that Dhillon’s active engagement in media and social platforms contrasts sharply with past DOJ officials under the Biden administration, who rarely appeared in media unless necessary [07:44].

Impact on DOJ’s Functioning

The episode critically examines how Dhillon's management style and public engagement are affecting the DOJ's ability to perform its duties effectively.

• Shift in Department Focus:

  • Will Sommer asserts that Dhillon is pivoting the Civil Rights Division towards conservative cultural war issues, such as anti-white discrimination and transgender rights in sports [05:11].
  • Sam Stein comments on the department's shift, stating, “The whole government's being reconfigured around that stuff. It’s all anti-DEI” [05:17].

• Operational Effectiveness:

  • The mass resignations and Dhillon’s focus on public image over substantive policy enforcement raise concerns about the DOJ’s capability to address genuine civil rights issues.
  • Will Sommer questions the prosecution of actual discrimination cases, suggesting that the current direction leaves little room for traditional civil rights enforcement [08:18].

Key Quotes

• Sam Stein:
  “I don't personally do, I don't really know many people who do it, but she's, she's right there in the mentions.” [00:00]

• Will Sommer:
  “She’s just, she’s just jamming them out.” [01:48]

• Harmeet Dhillon (via Sam Stein):
  “Do we want people in the federal government who feel like it's their pet project to go prosecute police departments based on statistics...” [04:48]

• Will Sommer:
  “They want to take on conservative culture war issues. So she says, I’m looking at anti-white discrimination… anti-Christian discrimination.” [05:11]

Insights and Conclusions

The discussion between Stein and Sommer underscores a critical turning point for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division under Harmeet Dhillon's leadership. Dhillon's emphasis on public engagement through social media, coupled with a significant exodus of attorneys, suggests a shift away from traditional civil rights enforcement towards a more ideologically driven agenda. This realignment raises questions about the division's future effectiveness in addressing systemic issues and highlights the broader implications of politicizing federal institutions.

The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of prioritizing public persona over departmental integrity and the dangers of allowing cultural warfare to overshadow substantive legal work. As the DOJ navigates these challenges, the Bulwark team emphasizes the importance of maintaining a focus on genuine civil rights protections rather than becoming entangled in partisan media dynamics.

For those interested in the complexities of federal department leadership and the intersection of media presence with governmental responsibilities, this episode provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis.