Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Episode: Trump Suddenly Fires TOP DOJ Official

Host: Michael Popok (MeidasTouch Network)
Date: February 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Popok delivers an incisive, rapid-response analysis of Donald Trump’s sudden firing of Abigail Slater—the chief of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division—and explains how this move fits into a pattern of politicization and corruption at the Department of Justice under the Trump administration. The discussion unpacks the connections between Slater’s dismissal, ongoing high-stakes media mergers, and the ever-tightening grip of Trump's allies over federal regulatory power. Popok traces the deeper implications for consumers and the rule of law, warning of a Justice Department fully captured by presidential and corporate interests.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abigail Slater’s Firing—Context and Motive

• Popok outlines the high-profile firing:
  • “Heads continue to roll at the Department of Justice following Pam Bondi’s immolation and embarrassing and unhinged performance in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Except it’s not Pam Bondi’s head. They just fired Abigail Slater…” (02:08)
  • Slater, a career antitrust lawyer and consumer protection advocate, was dismissed abruptly after just 11 months as head of DOJ Antitrust.
  • The firing coincides with other sudden DOJ removals and follows closely on the heels of staff reshuffles after Pam Bondi’s public misstep.

2. Media Mega-Mergers, Antitrust, and Trump’s Conflict of Interest

• Antitrust issues at the center:

  • Popok explains antitrust as the DOJ’s responsibility to ensure corporations can’t stifle competition, raise prices, or dominate markets unfairly (03:43).
  • Abigail Slater had been described as uncompromising, directly challenging industry consolidation—including the controversial Warner Brothers-Netflix/Paramount/CNN deal and tech giants like Apple and Google.
  • Trump is heavily invested, both personally and through his relationships with parties vying in these mergers, especially the Ellison family (owners of Oracle and close Trump associates).

• Trump’s direct and indirect intervention:

  • “Donald Trump has his big fat thumb on the scale because he wants the Ellison family … to acquire Warner Brothers and get their hands on CNN, giving Donald Trump yet another non-independent media company under his control…” (05:25)
  • Trump has made public statements dodging responsibility while telegraphing that DOJ would handle it—meaning, under his control (06:54).

  Notable Quote:

  • Trump: “I haven’t been involved, I must say … but I’ve decided I shouldn’t be involved. The Justice Department will handle it.” (06:54)

• Popok interprets Trump’s moves:

  • “…she was canned as a … to get her out of the way for Donald Trump to influence and try to award the prize of CNN and Warner Brothers assets to the Ellison family. I mean, it couldn’t be any clearer than that.” (07:24)

3. Pattern of Corruption at DOJ

• Firing of other officials and the significance:

  • Popok details a series of recent dismissals—highlighting a US Attorney for the Northern District of New York who lasted only 24 hours (02:42).
  • “We just had one replaced. After 24 hours, the leading attorney prosecutor for one of the 93 federal districts made it 24 hours.” (13:58)
  • Abigail Slater’s firing follows the same logic: removing those who don’t toe the Trump line in favor of unqualified, loyalist, or compromised figures.

• Tim Lewecki pardon as a signal:

  • Trump recently pardoned Tim Lewecki, convicted for bid-rigging—a case prosecuted by Slater’s own DOJ antitrust team (08:03).
  • The pardon—along with the firing—displays Trump’s willingness to overrule law enforcement in favor of personal or political allies.

  Popok’s analysis:

  • “If Abigail Slater didn’t know her time was up, then she certainly knows it now.” (08:35)

• Slater’s record of independent enforcement:

  • Aggressively targeted Apple (despite Trump’s friendship with Tim Cook), Google/YouTube, Paramount (Ellison family), and more.
  • “She’s gone after Google and successfully went after them related to ads that you see on Google and YouTube. And we know that Google and YouTube are big supporters of Donald Trump as well.” (10:46)

4. Infiltration of Lobbyists & Accountability Erosion

• DOJ Antitrust now open to lobbyist influence:

  • Popok stresses that under Trump, business lobbyists have been permitted direct influence inside Antitrust—a historical first. Slater fought this, but it contributed to her downfall (12:12).

  Notable Quote from Popok:

  • “Earlier in the year, we reported on lobbyists. This has never happened in the history of the Antitrust division … But to Donald Trump, everything is transactional, right? Everything is commercial. And so he allowed, and Slater put an end to it, lobbyists to get inside of the Antitrust division…” (12:12)

• Elizabeth Warren reacts:

  • Senator Warren calls Slater’s termination “corruption again in our midst.”
  • Popok echoes this, labeling DOJ “the most corrupt Department of Justice, completely captured by the presidency, completely captured by a criminal president.” (13:06)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Popok on Purpose of Antitrust:
  “…when a major cell phone company acquires a competitor and gets a large market share, that means they have the ability through market muscle to raise prices and there’s no competitor to balance it off right…The antitrust division of the Department of Justice… stops that.” (03:43)
• Popok on Trump’s Pattern:
  “…this is indicative of a broader disease and corruption and cancer within the Department of Justice. Name: Donald Trump and Pam Bondi.” (13:58)
• On the unprecedented churn:
  “…the shelf life for U.S. attorneys, apparently, 24 hours.” (14:19)
• On the impact for consumers:
  “…this is about the American consumer now not having anyone to push back against Donald Trump’s efforts to raise prices…you and me and the American consumer.” (02:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:08 – Popok opens with breaking news of Abigail Slater’s firing, background, and implications.
• 03:43 – Explanation of the antitrust division’s function and recent high-profile cases.
• 05:25 – Trump’s personal interest in the Warner Brothers/Paramount/CNN acquisition; the Ellison connection.
• 06:44-07:19 – [Audio Clip] Trump publicly discusses his “hands off” approach on mergers.
• 08:03 – Discussion of Tim Lewecki’s pardon and its message to Slater.
• 10:46 – Slater’s record: action against Apple, Google, and media mergers in the face of political pressure.
• 12:12 – Lobbyist contamination in Antitrust and why it matters.
• 13:06 – Elizabeth Warren’s reaction and Popok’s summation of DOJ corruption.
• 13:58 – Chronic pattern of unqualified appointments, resignations, and a DOJ “cancer.”

Conclusion

Michael Popok’s analysis in this episode forcefully connects Abigail Slater’s firing to Trump’s broader effort to undermine antitrust protections, manipulate major media mergers for personal benefit, and fill the Department of Justice with loyalists or industry cronies. The episode serves as a warning about the consequences for consumers and democracy when the government’s critical regulatory powers are captured by those in power—summed up in Popok's own words: “This is about the American consumer now not having anyone to push back against Donald Trump’s efforts to raise prices... It couldn’t be any clearer.” (02:40, 07:24)

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