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'They obviously targeted me': Newark mayor describes chaotic arrest in confrontation at ICE facility - The Briefing with Jen Psaki | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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'They obviously targeted me': Newark mayor describes chaotic arrest in confrontation at ICE facility

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Sat May 10 2025

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka talks with Jen Psaki following his release from being held in a Homeland Security cell after being arrested and charged with federal trespassing in a chaotic confrontation that included members of Congress outside an ICE facility. "This is disturbing what they think they have the ability to do."

Summary

Podcast Summary: "They obviously targeted me": Newark Mayor Describes Chaotic Arrest in Confrontation at ICE Facility

Podcast Information:

Title: The Briefing with Jen Psaki
Host: MSNBC
Episode Title: "They obviously targeted me": Newark Mayor Describes Chaotic Arrest in Confrontation at ICE Facility
Release Date: May 10, 2025

Overview

In this intense episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki, host Jen Psaki delves into a disturbing incident involving the arrest of Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka during a visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The episode explores the chaotic nature of the arrest, the involvement of several members of Congress, and broader critiques of the current administration's handling of immigration and other critical issues.

The Arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka

Incident Description: Jen Psaki opens the discussion by recounting the tumultuous events leading to the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at an ICE detention center. The mayor, alongside Congressional representatives from New Jersey, was conducting an oversight visit when the situation escalated.

“It was one of those Fridays we have unfortunately become accustomed to in the age of Donald Trump. I mean, it was chaotic. It was bizarre at times. And at times it was very cruel.”
[01:03] – Jen Psaki

Details of the Arrest: Psaki describes how the mayor was approached by ICE agents and handcuffed despite being on public property and part of an authorized oversight visit. The scene quickly became chaotic, with masked ICE agents aggressively interacting with the elected officials.

“We watched as members of Congress were basically in the middle of a scrum with masked ICE agents.”
[01:03] – Jen Psaki

Technical Failures Highlighted: She also touches upon unrelated yet alarming issues, such as the blackout of radar screens at Newark Airport, which hindered air traffic control and raised concerns about aviation safety under the current administration.

Interviews and Reactions

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman: The episode features an in-depth phone interview with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who was present during the arrest. She provides a firsthand account of the events and expresses deep concern over the administration's actions.

“The mayor was arrested without any provocation. He wasn’t trespassing or protesting; he was there as part of a legitimate oversight visit.”
[17:33] – Bonnie Watson Coleman

Mayor Ras Baraka: Later in the episode, Mayor Baraka joins the conversation to discuss his experience. He emphasizes that his presence at the ICE facility was lawful and highlights the aggressive tactics used by ICE agents.

“It was terrible. They obviously targeted me. It was more than just an arrest; it was an illustration of how law enforcement is being weaponized under this administration.”
[42:14] – Mayor Ras Baraka

Broader Administrative Critiques

Stephen Miller's Comments: The discussion moves towards broader critiques of the administration's policies, particularly focusing on statements made by Stephen Miller, a key figure in the current administration.

“The president, whoever he is, has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody.”
[04:38] – Stephen Miller

Jen Psaki counters by highlighting the administration's reluctance to take responsibility for policy failures, contrasting it with traditional presidential accountability.

“For Donald Trump, the buck stops with everybody. He shares the blame, refusing to take personal responsibility for the administration's actions.”
[05:04] – Jen Psaki

Impact on Governance: Psaki criticizes various cabinet officials for neglecting their duties, citing examples such as FBI Director Kash Patel reducing his briefing frequency and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prioritizing public image over defense responsibilities.

“Governing is not a photo op. It's a complicated and hard and often quite literally life or death situation for the people who live in this country.”
[06:56] – Jen Psaki

Economic and Public Safety Concerns: The episode also addresses economic policies like tariffs, which Psaki argues have led to rising costs and economic instability. Additionally, she raises concerns about public health crises and aviation safety under the current administration.

“There is a growing public health crisis, people are afraid to fly, things are going to cost more—all because of the policies of the guy sitting in the Oval Office.”
[04:33] – Jen Psaki

Conclusion and Forward Look

Jen Psaki concludes the episode by emphasizing the need for continued oversight and accountability. She calls on other elected officials to follow the example of Congresswoman Coleman and Mayor Baraka in demanding transparency and justice.

“This is very troublesome. This is very heartbreaking, Jen. This is not American.”
[22:17] – Bonnie Watson Coleman

Psaki also teases upcoming discussions on White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt's briefings, promising to provide truthful responses to misleading statements made by the administration.

“Coming up, we're gonna talk about the briefing that White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt had today. She told some whoppers. So after the break, I'm going to answer the same questions she did but actually tell the truth.”
[44:45] – Jen Psaki

Key Takeaways

Targeted Arrest: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was unlawfully arrested during an authorized oversight visit to an ICE facility, raising serious concerns about the administration's use of law enforcement.
Cabinet Failures: Several cabinet officials are criticized for neglecting their responsibilities, contributing to systemic inefficiencies and crises.
Economic and Safety Issues: The administration's policies on tariffs and immigration are implicated in economic instability and public safety concerns.
Call for Accountability: The episode underscores the importance of elected officials standing up against administrative overreach and demands for transparency and justice.

Notable Quotes

“It was chaotic. It was bizarre at times. And at times it was very cruel.”
— Jen Psaki [01:03]
“The president... has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody.”
— Stephen Miller [04:38]
“For Donald Trump, the buck stops with everybody.”
— Jen Psaki [05:04]
“Governing is not a photo op... It's a complicated and hard and often quite literally life or death situation.”
— Jen Psaki [06:56]
“This is not American.”
— Bonnie Watson Coleman [22:17]
“They obviously targeted me.”
— Mayor Ras Baraka [42:14]

This episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki provides a critical examination of the current administration's handling of law enforcement and oversight, highlighted by the targeted arrest of a major city mayor. Through firsthand accounts and incisive commentary, Psaki calls for greater accountability and adherence to the rule of law.

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Transcript

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Jen Psaki (1:03)

It was one of those Fridays we have unfortunately become accustomed to in the age of Donald Trump. I mean, it was chaotic. It was bizarre at times. And at times it was very cruel. I mean, today a sitting mayor, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested during a visit to an ICE facility. You may have seen that video. And he was just released in the last hour. If we learn more about that and how he's doing, we'll bring that to you. But Mayor Esbaraka and members of Congress from New Jersey say they were there as part of an oversight visit, something that is very much allowed for members of Congress, something that has been allowed since the first Trump administration. And after the mayor was arrested, there was an incredibly chaotic scene, you can see it there, in which members of Congress were basically in the middle of a scrum with masked ICE agents. A member of Congress who was there is going to join me live in just a few minutes. I just mentioned that, and we're going to ask more questions about where things stand. Also today, a Tufts University student was released after spending 45 days. You can see her there after her release. 45 days in a Louisiana detention center simply for writing an op ed. That's what she did. That's why she spent 45 days in this detention facility. That apparently, or maybe was one of the things that made good old Stephen Miller pretty big mad because today he suggested that the administration is considering suspending people's right to challenge the their own imprisonment. And White House Press secretary Caroline Levitt also gave a pretty bonkers briefing today. So a little later in the show, I'm going to go back to my roots, some of my roots, and field some of the same questions she was asked, but actually answer them truthfully. Not going to show you what she said. I'm going to show you what the questions were asked because everybody wants to know what's actually happening out there. But before we get to all of that, I actually want to start with a bit of a different headline today out of Newark, New Jersey. The headline is radar screens at Newark airport went black again overnight. And just before 4am this morning, air traffic control radar screens went black just totally, completely dead for about 90 seconds, leaving air traffic controllers completely in the dark again. Because remember, this is the second time in just two weeks that air traffic controllers at Newark lost their only tool for preventing plane crashes. And this of course comes on the heels of a series of aviation disasters and, and near misses during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. I mean, less than four months into the Trump's term, we're still less than four months. We also find ourselves in the middle of one of the worst measles outbreaks in this country since we eradicated measles more than 25 years ago. More than 25 years ago. But we're now in a huge outbreak. And while we're at it, take a look at some of those headlines about what we can all expect from Trump's tariff policies. A lot of those are telling us how much costs are going to go up and what that's all going to mean for all of us. So we're just 109 days into this term, there is a growing public health crisis, people are afraid to fly. Things are going up to gonna cost more. We can all expect that, all because of the policies of the guy sitting in the Oval Office. This is all self inflicted stuff. Everyone. Now no president wants to admit failure or take responsibility for the bad stuff, no matter who they are, Democratic or Republican, whether they caused it or not. But it's still an important part of the job. It's still an important part of leadership. And, and it's one that American presidents, Democratic presidents, Republican presidents have understood and accepted that ultimately the buck stops with them.

Jen Psaki (7:45)

Don't you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as President? I don't know. I mean, he doesn't know a lot. Deportations, that's up to dhs. When we deport someone by mistake, that's the Attorney General's jam. Not my problem. The Surgeon General, Bobby Kennedy seems to like him. Tariffs, due process, the Constitution. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. And the President's basically saying it's up to anyone else but him to set policy or solve problems in the country that he was elected to lead. Just today he suggested that with tariffs his defining policy that has upended the economy, he's going to go hands off on that one. From now on, he says it's up to Scott B. As he calls him, which I guess is his pet name for the Treasury Secretary. Not really sure. Good luck. Cleanup on aisle seven for poor Scott B. He said the same today about potential tax increases, admitting he wants nothing to do with it. He's leaving it up to Republicans in the House to solve that political headache on his behalf. This may sound like an incredibly obvious point. It kind of is. But it's not a good thing for the country to have a president who seems entirely uninterested in actually being the President. He's not the only one, though, who appears to be phoning it in. Just take a look at what members of his Cabinet, the people he has selected to advise him and surround him, have been up to. There's one particular report, NBC's Kendallanean reported today, about how Trump's handpicked FBI Director Kash Patel is, is also taking his hands off the wheel when it comes to actually being the FBI director. I mean, before Patel took over the FBI, the Bureau used to hold briefings for the head of the agency every morning at 8:30am I mean, for good reason. The FBI director oversees all of the law enforcement in the country. There's never a shortage of things to be briefed on. They could probably be briefed all day long about everything happening. Dozens, if not hundreds, of FBI intel officials compile these briefings overnight on often in order to ensure that the FBI director and other members of the national security team are fully up to speed on every single development. But Kash Patel has decided to basically take a pass on these daily briefings. It seems instead, he's decided that he really only needs that briefing two days a week. Again, this is compiled by many people in the administration, intelligence officials and others to make sure the person overseeing law enforcement knows what's happening. And when he does show up, Patel seems kind of bored. According to Delaney and speech. Here's what it says. The two current FBI officials telling NBC News that Patel sometimes seemed uninterested in the material, and his intelligence briefers are struggling to craft a briefing that captures his attention. So sorry you're bored, FBI director. I guess. I mean, the FBI director's daily brief contains some of the most sensitive information in the world about the country and threats it's facing. But maybe Patel would prefer pictures or Cliff Notes or something else. I'm not sure. PowerPoint. Other officials told NBC News that the reason for the scheduling change is because Patel kept showing up late. Maybe he's tired from all the trips he's taking. I mean, since becoming FBI director. And this is in part in Delaney's reporting as well, Patel has been to Nashville three times to visit his girlfriend, twice to Las Vegas, where he has a house, and also to New York so he could watch a hot hockey game, one of many sporting events, by the way. He's attended all of those flights taken on the taxpayer's dime. One longtime associate of Kash Patel tried defending him, saying, quote, I've known cash for a long time. The only thing he's doing late into the night is going to the gym. I mean, that's the best defender you can get? I'm not sure. I'm not sure that's as reassuring as that friend thinks it is. Now, all of this may explain why the FBI director was apparently too busy to turn in his budget request on time before testifying yesterday.

Jen Psaki (12:04)

I'm doing the best I can. I mean, he's doing the best he can. It's a budget. It's a budget document she's asking for. It's due at the same time every year pretty much. Is he really doing the best he can? We're gonna have Ken Delaney here live to talk about his big scoop coming up. So you will want to stick around for that. He's got more details. We'll talk about more of it. But Kash Patel is also not the only Cabinet official who seems to be distracted from their job responsibilities. There's also the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who seems more worried about his public profile than doing his actual job. I mean, according to a former Pentagon official, he spends a full 50% of his time trying to flesh out leakers from his own department. This is the guy who was supposed to be overseeing the largest military in the world. 50% of his time fleshing out leakers. And then there's the Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, who seems more interested in dressing up in costumes, I guess, than in actually doing her job. There are some of the examples there. I mean, why is she dressed up like a firefighter? I don't know the answer to that question. But here's the point. Governing is not a photo op. It's a complicated and hard and often quite literally life or death situation for the people who live in this country. And I don't know why members of this Cabinet seem uninterested in doing their jobs or uninterested in leading the agencies that they were nominated and confirmed to lead. I don't know if the President is just pretending to not know how the Constitution works or if he really has no idea, but I do know that all. Both are bad. That's important to keep reminding ourselves that neither is normal. Neither is this chaotic leadership causes chaotic events, like the sitting mayor of a major city being arrested at an ICE facility. Our first guest tonight was right in the middle of it all, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson. Coleman was a member of the delegation visiting that facility. Facility. She joins me live in just 90 seconds.

Brian Tyler Cohen (33:29)

I think right after the election, Democrats felt like very unsteady. Trump seemed like he was more popular than ever. He had won the popular vote. They were concerned. He had a mandate on issues like immigration, and they seemed afraid to take him on. I think that has slowly changed over time. And you were seeing Democrats stand up and fight in various ways. Right. We had Chris Van Hollen go down to El Salvador and actually get access to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was rendered wrongly via an administrative error to this gulag in El Salvador. You had Congressman Maxwell Frost and other members going down to El Salvador. You've had Cory Booker staging What was like a 21 hour filibuster on the Senate floor. So you're seeing these members of Congress step up in all these different ways. You're starting to see governors like Gavin Newsom, J.B. pritzker and others give speeches and kind of lay out the values of the party and lay out an alternative to the Republicans. So I think we were slow at first. I think we're starting to get our sea legs and fight back. But I think the modus operandi for the Democratic Party has got to be fight Donald Trump at every issue on everything. Because we've seen what happened to his approval rating in the first 100 days in ABC News, his approval was only at 39%. You know, like that was. He had a historically damaging first hundred days politically. And I think we need to hit the gas on resisting what he's doing and try to get that number down further. Yeah, they just arrested, they just arrested the mayor of Newark for just peacefully standing in the public with protests. I think that the governor, I think Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, Cory Booker, Andy Kim, the entire Jersey delegation should go back to the ICE facility tomorrow. I think there's strength in numbers. I think they should make a big deal of it. And if they can't get in there, they should go to DHS, they should go to Elena Haba's office. She the U.S. attorney. There's that Donald Trump installed. She put out a statement celebrating it. Trisha McLaughlin put out a statement from the spokesperson at DHS. And both of them just lied about what happened. They lied. There's footage that shows that they lied about what happened and that they still lied anyway. And so if I think that the Democrats, like don't let this one, just because they released him, don't let this one go away. Like, go demand answers and do it in a big group.

Jen Psaki (45:44)

I love that he was reading it. Well, Andrew, here's the thing. This is all about the grift. Selling access to make himself and his adult sons richer is a key part of this presidency. And guess what? It's working. I mean, since that dinner you mentioned was announced, the surge of trading has brought in more than $1 million in fees for Trump, his family and all their partners. They've all netted more than $320 billion since Trump's coin debuted in January. So that's why he's planning to attend the dinner. The money for himself. That's a pretty easy one. Okay, we're gonna take another one. Jackie Heinrich from Fox News. Why did the White House announce this deal with the UK before all of the details were finished? Oh, Jackie. Well, the announcement and the headlines it generates are pretty much the point. The details are kind of secondary. I mean, Trump gets to put on a show in the Oval Office and pretend like he's achieved a monumental victory. The deal is just a bit of an empty shell. I mean, you could, I guess, call it a framework which is sort of generous or agreement to negotiate more than anything else. But the 10% tariff on goods remains in place. And there are big remaining questions, huge ones, like any UK tax on digital services for the US Something that would have huge effects on American tech companies. And there are many more. Okay, next question. Stephen Nelson from the New York Post on New York. The Mayor, Eric Adams is here today. Can you tell us anything more about the visit, who initiated it, what they're talking about? I would just note this reporter once asked me if the Bidens were going to put their dog down. But. But that aside, here's the answer to that question. Eric Adams is visiting because he owes his current freedom to the guy sitting in the White House. Let's stop pretending this is on the level. Like where the relationship is between a president and a New York City mayor just coordinating city business in a normal course of events. I mean, even the judge who allowed the case to be dropped said that it, quote, smacks of a bargain. Okay, we got time, Maury. We're having fun here. How about Nicole Killian from CBS News?