Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Briefing with Jen Psaki
Episode: 'Thin-skinned and petty and weak': Trump exposes himself, degrades U.S. legal system
Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Jen Psaki
Guests: Dan Goldman, Preet Bharara, Jeh Johnson, Ruben Gallego

Overview

In this urgent episode, Jen Psaki unpacks a week of seismic developments in American democracy as former President Donald Trump directs his Justice Department to indict political adversaries, notably New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Psaki explores how these prosecutions break long-standing norms of Department of Justice independence, highlighting the fragility of democracy under such overt politicization. With a panel of former prosecutors and lawmakers, the episode scrutinizes the implications, the legal avenues available to the accused, and the broader threat to rule of law, concluding with a discussion of the ongoing government shutdown and its effects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Overt Weaponization of the Justice Department

• [01:00–10:06]
  • Trump’s DOJ indicted Letitia James, coming right after Comey’s indictment. Both deny the charges; both indictments are considered baseless and driven by Trump’s personal vendettas, not evidence.
  • U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert refused Trump’s pressure to indict James; he was fired and replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a political loyalist with no prosecutorial experience, who fast-tracked charges anyway.
  • The White House and federal agencies direct mortgage fraud charges at Trump’s political enemies, while ignoring similar behavior by his cabinet members.
  • The Justice Department's independence is seen as “shattered,” and prosecutorial consensus is lacking—no experienced federal prosecutor would join Halligan's cases.

Quote:
“So yes, he is weaponizing the Justice Department. That’s what he’s doing. But that is why he is weaponizing the Justice Department. … he is thin-skinned and petty and weak.”
— Jen Psaki [04:29]

2. Analysis from Former Prosecutor Dan Goldman

• [10:06–14:43]
  • Goldman calls the behavior a “bedrock foundation of democracy” being violated:
    • Selective and vindictive prosecution undermines the U.S. position globally and its own legal legitimacy.
    • The posted "direct message" from Trump instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi to indict enemies is “absolute evidence” of targeting adversaries.
    • Trump’s actions risk erasing the democratic foundation if the justice system becomes openly politicized.
  • Discusses defense strategies for Comey and James, including motions for vindictive prosecution and challenging Halligan’s appointment.

Quotes:
“We now have absolute evidence that Donald Trump is targeting his enemies.”
— Dan Goldman [10:37]

“If our criminal justice system is politicized, then we have no democratic foundation to stand on.”
— Dan Goldman [11:44]

3. Legal Fallouts and the Role of Direct Messages – Preet Bharara’s Analysis

• [16:41–23:23]
  • Trump’s Truth Social post, a supposed DM, is legal dynamite—defendants can now request all communications for discovery, possibly unearthing more evidence of vindictive prosecution.
  • Prosecuting multiple enemies successively actually weakens DOJ cases, reinforcing claims of targeted political revenge.
  • Executive privilege may not shield such communications if they’re used to direct improper prosecutions.
  • The normalization of such behavior portends deeper repercussions beyond Trump’s existing enemies.

Quotes:
“Each successive case that Donald Trump's Justice Department brings along these lines makes it more likely that the prior case will be dismissed.”
— Preet Bharara [19:12]

“He ran in a campaign of retribution and now he's exacting that retribution, just like he said. That's pretty powerful stuff.”
— Preet Bharara [20:24]

4. Responses of the Accused & Trump's Targets

• [25:27–26:59]
  • Letitia James, Comey, and others publicly vow to fight, not to be deterred.
  • Psaki and guests analyze the psychological effect and political optics of these responses, highlighting defiance and a refusal to be bullied.

Quotes:
“I’m not fearful. I’m fearless. … No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”
— Letitia James [26:00]

“We will not be intimidated. … We will stand up to this president.”
— Ruben Gallego [26:42] & Preet Bharara [26:51]

5. Wider Consequences and Historical Context – Jeh Johnson’s Reflections

• [27:35–33:06]
  • Jeh Johnson compares current U.S. conduct to countries the U.S. critiques for political prosecutions.
  • Predicts a “Jimmy Kimmel effect”: Persecuted figures return to prominence and public sympathy.
  • Warns against a cycle of political revenge; urges a return to DOJ independence after this dark era.
  • Concludes that Trump's own statements are “Exhibit A” for abuse of power.

Quote:
"We'd have to give ourselves an F in this category these days."
— Jeh Johnson, on America's slide toward politically motivated prosecutions [28:20]

"This has been up to now one of the strengths of this nation ... we don't go after political enemies ... that's exactly what this president is doing right now."
— Jeh Johnson [31:19]

6. Government Shutdown Chaos and Political Fallout

• [34:09–43:46]
  • Republican leadership, especially Speaker Mike Johnson, criticized for mishandling the government shutdown and failing to protect vulnerable Americans and federal workers.
  • Trump and cabinet members show open contempt for federal employees, with threats to deny back pay.
  • Senator Ruben Gallego joins to explain Republican obstruction regarding the swearing-in of Congresswoman-elect Grijalva and broader ACA/Medicaid issues.
  • Emphasizes tangible effects on millions of Americans as political brinkmanship continues.

Quote:
"The best thing they could do right now is let's get together, let's come up with a compromise. We know we have to compromise. ... We need to get this all before November 1st."
— Ruben Gallego [42:18]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "We now have absolute evidence that Donald Trump is targeting his enemies."
  — Dan Goldman [10:37]

• “Each successive case ... makes it more likely that the prior case will be dismissed.”
  — Preet Bharara [19:12]

• “He ran in a campaign of retribution and now he's exacting that ... just like he said. That's pretty powerful stuff.”
  — Preet Bharara [20:24]

• "We'd have to give ourselves an F in this category these days."
  — Jeh Johnson [28:20]

• "I'm not fearful. I'm fearless. No weapon formed against me shall prosper."
  — Letitia James [26:00]

• “We will not be intimidated. … We will stand up to this president.”
  — Ruben Gallego & Preet Bharara [26:51]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00–10:06] — Jen Psaki outlines the timeline and context of Trump's selective prosecutions and changes in DOJ staff.
• [10:06–14:43] — Dan Goldman's analysis and call for DOJ prosecutors to uphold their oaths.
• [16:41–23:23] — Preet Bharara explains the legal vulnerabilities Trump has created and the implications for the judiciary.
• [25:27–26:59] — Statements of defiance from Letitia James, Comey, and Ruben Gallego.
• [27:35–33:06] — Jeh Johnson on America's democratic decline and need for future reform.
• [34:09–43:46] — Government shutdown discussion; interviews with Senator Ruben Gallego about GOP tactics.

Conclusion

This episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki offers a comprehensive, sobering look at the unprecedented politicization of the U.S. Justice Department under Trump and the wider constitutional, legal, and societal consequences. The host and her guests—a roster of former prosecutors and lawmakers—present a stark warning about the erosion of democratic norms, the dangers of unchecked executive power, and the importance of public and institutional resistance. The episode concludes by situating these prosecutorial abuses amid broader GOP dysfunction, highlighting the urgent stakes for American democracy.