Molly Jong-Fast on the breaking news that the AP is suing the Trump WH over "Gulf of America"

Summary

The Jim Acosta Show: In-Depth Summary of the Episode Featuring Molly Jong-Fast

Release Date: February 21, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Jim Acosta Show, host Jim Acosta engages in a profound conversation with guest Molly Jong-Fast concerning the landmark lawsuit filed by the Associated Press (AP) against the Trump administration. The discussion delves into the implications of the lawsuit, the defense of First Amendment rights, public sentiment, and the broader political landscape under Trump’s leadership.

Associated Press Suing the Trump Administration

At the heart of the conversation is the significant legal action taken by the AP against the Trump White House over the mandated terminology change from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America." Jim Acosta introduces the topic, emphasizing its gravity:

Jim Acosta [00:04]: “We're talking about the Associated Press taking the Trump administration to court over this Gulf of America business. And, Molly, I mean, this is a big deal, the AP filing this lawsuit.”

Defense of First Amendment Rights

Molly Jong-Fast highlights the importance of the lawsuit as a stand for journalistic integrity and freedom of the press:

Molly Jong-Fast [00:39]: “This is a violation of their First Amendment rights as a news organization.”

She further explains how the AP's courage in filing the lawsuit underscores the pervasive cowardice among other entities, contrasting their bravery against what she describes as Trump's propagandist tactics.

Orwellian Tactics and Nationalism

The discussion transitions to the broader strategies employed by the Trump administration, with Molly characterizing them as "Orwellian":

Molly Jong-Fast [01:11]: “Orwellian sort of ploy to, you know, Manifest Destiny... Trumpism is really a sort of nationalism.”

She elaborates on how these tactics are designed to manipulate public perception and enforce a nationalist agenda.

Public Sentiment and Polling Trends

Jim Acosta and Molly observe a shift in public opinion, noting that Trump’s initial high approval ratings have waned as his actions have become increasingly controversial:

Jim Acosta [06:15]: “But if you look at the Washington Post Ipsos poll, if you look at the Quinnipiac poll that just came out, the numbers are going down because people are getting a full whiff of what he is putting out there.”

Molly concurs, suggesting that the public is becoming more aware and critical of Trump’s overreach, particularly concerning cabinet appointments and government firings.

Legal Confidence and Judicial Resistance

The conversation underscores the legal community’s resilience against Trump's attempts to undermine institutional norms:

Molly Jong-Fast [06:15]: “They wouldn’t be filing this lawsuit if they didn’t think they had confidence in this case that this is gonna prevail.”

Both speakers express optimism that the courts will continue to challenge the administration’s oversteps, reinforcing the strength of democratic institutions.

Bravery and Public Figures Standing Up

Molly draws attention to acts of bravery among public figures, contrasting them with examples of cowardice, such as the sycophantic behavior observed during Trump’s inauguration:

Molly Jong-Fast [03:34]: “Bravery is also really contagious. And when you see people behaving bravely...”

She cites Chris Clouey, a Vikings punter, as an example of someone standing up against the administration's policies, inspiring others to do the same.

Political Implications and Future Outlook

The discussion touches on the broader political implications, including the potential for political gravity to shift in response to ongoing controversies:

Molly Jong-Fast [06:12]: “Political gravity take effect here.”

Jim Acosta adds that despite attempts by wealthy individuals like Elon Musk to create chaos, the federal government’s stability remains intact, suggesting that voters will ultimately hold their elected officials accountable.

Concluding Remarks

As the episode winds down, Molly Jong-Fast humorously addresses rumors of her running for Congress, reaffirming her commitment to advocacy without seeking office:

Molly Jong-Fast [08:05]: “I'm not running for Congress, but I do desperately want someone... there’s someone in the 12th district who is going to run for Congress and kill it.”

Jim Acosta wraps up the conversation by expressing gratitude to Molly for highlighting the AP’s courageous stance and encouraging listeners to stay informed and engaged.

Notable Quotes

• Jim Acosta [00:04]: “We're talking about the Associated Press taking the Trump administration to court over this Gulf of America business.”

• Molly Jong-Fast [00:39]: “This is a violation of their First Amendment rights as a news organization.”

• Molly Jong-Fast [01:11]: “Orwellian sort of ploy to... Trumpism is really a sort of nationalism.”

• Jim Acosta [06:15]: “If you look at the Washington Post Ipsos poll... the numbers are going down because people are getting a full whiff of what he is putting out there.”

• Molly Jong-Fast [06:12]: “Political gravity take effect here.”

• Molly Jong-Fast [08:05]: “I'm not running for Congress, but I do desperately want someone... there’s someone in the 12th district who is going to run for Congress and kill it.”

Conclusion

This episode of The Jim Acosta Show offers a thorough examination of the AP's lawsuit against the Trump administration, contextualizing it within the larger framework of press freedom, public dissent, and the resilience of democratic institutions. Molly Jong-Fast provides insightful perspectives on the current political climate, emphasizing the importance of bravery and the enduring significance of truth in combating propaganda and authoritarianism.

Transcript

[A]

They asked Hamish why he didn't sell. Oh. Anyway.

[B]

Oh, hang on. We're live. We're live right now. Okay, we'll hold. We'll put a pin in that conversation. But I got Molly up, and we're talking about the Associated Press taking the Trump administration to court over this Gulf of America business. And, Molly, I mean, this is. I think this is a big deal, the AP filing this lawsuit. We're all kind of wondering and waiting, were they going to do this? And they're doing it. And, I mean, they're making it very clear in this lawsuit they believe this is a violation of their First Amendment rights as a news organization.

[A]

So I think what is really important about moments like this when people are brave is that it shows how cowardly a lot of other people are. For example, here's an organization standing up for what's right, showing that they can't be penalized for sort of propaganda move. Right. Trump wants people, wants news organizations to call it the Gulf of America. It's not the Gulf of America. It has. And by the way, it's meant to be a sort of propagandist.

[B]

Yes. You know, Orwellian. Right.

[A]

Orwellian sort of ploy to, you know, Manifest Destiny. Right. It's this idea that Trumpism is really a sort of nationalism. And what I think is really, really good about this court case and what we're seeing in the courts more generally is that he really is getting outsmarted on the part of the court. And the other thing that I think is quite hopeful, that I saw a lot, sort of the end of the week, I'm really seeing. That's really hopeful and has really made me less despairing is two things. One is that we're seeing people mad. Like, people understand what's happening. They're seeing what's happening. They get it. They understand, like, why are these nuclear scientists being fired and then rehired 10 hours later? Right. Like, they're seeing it in real time. We're seeing these town halls in these ruby red districts.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

People are not happy.

[B]

They're not happy.

[A]

Right. And then we're seeing this polling. I mean, if ever, you know, Trump is already starting to sort of descend back to his normal polling. But more than that, even is Elon. Right. And Doge are two things. Or as many elected call it doggie doggy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. But Dodge is really not a. It's not popular. Right. The idea that a totally unelected, very rich person can go in there and just cut the federal government because he feels like it turns out voters don't like that.

[B]

No. And I was having a conversation with Senator Ron Wyden earlier today. I'm going to try to post the video later on this evening. And he is all over that like a pit bull, you know, on a bone. I mean, he really wants to get to these privacy concerns. And I think he understands, as a lot of other people do, this is a very salient political issue. But I mean, on the Associated Press, I think you're right. On the money, Molly, it does give you hope because it does say, yes, somebody is willing to stand up and this is important stuff. You can't. And it says right in the lawsuit that, you know, they went to Zeke Miller with the AP and they said, well, President Trump wants us to do this. This is all driven by Trump. He wants to just, he just wants to saber rattle with the press and we just can't let it happen.

[A]

But I also think as cowardice is contagious. Like, remember that inauguration with all the billionaires sitting in the front row?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

You know, each, you know, sycophantic than the next. Bravery is also really contagious. And when you see people behaving bravely, I'm thinking about that athlete this week who went to the town hall, who.

[B]

Went to a. Oh, yeah, the punter. Yeah, the punter, yeah.

[A]

So Chris is his first name.

[B]

Yeah, Chris Clouey, I believe is his name. Chris Clouey was a punter for the Vikings. Yeah, right.

[A]

He came out and he said that he did not, he didn't think it was right. He wanted people to fight back. Back. And that's what we're seeing on the ground a lot. Right. People mad at their congressional, you know, their congressmen, their senators. They're mad because they feel that they're not being, their anger is not being reflected by their elected.

[B]

Yes. And it also shows that something, a little something I like to call the truth matters. Right. And you know, when I took, when we took the Trump administration to court over my press pass case during the first term, you know, a Trump appointed judge was not buying it. He was like, you know what, guys? To, to the Trump White House, you can't do this kind of stuff. And they're going to run into the same Buzzsaw again with this AP case. I can't imagine a judge saying, oh, yeah, sure, yeah, the White House can bar the AP from the Air Force One in the Oval Office because of the Gulf of America. It doesn't pass the laugh test.

[A]

And that's the thing we see a lot when they go into the courts is that they have real trouble getting this stuff. I mean, even today, the judges aren't having it. Right. And even like this Mayor Adams case that they tried to dismiss, and now the judge has a new. Is having a sort of new trial on it, which is very interesting. So I do think, and that's another thing I want to talk about, just for a second, which, to make people feel a little better, because I know we've all been in such despair, is that Elon has not been good at this. Like, he has created a lot of chaos, right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

There are definitely people who could be fired from this federal government and the federal government would still run.

[B]

That's right. That's right.

[A]

Not firing those people.

[B]

Yeah. And. And, you know, and some of the judges, they may let some of this go through. We're already starting to see some court cases where that's happening. But, you know, one of the things that has been showing up. And you mentioned the polling earlier, right. People made a big deal out of the CBS poll that came out like a handful of days after Trump got back into the White House that showed his approval rating was whatever, 53%, the.

[A]

Highest it's ever been, immediately squandered.

[B]

But if you look at the Washington Post Ipsos poll, if you look at the Quinnipiac poll that just came out, the numbers are going down because people are getting a full whiff of what he is putting out there, and they're saying, no, thank you, that he's exceeding his authority when it comes to these firings or what he's been doing with his Cabinet picks and so on. And I just think that in time, you're going to see political gravity take effect here. And I just think that the AP is just another one of those examples. And I've been harping on it a lot because if we are going to go down the rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland, there's just no hope for us. And it's just good to know that the AP is standing up for itself and that they have confidence, their lawyers have confidence. They wouldn't be filing this lawsuit if they didn't think they had confidence in this case that this is gonna prevail.

[A]

And what I think is really important is that a lot of lawyers, a lot of people out there are brave. And I think with that early billionaire, whatever, and then watching the Washington Post bow down to Trump and watching everyone be scared, it sort of set us all a little freaked out. But now we're seeing that. In fact, it's a huge country. We've been a democracy for a long time. We know how to do this. And, you know, we've had presidents who've pushed the boundaries before. Maybe not quite this badly, but, you know, we survived Nixon as a country. We are a country where a lot of this kind of, you know, we have some precedent for this, and we can get through it.

[B]

Molly, it's great to talk to you. I just threw you on there because I was so excited about this AP case. Great to talk to you.

[A]

I'm not running for Congress. I promise. I'm not running for Congress. I was the guy. It's a question. The guy called me this morning, and I said, you know, I thought about it, but I'm probably not gonna do it because I don't really want to do it, and my husband doesn't want me to do it. And I said I wasn't gonna bring.

[B]

It up, but since you're bringing it up.

[A]

Yeah, but I promise you, I'm not running for Congress, but I do desperately want someone. It's a big district with a lot of people, and I really, really, really, really, you guys, there's someone in the 12th district who is going to run for Congress and kill it.

[B]

So I'll give you the scoop on there. You heard it right here on the Jim Acon Show. Molly Jong Fast. Not running for Congress.

[A]

Not running for Congress.

[B]

But let us know if you change your mind. All right, great to see you, Molly.

[A]

Great to see you.

[B]

All right, take care. All right, bye, guys. I just had. Since I got Molly, I was able to bring her in. And thanks again for that very quick edition of the Jim Acosta Show. Everybody tuning in. Really appreciate it. I got to go catch my flight. Have a great weekend, everybody. I'll see you next week.

[A]

Bye.