Greg Sargent
@gregsargent.bsky.social
Politics, politics, politics
Whoa. Dems just flipped a Texas state senate seat in a district that Trump carried by 17 points. Not only that, but the win was decisive, making this an enormous swing. Plus, Republicans went all in to try to save the seat, to no avail.
February 1, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Whoa. Dems just flipped a Texas state senate seat in a district that Trump carried by 17 points. Not only that, but the win was decisive, making this an enormous swing. Plus, Republicans went all in to try to save the seat, to no avail.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Also it’s not “rhetoric” that he is or isn’t dialing back, it’s actions and policies and killing
Next time choose *not* to get played.
January 31, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Also it’s not “rhetoric” that he is or isn’t dialing back, it’s actions and policies and killing
"[Dems] worry the raid will also pave the way for a MAGA takeover of elections in Georgia’s Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that will be crucial to determining the balance of power in the Senate."
Worth watching:
Worth watching:
new details in here with @justinglawe.bsky.social, who I’ve had the privilege of reporting with at the daily beast, rolling stone, and now at @zeteo.com: zeteo.com/p/trump-geor...
Subscribe to his @americandoom.bsky.social
Subscribe to his @americandoom.bsky.social
Trump’s Plot to Rig the Midterms Has Kicked Off in Georgia
Donald Trump’s administration raided an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia. It’s a preview of how he could try to interfere in the midterm elections.
zeteo.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:03 PM
"[Dems] worry the raid will also pave the way for a MAGA takeover of elections in Georgia’s Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that will be crucial to determining the balance of power in the Senate."
Worth watching:
Worth watching:
Reposted by Greg Sargent
This this this …
Next time choose *not* to get played.
January 31, 2026 at 1:48 PM
This this this …
Next time choose *not* to get played.
January 31, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Next time choose *not* to get played.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Dems should call out Republican support for Trump's fascism project. It's not just Trump. The entire GOP is corrupt to the core.
Let's not permit them to act like victims down the road, or to rehabilitate their party image.
The Republican Party is a fascist party.
Let's not permit them to act like victims down the road, or to rehabilitate their party image.
The Republican Party is a fascist party.
This is also a reminder that Trump's authoritarian corruption is heavily enabled by the GOP Congress. This prosecution should be scrutinized by the judiciary committees. The GOP won't do this.
But a Dem House can. And Dems should say clearly that this is coming:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
But a Dem House can. And Dems should say clearly that this is coming:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Dems should call out Republican support for Trump's fascism project. It's not just Trump. The entire GOP is corrupt to the core.
Let's not permit them to act like victims down the road, or to rehabilitate their party image.
The Republican Party is a fascist party.
Let's not permit them to act like victims down the road, or to rehabilitate their party image.
The Republican Party is a fascist party.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Any lawyer involved needs to be disbarred
There's video of Don Lemon outside the protest stating explicitly: "I'm just chronicling. I'm not with the group." Bondi went to grand jury for an indictment after the courts declined to approve arrest warrant *twice.*
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Any lawyer involved needs to be disbarred
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Arrested at his hotel at 11 PM. Was he in a common area or in his hotel room? If his hotel room did he give them permission to enter? I’m trying to figure out what the judicial warrant exception was. (unless there was a warrant.)
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Arrested at his hotel at 11 PM. Was he in a common area or in his hotel room? If his hotel room did he give them permission to enter? I’m trying to figure out what the judicial warrant exception was. (unless there was a warrant.)
Reposted by Greg Sargent
GOP Congress is fully onboard with Trump’s corruption.
And they need to take an off ramp today.
And they need to take an off ramp today.
This is also a reminder that Trump's authoritarian corruption is heavily enabled by the GOP Congress. This prosecution should be scrutinized by the judiciary committees. The GOP won't do this.
But a Dem House can. And Dems should say clearly that this is coming:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
But a Dem House can. And Dems should say clearly that this is coming:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:44 PM
GOP Congress is fully onboard with Trump’s corruption.
And they need to take an off ramp today.
And they need to take an off ramp today.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
…the magistrate judge's refusal to approve the criminal complaint against Lemon reportedly left Bondi
"furious," with the Justice Department privately vowing to find other ways to target the journalist.”
So a targeted takedown. Surprising no one.
"furious," with the Justice Department privately vowing to find other ways to target the journalist.”
So a targeted takedown. Surprising no one.
There's video of Don Lemon outside the protest stating explicitly: "I'm just chronicling. I'm not with the group." Bondi went to grand jury for an indictment after the courts declined to approve arrest warrant *twice.*
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 8:22 PM
…the magistrate judge's refusal to approve the criminal complaint against Lemon reportedly left Bondi
"furious," with the Justice Department privately vowing to find other ways to target the journalist.”
So a targeted takedown. Surprising no one.
"furious," with the Justice Department privately vowing to find other ways to target the journalist.”
So a targeted takedown. Surprising no one.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Based on the press release, this would create Bivens liability AND strip QI. Those would be excellent things to do.
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
January 30, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Based on the press release, this would create Bivens liability AND strip QI. Those would be excellent things to do.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Humiliating, just not in the way they think.
“This appears to be about maximum humiliation," a source familiar with the arrest tells me. Don Lemon was arrested after 11 pm and AG Pam Bondi openly declared this was at her direction after court refused warrant, clearly an effort to titillate Trump and MAGA.
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Humiliating, just not in the way they think.
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
January 30, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Both Pam Bondi and Harmeet Dhillon,
who seems to be leading this charge, should be subject to disciplinary action from their state bars.
Wildly unethical behavior that violates their duties as lawyers.
who seems to be leading this charge, should be subject to disciplinary action from their state bars.
Wildly unethical behavior that violates their duties as lawyers.
This is about forcing Don Lemon to spend money and time defending himself.
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Both Pam Bondi and Harmeet Dhillon,
who seems to be leading this charge, should be subject to disciplinary action from their state bars.
Wildly unethical behavior that violates their duties as lawyers.
who seems to be leading this charge, should be subject to disciplinary action from their state bars.
Wildly unethical behavior that violates their duties as lawyers.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Yes — that's why I hope folks focus on indy journalist Georgia Fort, arrested for covering the same church protest, an Emmy award winner who went out on her own to focus on social justice issues — & does not have the vast resources and celebrity lawyer available to her that Lemon has.
This is about forcing Don Lemon to spend money and time defending himself.
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Yes — that's why I hope folks focus on indy journalist Georgia Fort, arrested for covering the same church protest, an Emmy award winner who went out on her own to focus on social justice issues — & does not have the vast resources and celebrity lawyer available to her that Lemon has.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
DOJ is Trump's personal law firm that we pay for. Free for him to use its unlimited resources to harass people like Lemon, Lisa Cook or Comey. We collectively pay the price both in our taxes and in losing a nonpartisan legal system. The individual victims must pay ruinous financial costs and stress.
This is about forcing Don Lemon to spend money and time defending himself.
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
DOJ is Trump's personal law firm that we pay for. Free for him to use its unlimited resources to harass people like Lemon, Lisa Cook or Comey. We collectively pay the price both in our taxes and in losing a nonpartisan legal system. The individual victims must pay ruinous financial costs and stress.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
To the contrary—this is an escalation against the press and press freedom.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:49 PM
To the contrary—this is an escalation against the press and press freedom.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Excellent from @gregsargent.bsky.social on this.
"Someone around Trump wants to send the message—either to excite the MAGA base, which is upset about Trump’s supposed deescalation, or to chill protest and further journalistic activity, or both—that Trump isn’t backing down in the slightest."
"Someone around Trump wants to send the message—either to excite the MAGA base, which is upset about Trump’s supposed deescalation, or to chill protest and further journalistic activity, or both—that Trump isn’t backing down in the slightest."
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Excellent from @gregsargent.bsky.social on this.
"Someone around Trump wants to send the message—either to excite the MAGA base, which is upset about Trump’s supposed deescalation, or to chill protest and further journalistic activity, or both—that Trump isn’t backing down in the slightest."
"Someone around Trump wants to send the message—either to excite the MAGA base, which is upset about Trump’s supposed deescalation, or to chill protest and further journalistic activity, or both—that Trump isn’t backing down in the slightest."
“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick. But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime.”
-legal expert Matt Seligman, quoted in this piece. That's what this is about: Using state power to chill journalistic scrutiny.
-legal expert Matt Seligman, quoted in this piece. That's what this is about: Using state power to chill journalistic scrutiny.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick. But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime.”
-legal expert Matt Seligman, quoted in this piece. That's what this is about: Using state power to chill journalistic scrutiny.
-legal expert Matt Seligman, quoted in this piece. That's what this is about: Using state power to chill journalistic scrutiny.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
I hope he countersues them.
This is about forcing Don Lemon to spend money and time defending himself.
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I hope he countersues them.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
"Also note that MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig is reporting that career prosecutors in Minnesota and Los Angeles refused to be involved in the prosecution of Lemon"
So who presented this to a grand jury, in criminal violation of the First Amendment? Lindsey Halligan?
So who presented this to a grand jury, in criminal violation of the First Amendment? Lindsey Halligan?
There's video of Don Lemon outside the protest stating explicitly: "I'm just chronicling. I'm not with the group." Bondi went to grand jury for an indictment after the courts declined to approve arrest warrant *twice.*
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Legal experts explain here why this is so ugly:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:23 PM
"Also note that MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig is reporting that career prosecutors in Minnesota and Los Angeles refused to be involved in the prosecution of Lemon"
So who presented this to a grand jury, in criminal violation of the First Amendment? Lindsey Halligan?
So who presented this to a grand jury, in criminal violation of the First Amendment? Lindsey Halligan?
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Violating a journalist's 1A rights to fire up a flagging maga base? Probably a bonus that the journalist is black.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Violating a journalist's 1A rights to fire up a flagging maga base? Probably a bonus that the journalist is black.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
“The case against Lemon looks extremely weak: MS NOW just posted footage of Lemon outside the church protest, saying explicitly, ‘I’m just chronicling. I’m not with the group.’”
As Sargent points out - a show trial that is intended to be punishment in and of itself.
As Sargent points out - a show trial that is intended to be punishment in and of itself.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:56 PM
“The case against Lemon looks extremely weak: MS NOW just posted footage of Lemon outside the church protest, saying explicitly, ‘I’m just chronicling. I’m not with the group.’”
As Sargent points out - a show trial that is intended to be punishment in and of itself.
As Sargent points out - a show trial that is intended to be punishment in and of itself.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
The Trump Regime has declared war on journalism. It is up to the American People to say no to the assault.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:02 PM
The Trump Regime has declared war on journalism. It is up to the American People to say no to the assault.
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...