We have an important mid-day update for you. We have learned that the Trump Justice Department attempted to bring criminal charges against journalist Don Lemon, but a federal judge refused to allow the case to proceed. At the same time, I just saw the White House post a doctored image of a protester arrested in Minnesota.
Jack Smith’s testimony continues on Capitol Hill, and I break down what you need to know below. I also spoke with Amanda Zurawski, a Free & Just advocate who nearly lost her life because of Texas’ abortion ban, on the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
There is a lot to cover, but one thing is already clear: this DOJ is willing to pursue journalists it disagrees with. That makes independent reporting more critical than ever. I am proud to bring you nonstop, unfiltered coverage.
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- According to CBS News and Scott MacFarlane, the Trump Justice Department tried to charge journalist Don Lemon in Minnesota, but a federal judge refused to sign the criminal complaint.
- Two Minnesota leaders, civil rights activist Nekima Levy-Armstrong and St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Louisa Allen, were arrested after protesting ICE’s immigration crackdown at a St. Paul church led by an ICE official, drawing national attention to tensions between free speech, worship spaces, and aggressive federal enforcement.
- The White House actually doctored the image it posted of Armstrong on social media. The image on the left is the real image. The image on the right is the doctored image they posted:
- Jack Smith is currently testifying on Capitol Hill. This is his full opening statement for you to watch:
- Jack Smith testified that multiple credible witnesses, including Republican election officials, explicitly told Donald Trump his 2020 election fraud claims were false, putting him “on notice” before Jan. 6.
- Smith said the evidence showed Trump was not seeking the truth about the election but was focused on staying in power and rejecting facts that conflicted with that goal.
- Republicans on the committee, led by Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa, accused Smith of political bias and targeting Trump as a political enemy, accusations Smith flatly denied.
- Smith explained he chose not to charge Trump with insurrection despite believing the evidence could support it, saying the charges brought were the most appropriate under the law.
- Smith defended the DOJ and career prosecutors against attacks, called the criticism unjustified, and warned Americans not to take the rule of law for granted.
- Trump argued that fraudulent polling should be a federal crime:
- Trump was further upset about the fact that his polling is not popular right now:
- CNN has confirmed that Donald Trump and Mark Rutte reached a verbal, undocumented framework on Greenland that would update a 1951 defense agreement, expand NATO’s role, limit Russian and Chinese influence, and potentially increase U.S. access to resources, but the lack of a written deal has left allies uncertain about what was actually agreed.
See you soon.
— Aaron