Trump Sued Himself … and ‘Settled’ for a $1.8 Billion Fund
5/29/202651 min
The Department of Justice is trying to create a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate Donald Trump’s political supporters who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government. On this week’s On the Media, how Trump is using the federal legal system to reward his allies and go after his perceived enemies. Plus, how a prison fire in 1930 changed the course of history for CBS News.
[01:00] Micah speaks with Anna Bower, senior editor at Lawfare, about President Trump’s effort to sue himself and how the Department of Justice is trying to reward him, and his political allies, with a nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”
[17:14] Brooke speaks with historian A. Brad Schwartz about how a horrific prison fire in 1930 changed the trajectory of CBS News. CBS aired on-the-spot coverage of the event, with Otto "Deacon" Gardner, an inmate in the prison, at the microphone. Gardner's gripping broadcast captured the attention of audiences across the country and started CBS on the path to creating the hard-hitting news that would define the network for nearly a century.
[35:53] Brooke continues her conversation with historian A. Brad Schwartz about how the prison fire showed executives at CBS that there was an audience for vivid, on-the-spot news coverage.
Further reading:
- “The President Who Sued Himself,” by Anna Bower and Eric Columbus
- “The Eyewitness,” by A. Brad Schwartz
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsChris Van Hollen· Soundbite0:00
[upbeat jazz music] Will individuals who assaulted Capitol Hill police officers be eligible for this fund?
Todd Blanche· Soundbite0:06
Anybody in this country is eligible to apply.
Brooke Gladstone· Host0:10
President Trump's attempt to create a $1.8 billion fund for those, quote, "targeted by the Biden administration" is raising eyebrows of friends and foes alike.
Anna Bauer· Guest0:21
People can see the obvious self-dealing.
Brooke Gladstone· Host0:25
From WNYC in New York, this is On the Media. I'm Brooke Gladstone.
Micah Loewinger· Host0:30
And I'm Micah Loewinger. Also on this week's show, CBS News Radio is no more. And while obits for the network celebrate nearly a century of broadcasting, back in 1928, the launch was less than promising.
A. Brad Schwartz· Guest0:43
CBS is this upstart company formed by a stock promoter and a talent agent. The early reviews of the first performances don't make you wanna tune in again.
Micah Loewinger· Host0:53
It's all coming up after this.
Brooke Gladstone· Host0:56
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Micah Loewinger· Host1:21
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