Talking Feds Trump's "Absolute Fiasco"
Apr 20, 2026
Jen Rubin, former Washington Post opinion columnist, offers legal and rule-of-law commentary. Norm Ornstein, political scientist and longtime Congress analyst, brings institutional perspective. Norm Eisen, former U.S. ambassador and democracy defender, discusses accountability and reconstruction. They analyze DOJ shifts, pardons and court fights, state prosecutions, and the geopolitical fallout from Trump’s Iran moves in multiple sharp conversations.
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Erasing January 6 Accountability Harms Democracy
- Vacating seditious conspiracy convictions would erase one of the few major legal reckonings for January 6's top organizers.
- Norm Eisen and Harry Litman stress this would affront democracy by wiping accountability for attacks on the peaceful transfer of power.
Prepare Reconstruction Plans Now
- Plan for post-crisis reconstruction of institutions now, not later.
- Norm Eisen urges incubating concrete reform ideas (personnel, ethics, Supreme Court reform) through groups like Democracy Defenders.
Appeals Panel Undermining Contempt Inquiries
- A D.C. Circuit panel's decision shutting down Judge Boasberg's contempt inquiry threatens judicial authority and invites executive defiance.
- Jen Rubin and Norm Ornstein highlight Rao's opinion as partisan and signal likely en banc reconsideration.