Insurrection Act of 1807

We have such a great show for you today.

The New York Times' Maggie Haberman stops by to talk about Trump being tempted by the Insurrection Act.

Then we'll talk to Mother Jones' own David Corn about his new book, How Russia Won: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Fight for America.

But first, the news.

What do you think, from what you've seen historically from Trump and reporting-

Mm-hmm

... and covering this administration, you s- what do you think is coming, and are there scenarios as bad as the Insurrection Act?

So I'm glad you asked that.

Yeah.

The Insurrection Act was invoked.

There was localized violence.

But here is the critical twist, the thing that turns a political crisis into a complete systemic collapse.

They frame it as if it's a simple binary choice made by one noble general standing in a boardroom.

But the intelligence analysts clarify that this is entirely the wrong framework.

Under the Insurrection Act of 1807, the president's order to deploy troops domestically to quell a rebellion is, legally speaking, facially lawful.

Let's define that term.

he has no courage he backs down over and over again all the threats he's made about iran keeps backing down so i don't think that really has much credence democrats win which i expect rather substantially in november that'll send the fear of god and the republicans and you know why the heck would they go ahead and commit further suicide wait wait wait wait

am i talking to the same bruce fine who was last time saying he's going to invoke the insurrection act

No, he may.

He may invoke the Insurrection Act.

Now I am at least have a half confidence.

In fact, I wrote a letter to the New York Times.

But in my view, as I said, the duty is to disobey the order, not salute.

And I think that given all of the high level officials that have been screwed over by Hegseth.

As veteran journalist Maggie Haberman told New York Magazine, after January 6th, you can't rule anything out.

And yes, there is a desire to use the Insurrection Act.

With election integrity on the line, let's bring in one of the lawyers fighting Trump's actions in court, the founder of Democracy Docket, Mark Elias.

Joyce Vance is a former U.S. attorney, MSNL legal analyst, and co-host of the Sisters in Law podcast.

So, like, this is just one part of a larger... attitude that they have.

And I think that it is the reason why, you know, as we get closer to election day, I expect we will see more action by federal law enforcement as opposed to, for example, by the military.

I'm in the, I won't say the dissent, but the minority of people who think actually he won't do something like impose the Insurrection Act because that would require the use of the uniform military, which tends to be fairly disciplined, as opposed to these federal law enforcement agents who seem much more willing to do what he wants.

Let's talk about those federal agents choice.