Episodes

  • Headline: Clash Intensifies: Trump Battles Special Counsel Smith over 2020 Election Investigations

    Headline: Clash Intensifies: Trump Battles Special Counsel Smith over 2020 Election Investigations
    Sep 20 2025
    Recent news involving Jack Smith and Donald Trump centers on intense conflict over investigations related to the 2020 presidential election and ensuing legal actions. Jack Smith, a former special counsel, led criminal inquiries into Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents. Smith’s investigations included scrutiny of political groups such as Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, which was subpoenaed as part of an FBI probe called Arctic Frost that examined possible connections to the January 6 Capitol riot and election falsehoods. This inquiry involved nearly 100 Republican-affiliated organizations and sparked accusations from Trump of politically motivated targeting by the Justice Department under President Biden. Trump publicly criticized Smith on social media, calling him “deranged” and accusing the Biden administration of weaponizing the DOJ to suppress conservative movements[1][2].

    Senator Chuck Grassley released unclassified documents revealing the broad FBI probe in which Smith was involved and accused the FBI and DOJ of partisan abuse aimed at the Republican party apparatus. Despite these investigations leading to charges against Trump, including mishandling classified documents, most charges were dismissed shortly after the 2024 presidential election. Smith resigned his special counsel role before Trump’s 2025 inauguration, firmly asserting that his prosecutorial decisions were independent and not politically influenced, calling Trump’s claims of bias “laughable”[2][4].

    Meanwhile, Smith faces his own ethics probe regarding his conduct during these investigations. His lawyers have strongly defended him, calling the ethics accusations “imaginary and unfounded,” emphasizing his commitment to following legal principles without election interference. This probe comes amid ongoing tensions, as several DOJ employees involved in Trump investigations have been fired since he took office[4].

    Trump’s clashes go beyond Smith; he is also reportedly seeking to remove U.S. attorney Erik Siebert from his post after Siebert declined to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom Trump accuses of wrongdoing without evidence. This firing represents part of a broader pattern of Trump pressuring or replacing prosecutors he views as insufficiently loyal or aggressive toward his political opponents[3].

    Additionally, Charlie Kirk, leader of Turning Point USA, passed away on September 10, 2025, adding a somber note amid these legal and political battles[2].

    Overall, the situation remains highly contentious, reflecting the ongoing fallout from the 2020 election disputes and the fraught relationship between Trump, his allies, and legal authorities including Jack Smith.

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    3 mins
  • Headline: Smith vs. Trump: A Clash of Law, Politics, and the Presidency

    Headline: Smith vs. Trump: A Clash of Law, Politics, and the Presidency
    Sep 13 2025
    Recent developments involving former special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump have focused largely on legal and political controversies surrounding Smith’s investigations into Trump and Trump’s ongoing legal battles.

    Jack Smith, who was appointed special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, led two major federal criminal investigations against Trump: one concerning the alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and the other pertaining to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. After Trump’s reelection in 2024, Smith resigned and moved to dismiss both cases, citing difficulties in prosecuting a sitting president[5]. In a recent response to a federal watchdog investigation launched by an office currently led by a Trump appointee, Smith’s attorneys defended his conduct as grounded in well-established legal principles and dismissed the allegations as "imaginary and unfounded," arguing the probe was politically motivated and harmful to the rule of law[1].

    Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to face numerous legal challenges. Aside from the cases investigated by Smith, Trump was convicted in New York’s “hush money” case, involving 34 felony counts related to falsifying records in a scheme to conceal payments. His sentencing was scheduled for January 2026[2]. Trump’s legal team has sought to delay the sentencing, warning of potential damage to the presidency, but the appeals court panel recently upheld an $83 million defamation judgment against him in a separate case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, affirming the seriousness of the claims against him[6]. Additionally, Trump and his aide Walt Nauta have pleaded not guilty to new federal charges related to classified documents[7].

    In parallel to these battles, Trump has been involved in federal agency controversies, notably a Supreme Court decision allowing him to remove a member of the Federal Trade Commission, reflecting broader questions about presidential authority over independent agencies[3].

    The embattled former president also faces significant state charges, such as the 13-count indictment in Georgia linked to attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, a case separate from Smith’s federal probes but part of the extensive legal challenges Trump faces as a 2024 presidential candidate[4].

    Smith remains engaged in public discourse about the rule of law, preparing to speak at a major lecture highlighting democracy, integrity, and public service, signaling his ongoing commitment to these principles despite political pressures surrounding his investigations into Trump[5].

    Overall, the latest news reflects a complex and highly contentious legal and political struggle involving Jack Smith’s prosecutorial work and Donald Trump’s numerous ongoing trials and appeals shaping the American justice and political landscape.

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    3 mins
  • Here is a short, interesting headline: Federal Watchdog Probes Special Counsel Jack Smith's Prosecution of Trump, Sparking Partisan Clash

    Here is a short, interesting headline: Federal Watchdog Probes Special Counsel Jack Smith's Prosecution of Trump, Sparking Partisan Clash
    Sep 9 2025
    Former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two significant federal criminal prosecutions against Donald Trump, recently responded to a federal watchdog investigation into his actions, describing the probe as based on "imaginary and unfounded" accusations. This investigation by the Office of the Special Counsel, an independent watchdog agency distinct from Smith’s former role, arose after Republican Senator Tom Cotton accused Smith of using his DOJ position to influence the 2024 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Smith’s attorneys emphasized that Smith followed well-established legal principles and prosecutorial guidelines, arguing the investigation is politically motivated and threatens the rule of law. They also requested involvement in any findings to ensure an accurate record before any report is released[1][3].

    Jack Smith was appointed special counsel in late 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith’s office indicted Trump and his aide Waltine Nauta on multiple charges related to classified documents and conspiracy. Some of these indictments were dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon on procedural grounds, which Smith appealed. After Trump’s 2024 presidential victory, Smith requested the removal of Trump as a co-defendant in the case. Despite these legal battles, Trump and his supporters have vehemently criticized Smith, labeling him deranged and accusing the DOJ of politicization[2].

    Additional political tensions surround the Justice Department, with Senate Democrats launching investigations into the firing of DOJ employees who worked on cases under Smith’s leadership. These firings, occurring after Trump’s second inauguration, have raised concerns about undermining nonpartisan government principles. Critics argue the dismissals were done without due process and appear to target public servants involved in politically sensitive prosecutions[6].

    Meanwhile, Trump continues to experience legal setbacks. A federal appeals court recently upheld an $83 million judgment against him in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault. The court deemed the damages award fair and emphasized the seriousness and egregious nature of Trump's defamatory statements. Trump’s legal team dismissed the case as political weaponization but has faced multiple courtroom defeats[8].

    In sum, the latest news highlights ongoing legal and political clashes between Jack Smith and Donald Trump, involving federal investigations, partisan accusations, and significant judicial rulings. These developments continue to reverberate amid Trump’s efforts to contest legal challenges and maintain his political influence into 2025[1][2][3][6][8].

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    3 mins
  • Here is a short, interesting headline: Showdown Brews as Special Counsel Drops Trump Prosecution but Presses On Against Aides

    Here is a short, interesting headline: Showdown Brews as Special Counsel Drops Trump Prosecution but Presses On Against Aides
    Sep 6 2025
    Special Counsel Jack Smith has recently ceased his attempt to prosecute President-elect Donald Trump but continues to pursue charges against Trump’s co-defendants in the classified documents case. Smith filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals to dismiss his appeal regarding Trump while maintaining the appeal for Trump’s longtime aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, as the principle of temporary immunity does not apply to them[1]. This comes after a judge dismissed criminal counts against Trump citing Smith’s alleged unconstitutional appointment. Reports indicate Smith is winding down his cases and may step down before Trump’s anticipated inauguration on January 20, 2025, with Trump promising to fire Smith immediately upon taking office again[1].

    Meanwhile, Smith faces an investigation by a federal watchdog into allegations that he improperly engaged in political activities through his prosecutions of Trump. Smith’s lawyers have strongly denied these charges, labeling them “imaginary and unfounded” and assert that Smith acted according to established legal principles. The investigation originated from complaints, notably including those from Republican Senator Tom Cotton who claimed Smith used his DOJ role to influence the 2024 election. Smith’s defense emphasizes the importance of justice being separate from political influence[2]. The independent Office of Special Counsel that launched the probe is separate from Smith’s former office, and they have declined to comment publicly.

    In parallel, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed an appeal to reinstate a massive civil fraud penalty against Trump, which was previously reduced to zero by an appellate court. This case concerns allegations that Trump inflated his net worth on financial documents submitted to banks and insurers. Although Trump won a temporary reduction of the financial penalty, other punitive measures remain, including bans on Trump and his sons holding corporate leadership roles in New York. The civil fraud penalty originally amounted to more than $527 million including interest based on years of fraudulent activity found by the trial court[3].

    The political and legal battles surrounding Trump thus continue on multiple fronts: federal investigations led by Smith and his co-defendants, ongoing scrutiny of Smith himself, and aggressive civil fraud litigation at the state level. The Justice Department also faces criticism and investigations into employee firings and politicization under the current administration, linked indirectly to Trump-related cases[4][5]. This complex set of developments marks a turbulent prelude to Trump’s likely return to the presidency in early 2025.

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    3 mins
  • Watchdog Probes Prosecutor's Pursuit of Ex-President

    Watchdog Probes Prosecutor's Pursuit of Ex-President
    Sep 2 2025
    An ethics investigation has been launched into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led two high-profile prosecutions against Donald Trump. This inquiry, initiated by the Office of Special Counsel, a separate watchdog agency from the Justice Department, focuses on whether Smith violated the Hatch Act—which prohibits certain political activities by federal officials—by allegedly trying to influence the 2024 presidential election through his legal actions against Trump. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton requested the probe, arguing that Smith sought to fast-track cases against Trump and drew the Supreme Court into a key legal question prematurely. Smith’s cases involved allegations of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, both filed in 2023, well ahead of the 2024 election[1][2][3].

    In response, Smith’s lawyers strongly rejected the investigation’s premise as "imaginary and unfounded." They emphasized that Smith acted strictly according to the law and prosecutorial guidelines, basing decisions solely on evidence without regard to political consequences or the timing of the election. They argued that no legal authority prohibits prosecutors from investigating criminal conduct by candidates. Smith’s team also noted that he abandoned the prosecutions after Trump won the 2024 election due to a longstanding Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president, further underscoring that election interference was not the goal[1][2][3].

    This dispute occurs amid broader political tensions involving investigations into Trump and his allies. Trump has denied wrongdoing on all charges and appointed a MAGA loyalist to lead the Office of Special Counsel, although that nomination remains stalled in the Senate. Additionally, numerous Justice Department employees involved in Trump-related investigations have been either fired or scrutinized under an initiative referred to as the "weaponization working group," which highlights ongoing controversies around the politicization of law enforcement actions[3].

    The Smith investigation represents a rare case where a probe seeks to examine the conduct of a special counsel who pursued criminal cases against a former president. His attorneys maintain that Smith’s work reflects a commitment to impartial justice and rejects allegations that his prosecutorial decisions were politically motivated. As this inquiry unfolds, it highlights the fraught intersection of law, politics, and accountability in the context of high-stakes investigations related to Donald Trump[1][2][3].

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    3 mins
  • Headline: "Clash of Titans: Trump and Special Counsel Smith Embroiled in Escalating Political and Legal Tug-of-War"

    Headline: "Clash of Titans: Trump and Special Counsel Smith Embroiled in Escalating Political and Legal Tug-of-War"
    Aug 26 2025
    The latest developments involving Jack Smith and Donald Trump center around ongoing political and legal tensions following Smith’s role as special counsel. Jack Smith, who was appointed special counsel in late 2022 to lead two major criminal investigations into Donald Trump—one concerning classified documents Trump allegedly retained after his presidency and another regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election—has recently come under scrutiny himself. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announced an investigation into whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, which restricts government employees from engaging in partisan political activities. This probe was initiated after a referral by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who accused Smith of politically motivated actions designed to harm Trump’s 2024 reelection prospects. However, Smith’s defenders, including former Attorney General Merrick Garland, have consistently maintained that the investigations were not politically driven. Since Trump’s reelection, Smith dropped the cases against him, adhering to a Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents[1].

    In response to the OSC probe, the Justice Department announced it is examining Smith and other prosecutors through a "Weaponization Working Group," led by former interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin. Meanwhile, Trump has dismissed Smith harshly in public remarks, calling him a “deranged, sick individual” during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Trump’s comments came amid broader discussions on international relations, including potential diplomacy involving North Korea, illustrating the ongoing intersection of Trump’s political activities with Smith’s legal legacy[2][3].

    Trump’s legal battles have, for now, quieted since he regained the presidency, as multiple criminal cases including the election interference probe and the classified documents case overseen by Smith have been dropped or paused in accordance with policy. Nevertheless, civil lawsuits and some legal penalties persist. Trump continues to claim victory over legal challenges and depicts himself as targeted by partisan forces within the government[4].

    The administration under Trump is also reportedly investigating Jack Smith and his prosecutorial team, reflecting the adversarial dynamic between Trump and the legal authorities involved in his past investigations. Smith, who previously held notable prosecutorial roles on corruption and international war crimes, stepped down after submitting his investigative report. The political and legal fallout from his investigations continues to reverberate, underscoring the ongoing tensions in U.S. politics and justice[5][6].

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    3 mins
  • "TRUMP TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: FROM ELECTION FRAUD TO CLASSIFIED DOCS, LEGAL BATTLES RAGE ON"

    "TRUMP TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: FROM ELECTION FRAUD TO CLASSIFIED DOCS, LEGAL BATTLES RAGE ON"
    Aug 23 2025
    Recently, significant developments have occurred regarding former President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith. Jack Smith has been actively involved in legal cases related to Trump, especially focusing on allegations connected to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the improper handling of classified documents. In August 2023, Smith charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the election outcome by spreading false fraud claims and pressuring officials in critical states, as well as charging him for retaining classified documents improperly after leaving office. However, following Trump’s reelection in November 2024, Smith moved to drop these criminal prosecutions, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents[2].

    Meanwhile, Trump's legal battles have evolved with some victories and ongoing challenges. Trump declared “total victory” after an appeals court dismissed a large financial penalty linked to a New York lawsuit accusing him of inflating his asset values. Nevertheless, other legal restrictions on his businesses remain pending appeal. In addition to the election-related cases, Trump was convicted in May 2024 in New York for falsifying business records concerning hush money payments, marking the first felony conviction of a former U.S. president[2].

    Separate from Jack Smith’s activities, the Department of Justice is pursuing investigations into Trump’s former critics as part of a perceived broader campaign under Trump-aligned officials. Notably, the FBI recently raided the home of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor turned critic, investigating whether Bolton mishandled classified information. This escalates tensions and accusations that government agencies are being used to target Trump’s adversaries. Trump himself claimed no prior knowledge of the raid and even suggested he could have initiated it, though the title he claimed—chief law enforcement officer—is inaccurate, as it belongs to the attorney general[1].

    In Wisconsin, a judge recently rejected attempts to dismiss charges against Trump aides involved in a fake elector scheme related to the 2020 election, where false documents were created to claim a Trump victory in that state. This case is part of a broader multi-state effort addressing the electoral challenges initiated by Trump’s team. Federal charges linked to these schemes remain on hold due to Trump’s current presidency, but state-level prosecutions continue[4].

    These developments illustrate ongoing legal, political, and investigatory battles surrounding Donald Trump and actions taken by Jack Smith and others in the justice system. The situation remains dynamic, with new details expected to emerge as various investigations and court cases proceed.

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    3 mins
  • Headline: Former Prosecutor Jack Smith Faces Probe for Alleged Hatch Act Violations in Trump Cases

    Headline: Former Prosecutor Jack Smith Faces Probe for Alleged Hatch Act Violations in Trump Cases
    Aug 12 2025
    The latest news centers on an official investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted Donald Trump in two major federal cases. The investigation, launched by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) in early August 2025, examines whether Smith violated the Hatch Act by politically motivating his prosecutions to influence the 2024 presidential election[1][2].

    Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, initiated the complaint that led to the OSC probe. Cotton alleges that Smith accelerated the prosecutions of Trump through unusual legal maneuvers, such as pushing trial dates and filing briefs unusually close to the election, all allegedly to secure a verdict before Election Day. Cotton claims these actions were improperly partisan and violated the Hatch Act, a civil statute that bars federal employees from engaging in political activity while performing their official duties[1][2].

    Smith served as a special counsel appointed in late 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. He oversaw two criminal investigations into Trump: one concerning attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and another related to Trump's handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago after his presidency. Smith secured indictments in both cases but later moved to dismiss them after Trump was reelected in 2024, citing constitutional protections against prosecuting a sitting president. Smith resigned in January 2025, just before Trump’s inauguration, and many of his prosecutorial staff were subsequently dismissed by the new administration[1][3][4].

    Legal experts and former prosecutors have expressed skepticism that Smith’s actions constitute a Hatch Act violation or any criminal wrongdoing. The Hatch Act typically does not apply directly to criminal investigations, and the OSC’s probe is seen by some as largely symbolic or performatory, especially since Smith has already left government service. One former federal prosecutor pointed out that any criminal charges against Smith would be counterproductive and unlikely, as Trump has historically avoided public trials and prosecutions tend to be closely scrutinized in courts[1][3].

    Trump himself has repeatedly accused Smith of corruption and claimed, without evidence, that Smith coordinated with the Biden administration to weaponize the Department of Justice against him for political reasons. The OSC investigation could clarify whether any laws were actually broken in Smith’s conduct, but so far, it appears focused on possible civil statute violations rather than criminal charges[1][2][3].

    In summary, Jack Smith faces an OSC investigation over allegations of using his prosecutorial role for political ends in the Trump cases, with significant debate over the legal merits and motivations behind this inquiry.

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    3 mins