What upheaval at DOJ may mean for rule of law in America

By Carrie Johnson,

Published September 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM EDT

The Department of Justice building is seen on July 20 in Washington, D.C.

President Trump campaigned on a promise to use the justice system to seek retribution against his perceived political enemies. Yesterday, the Justice Department indicted former FBI director .

The decision to bring a case against Comey is a turning point for the Department of Justice.

NPR senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson and Justice correspondent Carrie Johnson explain how Trump is following through on his campaign promise to punish his enemies. The rapid remaking of the justice system under his guidance is also feeding Trump's efforts to consolidate more power into the executive branch.

Carrie Johnson

Carrie Johnson is a justice correspondent for the Washington Desk.

See stories by Carrie Johnson

Mara Liasson

Mara Liasson is a national political correspondent for NPR. Her reports can be heard regularly on NPR's award-winning newsmagazine programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Liasson provides extensive coverage of politics and policy from Washington, DC 鈥� focusing on the White House and Congress 鈥� and also reports on political trends beyond the Beltway.

See stories by Mara Liasson

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that 黑料吃瓜网 relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what鈥檚 been lost.

Donate

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from 黑料吃瓜网, the state鈥檚 local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de 黑料吃瓜网, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programaci贸n que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para m谩s reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscr铆base a nuestro bolet铆n informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Donate