In a jaw-dropping moment that left MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” panel visibly stunned, President Donald Trump’s latest political maneuver — demanding investigations into his opponents during a live press conference — crossed a line that some argue shatters long-standing democratic norms.
During his Wednesday appearance, Trump made it unmistakably clear that he expects Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to prioritize going after his political enemies. It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t a wink or a nod. It was out loud, on camera, for the world to hear.
Reacting to the moment, Politico’s Jonathan Martin appeared on Morning Joe and couldn’t hide his disbelief. His tone was a mix of alarm and exhaustion, but more than anything, frustration at the sheer audacity of it all.
“The scandal is in the open now,” Martin said bluntly. “You don’t have to go to a, you know, garage in Rosslyn [Virginia] to meet Deep Throat to get the scoop on what Trump is doing.” The Watergate reference wasn’t lost on anyone. If Nixon’s crimes were wrapped in secrecy and backchannels, Trump’s playbook is out in the open — loud, brazen, and unapologetic.
“He’s literally doing [it] every day, calling some kind of a press conference or signing an EO [executive order] in the Oval Office — going off script,” Martin continued. But it was what Trump said at that press conference that really lit the fire under the panel.
“And yesterday, for example, demanding investigations into people whose names he can’t even recall. He says, ‘Lisa’ without her last name, ‘Weissmann,’ but not his first name, but the folks standing behind him sure as heck know who that is.”
This wasn’t just a passing comment. This was a direct call for his law enforcement officials to target individuals he sees as enemies — by name, or at least partial name. No formal process. No pretense of evidence. Just a clear signal that his administration should act.
“And they’re now made to act,” Martin warned. “It’s all in plain view. And I think that does reduce the shock value some because it is out in the open every damn day!”
He’s not wrong. The numbing effect of Trump’s relentless disregard for norms — saying the quiet parts out loud — has arguably dulled public outrage. But Martin’s point cuts through the noise: just because it’s happening in the open doesn’t make it any less dangerous.
Scarborough had kicked off the segment with a characteristically impassioned monologue, his voice raised, his frustration unfiltered — and for good reason. This isn’t politics as usual. This is a president openly calling for weaponized justice against his rivals, and doing it with the confidence of someone who believes there will be no consequences.
Watch the segment below:
