Politics and views in the United States

House Minority leader Jeffries denounces the arrest of journalist Don Lemon. Legal scholars say First Amendment freedoms are being curtailed under Trump and financier Kevin Warsh will be nominated as the next Federal Reserve Chairman.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

Trump administration has systematically targeted the free and fair press because they want to intimidate America and oppose anyone who is not willing to bend the knee to their extremism.

House Minority Leader Joaquin Jeffries is criticizing Homeland Security for arresting Don Lemon.

The former CNN anchor was charged with conspiracy and violating First Amendment freedom of religion by interviewing protesters who disrupted a Minnesota church service led by an ICE official.

President Donald Trump says quote "the arrest is the best thing to ever happen" to Lemon.

Many Republicans say the arrest is justified to protect free exercise of faith, but the administration has been using law enforcement to attack the media.

Last month, the FBI raided the home of a Washington Post reporter in contact with a defense contractor who was charged with sharing classified information.

It is not by itself against the law to print classified information, and the Committee to protect journalists calls the case a signal America is shifting from democracy to authoritarianism.

Smartphone footage has been central to exposing what happened during the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretty in Minnesota.

But some elected officials warn bystanders could now be arrested for videoing federal immigration actions.

University of Illinois law professor Stephen Schwinn says that's typically been a protected activity, but people can't obstruct officers.

And he says the administration is trying to redefine what constitutes interference to include nearly anyone who records the police.

The administration is moving in that direction to chill and discourage people from recording federal officers.

And I think there is more and more concern about what are the extent of our First Amendment freedoms.

Trump says he'll nominate Kevin Walsh to be the next Federal Reserve chairman as the president continues to try to force current bank leadership to dramatically cut interest rates.

Walsh was on the Fed for five years under former President George W. Bush.

Speaking at the 2025 Reagan National Economic Forum, he said a central bank's independence is vital to an economy.

I think the economy is better off if the world perceives, markets perceive, members of Congress perceive, you got central banks that are calling it the best they see it.

But he notes this doesn't make the Fed immune to criticism.

The market signaled some confidence in the choice of Walsh, who is well-known on Wall Street, but observers say it's far from clear how much leverage Trump would have over him.

Minority leader Chuck Schumer says the Senate shouldn't consider the nomination Trump ends his quote "Vendetta" against the central bank and its current chairman.

So I'd simply say this about Mr. Warsh.

Donald Trump is trying to cannibalize the Federal Reserve to eliminate its independence.

And Mr. Warsh has an obligation to ensure that does not happen.

Meanwhile, Trump says the Kennedy Center is closing for renovations until 2028.

Its final day open would be July 4th, aligning with the nation's 250th anniversary.

Numerous artists have canceled performances there since the president made himself the chairman of the center's board and renamed it the Trump Kennedy Center.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.