James Comey Indicted, Again
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The Dispatch Podcast episode explores the growing influence of populism within the Democratic Party, using the recent withdrawal of Maine Governor Janet Mills from the Senate primary race as a case study. Mills, an establishment Democrat, was outspent and outmaneuvered by progressive populist Graham Plattner, who has a controversial past including a Nazi tattoo but has energized the base with bold policy proposals like Medicare for All. The panel discusses how this shift reflects a broader trend of progressive populism across states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and D.C., driven by highly educated, debt-ridden, and status-anxious voters who feel the system has failed them. The conversation then pivots to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over a photo of seashells arranged to spell '8647,' which the DOJ claims constitutes a threat to the president. Panelists unanimously dismiss the case as a politically motivated 'press release indictment' lacking legal merit, citing First Amendment protections and the absurdity of interpreting '86' as a murder threat. They argue the real danger lies not in Comey’s post but in the normalization of retributive justice by the Department of Justice under Trump, warning that such actions become dangerous norms if repeated by future administrations. The episode concludes with a reflection on the fragility of democratic norms and the need for restraint in political retribution, even when justified by emotion.
Progressive populism is reshaping the Democratic Party, driven by educated, financially strained voters who feel betrayed by the establishment.
The indictment of James Comey over a seashell photo is legally baseless and politically motivated, not a genuine threat to national security.
The real threat to democracy is not isolated cases like Comey's but the normalization of retributive justice across administrations.
Political leaders must resist the urge to pursue symbolic prosecutions, even for morally repugnant figures, to preserve the rule of law.
The Democratic Party’s future depends on whether it can resist the temptation to weaponize the justice system, even when it seems politically expedient.
The Rise of Progressive Populism in the Democratic Party
“This is really bad for your normie Democrats. Yeah, Megan, I mean, all of Sarah's relevant history and context on frontrunners running out of money notwithstanding, it's true. Certainly important to think about it that way.”
Populism on the Left: Ideology vs. Anti-Establishment Sentiment
“The reason that she's running out of money is that she is running many points behind Graham Plattner. And people have just gotten to the point where they're like, I could give you money or I could change it into singles and use it to economize on Kleenex.”
The Paradox of Populism: Power vs. Principle
“It's all about getting all those ants to be on the stick so that you can eat the ants and the ants in this case are voters. Monkeys do that, not bears, but anyway. Sorry, you're right, monkeys.”
The Comey Indictment: A Press Release, Not a Prosecution
“It is the opposite of a serious legal case. You know that for a few reasons. One, there's binding Supreme Court precedent in a case called Watts about a guy joining the military and making a quote-unquote threat against Lyndon Baines Johnson.”
The Norms of Retribution: When Justice Becomes Politics
“I don't think it matters a lot until the next administration repeats it. If they repeat it, it is a norm in American politics and the Department of Justice and the rule of law and all the things that we're talking about are badly damaged or cease to exist in a meaningfully American way.”
“I don't think it matters a lot until the next administration repeats it.”
“The Democratic Party is not going to be able to prevent itself, unless it just takes a hard line, from cutting a lot of corners, making some sleazy decisions in order to get him because they want him so bad.”
“It is the opposite of a serious legal case.”
Host
Guests
Donald Trump
person
Steve Hayes
person
James Comey
person
Jonah Goldberg
person
Sarah Isker
person
Megan McArdle
person
Graham Plattner
person
Janet Mills
person
Department of Justice
organization
The Dispatch
organization
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