cover of episode Trump's Threats Investigation, Louisiana 10 Commandments, Russia's BRICS Summit

Trump's Threats Investigation, Louisiana 10 Commandments, Russia's BRICS Summit

2024/10/22
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Up First

Key Insights

Why has Donald Trump made over 100 threats to investigate or punish his perceived opponents?

Trump has made these threats as part of his campaign rhetoric, vowing to prosecute or jail political rivals if elected.

Why is the Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments being challenged?

The ACLU and other groups argue it violates the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent on separation of church and state.

Why is Russia hosting a BRICS summit despite Western efforts to isolate it?

The summit aims to showcase Russia's continued international engagement and economic ties with developing nations.

Why does Trump target journalists in his threats?

Trump has attacked journalists for their coverage and has suggested they should face legal consequences for refusing to reveal sources.

Why might Trump's threats of prosecution have a chilling effect?

Legal experts warn that just the threat of prosecution can deter individuals from opposing the president due to potential legal costs and stress.

Why are some people preparing for potential legal action if Trump wins?

Former Trump staffers and others are preparing for the worst, fearing he will act on his threats to punish perceived enemies.

Why is the Louisiana Ten Commandments case closely watched?

Concerns are that the Supreme Court could overturn precedents on church-state separation, potentially weakening the First Amendment.

Why is the BRICS summit significant for Russia?

The summit is a PR coup for Russia, showing it is not isolated and highlighting its economic ties with developing nations.

Why do BRICS nations want to reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar?

They aim to create new financial mechanisms to sanction-proof their economies from Western influence.

Chapters

An NPR investigation reveals that former President Donald Trump has made over 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, or jail his perceived opponents, including private citizens and journalists.
  • Trump has threatened to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family.
  • He has targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney for prosecution.
  • Legal experts warn that the threat of investigations alone can have a chilling effect on opposition.

Shownotes Transcript

An NPR investigation has found former President Donald Trump has made more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, jail or otherwise punish his perceived opponents - including private citizens. A federal court in Louisiana is weighing whether a state law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools is constitutional. And Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting a summit of world leaders despite the west trying to isolate him over the war in Ukraine. *Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter).Today's episode of Up First was edited by Barrie Hardimon, Susanna Capeluto, Ryland Barton, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woefle. It was produced by Paige Waterhouse, Nia Dumas and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Andie Huether. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott. *Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)