Lemon LIVE at 5 | Voting Rights Suppressed, Hegseth Grilled, WTF Just Happened?!

The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision, with Justice Alito writing the majority opinion, effectively 'gutted' Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This ruling makes it 'almost impossible to challenge a redistricting map for racial discrimination,' reversing decades of protections. Justice Kagan, in a rare move, read her dissent from the bench, stating the law is 'all but dead' and allows states to 'systematically dilute minority citizens voting power without legal consequence.' This is seen as a direct attack on the 'crown jewel of the Civil Rights Movement' and is expected to lead to states redrawing maps to suppress minority votes.

Don Lemon: 'Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. They didn't weaken it. They didn't limit it. They gutted it. Six to three. Justice Alto writing the majority. And what they did today is essentially make it almost impossible to challenge a redistricting map for racial discrimination.' [00:02:09] 'Justice Kagan was so upset that she read her descent from the bench out loud in the courtroom, which is something justices almost never do. She said the majority eviscerates section two. She said the law is all but dead.' [00:03:35] Ari Burman: 'The Supreme Court has now basically demolished the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This decision is one of three major decisions by the Roberts Court that has severely weakened the law.' [00:45:50] 'I fear the decision could lead to the largest drop in black representation since the end of reconstruction.' [00:46:29]

James Comey's lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, is arguing 'vindictive prosecution,' asserting that the government's charges are driven by revenge and a presidential grudge rather than a legitimate case. This is the second indictment against Comey, with the first being thrown out due to an illegally appointed prosecutor. The host and legal experts believe the case is 'dead in the water' because proving intent is difficult, Comey deleted the post quickly, and immediately denounced violence. The prosecution is viewed as a tactic to harass Comey, force him to spend millions on lawyers, and make those around him uncomfortable, embodying the 'process is the punishment' principle.

Don Lemon: 'He said that they are going to argue vindictive prosecution.' [00:08:56] 'It means that the government is bringing charges not because they have a legitimate case, but because they want revenge, because the president has a grudge, because this is personal.' [00:09:40] 'The first one got thrown out because the prosecutor that Trump handpicked... she was illegally appointed.' [00:10:06] 'The intent requirement alone is almost impossible to prove because Comey deleted the post the same day and immediately said that he opposed violence. It's going nowhere.' [00:12:10] 'The process is the punishment.' [00:13:42] Senator Cory Booker: 'The acting uh attorney general has lost all legitimacy now in the legal community by pushing and bringing a case that is wasting uh resources that should be used to protect American citizens, not to persecute uh u uh uh Comey on a personal vendetta that the president of the United States has.' [00:19:39]

Senator Cory Booker introduced legislation aimed at reviewing and unwinding anti-competitive corporate mergers approved under the Trump administration. He argues that Donald Trump has corrupted independent agencies like the Justice Department and FCC for personal vendettas and enrichment, leading to 'kleptocracy.' Booker specifically highlights concerns about media consolidation, citing the Ellison/Paramount merger and its potential to control news narratives. The Act seeks to hold corporations accountable for anti-competitive practices and undue influence during merger processes, ensuring antitrust laws protect the American people.

Don Lemon: 'Cory Booker introduces legislation to review and unwind anti-competitive corporate mergers approved under second Trump administration.' [00:27:10] Senator Cory Booker: 'Donald Trump is taking independent agencies from the Justice Department with Comey uh to the to the Federal Communications Commission... He is taking independent agencies and corrupting them for his own ends.' [00:25:53] 'It is such a kleptocracy going on right now where we have put laws in place to stop things like this from happening, but there's no enforcement and Congress is doing nothing.' [00:30:30] 'This legislation should be put all these corporations on notice that have mergers over 10 billion that we are going to reexamine those mergers when this season is over.' [00:28:35] 'If your merger is anti-competitive, if your merger breaks antitrust laws, if you used untored influence uh during your merger processes, your merger will be examined and unraveled.' [00:32:37]

During Capitol Hill testimony, Pete Hegseth, a key figure in the administration, admitted he did not know the economic cost of the Iran war to American households. When pressed by Congressman Ro Khanna, Hegseth deflected, unable to provide figures for increased gas and food prices, or the overall cost of the war. This 'incompetence' was highlighted by Lemon and led Representative Sarah Jacobs to question Hegseth's 'mental stability' and suggest he should be replaced as Secretary of Defense, given the war's negative outcomes (13 American troops dead, 380 wounded, Strait of Hormuz closed, Iranian regime still in power).

Don Lemon: 'When Congressman Roana asked him what the war is actually costing Americans, Hegath admitted he does not know.' [00:55:52] Pete Hegseth: 'I would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb.' [00:56:11] Congressman Ro Khanna: 'Do you not know, you had no one do the analysis of what the increased cost of gas and food on the American people are going to be?' [00:56:58] Don Lemon: 'The Secretary of Defense does not know what the war is costing the people paying for it.' [00:58:22] Representative Sarah Jacobs: 'Mr. Secretary, if you think that this is what winning looks like, then maybe we should be questioning your mental stability, maybe you are the one responsible for this failure and the president should think about replacing you.' [01:00:11]