Maddow Monday! New 'Burn Order' episodes! Plus, Two Trump mortgages have same feature that led to charges for several presidential foes

"Given Trump's position on situations like this, he's going to either need to fire himself or refer himself to the Department of Justice," one expert said.

Monday, December 08, 2025 TODAY'S TOP MADDOWBLOG POSTS Two Trump mortgages have same feature that led to charges for several presidential foes Two Trump mortgages have same feature that led to charges for several presidential foes "Given Trump's position on situations like this, he's going to either need to fire himself or refer himself to the Department of Justice," one expert said. MORE How a round of golf led to one of Trump's most bizarre pardons Why did the president derail a corruption case filed by his own Justice Department? It started with a chat on a golf course with a Fox News host. MORE How a round of golf led to one of Trump's most bizarre pardons Why did the president derail a corruption case filed by his own Justice Department? It started with a chat on a golf course with a Fox News host. MORE Hegseth hedges on releasing video of Sept. 2 boat strike, despite Trump's vow The president said his team would "certainly release, no problem" the footage of the alleged war crime. His Pentagon chief has taken a very different line. MORE Hegseth hedges on releasing video of Sept. 2 boat strike, despite Trump's vow The president said his team would "certainly release, no problem" the footage of the alleged war crime. His Pentagon chief has taken a very different line. MORE Why Americans should care about Aaron Siri's work with RFK Jr. Siri famously petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine. His ongoing work with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. matters. MORE Why Americans should care about Aaron Siri's work with RFK Jr. Siri famously petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine. His ongoing work with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. matters. MORE MORE FROM THE MADDOWBLOG GOP's Bill Cassidy criticizes Kennedy's vaccine panel, but the senator isn't prepared to act Trump hosts Kennedy Center Honors, prioritizing playing over governing Senate Republicans play dumb on Trump pardon for notorious foreign drug trafficker White House redistricting scheme faces crucial test in Indiana As Schumer pitches an ACA plan, new poll suggests Republicans should embrace it WHAT'S ON RACHELS' BLUESKY RADAR? "Among the crowd was a 17-year-old high school student from Astoria who attended P.S. 166. 'Kids shouldn't be kidnapped,' he said. 'I used to go to 166 and want to show up because I hate seeing this happen in my neighborhood, in my school and in my country'..." Hundreds Rally for Boy, 6, Who Was Separated From His Father by ICE (New York Times) "MEMPHIS — The alert went out to volunteers at about 8 p.m. on a Friday: a woman hiding in a closet with her twin toddlers was on the phone to a community hotline unsure what to do as dozens of federal and local law enforcement officers converged outside, demanding entry. Yuleiny Escobar, a volunteer for Vecindarios 901, which operates the hotline, hustled over to the woman's home, located in the same heavily Latino Berclair neighborhood as her own. A tow truck driver blocked the road leading to the house at the request of law enforcement, blaring the pro-police anthem, "Bad Boys." By the time Escobar reached the home, a Border Patrol officer and a U.S. Marshal each held a toddler in one arm as their mother was placed inside an unmarked SUV. Holes in the home's windows marked entry points for chemical agents that had been thrown inside to force the family out, neighbors told Escobar." (News from the States) 'Traumatizing': San Diego mom details ICE arrest while holding baby at green card interview (NBC San Diego) "The small figures huddled together at Miami's airport carried backpacks, stuffed animals and suitcases. One wore a silver cross necklace. Families of the travelers – ages 3 to 15 – have been torn apart this year by Trump's deportation campaign..." 'A sad, cruel moment': 58 Florida children leaving US amid parent deportations (Miami Herald) "As masked agents dragged the woman from her car, wrestled her to the ground and forced handcuffs on her, she yelled, 'I'm a US citizen. Please help me! This is unfair. Why are you doing this to me?' She was wearing scrubs and appeared to be on her way to work." (Miami Herald) "The group rallied amid frigid conditions at the Target store on East Lake Street, alleging it allowed agents to stage raids in the parking lot.  'You cannot celebrate our communities on your commercials while letting ICE stalk them in your parking lot'..." (Star Tribune) "No human being is garbage, Mr. President, and shame on you for saying so," said the Lutheran pastor."In the name of Jesus, I rebuke those hateful words.The Somali community in Minnesota are our neighbors, brothers and sisters, children of God, fellow Americans." (Star Tribune) "In response to Trump's order, attorneys general in 21 states sued the administration. Now, after a judge's ruling that Trump's actions were unlawful, libraries and museums across the country will have access to money that had been stuck in a months-long limbo..." (NPR) "The danger is once you compile all this information, then hackers only have to go to one place instead of going to all 50-plus jurisdictions that run elections... It's a hacker's dream to have all of this private, sensitive information collected somewhere..." (Mother Jones) Follow Rachel Maddow on Bluesky here. NEW EPISODES OF RACHEL'S BURN ORDER PODCAST ARE OUT NOW! Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to follow it yourself or send this sign-up link to someone you know would appreciate it. NEWS TIPS? SEND IT TO RACHEL FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM RACHEL MADDOW ON BLUESKY 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER