Topic: Federal Crime

President Donald Trump has federalized the 4,000-person Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., and deployed federal agents from the FBI and ATF to monitor street crime. Local leaders have not filed legal challenges against the move, as the President holds unique authority over the District of Columbia. Mayor Muriel Bowser reported that crime in the district has already decreased by 25 percent compared to the previous year.

Senator Richard Blumenthal proposed a bill that would make it a federal crime to threaten or attack journalists during news-gathering operations. The legislation broadly defines "news gathering" to include photography, book writing, and digital media. Critics questioned how the law would apply to "Instagram influencers" and whether it would protect citizens from police interference.

The lack of recent leaks from the Oval Office is attributed to a physical renovation that included anti-surveillance measures. FBI Director Christopher Wray addressed the anonymous op-ed, stating he did not write it and that the FBI only investigates matters where there is evidence of a federal crime. Wray maintained a professional distance when asked if the op-ed's description of the president's temperament matched his own observations.

Sports commentator and lawyer Jay Bilas analyzes the novel legal theory used by federal prosecutors to classify NCAA rule violations as federal crimes. Because many universities receive over $10,000 in federal funding, prosecutors argue that breaking amateurism rules constitutes a victimization of the institution's assets. Bilas suggests that if the NCAA changed its rules regarding player compensation, these actions would no longer be considered criminal.

AC Thompson identified three major trends in ProPublica's data: a surge in anti-Semitism, a "rash" of anti-immigrant sentiment, and incidents where perpetrators invoke President Trump's name. The project tracks lower-level harassment that does not meet the federal legal definition of a hate crime. The hosts discuss the expansion of the "hate crime" category to include non-criminal behavior and speech.

The hosts examine recent presidential proclamations from the Federal Register, including National Volunteer Week and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. They note the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. Adam Curry mentions receiving critical emails from listeners regarding Dvorak's takes on the Federal Reserve and Special Drawing Rights (SDR).

The FBI and FAA have increased enforcement against individuals pointing handheld lasers at aircraft, now classifying the act as a federal crime. The segment reviews the reported increase in laser incidents and the potential for these devices to be banned.

During a Senate hearing, Al Franken questioned the Department of Justice on its interpretation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The DOJ argued that violating a website's terms of service or an employer's computer policy could constitute a federal crime. This means an employee checking personal Gmail at work could technically face federal prosecution, a stance the DOJ refuses to soften despite constitutional concerns from judges.

The hosts critique the trailer for the NBC series "Chase," produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, which follows U.S. Marshals. They argue the show is part of a broader media effort to glamorize federal law enforcement over local police. Dvorak highlights the "pre-crime" narrative in the show's marketing, where federal agents focus on where a criminal is going rather than what they have done.