Jim Acosta issues Trump SMACKDOWN amid Don Lemon arrest

I'm joined now by Jim Acasta. Thanks so. much for taking the time. >> You got it. >> So Jim, um your former CNN colleague, our friend Don Lemon, um was arrested. yesterday. Uh he's since been let out, but I I'm just curious, you know, having. worked with him for so long and now. occupying the independent media space as. he does. Have we crossed into a. different Rubicon? Have we crossed the. Rubicon here in terms of what you're. seeing from the Trump administration as. it relates to these attacks on the First. Amendment? Yeah, Brian. I I really think we have. I. mean, the first thing we have to say is.

we support Don. We love Don. Uh we send. him all our our best wishes. And I I. think this case is going to get thrown. out. Uh there's there's no chance that. Don Lemon is going to go to jail over. this. He was just doing his job. I mean, if you just look at the video of when he. went into that church, he says on on. video, he says, "I'm I'm not one of the. protesters. I'm here to cover this. I'm. a journalist." Um, but I I think in. terms of the the precedent that has been. set here, I mean, we cannot go down this. road, Brian. We cannot go down the road. of jailing journalists in this country.

for doing their job. And that's what I. think Donald Trump is trying to do in. his little evil dictator laboratory. He's trying to see he's trying to poke. and prod and see what he can do to harm. the press in this country. And we've. already seen him do that in going after. the the corporate media, the legacy. media, you know, with the lawsuits. against ABC and CBS and going after the. Associated Press and so on. And I I see. this as going after independent media. And that's what really worries me. because, you know, we're not bending the.

knee over here in independent media, Brian. You know this all too well. Yeah. Um but if they can start to hurt people. over in our neck of the woods, then I. think people need to be worried. >> Do you have concern personally? I mean, you were a huge target for Trump in his. in his first term. Um, obviously, he. hasn't forgotten that because his whole. life is predicated on seeking revenge. against his enemies. And so, what's your. degree of concern? >> Yeah, I mean, I guess I I would have to. be a little bit concerned given that, you know, he he does hold a grudge. I.

mean, he's been going after Don Lemon. for what, the better part of the last 10. years, and he just can't give this stuff. up. But, at the same time, what we have. to say is we're not going to back down. We're not going to be afraid. We're. going to continue to do our jobs. We're. going to continue to call this. administration out. I mean, this is this. has been a pretty authoritarian week in. in the presidency of Donald Trump. I. mean, look what's happened in just the. last week. They they shot and killed a. man in in Minneapolis and Alex Prey. Uh.

the FBI raided an election headquarters. in Fulton County, Georgia, and then the. arrest of Don Lemon. I mean, all three. of those things to me stand out as. hallmarks of an authoritarian regime. And so it h we have to push back against. this stuff and we can't be afraid. >> Yeah. And I think I think that's that's. an important part. And I think actually. I know that you you you noted that we. can't be afraid and I think that's. absolutely right. And I also think that. in fact independent media has a lot more. power um than I think Trump is willing. to admit. Although by his actions he's. kind of betraying as much because.

independent media this space can't be. bought. Like we have seen the extent to. which it is so easy for Trump to buy off. Jeff Bezos. I'm sure that uh I'm sure. that you're going to be uh popping over. to the Melania documentary any any any. minute now. >> um to buy off. >> now as a matter of fact. >> Yeah. [laughter]. Um. >> to buy off Jeff Bezos, to buy off CBS. News, buy off ABC News with these $16. million lawsuits, to buy off Meta and. and so we've seen how easy it is and and. frankly not just legacy media to buy off. universities, to buy off law firms, to.

buy off tech CEOs, to buy off foreign. countries and foreign leaders, but. independent media is not overleveraged. like we don't have any business in front. of the federal government. We don't need. approval from the FCC or the or or the. FTC or the FAA or whatever or whatever. it is to be able to do yeah to do. anything. And so I think Trump is able. to wield weapons when he knows he's got. you bent over a barrel. But legacy but. independent media doesn't have that. problem because you know it's just it's. just people who are who are beholden to. the truth and and and the subscribers.

and and viewers who watch on a daily. basis and that's it. And so there is a. lot of power, I think, in this. independent media space that Trump. hasn't figured out how to uh hasn't. figured out how to how to wield his. power against. And and frankly, Don is a. testament to exactly that. >> Yeah. No, you're absolutely right. I. mean, we don't have corporate bosses, uh, you know, that we have to worry. about ringing their hands in some. boardroom saying, "Oh gosh, I wish Brian. and Jim would stop criticizing Donald. Trump or reporting on the things that. he's done.". >> Um, you're right. we don't have uh we.

have we don't have those problems. The. the one thing that I do worry about. though is by going after Don Lemon, does. it send a chilling effect through. independent media? And do people in our. neck of the woods start to say, "Well, you know, gosh, I better be careful. because they might come after me next.". One of the things that um they they. tried to do to me when they took my. press pass away back in 2018 was not. just to send a message to me in my news. organization at that time, CNN, but to. send a message to people across the.

corporate media world, across the legacy. media landscape to say like, "Hey, you. don't want to end up like Jim. You don't. want to end up getting your press pass. taken away. Look, look what's happened. to him." And they were celebrating. behind the scenes uh when they when they. did that. Um, you know, Miles Taylor can. confirm that. Um, and they did the same. thing when they uh arrested Don Lemon. They were basically celebrating on. social media. And so, people need to. understand what this is. These are. intimidation tactics that are right out. of an authoritarian playbook uh being.

carried out by people who act like. mobsters. And it's just not the American. way. Um, my sense of it is is that this. is going to backfire spectacularly. against Trump and it's going to embolden. uh people like us and independent media. and we're going to find out that at the. end of this they can't do this. But in. the meantime, I mean, we're we're up. against it. I mean, they he is trying to. figure out a way to hurt us. He's trying. to figure out a way to get control of. the press. And that is what autocrats. have done in places like Russia and.

Hungary and China and Saudi Arabia. I. mean, you look around the world. I say. this to folks all the time. Um, look at. the countries around the world where. they don't have a free press and ask. yourself, is this somewhere you want to. live? You want to live in China or Saudi. Arabia or Iran or North Korea? I don't. think so. Uh, but these are countries. that don't have a free press. And I. think it there's a direct correlation. between that and the quality of life. that the people have there. I I think. you're you're so right about um about. well everything you said but but but.

especially this idea that independent. media is going to be kind of up against. it right now but I actually think this. is a good opportunity to redouble our. efforts because think about what happens. if he is successful at silencing. everybody basically think about what the. what the natural conclusion of his. efforts is. It's basically I mean it's. it's a descent into full-blown autocracy. at which point we wouldn't have any. power anyway. And so what do we have to. lose by just going going like 10 toes in. and making sure to fight back? Because.

like if we're trying to curb what we say. or self-censor um in an attempt to kind. of preempt any action against us. Okay. So then we silence ourselves. We you. know he he ultimately is successful in. the end and then and then we're in a. world where independent media or any. pro-democracy voices don't have power. anyway. And so that's no better. you. know, we're not ultimately going to help. ourselves in the end. We're just. delaying the inevitable. And so, I think. of these opportunities where we can. either, you know, lean forward and take.

an aggressive posture and keep speaking. out against this administration. This is. this is our only option, frankly, because because the alternative, you. know, even in trying to protect. ourselves is ultimately just helping. Donald Trump in the future. >> No, I think that's right. And I mean, the other thing is is, you know, when I. had my press pass taken away, we sued. and we won and they had to back down and. they had to give me my press pass back. I hope that Don and his team that they.

sue the hell out of Donald Trump and the. Justice Department and all of this. because this is this is trying to. deprive him of his constitutional rights. to freedom of the press, freedom of. speech. And that is that is the. playbook. That is the way um we we win. in all of this. Uh we don't back down. we don't bend the knee. We don't bow. down. U look what happened um in Davos. recently where these countries said to. hell with us. We're not going to be. bullied by Donald Trump. We're going to. stand up to him. And I think the lesson. of from that experience is is that.

flattery and and bending the knee and. bowing down doesn't work. Yep. >> It just it just emboldens him. It makes. him want to do it even more. And so it's. just like the bully at the playground. He's not going to stop bullying you. until you punch him in the nose. Until. you until you tell him to shut the hell. up. Yeah. And um that is what needs to. happen here. I I think Don needs to. fight back. We all need to fight back. We all need to have his back. Jim, when. you um you know, when you were in the. press corps back in the Obama.

administration, for example, uh there. was an effort to prevent Fox News from. being in the press briefing room, if if. I'm remembering correctly, and all of. the other, you know, liberal media. outlets, if if we're talking everything. but Fox News, basically, uh basically. banded together to make sure that Fox uh. that Fox would still be able to be. there. Do you think that how do you how. are you thinking about this in terms of. the fact in light of the fact that you. know more recently when we had the AP.

the Associated Press get barred from the. press briefing room because they. wouldn't uh uh capitulate to Trump's. demands that everybody refer to the Gulf. of Mexico as Gulf of America and frankly. the same outlet Fox News that benefited. from um a collaborative effort from the. other outlets you know they they weren't. there to help the AP and so how are you. kind of thinking about the relationships. between these these news networks in. light of the fact that you had more. liberal outlets stick their neck outs to. help a conservative outlet, but when the. tables are turned, you know, obviously.

those conservative outlets are nowhere. to be found. >> Yeah. I mean, I remember when this. happened during the Obama. administration, uh the folks over at. Fox, I think they wanted a front seat in. the briefing room when one opened up and. the other networks argued on their. behalf and said that Fox deserves to. have this seat. And you know, I I mean, I I think at this point the networks. would still do that. Yeah. >> Um but, you know, it would be nice if it. were the other way around, quite. honestly. And I think what we've seen. lately is a lot of cowardice on the part.

of legacy media. um when the Associated. Press was booted out of Air Force One. and out of the Oval Office because they. wouldn't call the Gulf of Mexico the. Gulf of America. Uh the other news. organizations just you know acted they. put out some tur tursly worded. statements and so on but they didn't. they didn't stand united with the. Associated Press and I think it taught. Trump the lesson that hey he can play. divide and conquer with the press and. you know look what happened with the. bribes that were paid by CBS and ABC.

Uh, look what's happened with the. Ellison's and Paramount taking over CBS. and the installation of Barry Weiss in. charge of that network. Yeah. I mean, this has been. >> there's 75 a $75 million effort to. promote a documentary that that tens of. people are going to see right now. >> That's right. And and in the tech and in. the big tech world, you're right. Jeff. Bezos basically paying a bribe to Donald. Trump um through this Bania documentary. in order to curry favor with the. administration. It it makes you want to. puke. And that is why independent media.

is so damn important. But I think the. only way that this really ultimately. nips this in the butt and stops the. behavior is if there's collective. action. And it seems to me that we need. to we need to tell the the White House. uh and I wish the White House press. corps would do this. Um say, "Listen, we're not going to go in there and take. your picture in the Oval Office. We're. not going to cover you in Air Force. If. you want to have Fox and the Blaze and O. and all these sickopantic outlets. following you around and doing your. thing, fine. Go h go do your thing.

Pretend to be a dictator. The emperor. has no clothes and so on. But the. networks and the mainstream news. organizations should not be on the plane. with him or be in the Oval Office with. him if he's going to act like a tyrant. And it seems to me that, you know, that. might start to curb some of this. behavior. He'll say, "Oh, my favorite. photographer is not here to take my. picture, the one that I like. Okay, you. know, I love that guy over at the New. York Times. He really he takes nice. pictures of me. This is the kind of. stuff that Donald Trump actually cares. about. So, why not hit him where it. hurts and take take that away from him?

Maybe it'll start to curb some of that. behavior. And I'm I'm so curious about. that because, you know, we we often hear. that Trump just wants to surround. himself with these right-wing outlets, but but the reality is we know Trump. wants to be in in in these clubs. like. when when he years and years and years. ago he wanted to own an NFL team and the. owners agreed not to allow him to to buy. an NFL team and he ended up buying um a. USFL team and basically ran not only his. team but the entire uh league into the.

ground. The the league was was I mean he. he bankrupted the entire correct it's. the same thing. >> Yeah. And so, and so I'm curious about. this because you're saying here that. that if the networks deprive him of the. oxygen that they can give him, are you. saying basically that even though he. will rail against these legacy outlets, New York Times, CNN, ABC, NBC, you know, until he's blue in the face, that in. reality he's really looking like it. wouldn't be enough for him to just get. attention from Breitbart and the Blaze.

and O and Fox News. is is even though he rails against them, does he actually crave the validation. from these networks that that he so. often complains about? >> He absolutely does. And you know, there. there's some some missing piece inside. of his soul that that craves this. validation on the part of the mainstream. press. >> Yeah. >> Um and I think, you know, this is a. vulnerability on his part and it it. ought to be exploited quite frankly. Um. but on top of that, it's just the right. thing to do. It's just the right thing. to do to stand with our fellow.

journalists. And this is not a time for. people in, you know, the networks and. the brandame news outlets to be petty. and vindictive and be like, well, I, you. know, this person might say, I don't. like uh Don Lemon and so on and so. forth. That all has to be tossed to the. side. We have to stand on principle. here. And the principle is is that the. that the freedom of the press is not. negotiable. It is not something that can. be toyed with. It is not once we go down. this slippery slope and say well you.

know you know I don't like the way Don. did this or that. So I guess you know. maybe he should spend some time in jail. that give me a break. We can't do that. in this country. And so you know I tell. people all the time if you want to be. liked go be a veterinarian. Journalists. are not supposed to be liked. We're not. supposed to be everybody's favorite. person. We're here to hold people. accountable and hold people's feet to. the fire. That makes us wildly unpopular. and it pisses people off. But that's a. good thing. That's how democracy works. That's how it should work. And Trump has. been trying to hurt the press ever since.

I started covering him back during the. 2016 campaign. This is this is what he's. all about. And what we have to do is. work collectively to stop this from. getting any worse because I mean it. seems to me, Brian, we are at the. jailing journalists uh chapter of uh. Donald Trump's authoritarian playbook. and we just can't let it continue. Well, look, uh, you know, you are stepping up. in a big way. I know that that, um, I'm. I can speak for myself and a lot of. people who are watching right now and.

saying that we're very grateful for the. fact that your voice is out there right. now on Independent Media. Can you let. folks who are watching, listening right. now know where they can find you? >> Yeah, I mean, I'm doing the Jim Aosta. show on Substack, YouTube, Apple. Podcast, anywhere you can get your. podcasts. Uh, so so check me out there. And, you know, we're we're not holding. back at this point, Brian, just like I. know you're not holding back. It's it's. just that kind of moment. It's the. stakes are too high and we've just got. to have Don's back in all of this. That's the way I feel. >> Yeah. I I second all of that, Jim. I.

appreciate all the work that you're. doing and uh the time today. >> You bet. Thanks, Brian. [music].