Rachel Maddow

He said, every American should be deeply troubled by this massive escalation. This is an unmistakable descent further into authoritarian chaos. Joining us now is Congressman Raskin of Maryland. He's the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Sir, thank you so much for being here. I know it's a really busy time.

Let me ask you if any of the way that I explained that sort of seems the wrong way around to you, or if it seems like I'm putting the emphasis in the wrong place. It seems to me that Trump having a judge arrested is a reckless and desperate move.

Let me ask you if any of the way that I explained that sort of seems the wrong way around to you, or if it seems like I'm putting the emphasis in the wrong place. It seems to me that Trump having a judge arrested is a reckless and desperate move.

It seems to me like, yes, there are connections to previous flashpoints and tensions that Trump has raised in even his first term by trying to put federal immigration agents into state courts. But to me, this mostly just seems crazy.

It seems to me like, yes, there are connections to previous flashpoints and tensions that Trump has raised in even his first term by trying to put federal immigration agents into state courts. But to me, this mostly just seems crazy.

You have said that The independence of the judiciary has to be defended. You said, we must do whatever we can to defend the independent judiciary in America. Obviously, there's this individual case of this judge.

You have said that The independence of the judiciary has to be defended. You said, we must do whatever we can to defend the independent judiciary in America. Obviously, there's this individual case of this judge.

There's also potentially the intimidation factor towards all judges, right, that this has an effect on trying to scare and intimidate judges into not ruling against Trump or otherwise acceding to Trump and the Trump administration's demands. When you say we must do whatever we can to defend the independent judiciary in America, what do you think that we should do?

There's also potentially the intimidation factor towards all judges, right, that this has an effect on trying to scare and intimidate judges into not ruling against Trump or otherwise acceding to Trump and the Trump administration's demands. When you say we must do whatever we can to defend the independent judiciary in America, what do you think that we should do?

We've seen people instantly and spontaneously react by going to the courthouses, by going to the streets to protest. Do you think that matters? And what else do you think could...

We've seen people instantly and spontaneously react by going to the courthouses, by going to the streets to protest. Do you think that matters? And what else do you think could...

A dramatic escalation and one I think that will escalate the kind of response that they get as well. I think that it was a shock to the system, I think, when people saw those headlines today. That's why people got out in the streets. I mentioned that people went out and protested in Milwaukee outside the courthouse today.

A dramatic escalation and one I think that will escalate the kind of response that they get as well. I think that it was a shock to the system, I think, when people saw those headlines today. That's why people got out in the streets. I mentioned that people went out and protested in Milwaukee outside the courthouse today.

People went out to other federal buildings and other federal courthouses, including Minneapolis today, to protest. I'm not sure that they've that they recognize they've bitten off more than they can chew here. But we shall see. Congressman Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland. Yeah, sorry. Go ahead, sir.

People went out to other federal buildings and other federal courthouses, including Minneapolis today, to protest. I'm not sure that they've that they recognize they've bitten off more than they can chew here. But we shall see. Congressman Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland. Yeah, sorry. Go ahead, sir.

Congressman Jamie Raskin, it's good to have you here, sir. Thank you so much for your time. All right. We've got more news ahead here this very busy Friday night. Stay with us.

Congressman Jamie Raskin, it's good to have you here, sir. Thank you so much for your time. All right. We've got more news ahead here this very busy Friday night. Stay with us.

That's Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana speaking on this program earlier this week after he visited two immigration prisons in his home state. Some of his congressional colleagues who were with him for those visits have an op ed today in The New York Times about what they saw at those immigration prisons and what the people Trump is holding in those facilities are going through.

That's Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana speaking on this program earlier this week after he visited two immigration prisons in his home state. Some of his congressional colleagues who were with him for those visits have an op ed today in The New York Times about what they saw at those immigration prisons and what the people Trump is holding in those facilities are going through.

And they're just some of the Democratic legislators, Democratic members of Congress who have been bodily, physically showing up to places where the Trump administration has been locking up immigrants, both here and abroad. Vermont U.S. Senator Peter Welch went to the prison in Vermont where they have locked up Columbia University student Mohsen Madawi.