Lemon LIVE at 5 | JUDGE OWNS TRUMP: Another MAGA Loss - June 20th, 2025
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to Lemon Live at Five, the Don Lemon Show. Hey, you guys know I'm happy that you're here. As I say every single time, make sure you hit the like and the thumbs up. It affects the algorithm. More people become aware of our conversation. Become a member and also make sure you subscribe as well, okay? So we're glad that you're in here today and a lot to talk about. Like really a lot to talk about, especially on a Friday. I'm shocked that there's so much. So there's a lot of breaking news happening. OK, and then we're going to get to some of the things that happened earlier in this week. Get a Hollywood since I am in California and Los Angeles. We're going to get a Hollywood Eyes view of what's going on, some of the stories that made headlines this week.
So good evening, Lemon Nation. Welcome to Lemon Live at 5. We are tracking major legal developments this evening. Two court rulings that have delivered, actually three, that have delivered a serious blow to the Trump administration's hardline agenda or MAGA's hardline agenda in general. First, there was a federal judge that's ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, finding that his detention, may have been an unconstitutional act of retaliation for protected political speech. It is a stark rebuke, one that raises urgent questions about the use of immigration enforcement as a political weapon. The Trump administration using free speech as a political weapon. or immigration enforcement as a political weapon.
Then in a separate decision, the courts ruled that the Trump administration cannot block Harvard University from enrolling international students. Remember that? They tried to block them, said they were going to take away their funding, et cetera. Well, the judge said no. A federal judge said no to that one. This is a win for academic freedom, a blow to the White House's escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric. And the other one has to do with the Ten Commandments in school in Louisiana. A judge blocked that as well. So we'll see what happens. So joining us to unpack all of these rulings and what it might mean for civil liberties going forward is human rights lawyer and advocate Qasem Rashid. thank you sir for joining how are you today i'm managing don thanks for having me how are you managing as that is a perfect way of putting it i'm managing so let's put this up this is a new york times article on um mahmoud khalil and we know that this has been something of you know really a big headline a big story here in the united states mahmoud khalil must be released
On bail, federal judge order says Mr. Khalil, Columbia graduate, Columbia University graduate and legal permanent resident has been held in Louisiana for over three months. A judge found reason to believe it was retaliation for his pro-Palestinian speech.
What do you say to that? Right. Completely accurate. And I think the only disgrace is that it's taken this long for what's been obvious to all of us. It's taken this long for the court system to process this. We're guaranteed a speedy trial in this case. He missed his graduation. More importantly, he missed the birth of his son. He missed time from family that he can never get back. You know, we often hear from the MAGA right that we don't mind immigration. Just come here legally and don't commit crimes. Well, he did come here legally. He has a green card. He's married to a U.S. citizen. He's getting education. He exercises free speech. He has no criminal record whatsoever. None. Like not even so much as a minor speeding ticket or reckless speeding ticket.
He did everything by the book. But because he committed the one crime of being critical of Donald J. Trump. they threw him in this gulag in Louisiana. And so I'm celebrating today. And I was also pleased to see that despite the government's lawyers asking for another seven days to make their case against Mahmoud Khalil, the federal judge said, nope, you've had your chance. You've shown nothing.
What major court rulings delivered legal losses to the Trump administration?
He's not a flight risk. I'm going to let him out.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:16–4:13
2
What major court rulings delivered legal losses to the Trump administration?
4:13–4:51
3
Why did the federal judge order Mahmoud Khalil’s release as retaliation for speech?
4:51–18:04
4
What does Khalil’s arrest video reveal about alleged immigration enforcement tactics?
18:04–33:44
5
How do lawyers explain First Amendment standards in Khalil’s case?
33:44–58:57
6
Why did a judge block the White House from stopping Harvard’s international students?
58:57–1:02:07
7
What are the wider consequences of the Harvard ruling for universities and the brain drain?
1:02:07–1:08:52
8
What other headlines and cultural stories (Ten Commandments, Tyler Perry, Whoopi) did the show cover?
1:08:52–1:09:54