On the final episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, former President Barack Obama delivered pointed critiques of the Trump administration’s use of federal and state forces in U.S. cities and what he characterized as the erosion of democratic institutions. Obama framed the deployment of National Guard troops to cities such as Chicago and Portland as a possible violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, suggesting that the move constitutes an “end run” around legal restraints on military involvement in domestic policing. He warned that such actions risk redefining urban crime as insurrection, thereby distorting democratic norms and authority.
Beyond the use of force, Obama called out private and public institutions for “caving in” to the Trump administration, particularly critiquing universities, law firms, and corporations that altered policies—such as rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or hiring practices—to align with federal pressure. He urged these institutions to resist compromise, declaring that they “have the capacity … to take a stand.” He also emphasized the importance of empathy, humility, and non‑politicized law enforcement, warning against the politicization of the justice system and the dangers of moralizing discourse.
Obama’s critique was not limited to external forces—he also questioned media and institutional reactions, suggesting that if he had taken similar authoritative steps during his presidency, conservative outlets like Fox News would have responded much more aggressively. He emphasized that while U.S. institutions are not irreparably broken, they have been “damaged” by political overreach and the gradual weakening of norms meant to prevent abuse of power.
NEW: Obama torches Donald Trump:
"A lot of what I represented, a lot of what Michelle and I have tried to project– the values we're thinking about America. My successor seemed to represent the opposite. Not seemed, did." pic.twitter.com/rSGDileb8W
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) October 13, 2025
