If it's Friday, the White House defends the FBI for arresting a Wisconsin judge accused of

helping an undocumented migrant avoid arrest, further escalating the Trump administration's

conflict with the courts and its crackdown on the border. Plus, President Trump faces mounting

political pressure at home and abroad to deliver on key campaign promises,

as new poll numbers show his economic agenda and his political party are underwater with Americans.

And new details on Defense Secretary Pete Higgs says breach of security protocols.

As officials tell NBC News, the embattled Pentagon chief has been acting, quote, erratic, insecure, and lashing out at colleagues.

Welcome to meet the press now. I'm Kristen Welker. We begin with breaking news and a major escalation between the Trump administration and the courts over enforcing its immigration policies.

This morning, the FBI took the dramatic step of arresting a county judge in Milwaukee, accusing her of obstructing

its efforts to apprehend an undocumented immigrant. According to a criminal complaint unleashed

today, unsealed today, the Justice Department claims Judge Hannah Duggan helped that undocumented

immigrant. Eduardo Flores Ruiz evade federal authorities when they showed up outside her

courtroom to apprehend him. Flores Ruiz was in Dugan's courtroom facing domestic violence charges.

The complaint says the judge essentially distracted federal agents and then led Flores Ruiz and his

attorney through a non-public jury door, which then prompted a foot

pursuit with authorities. Earlier in the day, FBI director Cash Patel tweeted but then deleted

a post about the arrest. Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke out about the case this afternoon.

We are going to prosecute you, and we are prosecuting you.

I found out about this the day it happened.

We could not believe, actually, that a judge really did that.

We looked into the facts in great depth.

That's her picture up on the screen.

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