Welcome to Talking Feds, a roundtable that brings together prominent former federal officials

and special guests for a dynamic discussion of the most important legal topics of the day.

I'm Harry Littman, the raw tumult and blanzing rage that broke out last week in the wake

of George Floyd's killing, banged down this week to something that felt more cohesive,

quarterly and sustained.

In major cities' demonstrations stretched into their 10th day, less convulsive and largely

peaceful, though punctuated both by occasional looting and episodes of excessive force by

police.

The Minnesota Attorney General announced increased charges for the main assailant Derek

Chauvin and serious charges for the other three police officers.

A wide spectrum of politicians and opinion makers seemed to coalesce around the idea that

justice for Floyd entailed not just the prosecution of the officers, but some measure of systemic

reform of police practices.

In Minneapolis itself, on Sunday night, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged

to dismantle the police department, promising to create a new system of public safety in

a city where law enforcement has long been accused of racist practices.

Meanwhile, President Trump, after over a week of what seemed to be cowering silence, sought

to take the offensive as a self-proclaimed law and order president.

He adopted a mantra of, quote, total domination, close quote, and announced plans, which

he seems to have abandoned by weak sand, to send in the military to subdue the protesters.

Meanwhile, the White House was ringed with new barriers and combat troops.

Never had the president seemed so autocratic and weak at once.

...