Ep 4. Civil Rights Under Trump

In season 2 episode 4 of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, entitled "Civil Rights Under Trump," the comedian and political commentator takes an in-depth look at the state of civil rights in the United States since President Trump took office. Minhaj discusses a range of issues affecting marginalized communities, including police brutality, immigration policy, and voter suppression.

He begins the episode by examining the Trump administration's record on police reform. He notes that while the President has promised to be a "law and order" president, his policies have actually weakened accountability for police officers who commit misconduct. Minhaj interviews several individuals who have been affected by police brutality, including the mother of a Black teenager who was shot and killed by police officers in Jacksonville, Florida.

Next, Minhaj moves on to the Trump administration's immigration policies. He discusses the controversial family separation policy, which resulted in thousands of children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. He also examines the administration's efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides legal protections for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.

Minhaj also highlights the rise of voter suppression efforts under the Trump administration. He notes that several states have implemented strict voter ID laws and purged voters from registration rolls, disproportionately affecting minority voters. He interviews Stacey Abrams, who famously ran for governor of Georgia in 2018 and lost in a highly contested race that was marred by allegations of voter suppression.

Throughout the episode, Minhaj intersperses his commentary with humor, using his trademark wit to make light of some of the absurdities of the current political climate. However, he also makes it clear that the issues he is discussing are deadly serious, and that the Trump administration's policies have had real-world consequences for many Americans.

In the end, Minhaj provides a sobering reflection on the state of civil rights under Trump, but he also offers a glimmer of hope. He notes that, despite the efforts of the current administration to erode civil rights protections, there are still many activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens fighting for justice. He concludes by urging viewers to get involved and fight for the causes they believe in.