What You Need to Know: This week, America lost a giant: tributes flooded in for Rev. Jesse Jackson, the movement architect who made Black presidential ambition undeniable. Don Lemon pleaded not guilty to federal charges tied to his protest coverage under a law critics say has never been used like this. And Barack Obama swatted back at Trump’s racist AI “ape” video. Add a Wes Moore town hall that felt like a soft-launch for bigger things, and Stephen A. Smith flirting with 2028 into the mix, and you have this week’s “The State of US.”
Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Charges Tied To Anti-ICE Protest Coverage
Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Feb. 14 to federal charges stemming from his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Federal prosecutors arrested Lemon Jan. 31 in Los Angeles, where he had been covering the GRAMMY Awards. Authorities charged him with conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship, charges filed under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act.
What’s Next? Lemon’s legal team is expected to file a motion to dismiss. A follow-up court date has not yet been publicly scheduled. Critics and legal experts argue the charges are unprecedented, noting the FACE Act has never been applied in this manner.
What We Learned From CBS’ Town Hall With Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore took center stage Feb. 15 at CBS News’ “Things That Matter” town hall, moderated by CBS News senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell. The hour-long prime-time broadcast gave Moore one of his biggest national platforms yet ahead of a likely 2028 presidential consideration.
Key Takeaways:
- After President Trump barred him from the National Governors Association White House dinner, Moore declared, “You do not determine my worthiness. God determines my worthiness. The people of Maryland determine my worthiness.”
- Moore called Trump’s ICE enforcement misguided while also acknowledging that both parties have “punted” on immigration and that the Biden administration did not have the issue “worked out.”
- Moore sidestepped the 2028 presidential question, repeatedly saying, “I love my job,” while calling for a Democratic leader who can heal national divisions.
Tributes Pour In For The Late Rev. Jesse Jackson
Political and cultural leaders flooded social media Tuesday with tributes honoring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon who died peacefully at 84, surrounded by family. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remembered Jackson as a “voice for the voiceless” and a source of hope in the fight for racial justice. Former President Barack Obama wrote that Jackson’s two historic presidential runs “laid the foundation” for his own campaign, adding, “We stood on his shoulders.” The Rev. Al Sharpton said the nation lost “one of its greatest moral voices,” praising a man who “carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice.”
In Memoriam: Jackson shattered the perception that a Black person could not be a viable presidential candidate, and observers credited him as one of the most gifted communicators in American history. His Rainbow PUSH Coalition declared that his “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.” Jackson earned more than 40 honorary doctorates and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His decades of organizing helped push the country toward greater justice and inspired countless people to believe in the possibility of meaningful change.
Obama Calls Trump’s Racist Ape Video a ‘Clown Show,’ Refuses to Be Distracted
Former President Barack Obama pushed back Saturday against a racist AI-generated video President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Feb. 5, depicting Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed on animated apes. In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama said most Americans find the behavior troubling.
“It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction,” Obama said, describing much of the noise around Trump’s presidency as a “clown show.” The video remained on Trump’s account for nearly 12 hours before bipartisan backlash prompted its removal.
White House Reaction: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially defended the post, calling it “an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.” After the video was removed, a White House official said a staffer had posted it “erroneously.” Trump himself told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had only seen the first part of the video and claimed he did not see the offensive imagery at the end, but still declined to apologize, saying, “I didn’t make a mistake.”
Stephen A. Smith Eyeing 2028 Democratic Presidential Run
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said he is giving “strong consideration” to entering the 2028 presidential race as a Democrat, stopping short of a formal announcement. “I’m giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027,” Smith said. “I’ve got this year coming up, 2026, to think about it, to study, to know the issues.” Smith told CBS News correspondent Robert Costa he would run as a Democrat, describing himself as a fiscal conservative and social liberal.
Deep Dive: This is not the first time Smith has flirted with a political future. He previously told ABC News anchor Linsey Davis, “I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t consider it, especially when my own pastor called me and said, ‘Don’t close the door on this.’” Smith also said he has been approached by elected officials and others on Capitol Hill who have “legitimately, seriously” asked him about mounting a campaign.