| From | Matt (Crooked) <[email protected]> |
| Subject | What A Day: Mahmoud Khalil Speaks |
| Date | July 25, 2025 10:06 PM |
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BY MATT BERG & CROOKED MEDIA
FRIDAY
JULY 25, 2025
I'm allowed to do it.”
— Donald Trump [on a potential pardon]([link removed]) for Ghislaine Maxwell... while insisting he hasn't even thought about it.
THE STRUGGLE ISRAEL
A month after he was freed, pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil remains as defiant as ever.
- In March, ICE agents kicked down the 30-year-old activist’s apartment door in New York City, locked him up for 104 days, and forced him to miss the birth of his child. The State Department hasn’t accused Khalil, a green card holder, of committing any crimes. But the administration still seems to view him as a threat — and is still trying to have him deported.
- Mahmoud visited Washington D.C. this week for a long string of meetings with Democratic lawmakers. During that trip, he strolled the hallways of Capitol Hill with What A Day, discussing his activism and what he learned from the harrowing experience — which has made him a posterboy for resistance during President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
- “They want my case to be a blueprint to go after everyone they disagree with,” Khalil told me. “The exhaustion is real. The fear is real. However, the price of remaining silent and not doing anything is much higher.”
- Columbia isn’t showing the same fighting spirit. The university [agreed to pay $200 million]([link removed]) on Wednesday night to settle its dispute with the Trump administration, in what could set a dangerous precedent for other schools that come under attack for dubious reasons.
- “By prioritizing Trump’s interest over its students, Columbia failed to protect me and so many of my peers, emboldened dangerous anti-Palestinian racist rhetoric, thrown its principles of academic freedom under the bus,” Khalil said. “I still haven’t heard a word from Columbia.”
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Matt Berg: How do you describe what has happened to you on a personal level, as someone being targeted by the U.S. government?
Mahmoud Khalil: It's a stain on the U.S. Constitution. I was targeted for literally speaking up for human rights, for the end of killing. My targeting is part of a wider assault on dissent in this country. They wanted to make an example out of me so that others would fear speaking out and fear dissenting from what this administration wants.
At the same time, the support I’ve received has been very encouraging. People can see through the lies of this administration. They can see through the hate that this administration has been spreading. We all know, ultimately, this administration thrives on division, thrives on polarization, and that's what they're trying to do.
MB: The State Department tacitly acknowledged that you haven’t broken any laws, only that your political beliefs may harm U.S. foreign policy. What’s your reaction to that accusation?
MK: I mean, U.S. relations with Israel couldn't get any better. The U.S. is funding Israel’s weapons with billions of dollars. So, it’s absolutely absurd. They just wanted to silence me. That was their main objective — using these obscure laws to find a loophole where the secretary of state can unilaterally, without any investigation, any court, any due process, deport non-citizens just because they don’t like their speech.
This should scare everyone, because they want my case to be a blueprint to go after everyone they disagree with. They usually try it with the weak in the country, so they can then push the limit and go after citizens. We're seeing that right now, whether it's naturalized citizens, whether it’s birthright, everything. They think that there's no limit.
MB: You're suing the Trump administration, seeking $20 million and an apology. What do you really want?
MK: Accountability and acknowledgement of the wrongdoing, the overreach the government has done in my case. They've called me names. They put me in prison for over 100 days, separating me from my family, from the birth of my son. I had to be on the phone with my wife while she was delivering. This shouldn't go unchecked.
MB: What is your message to protesters hoping to influence this administration?
MK: The exhaustion is real. The fear is real. However, the price of remaining silent and not doing anything is much higher. The fact that you have the president of the United States and his cabinet targeting students, targeting the Palestine liberation in this country, means that we are winning. We're actually making change in this country, and that's why they're going an extra mile to suppress us.
We shouldn’t allow that, because we need to maintain the pressure on this country to achieve justice, liberation and freedom for every Palestinian.
MB: If you could talk to Trump right now, what would your message be?
MK: My message would be to the American people, that Trump is trying to bring the country into fascism, authoritarianism. He’s trying to dismantle the institutions of this country. I have faith that people are awakened now to these practices, and they will stand up against them.
WHAT A SPONSOR
[link removed]
If your dog could talk, they'd beg for Ollie.
The full-body tail wag, the excited little hops, the big, goofy grin? That’s the Ollie effect.
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And here’s the thing: healthier food means a happier pup. More energy, shinier coats, better poops — and more excitement at mealtime.
With five protein-packed recipes, like Fresh Beef with Sweet Potatoes or Fresh Turkey with Blueberries, even the pickiest eaters can’t resist. You might think, “dang, my dog eats better than I do!” When it comes to Ollie… that may be true!
Dogs deserve the best, and that means fresh, healthy food. Head to [ollie.com/wad]([link removed]), tell them all about your dog, and use code WAD to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today!
Plus, they offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back.
That’s [ollie.com/wad]([link removed]) and enter code WAD to get 60% off your first box.
[link removed]
WHAT ELSE?
[A third federal court blocked Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship]([link removed]). U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston ruled that a dozen states can keep on ignoring Trump on this one. The Supreme Court recently narrowed judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions, and this is likely to return to the high court.
[Israel said it would allow Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to resume]([link removed]) emergency food air drops in Gaza. The news comes amid stark warnings of mass starvation among Palestinians in the territory. Jordan was set to begin the air drops as soon as today.
[Deportation flights from the Trump administration’s “Alligator Alcatraz”]([link removed]) detention facility in the Florida Everglades have begun. As many as 100 detainees were flown to other countries in two flights, though officials didn’t say where the flights were headed. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) promised the number of detainees deported from the site were about to “go up dramatically.”
[DOJ lawyers concluded two days of meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell]([link removed]), a convicted sex trafficker and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell named about 100 people, her lawyer said... though we don't know who, or what she said about them. As this newsletter pointed out yesterday, the meetings raise the specter that Donald Trump may be ready to coach Maxwell’s story in exchange for… some kind of sweetheart deal? Right on cue, Maxwell’s attorney said [his client would welcome a pardon]([link removed]) from President Trump, but insisted that no pardon had been discussed.
[Donald Trump’s name is on a list of contributors]([link removed]) to a book of birthday greetings given to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, the New York Times reported. Trump sued the Wall Street Journal for reporting he wrote Epstein a lewd and suggestive greeting, claiming that the letter is fake or his signature was [forged]([link removed]). This scandal just keeps getting worse for Trump.
[A Scottish newspaper went viral as Donald Trump prepared to visit]([link removed]) by using its front page to declare a “convicted felon” was “to arrive in Scotland.” Now that newspaper, The National, is writing headlines…about its own headlines.
[Disgraced GOP con man and former Congressman George Santos]([link removed]) began his 87-month stretch in federal prison today. Santos pleaded down to fraud and identity theft after being charged in a broad scheme involving credit cards, campaign finance fraud, and more. “The rhinestones are packed,” Santos said in a [farewell post]([link removed]).
THERE'S MORE IN STORE
Attention Worldos: Pod Save The World has brand new merch blatantly inspired by Ben and Tommy's own LA Dodgers and their iconic tees. After all, keeping up with international news should qualify as a sport. These tees and stickers have a classic look you'll want to add to your wardrobe's starting lineup, so grab them now at [crooked.com/store]([link removed]).
[link removed]
[]([link removed]) []([link removed])[More than 7,000 metal fans]([link removed])have launched a petition to rename Birmingham, England’s airport after deceased rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
[Renewables like solar and wind are now crushing]([link removed])fossil fuels on price. More than 90% of renewable sources are now cheaper than their available carbon-emitting alternatives.
[”South Park” co-creator Trey Parker]([link removed]) had a delightfully deadpan reaction to complaints that his show angered the White House, following a recent episode that depicted Donald Trump getting into bed with Satan. Parker gave a long, stone-faced stare, and wisecracked: “We’re terribly sorry.”
[The Trump Administration released about $6 billion in school grants]([link removed])that it had been withholding since July 1. The holdup had prompted several lawsuits and calls from lawmakers of both parties to send out the funds as Congress intended. A further $1.3 billion in school funds was released last week. Another bad idea bites the dust!
[The stock market is surging]([link removed]), with the S&P 500 closing at record levels five days in a row this week.
[]([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] [link removed]
[Share this newsletter]([link removed])
No longer want to receive these emails? [Unsubscribe]([link removed]).
Crooked Media 4817 N 56th St Suite 45 Lincoln, Nebraska 68504
FRIDAY
JULY 25, 2025
I'm allowed to do it.”
— Donald Trump [on a potential pardon]([link removed]) for Ghislaine Maxwell... while insisting he hasn't even thought about it.
THE STRUGGLE ISRAEL
A month after he was freed, pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil remains as defiant as ever.
- In March, ICE agents kicked down the 30-year-old activist’s apartment door in New York City, locked him up for 104 days, and forced him to miss the birth of his child. The State Department hasn’t accused Khalil, a green card holder, of committing any crimes. But the administration still seems to view him as a threat — and is still trying to have him deported.
- Mahmoud visited Washington D.C. this week for a long string of meetings with Democratic lawmakers. During that trip, he strolled the hallways of Capitol Hill with What A Day, discussing his activism and what he learned from the harrowing experience — which has made him a posterboy for resistance during President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
- “They want my case to be a blueprint to go after everyone they disagree with,” Khalil told me. “The exhaustion is real. The fear is real. However, the price of remaining silent and not doing anything is much higher.”
- Columbia isn’t showing the same fighting spirit. The university [agreed to pay $200 million]([link removed]) on Wednesday night to settle its dispute with the Trump administration, in what could set a dangerous precedent for other schools that come under attack for dubious reasons.
- “By prioritizing Trump’s interest over its students, Columbia failed to protect me and so many of my peers, emboldened dangerous anti-Palestinian racist rhetoric, thrown its principles of academic freedom under the bus,” Khalil said. “I still haven’t heard a word from Columbia.”
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Matt Berg: How do you describe what has happened to you on a personal level, as someone being targeted by the U.S. government?
Mahmoud Khalil: It's a stain on the U.S. Constitution. I was targeted for literally speaking up for human rights, for the end of killing. My targeting is part of a wider assault on dissent in this country. They wanted to make an example out of me so that others would fear speaking out and fear dissenting from what this administration wants.
At the same time, the support I’ve received has been very encouraging. People can see through the lies of this administration. They can see through the hate that this administration has been spreading. We all know, ultimately, this administration thrives on division, thrives on polarization, and that's what they're trying to do.
MB: The State Department tacitly acknowledged that you haven’t broken any laws, only that your political beliefs may harm U.S. foreign policy. What’s your reaction to that accusation?
MK: I mean, U.S. relations with Israel couldn't get any better. The U.S. is funding Israel’s weapons with billions of dollars. So, it’s absolutely absurd. They just wanted to silence me. That was their main objective — using these obscure laws to find a loophole where the secretary of state can unilaterally, without any investigation, any court, any due process, deport non-citizens just because they don’t like their speech.
This should scare everyone, because they want my case to be a blueprint to go after everyone they disagree with. They usually try it with the weak in the country, so they can then push the limit and go after citizens. We're seeing that right now, whether it's naturalized citizens, whether it’s birthright, everything. They think that there's no limit.
MB: You're suing the Trump administration, seeking $20 million and an apology. What do you really want?
MK: Accountability and acknowledgement of the wrongdoing, the overreach the government has done in my case. They've called me names. They put me in prison for over 100 days, separating me from my family, from the birth of my son. I had to be on the phone with my wife while she was delivering. This shouldn't go unchecked.
MB: What is your message to protesters hoping to influence this administration?
MK: The exhaustion is real. The fear is real. However, the price of remaining silent and not doing anything is much higher. The fact that you have the president of the United States and his cabinet targeting students, targeting the Palestine liberation in this country, means that we are winning. We're actually making change in this country, and that's why they're going an extra mile to suppress us.
We shouldn’t allow that, because we need to maintain the pressure on this country to achieve justice, liberation and freedom for every Palestinian.
MB: If you could talk to Trump right now, what would your message be?
MK: My message would be to the American people, that Trump is trying to bring the country into fascism, authoritarianism. He’s trying to dismantle the institutions of this country. I have faith that people are awakened now to these practices, and they will stand up against them.
WHAT A SPONSOR
[link removed]
If your dog could talk, they'd beg for Ollie.
The full-body tail wag, the excited little hops, the big, goofy grin? That’s the Ollie effect.
[Ollie delivers clean, fresh nutrition]([link removed]) in five drool-worthy flavors, even for the pickiest eaters. Made in U.S. kitchens with highest quality, human-grade ingredients, Ollie’s food contains no fillers, no preservatives — just real food.
And here’s the thing: healthier food means a happier pup. More energy, shinier coats, better poops — and more excitement at mealtime.
With five protein-packed recipes, like Fresh Beef with Sweet Potatoes or Fresh Turkey with Blueberries, even the pickiest eaters can’t resist. You might think, “dang, my dog eats better than I do!” When it comes to Ollie… that may be true!
Dogs deserve the best, and that means fresh, healthy food. Head to [ollie.com/wad]([link removed]), tell them all about your dog, and use code WAD to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today!
Plus, they offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back.
That’s [ollie.com/wad]([link removed]) and enter code WAD to get 60% off your first box.
[link removed]
WHAT ELSE?
[A third federal court blocked Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship]([link removed]). U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston ruled that a dozen states can keep on ignoring Trump on this one. The Supreme Court recently narrowed judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions, and this is likely to return to the high court.
[Israel said it would allow Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to resume]([link removed]) emergency food air drops in Gaza. The news comes amid stark warnings of mass starvation among Palestinians in the territory. Jordan was set to begin the air drops as soon as today.
[Deportation flights from the Trump administration’s “Alligator Alcatraz”]([link removed]) detention facility in the Florida Everglades have begun. As many as 100 detainees were flown to other countries in two flights, though officials didn’t say where the flights were headed. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) promised the number of detainees deported from the site were about to “go up dramatically.”
[DOJ lawyers concluded two days of meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell]([link removed]), a convicted sex trafficker and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell named about 100 people, her lawyer said... though we don't know who, or what she said about them. As this newsletter pointed out yesterday, the meetings raise the specter that Donald Trump may be ready to coach Maxwell’s story in exchange for… some kind of sweetheart deal? Right on cue, Maxwell’s attorney said [his client would welcome a pardon]([link removed]) from President Trump, but insisted that no pardon had been discussed.
[Donald Trump’s name is on a list of contributors]([link removed]) to a book of birthday greetings given to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, the New York Times reported. Trump sued the Wall Street Journal for reporting he wrote Epstein a lewd and suggestive greeting, claiming that the letter is fake or his signature was [forged]([link removed]). This scandal just keeps getting worse for Trump.
[A Scottish newspaper went viral as Donald Trump prepared to visit]([link removed]) by using its front page to declare a “convicted felon” was “to arrive in Scotland.” Now that newspaper, The National, is writing headlines…about its own headlines.
[Disgraced GOP con man and former Congressman George Santos]([link removed]) began his 87-month stretch in federal prison today. Santos pleaded down to fraud and identity theft after being charged in a broad scheme involving credit cards, campaign finance fraud, and more. “The rhinestones are packed,” Santos said in a [farewell post]([link removed]).
THERE'S MORE IN STORE
Attention Worldos: Pod Save The World has brand new merch blatantly inspired by Ben and Tommy's own LA Dodgers and their iconic tees. After all, keeping up with international news should qualify as a sport. These tees and stickers have a classic look you'll want to add to your wardrobe's starting lineup, so grab them now at [crooked.com/store]([link removed]).
[link removed]
[]([link removed]) []([link removed])[More than 7,000 metal fans]([link removed])have launched a petition to rename Birmingham, England’s airport after deceased rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
[Renewables like solar and wind are now crushing]([link removed])fossil fuels on price. More than 90% of renewable sources are now cheaper than their available carbon-emitting alternatives.
[”South Park” co-creator Trey Parker]([link removed]) had a delightfully deadpan reaction to complaints that his show angered the White House, following a recent episode that depicted Donald Trump getting into bed with Satan. Parker gave a long, stone-faced stare, and wisecracked: “We’re terribly sorry.”
[The Trump Administration released about $6 billion in school grants]([link removed])that it had been withholding since July 1. The holdup had prompted several lawsuits and calls from lawmakers of both parties to send out the funds as Congress intended. A further $1.3 billion in school funds was released last week. Another bad idea bites the dust!
[The stock market is surging]([link removed]), with the S&P 500 closing at record levels five days in a row this week.
[]([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] [link removed]
[Share this newsletter]([link removed])
No longer want to receive these emails? [Unsubscribe]([link removed]).
Crooked Media 4817 N 56th St Suite 45 Lincoln, Nebraska 68504
Message Analysis
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