Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"They targeted me because I'm the mayor of the city,” says Newark, New Jersey mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka. In this tell-all interview with Laura Flanders, the mayor of the state’s largest city discusses his arrest at Delaney Hall, a new private immigration detention facility in Newark, and why he is a staunch opponent of the Republican immigration agenda and Trump’s assertion of federal power. In his tenure as mayor, Baraka has championed progressive programs like guaranteed income, reduced crime and boosted affordable housing. But new challenges lie ahead, as politicians like himself and cities like Newark face retaliation from the Trump administration. Baraka’s charges have been dropped, but the legal battles are far from over. He recently announced a lawsuit against the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba and DHS Agent Ricky Patel, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation. If elected, he would be the first Black governor in New Jersey and only the fourth Black governor elected in the States. If he's not elected, he is still a politician to watch as he insists on advancing forward thinking policy, especially in these tough times. Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura.
“The Department of Justice is suing Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and Patterson because of their sanctuary city status, erroneously suggesting that we are standing in a way of the ability to do their job, which is completely false . . . We understand the importance of immigrants in our communities, and we want to uphold that.” - Ras Baraka
“We have advertised to the rest of the world that we've discovered the best thing since sliced bread. That we should be the envy of the entire world because we have this democracy, and our constitution defends that . . . To renege on that promise makes us a different place than what we taught our kids.” - Ras Baraka
GUEST:
Ras Baraka: Mayor of Newark, NJ; NJ Gubernatorial Candidate
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✏️SHOW NOTES: Visit our Patreon for Show Notes and learn more about this week's episode: patreon.com/posts/130883252
Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners.
Follow the show and Laura Flanders on Bluesky!
https://bsky.app/profile/lauraflanders.org
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DONATE TODAY at lauraflanders.org/donate or consider becoming a PATREON partner at patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
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CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez
Thumbnail photo by NWK TV.
00:00 The situation at Delaney Hall, a new private immigration detention facility in Newark, NJ
05:37 Ras Baraka arrested, and why he believes he was "targeted"; immigration rights & reducing crime & homelessness
10:50 What's at stake in New Jersey? Trump budget cuts, inequity in schools, & why Ras Baraka is running for governor
14:18 Ras Baraka's message to voters and the Democratic party
17:42 The need for collective action; could New Jersey become a bellwether for progressive politics?
23:49 Laura's closing commentary
"They targeted me because I'm the mayor of the city,” says Newark, New Jersey mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka. In this tell-all interview with Laura Flanders, the mayor of the state’s largest city discusses his arrest at Delaney Hall, a new private immigration detention facility in Newark, and why he is a staunch opponent of the Republican immigration agenda and Trump’s assertion of federal power. In his tenure as mayor, Baraka has championed progressive programs like guaranteed income, reduced crime and boosted affordable housing. But new challenges lie ahead, as politicians like himself and cities like Newark face retaliation from the Trump administration. Baraka’s charges have been dropped, but the legal battles are far from over. He recently announced a lawsuit against the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba and DHS Agent Ricky Patel, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation. If elected, he would be the first Black governor in New Jersey and only the fourth Black governor elected in the States. If he's not elected, he is still a politician to watch as he insists on advancing forward thinking policy, especially in these tough times. Join us for that conversation, plus a commentary from Laura.
“The Department of Justice is suing Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and Patterson because of their sanctuary city status, erroneously suggesting that we are standing in a way of the ability to do their job, which is completely false . . . We understand the importance of immigrants in our communities, and we want to uphold that.” - Ras Baraka
“We have advertised to the rest of the world that we've discovered the best thing since sliced bread. That we should be the envy of the entire world because we have this democracy, and our constitution defends that . . . To renege on that promise makes us a different place than what we taught our kids.” - Ras Baraka
GUEST:
Ras Baraka: Mayor of Newark, NJ; NJ Gubernatorial Candidate
Stay informed and engaged! Don't miss out on our captivating weekly episodes that dive deep into the heart of our economy, culture, and politics. SUBSCRIBE HERE youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg?sub_confirmation=1
🎧 PODCAST: Listen to this week's episode on major podcast platforms: lauraflanders.simplecast.com/episodes/mayor-ras-baraka-on-his-arrest-immigration-rights-leading-new-jersey-episode Subscribe today and receive the full, uncut conversation from this week's show: lauraflanders.simplecast.com/episodes/they-targeted-me-mayor-ras-baraka-on-his-arrest-immigration-rights-leading-new-jersey-full-uncut-conversation
✏️SHOW NOTES: Visit our Patreon for Show Notes and learn more about this week's episode: patreon.com/posts/130883252
Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners.
Follow the show and Laura Flanders on Bluesky!
https://bsky.app/profile/lauraflanders.org
https://bsky.app/profile/gritlaura.bsky.social
DONATE TODAY at lauraflanders.org/donate or consider becoming a PATREON partner at patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
🔔Subscribe to get weekly episodes that prompt you to think critically about the world around you. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit the 'Like' button and share it with your network.
📩Newsletter: For more in-depth analysis, including uncut interviews and commentaries, subscribe to our free newsletter at lauraflanders.org.
CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez
Thumbnail photo by NWK TV.
00:00 The situation at Delaney Hall, a new private immigration detention facility in Newark, NJ
05:37 Ras Baraka arrested, and why he believes he was "targeted"; immigration rights & reducing crime & homelessness
10:50 What's at stake in New Jersey? Trump budget cuts, inequity in schools, & why Ras Baraka is running for governor
14:18 Ras Baraka's message to voters and the Democratic party
17:42 The need for collective action; could New Jersey become a bellwether for progressive politics?
23:49 Laura's closing commentary
![How to Break the “Cycle” of Police Killing? Listen to Survivors [EXCERPT]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s_GmFCalGVc/mqdefault.jpg "How to Break the “Cycle” of Police Killing? Listen to Survivors [EXCERPT]
This conversation is an excerpt from our episode How to Break the ‘Cycle’ of Police Killing? Listen to Survivors. Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/VBZ2DaGeR_I. This episode first aired November 2025.
https://lauraflanders.substack.com/p/cycle-documentary-police-violence?utm_source=youtube")
![The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy [EXCERPT]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tegEg4aROIQ/mqdefault.jpg "The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy [EXCERPT]
This conversation is an excerpt from our episode The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy. Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/JYqkuSwIauA. This episode first aired July 2022.
https://lauraflanders.substack.com/p/democracy-defense-in-north-carolina?utm_source=youtube")
![A Mountain Is Not a Beach: Media Rules on the Middle East [rewind :: commentary]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uHza8T8trok/mqdefault.jpg "A Mountain Is Not a Beach: Media Rules on the Middle East [rewind :: commentary]
The following timely commentary by Laura Flanders aired on GritTV in the summer of 2014. At the same time as the Iraq Sinjar crisis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinjar_massacre) , Gaza was experiencing the 2014 Gaza War (Operation Protective Edge), a 50-day conflict (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Gaza_War) between Israel and Hamas that began in July 2014. The war involved intense Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion in response to Hamas rocket attacks, resulting in over 2,000 Palestinian deaths (mostly civilians) and significant destruction in Gaza. Israeli casualties included 67 soldiers and six civilians. The US response in Gaza was primarily diplomatic.
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note: The following closing commentary or F-Word from July 2024 Laura dedicated to the late great poet June Jordan. Find out more about her at JuneJordan.net (https://www.junejordan.net/) The episode (https://lauraflanders.org/dorothy-zellner-if-you-only-care-about-your-own-youre-not-kosher/) from 2014 featured an interview with long time civil rights activist Dorothy Zellner (https://lauraflanders.org/dorothy-zellner-if-you-only-care-about-your-own-youre-not-kosher/) about her work for peace and justice in the Middle East. Learn more about Dorothy Zellners formative years in the civil rights movement at the SNCC Digital Gateway (https://snccdigital.org/people/dorothy-zellner/) website.
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TRANSCRIPT- CLOSING COMMENTARY, JULY 2014:
Hi, I’m Laura Flanders of GRITtv
“I will not compare slaughter to slaughter. I will not compare death to death. I will not compare I will not compare… “
Welcome to my morning mantra.
It’s been a long hot news summer and it’s important to remember the rules. Under prevailing US media law, you may not compare a killing to a killing. You may not say the word Palestinian for example and then in the same sentence, say Yazidi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Yazidis) .
You may not compare. You may not compare… The rules are very clear, especially when it comes to the Middle East.
I, for example, may not compare destruction to destruction. It is best, in fact, if I do not even contemplate or wonder about men and women and children trapped without food and medicine and drinking water under siege on a mountain top, and at the same time, contemplate or wonder about men and women and children trapped without food and medicine and drinking water under siege on a place near a beach.
A mountain under siege is not to be compared to a beach besieged. That’s simple enough. After all, a mountain is very different from a beach.
I will not compare. I will not compare… In particular I will not compare a destroyed mosque in Mosul with a destroyed mosque in Khuzaa. And I absolutely will not compare the motivations of the uniformed soldiers whom I hear laugh and cheer on a videotape out of Gaza as they explode that mosque in Khuzaa, with the motivations of any men anywhere committing war crimes.- Even if I can’t get that laughter and cheering out of my head.
I may not compare, I may not compare. Why? Because comparisons are odious, of course, and politics is complicated.
You heard the president, the U.S. cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world.”
Some require the U.S. to act to help the people besieged. Some require the US to act to help the people doing the besieging.
To compare is to risk blurring the differences and the differences are all important.
To recap the rules: it is wrong to compare.
You can not say: a life is a life.
You can not say words like oil and money and markets.
You can not ask what’s the difference between a mountain and a beach.
I’m Laura Flanders. Today’s commentary is dedicated to the late great poet June Jordan. Find out more about her at JuneJordan.net (https://www.junejordan.net/)
Laura Flanders and Friends airs weekly on public TV, YouTube, community radio, and available as an audio podcast. In addition to the episode podcast, subscribers receive uncut conversations...")
