Mike Florio dedicates his days to discussing and writing about perhaps the most quintessentially American topic: the NFL. However, in today’s climate, it can be challenging to ignore broader issues and simply focus on sports.
On Friday, Florio felt the urgency to address a pressing crisis concerning the United States government, one that extends well beyond the infamous El Salvador prison at the heart of the matter. During the latest episode of PFT Live, he began with a passionate monologue that questioned the current administration’s apparent aim to undermine the judicial branch’s power.
I opened Friday’s @PFT_Live by addressing something not about football. The feedback was surprisingly positive. I wrote something about that issue tonight. If you’re interested, here it is. If you’re not, don’t read it. Either way, have a good evening. https://t.co/PBAKLMnTts
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 19, 2025
As someone deeply invested in sports media, I resonate with Florio’s predicament. At Awful Announcing, our mission is to cover sports media and its broader societal implications. The reality is that sports do not exist in isolation; they’re embedded in a complex social framework.
On a personal note, I strive to uphold strong journalistic standards, as Pat McAfee might emphasize. Yet, my blogging origins sometimes push me to express my views on perceived injustices or imbalances that demand attention. There are moments when the public’s reaction feels predictable, but it’s more crucial to voice one’s thoughts than remain silent.
During his discussion, Florio focused on the troubling case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen deported without facing any charges. He expressed profound concern over this scenario, emphasizing that a functioning democracy relies on the balance of executive, legislative, and judicial powers. “I’ve been shaken in my core by the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case,” Florio remarked on PFT Live. “What’s happening where there is this open defiance of a ruling we don’t like… When you lose, you’ve lost. You can’t just say, ‘make me.’”
He continued, stressing the importance of all three branches of government operating in concert. If any branch ignores the others, Florio warned of dire consequences that could undermine the entire system of governance.
Florio further elaborated, sharing insights from a recent ruling by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a respected appellate judge, which highlighted the dangerous trajectory of the current administration. The judge cautioned that “the branches come too close to grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both.”
“Now the [executive and judicial] branches come too close to grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both. The Judiciary will lose much from the constant intimations of its illegitimacy… The Executive may succeed for a time in weakening the courts, but over time history will script the tragic gap between what was and all that might have been…”
Essentially, Florio concluded, “if the executive branch refuses to accept and respect the decisions of the judicial branch — decisions that serve as a crucial counterbalance to executive power — everyone loses.” This sentiment resonates widely, not just among PFT readers, but also among those at Awful Announcing who may be grappling with how to address similar frustrations. At times, it is imperative to raise one’s voice in order to maintain a sense of personal integrity, and it seems that many are reaching this realization.
