The political climate, already heated since Donald Trump contested the 2020 election, has intensified with his indictment concerning obstruction and mishandling classified documents. A significant portion of the population firmly believes the former president is a victim of persecution.

Trump has vehemently denounced the Justice Department, labeling them as "thugs" and "sick people," and singling out special counsel Jack Smith as a "deranged lunatic." This situation transcends the individual; it's a trial of the entire justice system, with Americans engaged in disparate dialogues.

The core issue isn't solely Trump's potential conviction (he maintains his presumption of innocence), but the public perception of law and order. Are the DOJ and FBI truly compromised by radicals, or is Trump simply deflecting from the indictment's evidence? A recent CBS/YouGov poll reveals that 80% of Americans outside the core Republican voter base perceive a national security risk in Trump's handling of classified documents, compared to just 38% of likely Republican primary voters.

Following a discussion of this on my program, I experienced online backlash from Trump loyalists. Many seem unwilling to address the indictment's substance, instead claiming federal prosecutors lack credibility. This conveniently avoids the serious accusations against Trump, supported by evidence from his own legal team and aides.

Accusations of being a "Trump hater" ignore my 35-year acquaintance with him, numerous interviews, and even a book I wrote criticizing the media's unfair treatment of him. I've defended him in the past, like during Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg's flimsy hush-money case.

However, some conservatives also express concern over the Florida indictment. Andrew McCarthy, a conservative former federal prosecutor, stated that "if they can prove half of it, he’s toast." National Review's editors deemed the indictment "damning."

Key points from the indictment include Trump showing classified documents, including a secret map, to two people, one a PAC member, while acknowledging he shouldn't. He also instructed aide Walt Nauta to move boxes prior to a lawyer's search, and suggested not responding to the National Archives at all.

While an indictment presents one side, the defense is yet to be heard. However, it's understandable why many Trump supporters avoid discussing these charges. Instead, the focus shifts to Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Hunter Biden.

While Clinton's handling of classified information could have warranted charges, and Biden's retention of documents was irresponsible, these situations differ significantly from Trump's case. Hunter Biden's investigation should either result in charges or closure.

Kevin McCarthy's claim that Biden orchestrated the indictment is unsupported. There's no evidence of presidential involvement, and the White House denies any prior knowledge. Biden wisely maintained a hands-off approach to avoid the appearance of partisanship.

Trump possessed highly sensitive documents, including a war plan against Iran and nuclear assessments, raising concerns within the Pentagon. The Washington Post's prior reporting on nuclear secrets at Mar-a-Lago, dismissed by Trump as a "hoax," appears validated.

The media's credibility has suffered during the Trump era, particularly among those on the right. Attempts to analyze the indictment are met with skepticism by those who believe the media's primary goal is to prevent Trump's return to the White House. This case presents a critical test for the nation.