Judge John Bates; a long-serving federal district court judge in Washington DC ruled that Donald Trump's executive order punishing the law firm Jenner & Block was not only unconstitutional, but that Trump's actions were "doubly violative of the Constitution". Notably, Bates (who was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush) also delivered a pointed message to the law firms that decide to bend a knee to Trump instead of fighting his unconstitutional conduct. Glenn reviews th...
May 28, 2025•13 min•Ep. 691
If Donald Trump is king of anything he's the king of losing in court. He's had three recent court losses: one on the Immigration front, one on the Department of Education front, and one involving a judge upbraiding Alina Habba for not understanding the responsibilities of a United States Attorney. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandi...
May 26, 2025•12 min•Ep. 690
The Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice, created in 1976 in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, is designed to guard against political prosecutions. So, of course, Attorney General Pam Bondi promptly gutted the Public Integrity Section. Now, Bondi's DOJ is ratcheting up prosecutions and criminal investigation of Democrats. Trump's former personal attorney, now interim US Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba has charged a sitting member of Congress; New jersey Rep. LaMonica ...
May 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 689
Federal judges continue to rule against the Trump administration and the Trump Department of Justice. One of the many men wrongfully/unconstitutionally deported and imprisoned in El Salvador is a young man named Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino, who had come to the United States legally with his mother and two brothers as part of a US refugee resettlement program. Nevertheless, the Trump administration deported him without due process - notice and opportunity to be heard - because he had a tatt...
May 22, 2025•10 min•Ep. 688
A pattern seems to be emerging: 7 Supreme Court Justices are repeatedly standing up for the Constitution by telling the Trump administration it can not deport Venezuelans without due process/notice and opportunity to be heard AND it can not use the Alien Enemies Act to deport anyone until the legality of invoking that act is fully and finally litigated. Glenn reviews some of the nuggets buried in the new Supreme Court opinion. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can...
May 20, 2025•13 min•Ep. 686
District of Columbia Federal District Court Judge Beryl Howell has issued a 102-page legal opinion and ruling, announcing that Trump/Musk/DOGE's takeover and decimation of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) was "unlawful" and "null and void." Glenn reviews what the Trump administration did to USIP - an independent, non-profit organization - and discusses the new reporting on this important legal development and Judge Howell's new opinion and order. Link to The Hill article and Judge How...
May 20, 2025•10 min•Ep. 687
Former FBI Director James Comey posted a picture on Instagram of seashells on a beach arranged into the numbers "8647." Several Trump officials broke into hysterics, claiming that Comey intended the post as a threat. Showing her disregard for the rule of law, the rules of criminal procedure law and the Constitution - one prominent official announced that Comey should be put "behind bars" - apparently without an investigation, indictment, jury trial or verdict. And Trump expressed his outrage, sa...
May 19, 2025•13 min•Ep. 685
In a disturbingly thin and obviously rushed federal indictment, Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi had DOJ prosecutors seek a grand jury indictment of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly trying to assist an immigrant evade arrest by ICE agents. Glenn reviews the evidence contained in the two-count indictment; discusses how grand jury indictments are only as good as the ethics of the prosecutor presenting the evidence to the grand jurors; discusses the defense team Judge Du...
May 16, 2025•15 min•Ep. 684
The attorneys representing Kilmer Abrego Garcia in his unconstitutional deportation case have asked the presiding Judge, Paula Xinis, to order two more Trump administration officials to sit for depositions to be forced to explain what, if anything, they are doing to "facilitate" Garcia's release and return to the US. In a breathtaking "F U" to the Supreme Court, Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee that "Garcia . . . will not be coming back ...
May 15, 2025•9 min•Ep. 683
In a meticulously and persuasively reasoned 112-page legal opinion, DC Federal Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Donald Trump's Executive Order punishing the law firm Perkins Coie is unconstitutional. The case is over, as Judge Howell granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs - Perkins Coie (though the case likely will be appealed by Trump). In a particularly powerful passage, Judge Howell notes that Trump has put a "cringe-worthy twist" on the Shakespeare line, "The first thing we do, l...
May 14, 2025•13 min•Ep. 682
Donald Trump apparently thinks the Constitution is inconvenient, getting in the way of his fervent desire to deport anyone and everyone he wants out of the United States. His latest unconstitutional scheme is to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus, which enables people being confined by Trump's executive branch to challenge the legality of their detention. Trump and his henchmen, guys like Stephen Miller, apparently think they can unilaterally suspend habeas corpus. The problem for them is the fed...
May 13, 2025•15 min•Ep. 681
Federal judges one after another have been ruling against Trump's illegality, unconstitutionality, and abuse of power, including many Republican-appointed judges - some appointed by Trump himself. Glenn reviews some of what went on during Trump's first 100 days (a losing streak that seems to be continuing), and discusses what likely will happen to the DOJ lawyers who are being called out by the judges for engaging in "falsehoods" and "willful, bad faith conduct". Link to Associated Press article...
May 12, 2025•14 min•Ep. 680
It appears Donald Trump's grip on the Senate Republicans is loosening. Trump pushed hard for his nominee for DC US Attorney, Ed "Stop the Steal" Martin. Trump even posted that, "We are going to take our Country BACK and FAST. Ed Martin will be a big player in doing so and, I hope, that the Republican Senators will make a commitment to his approval." Trump's hopes have been dashed, as Sen. Thom Tillis has said he will NOT vote in favor of confirming Martin. Trump is now considering Fox's Jeanine ...
May 09, 2025•13 min•Ep. 679
During a White House meeting with the nation's governors, Donald Trump let them know, in substance, that they better get in line with some of his policies and proposals or he would cut off certain funding to their states. Maine's Governor Janet Mills would have none of it, and told Trump, "I'll see you in court." Trump replied, Good, I'll see you in court. I'll look forward to that. That should be a real easy one." Regarding that dispute between Trump and Mills, as the Guardian reported, "Win fo...
May 08, 2025•7 min•Ep. 678
As if Donald Trump didn't already wear his autocratic aspirations on his sleeve, during an interview on Meet the Press - Kristen Walker asked him, as president if he "needed to uphold the Constitution", of course his answer was a democracy-busting, "I don't know". This is severe, reckless and stubborn disregard for the duties of an American president and luckily it could represent the impeachment icing atop the high-crimes-and-misdemeanor cake. At what point will the Republicans in Congress care...
May 07, 2025•11 min•Ep. 677
In an important ruling cutting back the lawless conduct of Trump and his administration officials, Judge Fernando Rodriguez - appointed to the federal bench by Trump himself - ruled that Trump can not use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan immigrants. Glenn reviews this important new ruling. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters...
May 06, 2025•13 min•Ep. 676
We are now squarely in constitutional crisis territory. After the Trump administration wrongfully deported Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his release from a prison in El Salvador and handle his case the way it would have been handled had he not been wrongfully deported. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump DOJ attorneys said they did not have the ability to arrange for Garcia's release and return. Yet now, Trump proved Bondi and com...
May 05, 2025•11 min•Ep. 675
In a scorched-earth, 37-page Opinion and Order, Federal Judge David Briones excoriated Trump administration officials, including named respondents Kristi Norm and Pam Bondi, for claiming that a Venezuelan couple were dangerous gang members who should be deported under the Alien Enemies Act, but did not produce "a single piece of meaningful evidence". More from Judge Briones's Opinion: "This Court takes clear offense to Respondents (Pam Bondi and Kristi Norm and others) wasting judicial resources...
May 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 674
Donald Trump's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, is now parroting the lies of her boss, saying that judges are "deranged". Although Bondi clearly is trying to undermine the public's confidence in a co-equal branch of government - the judiciary - in reality, her statements are eroding the legitimacy of the Department of Justice. Glenn takes on the questions that the media SHOULD be asking AG Bondi about her claim that judges are "deranged". If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts,...
May 01, 2025•11 min•Ep. 673
As a former career prosecutor and current legal analyst, I'm not much of a comedian. But recently I was asked to participate in a pay per view event called "Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner" which is something of a celebration of independent media. Here's my shot at legal analysis that's a bit on the lighter side, though it finishes with a decidedly serious ask of the Republican Party: cross the aisle to save democracy. Link to order the PPV, "Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner...
Apr 30, 2025•8 min•Ep. 672
The Washington Post reported, "Wisconsin judge arrested by FBI, charged with obstructing immigration arrest." Curiously, FBI Director Kash Patel first posted then deleted information about this arrest. Glenn takes on the the nature of the allegations against the judge, and of Patel's ill-advised post-and-delete regarding the arrest. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team J...
Apr 29, 2025•13 min•Ep. 671
In a devastating new order, Judge Paula Xinis, who is presiding over the Abrego Garcia unlawful deportation case, found the following: "Defendants (the Trump administration) - and their counsel (the DOJ lawyers) - well know that the falsehood lies . . . in their continued mischaracterization of the Supreme Court's Order. . . . Defendants' objection reflects a willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations". Glenn reviews the new order from Judge Xinis, and also discusses the ...
Apr 28, 2025•16 min•Ep. 670
Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney John Sauer, who is now the Solicitor General at the Department of Justice, filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to reverse itself and lift the block on further deportations of Venezuelan immigrants. What is both interesting and telling is that Sauer said nothing about the midnight run ICE made with busloads of detainees headed for a Texas airport as emergency litigation was underway in court. Glenn analyzes what was said - and what was omitted...
Apr 25, 2025•14 min•Ep. 669
In a remarkable turn of events, as Trump's ICE officers filled buses with Venezuelan immigrants and headed toward an airport in Texas, an emergency battle was being waged in court to try to prevent the Trump administration from engaging in more unconstitutional deportations. As the busloads of immigrants reached the airport exit, they turned around and headed back to the detention facility. One of Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorneys, John Sauer; (who is now the U.S. Solicitor Genera...
Apr 24, 2025•12 min•Ep. 668
The 4th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has issued a scorched-earth opinion in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. Judge Harvey Wilkinson, a Ronald Reagan appointee, called out the Trump administration for grave and upsetting constitutional violations, saying, "This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses shall hold dear." Glenn reviews this remarkable and direct rebuke of the lawlessness of the Trump administration in ...
Apr 23, 2025•11 min•Ep. 667
Judge James Boasberg, the Chief Judge of Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, found probable cause that the Trump Administration is in criminal contempt of court for intentionally defying his orders regarding the unlawful "deportation" of Venezuelan immigrants. Glenn reviews Judge Boasberg's new ruling and order and tries to determine what the next steps will be in this contempt battle. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice pa...
Apr 22, 2025•14 min•Ep. 666
After finding that the Trump Administration has done "nothing" to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US, Judge Paula Xinis ordered expedited discovery in the case to determine if Trump Administration officials should be held in contempt for violating her court orders - court orders that were affirmed and reinforced by the Supreme Court. Glenn reviews the new court order in the Abrego Garcia case. Judge Xinis's order is embedded in the following Politico article: https://www.pol...
Apr 21, 2025•14 min•Ep. 665
As Donald Trump continues to drag the American people to the edge of the constitutional crisis cliff in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, he's now threatening to deport American citizens to foreign prisons, and says that Attorney General Pam Bondi is "studying the law" to see if it's legal. Glenn says: AG Bondi can probably close the law book she's "studying", as it is clearly ILLEGAL to deport American citizens. If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Ju...
Apr 18, 2025•11 min•Ep. 664
In an Oval Office meeting with the president of El Salvador, Donald Trump indicated that he won't bring a wrongly-deported man back from El Salvador, which would constitute a violation of a directive from the Supreme Court. As he was doubling-down on lawlessness and unconstitutionality, Trump also told the president of El Salvador that he "needs to build five more places" to hold American citizens, as Trump announced that "home-grown are next." Glenn takes on the question of what the federal jud...
Apr 17, 2025•11 min•Ep. 663
The Central Park 5, now known more accurately as The Exonerated 5, brought a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump for stating during a presidential debate that the five men had "pled guilty", had "badly hurt someone" and had "killed someone", in connection with crimes that had been committed in Central Park in New York City. All three of Trump's assertion were untrue. Trump filed a motion to dismiss the defamation case, and a federal judge denied that motion to dismiss (with the exception of ...
Apr 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 662
