It’s another week where the DOGE bros are trying to burn down the government, and another week where the courts are trying to stop it. For our main story, we focus on the Trump administration’s crazy shenanigans at the United States Africa Development Corp. Trump may have tried to fire Senate-confirmed principal officers by email… to an email address that doesn’t exist. Links: Perkins Coie Executive Order https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-...
Mar 11, 2025•57 min•Ep. 114
Today’s episode is another roundup of how trial judges are playing whack-a-mole with the Trump administration, and how all of it fits in with Trump’s plan to usurp Congress’s power to reshape the country in his image. Plus, we’ve got some crazy stories featuring the Interim US Attorney for DC trying to strongarm Georgetown University, a blast from the past with bigoted Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis, and a subscriber bonus on an obscure Civ Pro rule that Trump plans to use to make terrible losin...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 113
The Supreme Court is still sitting on its (tiny) hands, but trial judges are holding strong against the Trump administration’s assault on the rule of law. We’ll talk about the pushback to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders, his assault on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the effort to ensure that the Dear Leader can fire watchdogs at will. Plus subscribers get a deep dive on trial judges attempting to SCOTUS-proof their rulings to protect trans kids. Links: Dellinger v. Bessent [Di...
Mar 04, 2025•55 min•Ep. 112
The Trump administration is now openly defying court orders as multiple trial court judges seek to rein in the government’s illegal conduct. Are sanctions the solution? In at least one case, we won’t know until Chief Justice Roberts releases the “administrative hold” he imposed to consider Trump’s latest meritless request for help from the Supreme Court. All of this plus the return of ChatGPT lawyering and a subscriber bonus on the OG Coat Factory Law Firm! Links: Jack Smith 278e disclosure http...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 111
The Trump administration has been sued by everyone and their mother, and we’re here to cover it all. From the First Amendment violations to the illegal terminations, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ve got an update in the Eric Adams case. Links: AP v. Budowich https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69662918/associated-press-v-budowich Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-ye...
Feb 25, 2025•54 min•Ep. 110
It’s been another wild week as the Trump administration took some time off from breaking all the laws to break the rules of civil procedure. Will the Supreme Court let them get away with it? Links: AIDS VACCINE ADVOCACY COALITION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/ Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.637159 Dellin...
Feb 21, 2025•56 min•Ep. 109
We follow up on the Thursday Night Massacre, as Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove finally got someone to file the paperwork to dismiss the case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. And we do a deep dive into Dellinger v. Bessent, as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to remind everyone that the laws don’t actually apply to Donald Trump. All of that and DOCKET ALERTS! Links: Courts Stand Up For Trans Rights and the Rule of Law https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/courts-stand-up-for...
Feb 18, 2025•59 min•Ep. 108
Trump’s personal lawyers are turning the DOJ into a protection racket, dropping bribery charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams after he agreed to violate the City’s immigration laws. But they can’t find any lawyer in the Justice Department to implement their corrupt decree. At least seven prosecutors have been fired or quit. But will anyone in America notice? Links: Sassoon resignation letter https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/24535586a908999e/3801d435-full.pdf Bove response lette...
Feb 14, 2025•55 min•Ep. 107
Donald Trump got bored during the Super Bowl, and now apparently pennies are illegal. Also, as everything Trump torches the entire executive branch, trial judges aim their garden hoses at the flames to save what they can. Today we’ll talk about as many cases as we can cram into an hour. Come for the DOGE take over of Treasury, stay for the Project 2025 shutdown of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Links: ABA STATEMENT on the Rule of Law https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-a...
Feb 11, 2025•59 min•Ep. 106
Donald Trump’s blitzkrieg of executive orders is running into a million lawsuits. And Elon Musk’s inability to keep his mouth shut isn’t helping. We’ll discuss the avalanche of lawsuits by labor unions, non-profits, FBI agents, and anonymous federal employees, along with the judiciary’s response. Links: 44 USC § 3501 Note https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/44/3501 Musk associates sought to use critical Treasury payment system to shut down USAID spending, emails show https://www.cnn.com/2025...
Feb 07, 2025•56 min•Ep. 105
Elon Musk has invaded Washington. He has set loose a pack of feral teenage code monkeys with a god complex inside every federal agency, promising to do for Washington what he did for Twitter. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, and Musk also has a plan to “rightsize” the government by waving unenforceable contracts at federal employees to induce them into resigning. There’s a Fork in the Road all right, but this one is perhaps best not taken. Links: Nat’l Counsel of Nonprofits v. OMB (“Nonprofits ...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 104
Trump issued dozens of imperial edicts — oh, sorry, executive orders. Many of them are wildly illegal, mostly are deeply cruel, and all are being challenged in court. We’ll discuss the pending injunctions on his birthright citizenship order and the “pause” on government spending so that he can redline the federal budget and delete all the “woke.” Links: Trump v. Meta docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61568745/trump-v-meta-platforms-inc/ American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-...
Jan 31, 2025•56 min•Ep. 103
Everyone knows that Congress has the power of the purse. What this administration presupposes is … maybe they don’t??? We’ll talk about Trump’s decision to steal budgeting power from Congress in violation of both the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act with Office of Management and Budget Alum Bobby Kogan. Links: Bobby Kogan https://www.americanprogress.org/people/bobby-kogan/ Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. Department of Homeland Security https://www....
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 102
We’re breaking down two of the vilest executive orders Trump signed on his first day in office. First up, he’s attacking trans people every way he can, and the crueler, the better. How does this interact with the Supreme Court’s holding in Bostock? And Trump ignored 125 years of precedent to declare birthright citizenship illegal. One federal judge has already said NFW. Subscribers get a discussion of the latest Alex Jones bankruptcy negotiations. Links: Skrmetti: It was THAT Bad https://www.law...
Jan 24, 2025•59 min•Ep. 101
Trump has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and close the border. Today’s guest, Dan Kowalski, practiced immigration law for 38 years and writes extensively on the subject. We’ll break down what to expect and how to fight back. Links: Involuntary Departure, by Dan Kowalski https://dankowalski.substack.com/ American Council on Education: Immigration-Related Campus Concerns https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Issue-Brief-Immigration-Related-Campus-Concerns-2025.pdf Against the Wall ...
Jan 21, 2025•53 min•Ep. 100
As we prepare for the disaster, we break down Volume One of the Special Counsel Report, and discuss the brazen hackery behind Judge Cannon’s effort to bury Volume Two. And Rudy settles with Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Is that good or bad news? Links: SMITH FINAL REPORT Vol. 1 https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Smith-Volume-1-January-2025.pdf Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 99
Judge Aileen Cannon is popping off, the Alex Jones bankruptcy continues to be crazy, and judges in Arkansas are going to war with each other. Plus, as always, we’ll check in with our pal Rudy. Links: Alex Jones - TX Plaintiffs settlement https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750.1011.0.pdf McKesson v. Arkansas complaint https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3671323-McKesson-Complaint/ Baker Jan. 1 appointment orders https://arkansasadvocate.com/w...
Jan 14, 2025•57 min•Ep. 98
Trump narrowly loses his bid at SCOTUS to stave off his sentencing in New York. And the 11th Circuit denies his bid to bury the Special Counsel report. But the case is now back in front of Judge Aileen Cannon, so opportunities for f*ckery abound! Links: Judge Cannon Manages To Out-Crazy Judge Kacsmaryk https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/judge-cannon-manages-to-out-crazy SCOTUS Trump Docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a666.html US v. Trump, Ca...
Jan 10, 2025•49 min•Ep. 97
Trump is losing his mind at the prospect of being sentenced Friday for his 34 felony business accounts. Now he’s demanding that the case be stayed based on president-elect immunity, something his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove made up yesterday. And, as always, Rudy Giuliani is wilding out in court. Links: Please Keep Shit Talking Judges https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/please-keep-shit-talking-judges 2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/year-...
Jan 07, 2025•57 min•Ep. 96
Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni. Justin Baldoni is suing the New York Times. The New York Times is suing … nobody. Yet. We’ll untangle this f-tussle, and for subscribers, we’ll break down Rudy Giuliani’s wild ride to contempt of court. Links: Paxton NCAA Trollsuit https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/NCAA%20DTPA%20Petition%20Filed.pdf Sixth Circuit Strikes Down Net Neutrality https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/25a0002p-06.pdf Second Circuit Affirm...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 95
We lived through it once, and we’ll do it again. Liz and Andrew talk with Wonkette Senior Editor Evan Hurst about the changing media landscape as we prepare for inauguration. Links: The Moral High Ground https://evanhurst.substack.com/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 94
Rudy Giuliani’s wilding out, RFK Jr wants to bring back polio, and the Georgia Court of appeals just set fire to the last remnants of the Trump election interference case. Links: Freeman v. Giuliani [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69015293/freeman-v-giuliani/?order_by=desc GA Court of Appeals Willis Order https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=cdec1774-027f-4de6-aaf5-fb6c9bb99270 Siri FDA Petition to revoke polio vaccine approval https://static01.nyt.com/ne...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 93
Republicans in Congress are suggesting that the FBI should LOCK HER UP Liz Cheney, and Donald Trump thinks that’s a great idea. But can he do that? We’ll discuss. Plus, a Georgia appeals court has disqualified Fulton County DA Fani Willis and her entire office from prosecuting Donald Trump, likely dooming the entire case. And for subscribers, we’ve got a fun tour of defamation trollsuits from one of our favorite Kraken lawyers. Links: GA Court of Appeals Willis Order https://efast.gaappeals.us/d...
Dec 20, 2024•52 min•Ep. 92
Donald Trump has promised to cancel birthright citizenship on Day one. But can he do that? In a word, no. We have a deep dive on the very clear law of birthright citizenship in this country (and all the ways Trump will try and ignore it). We also break down yesterday’s decision and order from New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan that presidential immunity does not retroactively invalidate Trump’s 34 felony convictions in New York. Links: ABC Bends The Knee https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 91
We talk with TechDirt’s Cathy Gellis, who is going to walk us through the DC Circuit’s opinion banning TikTok. And in the subscriber bonus, we’ll bring you up to speed on Rudy Giuliani’s continuing efforts to dodge justice in multiple courts. Links: TikTok v. Garland (DC Cir.) https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2024/12/24-1113-2088317.pdf Petition for injunction staying order https://sf16-va.tiktokcdn.com/obj/eden-va2/hkluhazhjeh7jr/2024.12.09%20-%20TTI%20v.%20Garland%20-%20Petitioner...
Dec 13, 2024•57 min•Ep. 90
Last night US Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez voided the sale of Infowars to The Onion as part of the Alex Jones Bankruptcy. It sucks a lot. And speaking of sucking, let’s talk about the Impoundment Control Act and How Trump plans to violate it. Links: ALEX JONES BANKRUPTCY DOCKET https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones/ Revised Infowars proposed sale order (REDLINE) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750.975.1.pdf Tru...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 89
Trump has nominated Brendan Carr to chair the FCC, calling him a “warrior for Free Speech” who “will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America's Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America." But as tech journalist Karl Bode explains, Carr has threatened to go after media outlets that criticize Trump, and his plans for rural broadband are even worse. And Liz and Andrew break down the issue “scrutiny” in Skrmetti, the SCOTUS case on healthca...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 88
It’s a roundup of Hunter Biden, Rudy Giuliani, and Infowars news, before a preview of US v. Skrmetti, the challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender confirming care for minors, which will be argued at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. And for subscribers, we’ll catch up with Dinesh D’Souza, who’s getting sued by a man he falsely accused of being a “ballot mule.” Links: Elon Musk’s X is stepping into the legal fight over Alex Jones’ Infowars. Experts say it’s unprecedented https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/2...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 87
Today, we learned that Special Counsel Jack Smith has moved to dismiss both of the federal cases against Donald Trump; we tell you what that means and what happens next. On the plus side, we learned that the Onion is almost certainly going to get to buy Infowars AND the next Attorney General of the United States won’t be Matt Gaetz. Although it probably will be Pam Bondi. Oh, and the Supreme Court just took up a case on a 100-year-old doctrine as to whether the government can help rural and unde...
Nov 26, 2024•59 min•Ep. 86
Kel McClanahan joins us for part two of the interview, where he tells us how to keep tabs on Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as they gear up to do for the federal government what Elon did for Twitter. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is not going to jail, Alex Jones continues to be a ghoul, and Rudy Giuliani has found another lawyer to help him humiliate himself in federal court. Links: Rudy Giuliani Can't Go On Trial, He Has An Inauguration To Attend! https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/rudy-giuliani-cant-go...
Nov 22, 2024•37 min•Ep. 85
