Law and Chaos

After Trump appoints his lackey Lindsey Halligan US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, he finally gets his indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. But will it stand in front of a real judge? We break down the grand jury process, and why they say a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich. And for subscribers, Andrew and Liz explain how the DOJ's internet brain poisoning is jeopardizing the Luigi Mangione prosecution. Links: US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459120/united-states-v-comey/ Hook v. Rave (D. S.D.) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71428718/hook-v-rave/ US v. Mangione [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69486519/united-states-v-mangione/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Domestically, Tom Homan takes bribes and Republicans just don't care. Internationally, the Trump administration is engaged in international war crimes by murdering foreign civilians, and… Republicans still just don't care. Learn why this is an Article I Constitutional crisis with guest Brian Finucane. Links: Brian Finucane, International Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/brian-finucane Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration goes mask-off with its attack on Jimmy Kimmel. If you'd told us the Man Show guy would become a First Amendment avatar … we'd never have believed you. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has torched its cred with all the judges, even the FedSoc ones! But Lisa Cook is still a Fed governor! Links: SCOTUS Docket Lisa Cook https://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docket/docketfiles/html/public\25a312.html Barco Mercado v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71065570/barco-mercado-v-noem/ L.G.M.L. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240524/lgml-v-noem Trump tries to stick up The New York Times with a water gun https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-lawsuit-new-york-times-15-billion Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Homeland Security has decreed that we will all learn what chain refoulement is … by watching them try to rendition wave after wave of immigrants. Andrew and Liz will explain how that's totally illegal. Plus, Newsmax is suing Fox News, again. Links: Newsmax v. Fox [Wisconsin Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71323347/newsmax-broadcasting-llc-v-fox-corporation Newsmax v. Fox [Florida Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71258079/newsmax-broadcasting-llc-v-fox-corporation Biden v. Byrne https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67990012/robert-hunter-biden-v-patrick-m-byrne Comey v. DOJ https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71348216/comey-v-united-states-department-of-justice American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Management https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69655364/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/ D.A. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71323714/da-v-noem Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

District and Circuit Court judges are in more or less open revolt over the Supreme Court's abuse of the shadow docket. Perhaps Justice Gorsuch shouldn't have implied that they were all stupid and insubordinate for failing to read his mind! The Trump administration insists it's very cool and very legal to deport immigrant children in the middle of the night so long as it's Health and Human Services doing the deporting. Will Judge Tim Kelly agree? And Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are back to teach us civil procedure. Sanctions, anyone? Links: Ronny Jackson v. Weber (CA Sec State) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71235529/jackson-v-weber/ Kash Patel Makes FBI Great Again By Getting It Sued https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/kash-patel-makes-fbi-great-again Alex Jones SCOTUS Cert Petition Docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-268.html Judge Ho "Denny's" Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.224134/gov.uscourts.ca5.224134.25.1.pdf First Circuit Order, Rhode Island v. Trump https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59257/gov.uscourts.rid.59257.79.0.pdf Judges, desperate for guidance, plead with Supreme Court justices: 'Write an opinion' https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/11/supreme-court-emergency-rulings-judges-00558058 L.G.M.L. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240524/lgml-v-noem Lively v. Wayfarer Studios LLC https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=desc Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Supreme Court used the shadow docket to legalize racial profiling, although only Justice Kavanaugh was dumb enough to admit it out loud. It also overturned Humphrey's Executor, but this time even Kav wouldn't cop to it. Meanwhile at the White House, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought discovers ONE WEIRD trick to steal Congress's power of the purse. And the Second Circuit confirms, Alina Habba is still very bad at her job. Links: White House Prayer Executive Order https://www.whitehouse.gov/america250/america-prays/ SCOTUS Shadow Docket Order Trump v. Slaughter https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/090825zr_4f15.pdf Second Circuit Order Carroll v. Trump 1 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca2.e508a4b2-feae-4592-a6dc-d30f9ed35bb6/gov.uscourts.ca2.e508a4b2-feae-4592-a6dc-d30f9ed35bb6.134.1_1.pdf SCOTUS Docket Trump v. Vasquez Perdomo https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a169.html White House "pocket rescission" announcement (Aug. 29, 2025) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/historic-pocket-rescission-package-eliminates-woke-weaponized-and-wasteful-spending/ AIDS Vaccine Coalition v. State https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333.145.0_4.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Newsmax is suing Fox News, and they've scored antitrust expert (lol) Judge Aileen Cannon. And while the Supreme Court is busy burning down the judiciary, trial judges are standing up. This week Judge Allison Burroughs of the District Court of Massachusetts ordered the Trump administration to give Harvard University its grant money back, and along the way reads SCOTUS conservatives for filth. And for subscribers: Why is the White House racing to appeal the tariff ruling when it could ride the stay for another eight months? Links: Newsmax v. Fox News https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71258079/newsmax-broadcasting-llc-v-fox-corporation L.G.M.L. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240524/lgml-v-noem Trump v. V.O.S. Selections [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-250.html V.O.S. Selections v. Trump [Federal Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70394463/vos-selections-inc-v-trump/?order_by=desc In rare interviews, federal judges criticize Supreme Court's handling of Trump cases https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-trump-cases-federal-judges-criticize-rcna221775 Harvard v. HHS [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.283718/ NIH v. APHA (Supreme Court stay) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a103_kh7p.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on Law and Chaos … Trump's tariffs are illegal. A Judge named Sparkle just lit Kristi Noem on fire for trying to kidnap hundreds of Guatemalan children in the middle of the night. And Rudy Giuliani is getting the presidential medal of freedom. Plus, subscribers get a deep dive into all the ways the Department of Homeland Security is violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. Links: Res Ipsa Media v. DOJ https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/ X Corp v. Apple https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/ L.G.M.L v. Noem [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360.1.0_1.pdf VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump [Federal Circuit docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70394463/vos-selections-inc-v-trump Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After "fixing" crime in DC, Trump is off to "fix" Chicago. But since Chicago is in an actual state, he may encounter one or two legal issues. And after the Supreme Court shook its finger at the president and said not to fire members of the Federal Reserve, he's trying to do it anyway. Whodathunkit? Meanwhile, DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro can't seem to indict a ham sandwich. Links: Lisa Cook v. Trump [Fed Board of Govs case, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71218248/cook-v-trump/ US v. Dunn [Hoagie Hurler, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71223125/united-states-v-dunn/ US v. Reid [Triple No Bill, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71196710/united-states-v-reid/?order_by=desc Prosecutors Fail to Obtain Indictment Against Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agent https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/us/politics/trump-sandwich-assault-indictment-justice-department.html D.C. judges and grand jurors push back on Trump policing surge https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/27/trump-crime-surge-court-cases/ Trump Executive Order "Additional Measures to Address the Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia" https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/additional-measures-to-address-the-crime-emergency-in-the-district-of-columbia/ Chicago crime dashboard https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/vrd/home.html Chicago crime fact sheet https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2025/August/FACT%20SHEET%20CITY%20OF%20CHICAGO%20CONTINUES%20TO%20SEE%20HISTORIC%20DECLINES%20IN%20VIOLENT%20CRIME%20UNDER%20MAYOR%20BRANDON%20JOHNSON.pdf DC Home Rule Act https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Home-Rule-Act-2018-for-printing-9-13-182.pdf 10 USC § 12406 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12406 10 U.S.C. 253 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/253 Trump Tries to Grab 'Em by the Comme Positatus https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trump-tries-to-grab-em-by-the-posse Newsom v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70496361/newsom-v-trump/?order_by=desc Trump Title 10 proclamation for Los Angeles https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to Maryland… where he was promptly arrested by ICE, which is threatening to deport him to Uganda. Will the courts stop it? Meanwhile, Texas tees up to defend breaking apart majority-minority districts by claiming that they were only trying to hurt Democrats, not Latinos. Also: can Trump really ban flag burning? (No.) Links: Flag Burning EO https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/prosecuting-burning-of-the-american-flag/ Abrego Garcia v. Noem [MD Docket before Judge Xinis] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=desc Texas Redistricting 2021 (LULAC v. Abbott) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387.1127.0.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.