The Trump administration got caught lying to the Ninth Circuit about the so-called crisis in Portland. Will it matter? Is Stephen Miller correct that ICE and CBP can beat up protesters without worrying about legal repercussions? (No, but …) And what even is spoliation anyway? Asking for Justin Baldoni. Plus for subscribers, a deep dive into the government’s effort to repurpose years-old evidence in the Comey case. Links: US v. Abrego Garcia https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70476164/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/?order_by=desc Abrego Garcia v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71191591/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=desc US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc Oregon v. Trump [Ninth Circuit] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71554902/state-of-oregon-et-al-v-trump-et-al/?order_by=desc Chicago Headline Club v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/chicago-headline-club-v-noem/?order_by=desc Bovino interview CBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/border-patrol-chief-gregory-bovino-agents-use-of-force-in-chicago Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
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Ep 176 — Gamblers Cheat … And So Does The President
US Attorney Lindsey Halligan takes a break from prosecuting Jim Comey for leaking to reporters to … leak to reporters. Jim Comey noticed, and so did New York Attorney General Tish James. The Ninth Circuit blesses Trump’s invasion of Los Angeles. There is gambling in basketball. We are shocked, SHOCKED! And Trump demands $230 million from US Treasury. Links: O’Hara v. Beck (Star Wars Music) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.286143 “Anna, Lindsey Halligan Here.” https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna--lindsey-halligan-here US v. Ramirez (Challenge to appointment of US Atty Bill Essayli) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71166841/united-states-v-ramirez/?order_by=desc US v. Tish James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601419/united-states-v-james/?order_by=desc US v. James Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/ US v. Aiello (NBA indictment 1 - poker cheating) [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.537409/gov.uscourts.nyed.537409.1.0_2.pdf US v. Earnest (NBA indictment 2 - basketball cheating) [indictment via New York Times] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/23/nyregion/nba-betting-scheme-indictment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vk8.BGFB.maF0MnGV9jLM&smid=url-share Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
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Ep 175 — Lindsey Halligan: Chaos Agent
It’s make or break time for the rule of law at the Supreme Court, as the Trump administration’s plan to flood the streets with troops comes to One First Street. The Ninth Circuit says: YES. The Seventh Circuit says: NO. Meanwhile in Virginia, Trump’s insurance lawyer Lindsey Halligan is LARPing as US Attorney so she can prosecute his nemesis James Comey. Which motion to dismiss will put this dumb case out of its misery? Selective and vindictive prosecution? Halligan’s unlawful appointment? Literal truth of the supposed false statements? And for bonus subscribers: ANTIFA is the new RICO. Links: US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/ US v. Giraud [Seventh Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71195676/united-states-v-julien-giraud-jr/ Trump v. Illinois [SCOTUS DOCKET] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a443.html Oregon v. Trump [Ninth Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71554902/state-of-oregon-et-al-v-trump-et-al/ US v. Arnold (Hill) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71664415/united-states-v-arnold/?order_by=desc Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
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Ep 174 — Alternative Facts Emergency
Donald Trump is weaponizing the government against his enemies. But at least there are no national guard troops on the streets of Chicago or Portland. And a trial judge in California blocked Russ Vought’s efforts to burn down every federal agency during the shutdown. Plus, Alex Jones is still and always a loser. Links: Candace Owens Can’t Go To Australia https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/eresources/2025-10-15/HCA/Farmer%20v%20Minister%20for%20Home%20Affairs%20%28S160-2024%29%20%5B2025%5D%20HCA%2038.pdf AFGE/AFL-CIO v. OMB https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71502325/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/ Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-irs-investigations-left-leaning-groups-democratic-donors-612a095e The Tish James Indictment Looks Like Country Fried BS https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/the-tish-james-indictment-looks-like Illinois v. Trump (Seventh Circuit) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71608106/state-of-illinois-v-donald-j-trump/ Chicago Headline Club v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/chicago-headline-club-v-noem US v. Bolton https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17254525/united-states-v-bolton/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
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Ep 173 — Justice Barrett Isn’t Mad, She’s Just Disappointed That You Keep Saying SCOTUS Is Broken
The Justice Department continues to be a sh*tshow, with the indictment of James Comey already hitting the skids. Whodathunk that putting Trump’s personal insurance lawyer in charges of criminal prosecutions would work out badly! Justice Amy Coney Barrett heads to Fox News to flog her book and express her disappointment that we are all being so mean about the shadow docket. Please do not let up! And Trump’s efforts to flood the streets of blue states with troops makes its way through the courts. Links: US v. Kevontae Stewart https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71380817/united-states-v-stewart/ Alex Jones SCOTUS Docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-268.html Justice Barrett Fox Interview https://www.foxnews.com/video/6382650913112 Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/politics/judicial-crisis-supreme-court-trump.html Illinois v. Trump [District Court] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559895/state-of-illinois-v-trump Illinois v. Trump [Seventh Circuit] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71608106/state-of-illinois-v-donald-j-trump/ Oregon v. Trump https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71481149/state-of-oregon-v-trump/?order_by=desc US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459120/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc Illinois v. FEMA (D. R.I.) [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59597/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
Ignorance of the law is no excuse! That’s true for a traffic stop, and it’s true if you want to participate in whatever’s left of American democracy. If the events since the 2016 election taught us anything, it’s that tuning out is not an option. Legal journalists Liz Dye and Andrew Torrez break down the week’s most important courtroom stories, so you can keep on top of this crazy news cycle. Whether it’s Texas giving two middle fingers to the Supreme Court, or Donald Trump in all the courts at once, we’ve got you covered.
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