The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The Trials of the Trump Administration, Jan. 23
Jan 26, 2026
Olivia Maness, Lawfare associate editor reporting from on-the-ground hearings. Eric Columbus, senior editor focusing on immigration and Fourth Amendment law. Anna Bower, senior editor who dissects DOJ litigation. Roger Parloff, senior editor and federal prosecutions analyst. They discuss Minnesota subpoenas and conspiracy charges. They cover the FBI search of a Post reporter, Espionage Act risks, ICE administrative-warrant practices, and Supreme Court for-cause removal arguments.
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Questionable Use Of Klan Act In Minnesota
- Federal grand jury subpoenas in Minnesota target governors and mayors under an old Klan Act conspiracy statute (18 U.S.C. 372).
- Roger Parloff and Benjamin Wittes note the statute's fit here is weak and the subpoenas have a vindictive air tied to sanctuary-policy fights.
Short Hearing In Baltimore
- Olivia Maness attended a Baltimore hearing about a contractor accused of retaining national-security documents.
- The hearing lasted roughly 15 minutes and she arrived about 10 minutes late due to late notice.
Reporter Search Raises Norms Concerns
- DOJ searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home for classified documents after a contractor leak probe.
- Olivia Maness highlights this is legally rare and normatively controversial because DOJ policies had discouraged treating journalists as criminals.