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-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/   When You’ve Lost Clarence Thomas https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/when-youve-lost-clarence-thomas   New York v. Trump (state Treasury challenge) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69623558/state-of-new-york-v-donald-j-trump/   CNN: Trump stopping penny production https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-doge-usaid-news-02-09-25#cm6yd9c61001m3b6no8ip8cc3   Coinage clause annotated https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C5-1/ALDE_00001066/   Coinage Act of 1792 https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historical-documents/coinage-act-of-april-2-1792   31 U.S.C. § 5112 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5112   12 U.S.C. § 5481 et seq. (creating CFPB) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/chapter-53/subchapter-V   Sen. Warren Initial Report on the CFPB https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/2011/07/Report_BuildingTheCfpb1.pdf   Seila Law, LLC v. CFPB https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14557349188638541514   NTEU V. VOUGHT I docket (CFPB data) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277286/   NTEU V. VOUGHT II docket (CFPB dismantling) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277287/   CFPB v. CFSA https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-448_o7jp.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

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/2025/02/06/politics/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-system/index.html   US v. Illinois docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69616357/united-states-v-state-of-illinois/   FBI Agents Association v. DOJ https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69609596/federal-bureau-of-investigation-agents-association-v-department-of-justice/    AFL-CIO v. Department of Labor docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69613359/afl-cio-v-department-of-labor/    Nat’l Council of Nonprofits v. OMB (“Nonprofits Case”) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/   ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS v. BESSENT (challenge to Treasury/BFS) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69607077/alliance-for-retired-americans-v-bessent/   Doe v. OPM docket (challenge to Musk server spoofing OPM email) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69582338/doe-v-office-of-personnel-management   New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (challenge to birthright EO) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69560542/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-trump/    The Three-Headed Chimera of Trumpian Destruction [Gift Link] https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-three-headed-chimera-of-trumpian-destruction/sharetoken/09cb444c-9355-4852-be93-f505cbbd1418    Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod  

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 Case”) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/   Elon Musk Wants to Get Operational Control of the Treasury’s Payment System. This Could Not Possibly Be More Dangerous by  https://www.crisesnotes.com/elon-musk-wants-to-get-operational-control-of-the-treasurys-payment-system-this-could-not-possibly-be-more-dangerous/ Office of Personnel Management “Fork in the Road” https://www.opm.gov/fork   OPM Guidance on Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F) https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM%20Memorandum%20re%20Schedule%20Policy%20Career%20Guidance%2001-27-25%20FINAL.pdf   American Federation of Gov’t Employees v. Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/   VSIP 5 U.S.C. § 3521 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/part-III/subpart-B/chapter-35/subchapter-II   Truman EO 9830 https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-9830-amending-the-civil-service-rules-and-providing-for-federal-personnel   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

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-CIO v. Trump docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/   OMB M-25-13 https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/deb7af80-48b6-4b8a-8bfa-3d84fd7c3ec8.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_2   OMB CLARIFICATION MEMO https://ngma.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/White%20House%20OMB%20Clarification%20Memo.pdf   Nat’l Counsel of Nonprofits v. OMB (“Nonprofits Case”) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583571/national-council-of-nonprofits-v-office-of-management-and-budget/   State of New York v. Trump (“States Case”) docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69585994/state-of-new-york-v-trump/   OPM Guidance on Schedule F https://www.chcoc.gov/content/guidance-implementing-president-trump%E2%80%99s-executive-order-titled-restoring-accountability Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v/   Trump Energy impoundment EO https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/   Trump EO pausing foreign aid for 90 days: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/   Trump OMB “Clarification” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/01/omb-memo-m-25-11/   Kendall v. US ex Rel. Stokes, 37 U.S. 524 (1838) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/37/524/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

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.lawandchaospod.com/p/skrmetti-it-was-that-bad?utm_source=publication-search   Trump EO - DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/   Foley & Lardner instructions to clients re: Trump’s EOs https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/01/president-trumps-rescission-executive-order/   Trump EO on birthright citizenship https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/   Coughenour TRO https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.343943/gov.uscourts.wawd.343943.43.0_1.pdf   Baldoni/Lively docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635145   Alex Jones docket (for Patreon bonus) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod Contributing Artist: Liz Dye; Andrew Torrez Album artist: Liz Dye; Andrew Torrez Album: Law and Chaos Genre: Government; Politics Publisher: Res Ipsa Media LLC  

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 https://heliotropebooks.com/books/against-the-wall-my-journey-from-border-patrol-agent-to-immigration-rights-activist/   NYT Debate on Birthright Citizenship https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/08/24/should-birthright-citizenship-be-abolished/eliminating-birthright-citizenship-would-be-a-bureacratic-and-costly-change-of-law   Is Birthright Citizenship Good for America https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-journal/2012/1/cj32n1-10.pdf   Myths and Facts about Birthright Citizenship https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdf   IPTP Will Track Trump 2.0 https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/legal/immigration/b/outsidenews/posts/iptp-will-track-trump-2-0   Justice Action Center: Tracking Extremist Challenges to Immigrant Inclusive Policies https://litigationtracker.justiceactioncenter.org/   Us and Them: The Science of Identity https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo5812106.html Understanding INA Section 212(f): The President’s Authority to Suspend the Entry of Migrants https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/understanding-ina-section-212f-president-authority-suspend-entry-migrants Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

The discussion dives into the explosive findings of the Special Counsel Report, revealing alarming presidential conduct. Rudy Giuliani's legal woes are scrutinized, especially in light of a recent settlement. TikTok's surveillance concerns bring forth debates on free speech versus national security. The hosts explore profound implications around Trump’s alleged election interference and how key figures attempted to manipulate the Justice Department. The legal complexities of the January 6 events and the Insurrection Act are dissected, raising serious questions about accountability in today's political landscape.

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/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Appointment-Orders.pdf   Arkansas Administrative Order 24 https://opinions.arcourts.gov/ark/supremecourt/en/item/523224/index.do   Arkansas Supreme Court per curiam opinion 1/6/25 https://opinions.arcourts.gov/ark/supremecourt/en/item/523226/index.do   “Order of Chief Justice,” 2025 Ark. 4 https://opinions.arcourts.gov/ark/supremecourt/en/item/523231/index.do   Trump emergency motion to block release of Smith Report https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.700.0_1.pdf   Giuliani NY docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.627518/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod  

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, Cannon Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490069/united-states-v-trump   US v. Nauta, 11th Circuit Docket via Court Listener https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca11.87822    SCOTUS TikTok Docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-656.html    Salaam v. Trump Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69279738/salaam-v-trump/    Griffin v. NC Board of Elections Docket via Democracy Docket https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/north-carolina-supreme-court-2024-election-protests-rejection-challenge/    Filthy Kentucky Title IX Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801.143.0_1.pdf    Freeman v. Giulani, DC Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68097449/freeman-v-giuliani  Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod