Law and Chaos

It’s another week in paradise with the Trump administration trying to burn down the government. First we’ll talk about the attack on law firms and judges, then we’ve got a breakdown of the newest executive order on immigration silos. You know when they try to hide crazy sh*t under the most boring, generic label ever. It’s that! Plus subscribers get a visit with Dinesh D’Souza. Links: Perkins Coie v. DOJ docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69725919/perkins-coie-llp-v-us-department-of-justice JGG v. Trump (DC) docket (removal under the Alien Enemies Act) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump Does 1-26 v. Musk [Docket] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.576293 The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/ Presidential Proclamation on information silos https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/stopping-waste-fraud-and-abuse-by-eliminating-information-silos/ “Fact Sheet” https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-eliminates-information-silos-to-stop-waste-fraud-and-abuse-60f3/ OMB Data on Improper Payments https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/briefing-room/2024/11/27/omb-releases-annual-data-showing-lowest-government-wide-improper-payment-rate-since-2014/ https://www.paymentaccuracy.gov/payment-accuracy-the-numbers/ GAO Report on Improper Payments https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106927.pdf PIIA  https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/subtitle-III/chapter-33/subchapter-IV Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Musk’s fash-coders take out the US Institute for Peace. Mahmoud Khalil’s case gets transferred to New Jersey. And the DOJ is daring the court to find it in contempt in the case of the kidnapped Venezuelans. Plus, we have the second half of our interview with immigration expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick.   Links: JGG v. Trump (DC) docket (removal under the Alien Enemies Act) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump   US Institute for Peace v. Jackson (docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69754533/united-states-institute-of-peace-v-jackson/   Khalil v. Joyce (docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69719040/khalil-v-joyce/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Today, we’ve got an all-immigration show. We break down J.G.G. v. Trump, the lawsuit seeking to block Trump’s effort to summarily deport Venezuelan nationals under a 227-year-old law left over from the Alien and Sedition Acts. Then, we have Part One of our interview with Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council.   Links: Presidential Proclamation https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/   JGG v. Trump (DC) docket (removal under the Alien Enemies Act) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

New York Times financial editor David Enrich joins us to discuss his new book, Murder the Truth, about the history of defamation litigation and the right wing’s plan to gut the Sullivan standard to make it easier for politicians to bankrupt journalists for saying mean, true things   Links: Murder the Truth https://www.harpercollins.com/products/murder-the-truth-david-enrich?variant=42734343421986   Brehm v. Morocco (DDC) (USADF) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69711562/brehm-v-marocco/   Talbott v. Trump (DC) (trans servicemembers ban) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583866/talbott-v-trump/   American Federation of Government Workers v. OPM (Cal.) (probationary employees) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69655364/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/   Trump SCOTUS birthright citizenship docket  https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a884.html   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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-llp/   Climate United Fund v. Citibank [Docket via CL] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69718818/climate-united-fund-v-citibank-na/    Trump’s false claim that Stacey Abrams headed a group that got $1.9 billion https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/06/trump-stacey-abrams-fact-checker/   US v. Adams docket (SDNY) (charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/   Brehm v. Morocco (DDC) (USADF) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69711562/brehm-v-marocco/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   USADF Act https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/chapter-7/subchapter-XXIII   USADF Bylaws https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278118/gov.uscourts.dcd.278118.7.5.pdf   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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 losing arguments in court.   Links:   Ermold v. Davis [Sixth Circuit Opinion, Gay Marriage Clerk Case] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496/gov.uscourts.ca6.151496.6015541768.2.pdf   AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. Department of State (DC docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/   Harris v. Bessent DC Circuit appeal https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69704122/cathy-harris-v-scott-bessent/   Some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters https://www.loweringthebar.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/browns_letter_1974.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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 [District Court Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624836/dellinger-v-bessent   Dellinger v. Bessent [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a790.html   National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624423/national-treasury-employees-union-v-vought/    Jones v. Bondi  [Docket via Court Listener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277335   Washington v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69620657/state-of-washington-v-trump/   PFLAG v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69614668/pflag-inc-v-donald-j-trump/   Seila Law v. CFPB [SCOTUS Opinion] https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-7_new_bq7d.pdf   Corporate Transparency Act, 31 USC § 5336 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5336   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25522081-smith-john-l-special-counsels-office-smith-termination-278-2025-2025-01-10/   Talbott v. Trump https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69583866/talbott-v-trump/   Wadsworth v. Walmart (ChatGPT litigation) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67564066/wadsworth-v-walmart-inc/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   Trump’s anti-Covington EO (Patreon bonus) https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/suspension-of-security-clearances-and-evaluation-of-government-contracts/   Doe v. Office of Personnel Management. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69582338/doe-v-office-of-personnel-management/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. US Department of State https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69627654/aids-vaccine-advocacy-coalition-v-united-states-department-of-state/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod  

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-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v-us/   Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. v. De Moraes https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69650977/trump-media-technology-group-corp-v-de-moraes/   Mizelle Letter to Judge Srinivasan [via Bloomberg] https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/r0FHd6DtBQwE/v0   Dunne/Pomerantz Feb. 20 amicus https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916.135.0_1.pdf   US v. Adams criminal docket (SDNY) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69197933/united-states-v-adams/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   In re Flynn, 973 F.3d 74 (DC Cir. 2020) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3512121653435918827   Bessent v. Dellinger (Supreme Court Shadow docket) order https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a790_6i79.pdf’ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod  

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   Dellinger v. Bessent Supreme Court docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a790.html Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod