

Law and Chaos
Liz Dye
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 14, 2025 • 57min
Ep 98 — Aileen Cannon, Alex Jones, Arkansas
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

Jan 10, 2025 • 49min
Ep 97 — Trump Loses, and Loses, and … Wins?
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

Jan 7, 2025 • 57min
Ep 96 — Trump Demands Dismissal Of NY Case For President-Elect Immunity
Trump is losing his mind at the prospect of being sentenced Friday for his 34 felony business accounts. Now he’s demanding that the case be stayed based on president-elect immunity, something his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove made up yesterday. And, as always, Rudy Giuliani is wilding out in court. Links: Please Keep Shit Talking Judges https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/please-keep-shit-talking-judges 2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/year-end/2024year-endreport.pdf US v. Boeing docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/29089563/united-states-v-the-boeing-company/ Rudy demands courtroom sketch artist draw him “nice” https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-weigh-holding-giuliani-contempt-georgia-election-workers-case-2025-01-03/ Alex Jones - Trustee Motion for Approve PQPR settlement https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750.1005.0.pdf Roberts EOY 2024 Report https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/year-end/2024year-endreport.pdf Trump NY Docs via Law360 https://www.law360.com/newyork-vs-trump-tracker New York Article 78 https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/cvp/article-78/7803/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Jan 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
Ep 95 — The Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni Defamation/Harassment Suits
Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni. Justin Baldoni is suing the New York Times. The New York Times is suing … nobody. Yet. We’ll untangle this f-tussle, and for subscribers, we’ll break down Rudy Giuliani’s wild ride to contempt of court. Links: Paxton NCAA Trollsuit https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/NCAA%20DTPA%20Petition%20Filed.pdf Sixth Circuit Strikes Down Net Neutrality https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/25a0002p-06.pdf Second Circuit Affirms E. Jean Carroll Verdict https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504.176.1.pdf Please Keep Shit-Talking Judges https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/please-keep-shit-talking-judges Trump TikTok brief https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-656/336151/20241227163400981_2024-12-27%20-%20TikTok%20v.%20Garland%20-%20Amicus%20Brief%20of%20President%20Donald%20J.%20Trump.pdf In re MCP No. 185 (Net Neutrality) https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/25a0002p-06.pdf Lively NY Complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.1.0.pdf Lively CA Complaint https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/1629cc34e562e325/4410b1d9-full.pdf Baldoni CA complaint https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25473221-justin-baldoni/#document/p1 NYT Article https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/business/media/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-it-ends-with-us.html Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 31, 2024 • 1h 13min
Ep 94 — What To Expect When You’re Expecting An Orange Toddler President … AGAIN (ft. Evan Hurst)
We lived through it once, and we’ll do it again. Liz and Andrew talk with Wonkette Senior Editor Evan Hurst about the changing media landscape as we prepare for inauguration. Links: The Moral High Ground https://evanhurst.substack.com/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 24, 2024 • 1h 3min
Ep 93 — Rudy Giuliani Is Wilding Out, And Polio Is Ready For A Comeback (ft. Andrew Fleischman)
Rudy Giuliani’s wilding out, RFK Jr wants to bring back polio, and the Georgia Court of appeals just set fire to the last remnants of the Trump election interference case. Links: Freeman v. Giuliani [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69015293/freeman-v-giuliani/?order_by=desc GA Court of Appeals Willis Order https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=cdec1774-027f-4de6-aaf5-fb6c9bb99270 Siri FDA Petition to revoke polio vaccine approval https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/e68bd8b142eb7bf0/914e0b90-full.pdf FDA Response https://www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2022-P-1998-0008 21 CFR Subpart B https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/part-10/subpart-B About Aaron Siri https://www.sirillp.com/aaron-siri/ Carrier & Wander, Citizen Petitions: An Empirical Study, Cardozo Law Review (2012) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm?abstractid=2074656 IPOL package insert https://www.fda.gov/media/75695/download Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 20, 2024 • 52min
Ep 92 — Republicans Finally Found Someone To Blame For J6, And It Is Liz Cheney
Republicans in Congress are suggesting that the FBI should LOCK HER UP Liz Cheney, and Donald Trump thinks that’s a great idea. But can he do that? We’ll discuss. Plus, a Georgia appeals court has disqualified Fulton County DA Fani Willis and her entire office from prosecuting Donald Trump, likely dooming the entire case. And for subscribers, we’ve got a fun tour of defamation trollsuits from one of our favorite Kraken lawyers. Links: GA Court of Appeals Willis Order https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=cdec1774-027f-4de6-aaf5-fb6c9bb99270 Loudermilk Report https://cha.house.gov/_cache/files/6/d/6dae7b82-7683-4f56-a177-ba98695e600d/145DD5A70E967DEEC1F511764D3E6FA1.final-interim-report.pdf Loudermilk Committee Report (October 15, 2024) https://cha.house.gov/2024/10/new-texts-reveal-liz-cheney-communicated-with-cassidy-hutchinson-about-her-select-committee-testimony-without-hutchinson-s-attorney-s-knowledge-despite-cheney-knowing-it-was-unethical GA Ct Appeals Decision Re Willis https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=cdec1774-027f-4de6-aaf5-fb6c9bb99270 Robinson v. CNN Federal Docket via Court Listener https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nced.214292 Mike Flynn Florida Appeal Dismissed https://2dca.flcourts.gov/content/download/2444599/opinion/Opinion_2024-0278.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 17, 2024 • 1h 4min
Ep 91 — But Can He Do That: Birthright Citizenship Edition
Donald Trump has promised to cancel birthright citizenship on Day one. But can he do that? In a word, no. We have a deep dive on the very clear law of birthright citizenship in this country (and all the ways Trump will try and ignore it). We also break down yesterday’s decision and order from New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan that presidential immunity does not retroactively invalidate Trump’s 34 felony convictions in New York. Links: ABC Bends The Knee https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/abc-bends-the-knee Trump ruling denying immunity NY https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25459328/merchan-immunity-ruling.pdf Trump announcement re birthright citizenship https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/agenda47-day-one-executive-order-ending-citizenship-for-children-of-illegals-and-outlawing-birth-tourism U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3381955771263111765 Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 13, 2024 • 57min
Ep 90 — Dems And Republicans Join Hands To Take Away The Kids’ TikTok
We talk with TechDirt’s Cathy Gellis, who is going to walk us through the DC Circuit’s opinion banning TikTok. And in the subscriber bonus, we’ll bring you up to speed on Rudy Giuliani’s continuing efforts to dodge justice in multiple courts. Links: TikTok v. Garland (DC Cir.) https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2024/12/24-1113-2088317.pdf Petition for injunction staying order https://sf16-va.tiktokcdn.com/obj/eden-va2/hkluhazhjeh7jr/2024.12.09%20-%20TTI%20v.%20Garland%20-%20Petitioners'%20Emergency%20Motion%20for%20Injunction(1).pdf Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) 15 U.S. Code § 9901 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/9901 Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

Dec 11, 2024 • 1h 5min
Ep 89 — The Infowars Deal Falls Apart
Last night US Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez voided the sale of Infowars to The Onion as part of the Alex Jones Bankruptcy. It sucks a lot. And speaking of sucking, let’s talk about the Impoundment Control Act and How Trump plans to violate it. Links: ALEX JONES BANKRUPTCY DOCKET https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones/ Revised Infowars proposed sale order (REDLINE) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750/gov.uscourts.txsb.459750.975.1.pdf Trump on impoundment https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/agenda47-using-impoundment-to-cut-waste-stop-inflation-and-crush-the-deep-state Train v. City of New York https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/420/35/#42 House Dems Impoundment Explainer https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheetss/impoundment-explainer GAO Report on Ukraine Impoundment Violation https://www.gao.gov/products/b-331564 Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod