Ep 117 — DOGE Destroys Another Agency As DOJ Courts Contempt (Ft. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick)

While SCOTUS is MIA, trial judges across the country are stepping up. The full Circuit Court in DC leaps in to save Voice of America from the May hell panel hearing emergency appeals. A judge in Maryland orders the government to facilitate the return of a man wrongly deported to the Salvadoran gulag. No, not Kilmar Abrego Garcia — another one! In New York, a third trial judge rules that we are NOT under invasion by Venezuela. And in Alabama, trial judges ordered the state to fix its racist maps again.   Links:   DHS Courts Contempt In Its Zeal To Deport As Many Harmless Grannies As Possible https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/dhs-courts-contempt-in-its-zeal-to   Widakuswara v. Lake [Circuit Court Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69940505/patsy-widakuswara-v-kari-lake   Dragon Law Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69837453/jane-doe-no-2-v-clinton-county-of/   J.O.P. v. Department of Homeland Security [District Court Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15867241/jop-v-us-department-of-homeland-security   U.S. v. Watkins (SDNY 1946) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2209995717379331353   G.F.F. v. Trump [SDNY Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69857769/gff-v-trump/   Milligan v. Allen Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61494291/milligan-v-allen/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

On today’s episode, we break down how Radio Free Europe just might be the key to preserving the separation of powers in America. We talk the Tucker Act and all of the pretextual, vapid, and/or just plain wrong arguments coming out of Trump’s Department of Justice. Perkins Coie wins their case in front of Our Favorite Beryl, a dingus is trying to sue Chief Justice John Roberts, and Maine’s Governor Janet Mills promised the President she’d see him in court. Four days later, the administration caved, meaning Maine kids will get to eat their school lunches after all.    Links: Trump Admin Unveils Exciting Plan To Magic Away Impoundment Lawsuits https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trump-admin-unveils-exciting-plan   RFE/RL v. Lake (USAGM) D.D.C. docket [via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69752936/rferl-inc-v-lake/   US Agency for Global Media DC Circuit docket [via Court Listener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.42001/   America First Legal Foundation v. Chief Justice Roberts [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69924761/america-first-legal-foundation-v-roberts/   Perkins Coie LLP v. Dept. of Justice [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69725919/perkins-coie-llp-v-us-department-of-justice/ US v. Kirk [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580642/united-states-v-kirk/   US v. Smirnov https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68254959/united-states-v-smirnov   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Well, it’s finally happened. A federal judge has finally ruled that we are not being invaded by Venezuela and so the president can’t just shout “ALIEN ENEMIES ACT” as an excuse to kidnap people and send them to a torture gulag in El Salvador. And it was a Trump appointee who did it! Also, Mike Lindell is somehow still here. Links: Conservative Judge Saves VOA, Savages SCOTUS https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/conservative-judge-saves-voa-savages   J.A.V. v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69862833/jav-v-trump   ‘Historical loss’: Alleged gang leader evades US justice with deportation to El Salvador https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/politics/ms-13-leader-deported-el-salvador-boasberg-order/index.html   Madawhi v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69888582/mahdawi-v-trump/   Eric Coomer: Pawn Plant or Perp? https://www.scribd.com/document/511804143/1-5019632676605264266   Dominion v. Lindell DC Docket (Judge Nichols) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59670901/us-dominion-inc-v-my-pillow-inc/   Coomer v. Lindell Colorado Docket  https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cod.215068/   Redline of “draft” versus final opposition filed in Colorado https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cod.215068/gov.uscourts.cod.215068.311.2_1.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Judges across the country are calling BS on the Trump administration’s lies in court. But the government has come up with a genius plan to impress the judiciary by perpwalking a Wisconsin judge out of her own courthouse. If that doesn’t work, they’ll try contaminated milk. Links:   STRENGTHENING AND UNLEASHING AMERICA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PURSUE CRIMINALS AND PROTECT INNOCENT CITIZENS https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/strengthening-and-unleashing-americas-law-enforcement-to-pursue-criminals-and-protect-innocent-citizens/   State of NY v. Department of Education [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69944116/state-of-new-york-v-department-of-education/   American Bar Association v. DOJ [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69934429/american-bar-association-v-us-department-of-justice/   NTEU v. Vought [DDC docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69624423/national-treasury-employees-union-v-vought/?   NTEU v. Vought [DC Cir docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69821739/national-treasury-employees-union-v-russell-vought/   Trump Administration Previews Genius New Legal Strategy https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trump-admin-previes-genius-new-legal   US v. Dugan docket (E.D. Wisc.) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69943130/united-states-v-dugan/   Russell W. Currier and John A. Widness, A Brief History of Milk Hygiene and Its Impact on Infant Mortality from 1875 to 1925 and Implications for Today: A Review, Journal of Food Protection (Oct. 2018) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X22087610   Could changes at the FDA call the kosher status of milk into question? Many are asking. Jerusalem Post, April 25, 2025 https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes/article-851470   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

After burning down its credibility with every judge in the country, the Trump administration finds itself slapped with injunctions in every courtroom. Coincidence? Plus, the Department of Homeland Security discovers one weird trick to get around court orders barring deportations. And it is … to stand back and let the Defense Department do it for them!   Links:   MTA v. Duffy (NY Congestion Pricing) [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69652290/metropolitan-transportation-authority-v-duffy   House Dems Demand Letters to Vichy Bar https://min.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/min.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/04.24.25-letters-to-law-firms-on-trump-administration-agreements-all.pdf   SDNY resignation letter https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/22/nyregion/prosecutor-letter.html   City and County of San Francisco v. Donald J. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69623767/city-and-county-of-san-francisco-v-donald-j-trump/   Abramowitz v. Lake [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69791808/abramowitz-v-lake/   J.A.V. v. Trump [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69862833/jav-v-trump/   D.V.D. v. Homeland Security (Notice of Removal to Third Country) [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69775896/dvd-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

The Trump administration spent the weekend trying hard to rendition immigrants to foreign gulags. But Supreme Court took some baby steps this weekend toward maybe possibly doing their damn jobs and ensuring that the rule of law survives. And in the biggest surprise since the stock market dropping like a rock on news of crippling tariffs on China, Pete Hegseth is texting war plans AGAIN. And for subscribers, Harvard University sues the Trump administration. Links:   D.V.D. v. Homeland Security (Notice of Removal to Third Country) [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69775896/dvd-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/   AFGE, AFL-CIO v. Office of Personnel Management [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69655364/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/   President and Fellows of Harvard College v. US Department of Health and Human Services https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69921962/president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college-v-us-department-of-health-and/   American Oversight v. Hegseth [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69788832/american-oversight-v-hegseth/   A.A.R.P. (W.M.M.) v. Trump [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1007.html   W.M.M. (A.A.R.P.) v. Trump [Trial Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69898198/wmm-v-donald-j-trump/   A.A.R.P. (W.M.M.) v. Trump [Fifth Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69913684/aarp-v-trump/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Chief Justice Roberts and the howler monkeys rolled over and played dead. But lower court judges understand the assignment, including Fourth Circuit Judge Harvie Wilkinson, a conservative icon. He read Trump — and implicitly the Supreme Court — for filth. But will it be enough? Liz and Andrew discuss the latest developments in the Salvadoran rendition cases. Plus, Trump moves to put US taxpayers on the hook for the E. Jean Carroll verdict.   Links:   Abrego Garcia v. Noem [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/   Abrego Garcia v. Noem [Fourth Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69902650/kilmar-abrego-garcia-v-kristi-noem/   Noem v. Abrego Garcia [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a949.html   J.G.G. v. Trump [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/   J.G.G. v. Trump [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a931.html    Carroll v. Trump [Second Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68985738/carroll-v-trump/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

If Chief Justice Roberts thought he was going to protect the judiciary by throwing trial judges under the bus, he was spectacularly mistaken. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is hurtling toward contempt proceedings, with the government in open defiance of the court’s order to un-kidnap him. And meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi is running the Justice Department like an arm of the Trump campaign. And for subscribers: Trump steals lunch from poor kids in Maine because the state’s governor is nice to trans kids in accordance with Maine law. The state is suing, in a test case for the administration’s plan to use tax dollars as a cudgel to force social policy without having to pass laws.   Links:   AP v. Budowich [DC Circuit Docket]  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69869862/associated-press-v-taylor-budowich/   AP v. Budowich [DC District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69662918/associated-press-v-budowich/    Susman Godfrey LLP v. Trump [Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69881953/susman-godfrey-llp-v-executive-office-of-the-president    US v. Smirnov [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68254959/united-states-v-smirnov   US v. Smirnov [Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69605315/united-states-of-america-v-smirnov/    US v. Mangione [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69486519/united-states-v-mangione/    US v. Villatoro Santos [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69804416/united-states-v-villatoro-santos/   Abrego Garcia v. Noem [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/   Maine v. USDA [District Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69853711/state-of-maine-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

The Supreme Court had two big immigration rulings this week on deportees to the Salvadoran gulag prison: One terrible and one … marginally okay. Meanwhile at the White House, Tariff Man is running amok! Luckily, he extorted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of big firm billable hours to defend the government. But not from Susman Godfrey, the target of his latest wildly illegal executive order. Links: Tech Policy Podcast with Corbin Barthold (Liz and Andrew guest appearance) https://podcast.techfreedom.org/episodes/403-the-constitutional-crisis   Abrego Garcia v. Noem (D.Md. docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/   Abrego Garcia (SCOTUS Docket) https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a949.html   Perkins Coie Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69725919/perkins-coie-llp-v-us-department-of-justice/   J.G.G. v. Trump (SCOTUS docket) https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a931.html   SCOTUS: Rendition Is Fine Actually  https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/scotus-rendition-is-fine-actually   Jenner & Block Docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278932/   J.A.V. v. Trump (S.D. Texas docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69862833/jav-v-trump/   G.F.F. v. Trump (S.D.N.Y. docket) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69857769/gff-v-trump/   Susman Godfrey EO https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/modernizing-defense-acquisitions-and-spurring-innovation-in-the-defense-industrial-base-5   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Liz and Andrew sit down with fellow legal podcaster Ken White, AKA “Popehat,” to discuss the Trump administration’s attack on law firms. Who’s fighting? Who’s folding? And who’s f—ed? Plus an update on the case of the Maryland man deported to a torture prison in El Salvador, and the legal effort to get him home. And for subscribers: The DC Circuit considers if Humphreys Executor is dead, or just mostly dead?    Links:   Serious Trouble Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/serious-trouble/id1630160928   Wilcox docket (DC Cir) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69714705/gwynne-wilcox-v-donald-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   Abrego Garcia v Noem Docket (4th Cir) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69847836/kilmar-abrego-garcia-v-kristi-noem/   Perkins Coie Docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69725919/perkins-coie-llp-v-us-department-of-justice/   Jenner & Block Docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278932/   WilmerHale Docket https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278933/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod