Law and Chaos

The Trump administration got caught lying to the Ninth Circuit about the so-called crisis in Portland. Will it matter? Is Stephen Miller correct that ICE and CBP can beat up protesters without worrying about legal repercussions? (No, but …) And what even is spoliation anyway? Asking for Justin Baldoni. Plus for subscribers, a deep dive into the government's effort to repurpose years-old evidence in the Comey case.

Links:

US v. Abrego Garcia

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70476164/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/?order_by=desc

Abrego Garcia v. Noem

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71191591/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=desc

US v. Comey

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc

Oregon v. Trump [Ninth Circuit]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71554902/state-of-oregon-et-al-v-trump-et-al/?order_by=desc

Chicago Headline Club v. Noem

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/chicago-headline-club-v-noem/?order_by=desc

Bovino interview CBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/border-patrol-chief-gregory-bovino-agents-use-of-force-in-chicago

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

US Attorney Lindsey Halligan takes a break from prosecuting Jim Comey for leaking to reporters to … leak to reporters. Jim Comey noticed, and so did New York Attorney General Tish James. The Ninth Circuit blesses Trump's invasion of Los Angeles. There is gambling in basketball. We are shocked, SHOCKED! And Trump demands $230 million from US Treasury.

Links:

O'Hara v. Beck (Star Wars Music)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.286143

"Anna, Lindsey Halligan Here."

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna--lindsey-halligan-here

US v. Ramirez (Challenge to appointment of US Atty Bill Essayli)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71166841/united-states-v-ramirez/?order_by=desc

US v. Tish James

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601419/united-states-v-james/?order_by=desc

US v. James Comey

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/

US v. Aiello (NBA indictment 1 - poker cheating) [docket via CourtListener]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.537409/gov.uscourts.nyed.537409.1.0_2.pdf

US v. Earnest (NBA indictment 2 - basketball cheating) [indictment via New York Times]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/23/nyregion/nba-betting-scheme-indictment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vk8.BGFB.maF0MnGV9jLM&smid=url-share

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

It's make or break time for the rule of law at the Supreme Court, as the Trump administration's plan to flood the streets with troops comes to One First Street. The Ninth Circuit says: YES. The Seventh Circuit says: NO. Meanwhile in Virginia, Trump's insurance lawyer Lindsey Halligan is LARPing as US Attorney so she can prosecute his nemesis James Comey. Which motion to dismiss will put this dumb case out of its misery? Selective and vindictive prosecution? Halligan's unlawful appointment? Literal truth of the supposed false statements? And for bonus subscribers: ANTIFA is the new RICO.

Links:

US v. Comey

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/

US v. Giraud [Seventh Circuit Docket]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71195676/united-states-v-julien-giraud-jr/

Trump v. Illinois [SCOTUS DOCKET]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a443.html

Oregon v. Trump [Ninth Circuit Docket]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71554902/state-of-oregon-et-al-v-trump-et-al/

US v. Arnold (Hill)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71664415/united-states-v-arnold/?order_by=desc

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Donald Trump is weaponizing the government against his enemies. But at least there are no national guard troops on the streets of Chicago or Portland. And a trial judge in California blocked Russ Vought's efforts to burn down every federal agency during the shutdown. Plus, Alex Jones is still and always a loser.

Links:

Candace Owens Can't Go To Australia

https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/eresources/2025-10-15/HCA/Farmer%20v%20Minister%20for%20Home%20Affairs%20%28S160-2024%29%20%5B2025%5D%20HCA%2038.pdf

AFGE/AFL-CIO v. OMB

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71502325/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/

Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-irs-investigations-left-leaning-groups-democratic-donors-612a095e

The Tish James Indictment Looks Like Country Fried BS

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/the-tish-james-indictment-looks-like

Illinois v. Trump (Seventh Circuit)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71608106/state-of-illinois-v-donald-j-trump/

Chicago Headline Club v. Noem

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/chicago-headline-club-v-noem

US v. Bolton

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17254525/united-states-v-bolton/

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

The Justice Department continues to be a sh*tshow, with the indictment of James Comey already hitting the skids. Whodathunk that putting Trump's personal insurance lawyer in charges of criminal prosecutions would work out badly! Justice Amy Coney Barrett heads to Fox News to flog her book and express her disappointment that we are all being so mean about the shadow docket. Please do not let up! And Trump's efforts to flood the streets of blue states with troops makes its way through the courts.

Links:

US v. Kevontae Stewart

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71380817/united-states-v-stewart/

Alex Jones SCOTUS Docket

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-268.html

Justice Barrett Fox Interview

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6382650913112

Federal Judges, Warning of 'Judicial Crisis,' Fault Supreme Court's Emergency Orders

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/us/politics/judicial-crisis-supreme-court-trump.html

Illinois v. Trump [District Court]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559895/state-of-illinois-v-trump

Illinois v. Trump [Seventh Circuit]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71608106/state-of-illinois-v-donald-j-trump/

Oregon v. Trump

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71481149/state-of-oregon-v-trump/?order_by=desc

US v. Comey

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459120/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc

Illinois v. FEMA (D. R.I.) [docket via CourtListener]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59597/

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Liz and Andrew talk to Professor Eric Segall of Georgia state University College of Lawl. He teaches federal courts and constitutional law I and II, and is the author of the books Originalism as Faith and Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court is not a Court and its Justices are not Judges. How can one teach ConLaw when the Supreme Court is burning down precedent? We'll find out!

Links:

How the Hell To Teach Constitutional Law in 2025: Twenty Questions and No Answers

https://www.dorfonlaw.org/2025/08/how-hell-to-teach-constitutional-law-in.html

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

The government may be shut down, but ICE is not. We'll compare Trump's efforts to deploy the National Guard in LA, DC, Portland, and Chicago. In better news, Alex Jones looks to be at the end of the road with his plot to use bankruptcy to shield his company from the Sandy Hook parents. And we have breaking news in Law and Chaos's FOIA suit against the DOJ. Plus for subscribers: Was Lindsey Halligan lawfully appointed as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia? Asking for James Comey.

Links:

Res Ipsa Media v. DOJ

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/

First Circuit Birthright Citizenship Ruling

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca1.52521/gov.uscourts.ca1.52521.00108348619.0.pdf

Oregon v. Trump

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71481149/state-of-oregon-v-trump/

Newsom v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) [docket via CourtListener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70496361/newsom-v-trump

Newsom v. Trump (Ninth Circuit)

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70527602/newsom-et-al-v-trump-et-al

Alex Jones Bankruptcy

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones-and-official-committee-of-unsecured-creditors/

DOJ FY 2026 Contingency Plan

https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1377216/dl

National Review - Lindsey Halligan - Alito 1986 memo

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.njd.578930/gov.uscourts.njd.578930.61.1.pdf

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Mike Lindell is having a bad day in court, and Alex Jones is about to. The Supreme Court decides that Trump can steal Congress's power over the budget, Constitution be damned. And Justin Baldoni returns to teach us all how NOT to do civil procedure.

Links:

Oregon v. Trump Docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71481149/state-of-oregon-v-trump

Smartmatic v. Lindell Docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/62605230/smartmatic-usa-corp-v-lindell

Alex Jones Bankruptcy Docket

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66583024/alexander-e-jones-and-official-committee-of-unsecured-creditors

YouTube to Pay $24.5 Million to Settle Lawsuit Brought by Trump

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/youtube-to-pay-24-5-million-to-settle-lawsuit-brought-by-trump-808f6823

Lively v. Wayfarer

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=desc

SCOTUS ruling in State v. AIDS Vaccine Coalition motion for stay

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a269_bp7c.pdf

AIDS Vaccine Coalition v. State (trial court docket) [Docket via CourtListener]

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333.145.0_4.pdf

White House "pocket rescission" announcement (Aug. 29, 2025)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/historic-pocket-rescission-package-eliminates-woke-weaponized-and-wasteful-spending/

Impoundment Control Act of 1974

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CPRT-114HPRT96107/pdf/CPRT-114HPRT96107.pdf

GAO opinion on Ukraine impoundment

https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/703909.pdf

GAO Opinion Letter B-330330 (December 10, 2018)

https://www.gao.gov/products/b-330330

White House EO Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/designating-antifa-as-a-domestic-terrorist-organization/

NSPM -7

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/countering-domestic-terrorism-and-organized-political-violence/

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

After Trump appoints his lackey Lindsey Halligan US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, he finally gets his indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. But will it stand in front of a real judge? We break down the grand jury process, and why they say a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich. And for subscribers, Andrew and Liz explain how the DOJ's internet brain poisoning is jeopardizing the Luigi Mangione prosecution.

Links:

US v. Comey

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459120/united-states-v-comey/

Hook v. Rave (D. S.D.) [docket via CourtListener]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71428718/hook-v-rave/

US v. Mangione [District Docket]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69486519/united-states-v-mangione/

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

Domestically, Tom Homan takes bribes and Republicans just don't care. Internationally, the Trump administration is engaged in international war crimes by murdering foreign civilians, and… Republicans still just don't care. Learn why this is an Article I Constitutional crisis with guest Brian Finucane.

Links:

Brian Finucane, International Crisis Group

https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/brian-finucane

Show Links:

https://www.lawandchaospod.com/

BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

Threads: @LawAndChaosPod

Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod