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

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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/

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

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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

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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

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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

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

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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:

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

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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

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

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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:

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BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod

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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'

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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