Law and Chaos

Markets are freaked out about the DOJ’s threats to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. And so are we! We’ve got a deep dive into a court order barring Trump from adding an extra-legal proof of citizenship requirement to voter registration forms and a breakdown of Illinois and Minnesota’s respective lawsuits against ICE and CBP. And for subscribers, we’ll explain why JD Vance’s claim that “Every president, Democrat or Republican, believes the War Powers Act is fundamentally a fake and unconstitutional law,” is utter BS.Links:Kelly v. Hegsethhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131361/kelly-v-hegseth/Neguse v. ICEhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70964222/neguse-v-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcementNew York v. Burgum [Nichols]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72126766/state-of-new-york-v-burgum/New York v. Burgum [Lamberth]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72126847/state-of-new-york-v-burgum/Federal prosecutor in Virginia fired after refusing to lead Comey casehttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/12/us-attorney-virginia-fired-jTrump DOJ fires prosecutor who declined to pursue James Comey casehttps://www.ms.now/news/trump-doj-fires-prosecutor-who-declined-to-pursue-james-comey-caseWashington v. Trump [Election EO]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69845185/state-of-washington-v-trump/Illinois v. DHShttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131845/state-of-illinois-v-department-of-homeland-security/Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congressional Republicans defect to support two Democratic resolutions. It’s not exactly a show of spine — maybe a vertebrae — but is it the beginning of something? Yet another US Attorney gets disqualified, this time in New York. Meanwhile Judges in Virginia wonder how it’s remotely ethical for Lindsey Halligan to present herself in court filings as a US Attorney. The DOJ is violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act. And what legal recourse is there for the family of Renee Good, who was executed by ICE officers in Minneapolis. Plus for subscribers: Dominion tries to get Mike Lindell and Patrick Byrne to STFU long enough to wind down their litigation.Links:War Powers Resolutionhttps://www.kaine.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dav25m71.pdfMassachusetts v. NIH [Indirect Costs]https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/opnfiles/25-1343P-01A.pdfAmerican Hospital Association v. HHS [Drug Rebates]https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/opnfiles/25-2236O-01A.pdfIn Re Grand Jury Subpoenas to the Office of the New York State Attorney General v. US [Disqualification US Atty NDNY]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71844954/in-re-grand-jury-subpoenas-to-the-office-of-the-new-york-state-attorneyUS v. Jefferson [Halligan signature challenge]https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.586310US v. Comey [4th Circuit appeal]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72065969/united-states-v-james-comey-jr/?order_by=descUS v. James [4th Circuit appeal]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72065734/united-states-v-letitia-james/?order_by=descShow Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On our first show back after the holidays, Brian Finucane, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, explains the legal ramifications of invading Venezuela and kidnapping its leader for “law enforcement.” We’ll break down the Supreme Court’s ruling eviscerating Trump’s effort to conscript National Guard troops to terrorize cities. And for subscribers, Justin Baldoni will once again teach us (how not to) CivPro.Links:Trump v. Illinois [Supreme Court]https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a443_new_b07d.pdfBrian Finucane, Presidential War Powers, the Take Care Clause, and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, Cornell Law Review (2020)https://live-cornell-law-review.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Finucane-final.pdf1989 OLC Memorandumhttps://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/authority-federal-bureau-investigation-override-international-law-extraterritorial-lawUS v. Commonwealth of Virginia [In-state tuition for immigrant children]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72085714/united-states-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/JGG v. Trumphttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?order_by=descLively v. Baldonihttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?order_by=descShow Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We come full circle, discussing the most important cases of the year and what we expect to happen in 2026. Kilmar Abrego Garcia is home with his family. The Epstein files are out … sort of. Lindsey Halligan is out … again, sort of. And the Alien Enemies Act case that started it all, J.G.G. v. Trump, comes roaring back to life. Links:US v. Abrego Garciahttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70476164/united-states-v-abrego-garciaUS v. Duganhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70255703/united-states-v-duganUS justice official leading prosecutions of minor crimes pleaded guilty to DUIhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/23/doj-official-duiBillups v. Louisville Municipal School District [Grok can make it worse!] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68658788/billups-v-louisville-municipal-school-districtUS v. Abrego Garciahttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70476164/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/J.G.G. v. Trumphttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/Epstein Files Transparency Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liz and Andrew discuss the state of legal journalism. Trump is attacking the judiciary in the media — sometimes both at once. How is covering Trump different this time around? And what gives us hope for journalism and democracy? Plus: what’s going on in the trial of Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan?Links:AllRiseNews.comUS v. Duganhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70255566/united-states-v-dugan/?order_by=descAmerica First Legal Foundation v. Trumphttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69924761/america-first-legal-foundation-v-roberts/?order_by=descUS v. James [Yet another botched no bill]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72052126/united-states-v-james/Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.