Law and Chaos

Liz and Andrew talk to Tech Freedom's Corbin Barthold about two recent SCOTUS decisions involving conservative efforts to claim victimhood on social media. In Murthy v. Missouri , Missouri and Louisiana complained about the Biden administration's efforts to push back against covid misinformation on social media. And in Moody v. Netchoice , Florida and Texas attempted to impose state controls on wh...

SCOTUS gives Trump everything his heart desires and more. Not only does he get to stay out of jail, he gets to be king if he wins again. Liz and Andrew break down the disaster. Links: Trump v. US https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf The Court's Fischer Ruling Is a Symbolic Setback for the Justice Department—But One With Modest Consequences — by Roger Parloff https://www.lawf...

In today's episode, we check in with the Supreme Court that still has six cases left to decide, including the key decision on Presidential immunity. We break down Moyle v. US, in which the Supreme Court punted (for now) on the seemingly straightforward question of whether state abortion laws can supersede the federal EMTALA law protecting women in emergency rooms. Then, we discuss SEC v. Jarkesy,...

Today's episode takes a look at two of the Supreme Court's decisions from last week, US v. Rahimi, which apparently involves both gun control and time travel, and Erlinger v. US, which is an incredibly nuanced discussion of what qualifies as a prior offense under a Reagan-era federal law, so MAGA nation is of course lying about it being relevant to somehow overturning Donald Trump's 34 state felon...

Today, Liz and Andrew talk to Salon's Amanda Marcotte about the right wing's assault on Title IX through the prism of the political wedge issue of women's sports. Then, Amanda breaks down the phenomenon of conservative "tradwives" as both cosplay and a gateway drug to white supremacy.   Links: "Texas professors sue to fail students who seek abortions," by Amanda Marcotte https://www.salon.com/2024...

We update you on the developments at Alex Jones's two bankruptcy hearings last week and why they were a big win for the conspiracy theorist, with a special deep dive into Article I vs. Article III judges. Then, we discuss the latest from the Supreme court, before turning our attention to the myriad ways in which Donald Trump's lawyers are still takin' a dive before Aileen Cannon in the Southern Di...

It's another Trump-free extravaganza! We discuss the Hunter Biden conviction, forthcoming sentencing and appeals. Then, Liz and Andrew walk through the Supreme Court's 9-0 reversal of the Fifth Circuit, protecting – for now! – the right to medical abortion drugs over the internet. Finally, in a lengthy segment (with a long Patreon bonus!), we tell you everything you need to know about a critical j...

Pennsylvania dad Darren Laustsen saw books disappearing from his daughter's school — books which just so happened to be on the Moms for Liberty hit list. And he did something about it! Andrew and Liz talk to Darren and his lawyer Joy Ramsingh about their open records case that revealed a school board plot to shadowban books.   Links: Laustsen v. Pennridge SD docket https://propublic.buckscountyonl...

We update you on all of the states that have brought criminal charges against those involved in the "fake electors" plot to try and keep Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election, including in particular the latest criminal complaint filed against Ken Chesbro in Wisconsin. In the B segment, we tell you how the Biden administration FINALLY banned asbestos. In 2024.   Links: Ch...

We answer your follow-up questions on the Trump verdict in New York, remind you that Aileen Cannon continues to get worse and worse in the Trump documents case in FL, talk about Sam Alito's fondness for flags, and give you an extra-long patreon bonus on Stan Woodward's dedication to NOT his client. Links: Alito https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24698834-letter-from-justice-alito-to-senators-...

IT IS FINISHED. Today, the jury in New York unanimously agreed that Donald Trump committed 34 felonies, falsifying business records in the first degree, when he repaid Michael Cohen for secretly paying off Stormy Daniels to bury her story right before the 2016 election. What does it all mean and what comes next? Listen and find out! Links: NY Penal Law 175.10 https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law...

Trump's false business records case goes to the jury in New York. Liz and Andrew break down the charges and the jury instructions, as well as debunking some of Trumpland's wildest lies about the law.  Links: CITES NY PEN 175.05 https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-175-05/ NY PEN 175.10 https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-175-10/   Cohen plea deal https://www.justice.gov/usao...

Liz and Andrew break down the latest Supreme Court horror ruling, greenlighting racial gerrymandering to all Republicans to choose their voters, and not the other way around. And then it's off to Florida to catch up on the latest wacka**ery in the Trump stolen docs case.   Links: Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6090361490276671133 Gill v. Whitford (2018) h...

Trump's lawyers make a bevy of unforced errors as their client continues to march ever closer to a conviction in New York for fraud in concealing the payoff payment to Stormy Daniels. Also, the Supreme Court surprises us, sort of, for now, by not sacking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and by allowing a Louisiana congressional map to go into effect that doubles the minority representation...

The Trump trial in New York is racing toward the finish line, with Michael Cohen potentially the last witness. Meanwhile in DC, Steve Bannon reaches the findout on his contempt of congress charge.   Links: US v. Navarro [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63359365/united-states-v-navarro/   2 U.S.C. § 192 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/192 18 U.S.C. § 3624 h...

Liz and Andrew check in on the latest hilarity from Stefanie Lambert, the Kraken alum who's now been arrested twice for trying to overthrow the 2020 election. Then, they break down last week in Trump's NY trial with a focus on Stormy Daniels' testimony and what the DA's office has left to prove.   Links: New York Penal Law § 175.10 https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-175-10 Dominion v....

Liz and Andrew interview law professor Steven Vladek about The Shadow Docket, what makes the Supreme Court legitimate, and how to think and talk about it in order to reform the Court for the future.   Links: The Shadow Docket https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Docket-Supreme-Undermine-Republic/dp/B0BJ15Q9VZ/ Lisa Needham on Public Notice, "The Dangerously Illiberal Judges" https://www.publicnotice.co/p...

Liz and Andrew break Justice Merchan's contempt ruling that paves the way for Trump to spend time in lockup, then discuss the witnesses and how they did, or did not, help the prosecution build its case. Plus, Tennessee banned contrails and maybe … spray bottles?    Links: Second Contempt Order https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/DOcontempt_5-6-24FINAL.pdf   Consolidated Appropriations A...

Liz and Andrew Torrez catch up with Trump's election lawyers. Where are they now, and why isn't it the hoosegow? Then a deep dive into the Biden administration's plan to reschedule marijuana. But first, Donald Trump has nothing but contempt for this court!   Links:   Trump Contempt Order https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/D.O.motion4contempt-FINAL.pdf     Eastman Disciplinary Order htt...

Liz sits down with Arizona trial lawyer Tom Ryan to discuss last week's indictment of fake electors by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. It's indictment-thirty for Boris Epshteyn and Christina Bobb!   Links: Gag Order https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/JustSecurityNY2016ElectionInterferenceCaseClearinghouse%E2%80%94Order-granting-State-of-New-York-motion-to-restrict-Trump-e...

Liz talks to podcaster Andrew Torrez about Trump's Manhattan prosecution and the debacle at the Supreme Court Thursday when Trump made his magical, perpetual, presidential immunity argument.   Links: Arizona v. Ward — Indictment https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/Indictment.pdf   People v. Trump — Transcripts https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs. DTrump-71543/transcripts/   People v. T...

Trump's first criminal trial gets underway in Manhattan, even as he fights to get the court to accept his hinky bond in the civil fraud case.    Links:   NYAG Opposition to Trump/Knight Surety Bond https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=E/oR7WnxPeT2tSnZpOGlBA==     Trump Civil Trial NY, Selected Docs at Just Security https://www.justsecurity.org/89120/clearinghouse-new-york-...

Hey guys, it's Liz Dye, and we've got some big, exciting changes coming your way next week. It's all still in process, but I can tell you now that we'll be shifting our podcast drops from Monday/Friday to Tuesday/Friday and ramping up the written content, as well. So, heads up, the next show will be in your feed Tuesday, not Monday.    But today, I'm so excited to talk to a personal hero of mine,...

On the eve of Trump's first criminal trial, Liz sits down with Forbes reporter Zach Everson for a trip down memory lane, recounting the breathtaking corruption of Trump's first term. Plus, Texas AG Ken Paxton loses a round in DC against Media Matters.   Links: Zach Everson's Substack on the Trump Hotel https://www.1100pennsylvania.com/   How a Nigerian Presidential Candidate Hired a Trump Lobbyist...

Liz talks to journalist Chris Geidner about the lawless Fifth Circuit, which is now snatching cases back from other Circuits — and even from their own District Courts — in a mad rush to stop the Biden administration from protecting workers and consumers.    Links: https://www.lawdork.com/ The Fifth Circuit's lawlessness is now spreading from California to D.C. https://www.lawdork.com/p/fifth-circu...