Serious Trouble

Josh Barro and Ken White
  • 4.3 (25)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

An irreverent podcast about the law from Josh Barro and Ken White. www.serioustrouble.show

  1. ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

    2025-12-23

    ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

    Some of the Epstein files have been released, but there's a lot of blacked-out text and pictures. The Justice Department is supposed to redact certain information but of course there’s the ever-present question of whether all redaction “errors” are errors, or whether this administration has its thumb on the scale for the president. Also in this episode: the Pulitzer Board requests President Trump's medical, financial and tax records, an LA man who towed an ICE vehicle around the block during a raid was acquitted of stealing government property, Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan was convicted in federal court of obstructing an effort by federal immigration agents to detain someone she had called to her courtroom. And Caroline Ellison, former partner to Sam Bankman-Fried in multiple senses of the term, has been sprung from Club Fed in Danbury, Connecticut. Speaking of SBF: apparently he’s transformed himself into something of a jailhouse lawyer but he seems to be about as good at jailhouse lawyering as he was at crypto investing. Finally, we look at a maybe-not-so-fearsome terrorism indictment and we discuss the ongoing contempt saga that has caused Ken to feel a surprising emotion regarding Charles C. Johnson: pity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.serioustrouble.show/subscribe

    37 min
  2. What Part of 'No Bill' Don't You Understand?

    2025-12-16

    What Part of 'No Bill' Don't You Understand?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show A grand jury has refused to indict Letitia James — no, this isn’t a repeat of last week’s email; it just happened again since we last recorded. This time, it’s a different grand jury, and we discuss further impediments to the resurrection of the cases against her and James Comey. That, plus a discussion of the unlikely-to-matter pardon of former Colorado election official Tina Peters, is for free subscribers this week. Paid subscribers also get: * A look at a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation which aims to stop the construction of Trump’s new White House ballroom. * Another trial court win for Gavin Newsom as he tries to end Trump’s activation of the California National Guard (though the outlook in the appeals courts is more dubious). * Costco’s lawsuit seeking return of its tariff payments under IEEPA, and why Costco would sue now, long after a few plaintiffs stood up to bring a test case but before the Supreme Court rules on it. * And the order that has, for now, freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia to return to Maryland. Upgrade your subscription at serioustrouble.show.

    22 min
  3. You Can Take the Girl Out of New Jersey

    2025-12-10

    You Can Take the Girl Out of New Jersey

    This week: more news in the Letitia James and James Comey cases. DOJ tried to re-indict James, but they got a no-bill, and in the Comey case, the government is a bit held up by a motion from Comey's sometime-lawyer and friend. Meanwhile, Lindsey Halligan is still running around, acting like she’s the U.S. Attorney (even though the fact that she isn’t is why these cases got dismissed), but Alina Habba has thrown in the towel, moving to main Justice to advise Pam Bondi and declaring “you can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you cannot take the New Jersey out of the girl.” Also this week: charges against Brian Cole Jr., who’s accused of the attempted pipe bombings at the RNC and DNC nearly five years ago; shadow docket action that saved Republicans’ Texas remap; super troll Charles C. Johnson’s latest misadventures that have landed him in jail for contempt of court; and why an embarrassing policy report about Rep. Nancy Mace's airport meltdown became public. Find links and a transcript of this episode and sign up for our newsletter at serioustrouble.show. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.serioustrouble.show/subscribe

    42 min
  4. Cases Dismissed

    2025-12-05

    Cases Dismissed

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James were both dismissed, without prejudice, on the grounds that former insurance attorney Lindsey Halligan was never properly appointed as an interim US Attorney. Trump’s Justice Department has options, and we talk through them. That conversation is for free listeners. For paid subscribers this week, we also address: * A rare favorable ruling for the Trump administration from Judge James Boasberg. * Eric Swalwell’s lawsuit against Bill Pulte * Peter Skandalakis’s tortured-but-ultimately-convincing, argument that the Georgia RICO case is terminal and should be taken off life support. * Megan Thee Stallion’s “big” ($59,000) win in her defamation lawsuit against a live-streamer * Probation for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, and * A sharply-worded minute order from Judge Amy Berman Jackson trying to ensure that she won’t be the only long-suffering person around these parts. Upgrade your subscription today at serioustrouble.show.

    23 min
  5. Here Come the Epstein Files

    2025-11-21

    Here Come the Epstein Files

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show Now that Congress has voted overwhelmingly to require the release of the Epstein files, we discuss what’s likely to be in those files, what the administration might do to undermine the intent of the law requiring release, and whether we really ought to learn so much about this case. That conversation is for free subscribers. Paying subscribers get much more this week — a look at the rapidly increasing number of problems with the James Comey indictment, an update on the National Guard cases, and an interesting question from the Supreme Court about the meaning of a law restricting the president’s ability to deploy it over a governor’s objection. We look at a really, really intemperate dissent in the Texas redistricting case, an update on Tina Peters, and we look at two defamation cases, one where Trump has again lost to CNN, and one brought by rapper Megan Thee Stallion against a Twitch streamer who, in the eyes of the state of Florida, does not count as a media outlet. Upgrade your subscription now at serioustrouble.show

    18 min
  6. Sandwiches For All

    2025-11-14

    Sandwiches For All

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show Sandwich Guy is free! Sean Dunn was acquitted of simple assault by a jury of his peers. Meanwhile, Lindsey Halligan continues to face difficulties in her case against James Comey, and the Justice Department generally is having trouble finding a sufficient number of qualified attorneys. That’s all in this week’s free show. There’s much more this week for paying subscribers, including: * A look at why Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson chose to delay a ruling that would have forced the Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits. * U.S. Senators voted themselves a legal right to sue if the government obtains their phone records, and the House grudgingly went along. The provision might get repealed after an outcry. But if it doesn't, does that violate the 27th Amendment? And even if it does, is there any recourse? * The adventures of Bill Pulte. * Federal pardons for participants in fake elector conspiracies (who really mostly need to worry about state charges anyway). * Another victory for Ann Selzer. Visit serioustrouble.show to upgrade your subscription to get the whole episode.

    19 min
  7. Snap Decisions

    2025-11-04

    Snap Decisions

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show On this week's show for everyone: two court decisions direct the Trump administration to continue sending SNAP (food stamp) funds to states and the administration has chosen not to appeal these orders — likely not relishing the politics of withholding SNAP funds — but the legal situation may get more complicated if the shutdown does not end soon. Plus: more motions from James Comey. For paying subscribers: legal wrangling over federal immigration enforcement in Chicago; some AUSAs who were placed on leave for daring to call January 6 a “mob” “riot” in a sentencing memo; a Tennessee man who spent a month in jail on the extremely thin claim that a political meme he posted was a terroristic threat; and the strange scandal of now-former FDA official George Tidmarsh and Aurinia. Upgrade your subscription at serioustrouble.show.

    19 min
  8. Literal Truth and Theoretical Conflicts

    2025-10-30

    Literal Truth and Theoretical Conflicts

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show This week, both James Comey and Letitia James continue to seek dismissal of the criminal charges brought against them, and one argument they’ve both made will be considered by a judge from another state. We talk about why that's happening, we also discuss a lesson from the Barry Bonds steroids case that could be relevant for Comey, and we look at a complaint James has made about Halligan’s communications about grand jury proceedings to a reporter. That, plus a look at Ninth Circuit action in the national guard cases and a look at a sloppy defamation lawsuit from Paul Ingrassia, constitutes this week’s free show. Beyond the paywall, we talk about an effort from the D.C. bar to impose new burdens on law firms that might, theoretically, enter into settlement deals with the government, an dwhen a state could prosecute an ICE officer for breaking state law (not never, is the short answer), and our discussion of how some judges are now getting in trouble for their misuse of AI in drafting opinions. Upgrade your subscription at serioustrouble.show.

    27 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.3
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

An irreverent podcast about the law from Josh Barro and Ken White. www.serioustrouble.show

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Barro and Ken White
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Very Serious Media
  • Show Website
    Serious Trouble

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