Law and Chaos

Liz Dye

Ignorance of the law is no excuse! That's true for a traffic stop, and it's true if you want to participate in whatever's left of American democracy. If the events since the 2016 election taught us anything, it's that tuning out is not an option. Legal journalists Liz Dye and Andrew Torrez break down the week's most important courtroom stories, so you can keep on top of this crazy news cycle. Whether it's Texas giving two middle fingers to the Supreme Court, or Donald Trump in all the courts at once, we've got you covered.

  1. Ep 233 — Slush Fund Melts

    1d ago

    Ep 233 — Slush Fund Melts

    DOCKET ALERTS:   Doofus of the Day: Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel. She's filed a bumptious defamation suit against MSNOW for reporting that she asked her security detail to drive her drunk pals home. Like her boyfriend, Wilkins is represented by MAGA lawyer Jesse Binnall. Maybe they got a sweetheart package deal?   The New York Times reports that the Trump administration has lost 10,000 lawyers, 2,500 at the Justice Department alone. No one wants to put the DOJ on their resume, or sign up to work environmental cases and then find themselves seconded to handle immigration. This has been a boon for state law enforcement agencies, which have their pick of newbie prosecutors.   And the government filed a superseding indictment of former NBA point guard Terry Rozier, who is accused of fixing games for online bets.   MAIN SHOW:   Trump's slush fund is dead … maybe. Was it the judge in Florida potentially reopening his fake lawsuit against the IRS to explore the possibility of Rule 11 sanctions against the lawyers? Was it the judge in Virginia imposing a temporary restraining order on dispensing money? Or was it the refusal of congressional Republicans to eat the sh*t sandwich on command?   Both Kalshi and the Trump administration have sued Minnesota seeking to invalidate its new ban on prediction markets in the state. Is Kalshi a gambling site or some kind of securities exchange?   And Judge Chris Cooper ruled that Trump cannot just slap his name on the Kennedy Center and shut it down on command. Fiduciary duty applies, even if you're a MAGA board member. Naturally, the president is taking the ruling in stride.    Wilkins v. MSNOW [Alexis Wilkins defamation] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73418392/wilkins-v-versant-media-group-inc/   Trump Administration Sees Striking Exodus of Legal Talent https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/us/politics/trump-administration-exodus-of-lawyers.html   Trump v. IRS https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72207870/trump-v-internal-revenue-service/   Floyd v. DOJ [Slush fund suit] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73383692/floyd-v-department-of-justice/   Minnesota prediction markets ban https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.234000/gov.uscourts.mnd.234000.1.1.pdf   KalshiEX, LLC v. Ellison (Kalshi sues over ban on prediction markets) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73402180/kalshiex-llc-v-ellison/   US v. Minnesota (Trump admin sues over ban on prediction markets) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73361329/united-states-of-america-the-v-state-of-minnesota/   Beatty v. Trump [Kennedy Center] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72069932/beatty-v-trump/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    1h 13m
  2. Ep 187 — War Crimes, No Bills, And Tariffs

    12/05/2025

    Ep 187 — War Crimes, No Bills, And Tariffs

    The Supreme Court's six conservatives allow Texas to steal congressional seats with a racially gerrymandered map. Over at the Defense Department, Whiskey Pete's reign of lawlessness continues: After the Defense Department Inspector General ripped him a new one for Signalgate, Congress is looking hard at the murders in the Caribbean. Costco is suing the government over tariffs. And Justin Baldoni is back to teach us civil procedure.   Links:   Signalgate Inspector General Report https://www.dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/4348367/evaluation-of-the-secretary-of-defenses-reported-use-of-a-commercially-availabl/   Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder https://www.justsecurity.org/125948/illegal-orders-shipwrecked-boat-strike-survivors/   NYT v. Department of Defense https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71992017/new-york-times-company-v-department-of-defense/   Costco v. US  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71973233/costco-wholesale-corporation-v-united-states/?order_by=desc   Richman v. US https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71982634/richman-v-united-states/?order_by=desc   In re Grand Jury Subpoenas to NYAG [Sarcone disqualification] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71844954/in-re-grand-jury-subpoenas-to-the-office-of-the-new-york-state-attorney/?order_by=desc   Lively v. Wayfarer https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=desc   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    1h 7m
  3. Ep 186 — Habba Dabba D'OH!

    12/02/2025

    Ep 186 — Habba Dabba D'OH!

    The Secretary of Defense has committed war crimes, or murder, or both. And this time, maybe Congress is willing to do something about it? Meanwhile, a rent-price-fixing company has sued the state of New York arguing that it isn't fixing price, it's doing the Freeze Peach. In DC, Chief Judge James Boasberg continues to look for who was responsible for the government disobeying a court order. And finally, sparklemagic imaginary US Attorney Alina Habba gets to join her buddies on the unemployment line thanks to a decision by the Third Circuit that we break down in detail in the subscriber bonus. Happy Cyber Monday, everyone!   Links:   Eleventh Circuit Bounces Trump's RICO Trollsuit [lawandchaospod.com] https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/11th-circuit-bounces-trumps-rico   Episode 168 w/Brian Finucane https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-168-license-to-kill-feat-brian-finucane/id1727769913?i=1000728033267   Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all [Washington Post] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/   Statement of the "Former JAGs Working Group" on Media Reports of Pentagon "No Quarter" Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes [via Just Security] https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/former-jag-working-group-no-quarter-statement.pdf   Rent Going Up? One Company's Algorithm Could Be Why. https://www.propublica.org/article/yieldstar-rent-increase-realpage-rent   US v. Giraud [Third Circuit, Habba Disqualification] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71195676/united-states-v-julien-giraud-jr/   RealPage v. James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71964352/realpage-inc-v-james/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    56 min
  4. Ep 185 — It's A Holly Jolly Thanksgiving, But Not For Lindsey Halligan

    11/25/2025

    Ep 185 — It's A Holly Jolly Thanksgiving, But Not For Lindsey Halligan

    Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code CHAOS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chaos   Big Mazal Tov to Lindsey Halligan, who can stop pretending to be a federal prosecutor now. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled that Halligan was never lawfully appointed as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. And since Halligan was the only lawyer who presented the James Comey and Letitia James cases to the grand jury, those cases were dismissed. In a normal world, the Justice Department would just take the "L" and reindict. But nothing is normal in Pam Bondi's DOJ!   Links:   US v. Ghislaine Maxwell https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17318376/united-states-v-maxwell/?order_by=desc   As Trump's Inquisitors Face Scrutiny, a Divisive Figure Could Play a New Role https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/us/politics/trump-florida-cannon-grand-jury.html     Turning Point leader, former GOP Rep pleads guilty to attempted election fraud https://azmirror.com/briefs/turning-point-leader-former-gop-rep-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-election-fraud/   Abbott v. LULAC [SCOTUS docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a608.html   US v. Stewart https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.285023   Judge Thornhill Disqualification Petition https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Notice.PDF?courtCode=SC&di=214030   US v. Bolton https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17254525/united-states-v-bolton/?order_by=desc   US v. Comey https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.582136   US v. James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601419/united-states-v-james/?order_by=desc   Biden v. Byrne https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67990012/robert-hunter-biden-v-patrick-m-byrne/?order_by=desc   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    50 min
  5. Ep 184 — As Lindsey Halligan Wipes Out, Ed Martin Says 'Hold My Beer!'

    11/21/2025

    Ep 184 — As Lindsey Halligan Wipes Out, Ed Martin Says 'Hold My Beer!'

    The lies around the James Comey indictment continue to grow, and we suspect we won't have Imaginary US Attorney Lindsey Halligan to kick around much longer. The US Attorney's Office in Maryland would like her to have some company on her way out. Meanwhile, MAGA's biggest nemesis, Judge James Boasberg in DC, is moving full speed ahead with criminal contempt hearings to figure out everyone in the Trump administration who decided to defy his orders. And Trump's strategy to openly demand that Republicans gerrymander even more Congressional districts in his favor seems to have backfired. Plus, for subscribers, we have a bonus segment on yet another judge having to tell a state no, OF COURSE you can't post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.   Links:   The Redistricting Wars (Ft. Joe Dye) [Law and Chaos Pod Substack] https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/the-redistricting-wars-ft-joe-dye   Chicago Headline Club v. Noem [Seventh Circuit] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca7.55235   US v. Martinez https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71561860/united-states-v-martinez   Maltinsky v. Patel https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71932232/maltinsky-v-patel/?order_by=desc   Alex Jones Bankruptcy Appeal https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71932190/jones/   Gaither v. US https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/413/1061/36450/   US v. Comey https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.582136   DOJ, FBI probing top Trump administration officials over investigations of president's adversaries: Sources https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-fbi-probing-top-trump-administration-officials-investigations/story?id=127602305   J.G.G. v. Trump [District Court Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/   Chicago Headline Club v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/chicago-headline-club-v-noem/?order_by=desc   LULAC v. Abbott https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60654982/league-of-united-latin-american-citizens-v-abbott/?order_by=desc   Ringer v. Comal Indep. School Dist. [Ten Commandments] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1172865472/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    59 min
  6. Ep 183 — Hurricane Halligan Strikes Again

    11/18/2025

    Ep 183 — Hurricane Halligan Strikes Again

    Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code CHAOS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chaos   Cosplay US Attorney Lindsey Halligan's grand jury presentation in Jim Comey's case was somehow even worse than expected. She got shredded by the magistrate judge, but scored a five-day reprieve from the district court judge. The JGG case has finally wound its way back to Judge Boasberg. And don't look now, but the DOJ is ever so slightly ON FIRE. Plus, for subscribers, a deep dive into the issue of National Guard deployments at the Supreme Court.   Links:   US v. Comey https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.582136   The Unraveling of the Justice Department https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/16/magazine/trump-justice-department-staff-attorneys.html   Trump v. Clinton [11th Circuit] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66695884/donald-trump-v-hillary-clinton/?order_by=desc   US v. James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601414/united-states-v-james   J.G.G. v. Trump [DC Circuit] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69905252/jgg-v-donald-trump/?order_by=desc   The Trump prosecutor probing former top Obama administration officials https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/17/trump-obama-jason-quiones-miami-prosecutor/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    48 min
  7. Ep 182 — Fat Elvis Revenge Tour

    11/14/2025

    Ep 182 — Fat Elvis Revenge Tour

    The Epstein emails are here, and now we know why Republicans were hellbent on keeping them hidden. What will it take to see the rest?   Will Trump actually make good on his threat to sue the BBC for tortious editing?   How bad did LARP-ing US Attorney Lindsey Halligan fall on her face today in the Comey and James cases?   And for subscribers: The GOP invents new math to steal a congressional seat. A Republican judge blocks it. Then … pitchforks.   Links: Justice Dept. Struggled to Find Lawyers to Handle Maurene Comey Suit https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/nyregion/justice-department-maurene-comey-lawyers.html   Maurene Comey v. DOJ [wrongful termination] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71348216/comey-v-united-states-department-of-justice/?order_by=desc   Ireland v. US [trans service members deprived of retirement] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71901559/ireland-v-united-states/   Nation Treasury Employees Union v. Vought https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69821739/national-treasury-employees-union-v-russell-vought/   Utah State Court redistricting order https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-11-10-Order.pdf   US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc   US v. James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601419/united-states-v-james/?order_by=desc Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    54 min
  8. Ep 181 — WTF Chuck!

    11/11/2025

    Ep 181 — WTF Chuck!

    Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code CHAOS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chaos   What did the Democrats win by caving on the shutdown? Astronomical increases in health insurance premiums! And … more weaponization of the Justice Department. We'll break down the latest on the James Comey and Letitia James cases. And we've got a deep dive into Dr. Phil's skeevy bankruptcy maneuvers.    Links:   Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/us/politics/senators-shutdown-smith-phone-searches.html   DOJ Miami Office Readies Conspiracy Probe Into Trump Enemies https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-miami-office-plans-probe-into-anti-trump-liberal-conspiracy   Patrick Byrne SCOTUS Petition https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-281/374029/20250908160523555_250910a%20Petition%20for%20efiling.pdf   Senate Version of HR5371 (passed Sunday night) https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/continuing_appropriations_act_2026_bill_text.pdf   Gov'ts supplemental brief on SNAP benefits [SCOTUS] https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25A539/384078/20251110153353557_RI%20Council%20-%20Supplemental%20Br%20-%20FINAL.pdf   US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459121/united-states-v-comey/?order_by=desc   US v. James https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601419/united-states-v-james/?order_by=desc   Merit Street Bankruptcy https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70687981/merit-street-media-inc/?order_by=desc Merit Street Adversary Proceeding https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70688403/merit-street-media-inc-adversary-proceeding/?order_by=desc   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

    1h 1m
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Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
396 Ratings

About

Ignorance of the law is no excuse! That's true for a traffic stop, and it's true if you want to participate in whatever's left of American democracy. If the events since the 2016 election taught us anything, it's that tuning out is not an option. Legal journalists Liz Dye and Andrew Torrez break down the week's most important courtroom stories, so you can keep on top of this crazy news cycle. Whether it's Texas giving two middle fingers to the Supreme Court, or Donald Trump in all the courts at once, we've got you covered.

Information

  • Creator
    Liz Dye
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Law and Chaos

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