Law and Chaos

DOCKET ALERTS:
 
This podcast won a victory today in its lawsuit against the Trump administration to kick loose the document the DOJ used as the basis for a frivolous ethics complaint against Judge James Boasberg in DC. Judge Abelson ordered the DOJ to produce discovery to us so we can evaluate the administration's claims that "Attachment A" isn't subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
 
The hardware store Lowe's was hit with a consumer class action suit in Chicago alleging that it steals customers' voice prints when they call customer service.
 
A lawyer in New Mexico has been sanctioned for filing motions referring to fake witnesses hallucinated by ChatGPT. In a murder case!
 
DOOFUS OF THE DAY:
 
John Eastman, the election-denying crank lawyer, is now representing Amy Wax. Wax is a notorious racist whom the University of Pennsylvania law school has been trying to fire for years. Eastman entered his appearance on her behalf at the Third Circuit, which is weird because he was disbarred in California last year. But not to worry, he's filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to undo that!
 
MAIN SHOW:
 
While we were recording, the Supreme Court finally rejected Trump's plan to use the Post office to blow up the midterms. on whether it intends to stay a judicial order enjoining the US Postal Service from meddling with mail-in ballots during the 2026 midterms, but each new development seems to make it less likely that it will do so. Late Sunday night, Trump appointee Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC issued his own injunction blocking the rule and smacking down the administration's arguments.
 
More details emerged over the weekend about the Grand Conspiracy investigation in Florida and why MAGA conspiracy lawyer Joe diGenova noped out. Apparently he didn't get the memo that the point was to indict a couple of Trump's enemies, declare victory, and be long gone before the charges imploded. Meanwhile, former CIA Director John Brennan has filed a lawsuit in DC seeking to head off his own prosecution.
 
Trump's offer of $5,000 checks to every citizen if Republicans hold the House and the Senate isn't bribery. And it isn't going to happen.
 
SUBSCRIBER BONUS:
 
In a supplement to our written blog post, we talk about all the weirdness in the DOJ's "Notice of Appeal" in the Trump v. IRS slush fund case, including how the administration's lawyers sound an awful lot like sovereign citizen nutjobs.
 
"Trump's DOJ Lawyers Leap In To Save Trump's Personal Lawyers"
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trumps-doj-lawyers-leap-in-to-save
 
Res Ipsa Media v. DOJ [docket Via CourtListener]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/?order_by=desc
 
Perkins v. Lowe's [Complaint via Courthouse News]
https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lowes-class-action-biometric-information.pdf
 
Attorney Sanctions Order [via Reuters]
https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/gkplemoznvb/New%20Mexico%20sanctions%20order%20-%20AI.pdf
 
AFGE-AFL-CIO v. Kupor [Civil Service loyalty test]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71884278/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-kupor/
 
Eastman v. State Bar of California [Petition for Cert]
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-336/423876/20260911094527982_USSC%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Certiorari.pdf
 
Trump ally John Eastman joins UPenn professor's legal team, citing 'despicable cancel culture'
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-ally-john-eastman-joins-upenn-professors-legal-team-citing-despicable-2026-09-14/
 
Trump v. League of Women Voters [Supreme Court docket]
https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26a305.html
 
USPS Revised DMM [mail-in ballot regulations]
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/26/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections
 
DSCC v. Trump [DC mail-in ballot case injunction by Judge Nichols]
https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2026cv1114-192
 
USPS v. California [Mail-in Ballots SCOTUS Docket]
https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A305.html
 
Brennan v. Blanche
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73562893/brennan-v-blanche/
 
Show Links:
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/
BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod
Threads: @LawAndChaosPod
Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DOCKET ALERTS:
 
The president is promising to send out $5,000 checks to every American if Republicans win the midterms.
 
The Fourth Circuit became the ninth appellate court to find that the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy for all immigrants without legal status is patently illegal.
 
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to let it install US Attorneys without Senate confirmation. Time to bring back Alina Habba and Lindsey Halligan!
 
Andrew and Tristan Tate's motion for bail pending their extradition to the UK was denied by a federal magistrate in Miami.
 
Hasbro is the latest company to tell the White House to quit using its IP in racist AI slop memes — this time the government is molesting Optimus Prime!
 
DOOFUS OF THE DAY: 
 
James Piereson has an editorial in the Wall Street Journal wondering if adding new Supreme Court justices is illegal. It's not, and neither is saying absolute drivel in public.
 
MAIN SHOW:
 
We're all waiting for SCOTUS to say whether they're planning to let Trump burn down the midterms and refuse to deliver mail-in ballots. In the meanwhile, the US Supreme Court teamed up with the Missouri state Supreme Court to prevent a harebrained scheme by Missouri's Republican Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, to cram down an even-more-gerrymandered congressional map that would give Republicans an extra seat in the House of Representatives. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the new map needs to be approved by the voters before it can take effect, and held Hoskins in contempt for refusing to abide by their September 3 injunction. And the US Supreme Court put the kibosh on a crazy TRO issued by a rogue Trump appointee purporting to require Missouri to use the Trump map. So it looks like Missourians are going to head back to the polls in November under the existing 2022 maps.
 
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has a plan to hack the 2030 Census. And that plan is RACISM.
 
SUBSCRIBER BONUS:
 
We break down Law & Chaos's DOOFUS OF THE DAY, James Piereson, a non-lawyer who has the legal opinion that expanding the Supreme Court is unconstitutional, even though it definitely isn't.
 
Lopez Garcia v. Guadian [Fourth Circuit, mandatory detention]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72052515/oscar-lopez-garcia-v-robert-guadian/
 
Petition for Cert In US Attorneys Case
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-304/423324/20260908124848584_Jackson%20Petition.pdf
 
US v. Tate
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73656030/united-states-v-tate/
 
People Not Politicians v. Hoskins [MO Supreme Court]
https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=239229
 
James Piereson, "Is Court Packing Constitutional? Don't Be So Sure," Wall Street Journal, Sep. 7, 2026
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/is-court-packing-constitutional-dont-be-so-sure-0e602345
 
Mail-In Ballots at SCOTUS
https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A305.html
 
Proposed Census Rule Change
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/10/2026-18481/decennial-census-of-the-population-of-americans-proposed-residence-criteria-and-proposed-regulations



Show Links:
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/
BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod
Threads: @LawAndChaosPod
Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DOCKET ALERTS:
 
New Jersey became the latest state to beat back a Trump administration challenge to its sanctuary jurisdiction laws.
 
After the Supreme Court's conservatives (less CJR) allowed Trump to build his ballroom, he's demanding to be able to go ahead and build the fascist arch.
 
A federal judge in Minnesota denied X.ai's motion to enjoin the state from enforcing a law barring AI nudification apps.
 
Maria Bartiromo hired Bryan Freedman, former counsel for Justin Baldoni, to represent her in her breakup with Fox.
 
DOOFUS OF THE DAY:
 
Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the subject of a report issued by Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito. Is it bad when you're sleeping with your staffer, drinking on the job, and allowing your male relatives to sexually harass employees? 
 
MAIN SHOW:
 
The Los Angeles Angels just sold for $4 billion. What does the city of Anaheim want out of it and how are they going to get it?
 
Finally, a country music star has just filed a class action lawsuit against the AI platform Suno for infringing on his right of publicity. When chatbots can write songs that sound exactly like any famous recording artist, can anyone sue to stop them?
 
SUBSCRIBER BONUS:
 
What is going on with Trump's effort to use the Post Office to bone the midterms?
 
US v. New Jersey
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72316303/united-states-v-new-jersey/
 
Lemmon v. Trump [Arch]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72301112/lemmon-v-trump/
 
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION: LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER, FORMER SECRETARY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
https://oig.dol.gov/public/oifindings/50-26-004-01-001.pdf
 
X.ai LLC v. Ellison
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73678486/xai-llc-v-ellison/
 
Lowery v. Suno [D. Mass. docket via CourtListener]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74728439/lowery-v-suno-inc/



Show Links:
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/
BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod
Threads: @LawAndChaosPod
Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DOCKET ALERTS:
 
The fight over Trump's attempt to seize control of state mail-in ballots is headed for the Supreme Court. After a hearing before Judge Indira Talwani, the government didn't wait for a ruling — and it didn't wait for the First Circuit to weigh in either. It immediately demanded that the justices step in. Justice Jackson, who sits over the First Circuit, did not issue an admin stay. She's asked for the states' response by Tuesday.
 
According to ProPublica, ICE Agent Christian Castro has been federally charged with making false statements after shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minnesota in January. Castro was previously charged by state prosecutors with assault, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refused to extradite him to Minnesota.
 
DOOFUS OF THE DAY:
 
Maria Bartiromo has been fired from Fox Business. Apparently she did something worse than losing the network $787 million in a defamation suit.
 
MAIN SHOW:
 
Andrew talks midterms with Joe Dye.
 
League of Women Voters v. Trump [Mail-In Ballots]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73133197/league-of-women-voters-of-massachusetts-v-trump/
 
Emergency SCOTUS Petiton re Mail-In Ballots
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26A297/422948/20260903154027877_USPS%20Final%20Rule%20Stay%20and%20Appx.pdf
 
Trump's DOJ Blocked Serious ICE Shooting Charge Over Federal Prosecutor's "Strongest Possible" Objections
https://www.propublica.org/article/doj-blocks-charges-ice-agent-minneapolis-julio-cesar-sosa-celis
 
Show Links:
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/
BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod
Threads: @LawAndChaosPod
Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

The J. M. Smucker Company notched a win in its trademark dilution case against Trader Joe's over the Uncrustable dupes. A judge in Ohio refused to dismiss the case or transfer it to California. 
 
For the third time, Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected Trump's attempt to remove his hush money conviction case to federal court from New York State court.
 
The Supreme Court allowed Trump to build his monstrous bunker ballroom.
 
DOOFUS OF THE DAY: George Santos managed to get himself banned for life by Kalshi after he got caught better on his own attendance at the State of the Union.
 
MAIN SHOW:
 
Judge Rita Lin granted summary judgment to Anthropic in its case against the Defense Department. After the company objected to the use of its product for autonomous lethal targeting and mass surveillance of Americans, Pete Hegseth set out to destroy its business. He failed.
 
Judge Indira Talwani refused to stay her own order blocking the Post Office from implementing Trump's demand to seize control of mail-in ballots. 
 
Prosecutors in Minnesota hope to criminalize protest by claiming that an entire network of people engaging in First Amendment-protected protest are responsible if one of them eventually commits a crime. Pursuant to a Trump directive known as NSPM-7, the DOJ instructed operatives to infiltrate and surveil affinity groups espousing "extreme viewpoints on immigration, radical gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment." None of which is a crime! They've charged 15 protesters in Minnesota as part of a conspiracy that includes major unions and the DSA — all of which they've snooped on using administrative warrants from DHS.
 
SUBSCRIBER BONUS:
A gestational surrogate from Alaska is trying to steal a sick baby. And Ken Paxton wants to help her do it!
 
J.M. Smucker Co v. Trader Joe's
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71631587/jm-smucker-company-v-trader-joes-company/
 
People of The State of New York v. Trump
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67326478/people-of-the-state-of-new-york-v-trump/
 
Anthropic PBC v. U.S. Department of War
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72379655/anthropic-pbc-v-us-department-of-war
 
US v. Sant [D. Minn. docket via CourtListener]
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73489661/united-states-v-sant/
 
National Park Service v. National Trust for Historic Preservation [Supreme Court order]
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a203_2b8e.pdf
 
League of Women Voters v. Trump
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73133197/league-of-women-voters-of-massachusetts-v-trump/?
 
NSPM-7
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/countering-domestic-terrorism-and-organized-political-violence/
 
Show Links:
https://www.lawandchaospod.com/
BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod
Threads: @LawAndChaosPod
Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod