During the hearing, the judge mentioned sanctions, the DOJ admitted it wasn’t familiar with the case law governing subpoenaing reporters, and they admitted they lied to a judge to get sign-off on a non-disclosure order. And that’s just the beginning.

It was such a bad day that referred to it as the “Worst day for the DOJ. So far.”

On today’s episode of the Breakdown, I’ll discuss the hearing with a person who was in the courtroom, . She’s a senior editor at Lawfare and writes Slip Opinion here on Substack. Our interview will be live on the TODAY, Sunday at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT at the link below. The link below will also work any time after if you want to come back and watch it later.

Law Dork

Thursday was the worst day for DOJ. So far.

The degradation of the Justice Department in the second Trump administration is clear, is having immediate effects, and will have long-term effects. Just how degraded DOJ has become was on full display in the Southern District of New York on Thursday…

Read more

3 days ago · 745 likes · 44 comments · Chris Geidner

Today, the DOJ has withdrawn its New York Times subpoenas, the man who shot Melissa Hortman and others in Minnesota has been sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years, oil is back up over $100 a barrel as Houthis attack ships in the Bab el Mandeb, the House passed a war powers resolution but the Senate quickly voted against it, Jim Jordan’s committee referred Jack Smith to the Justice Department for criminal perjury charges, a federal judge questioned the difference between Hegseth’s testosterone policy and gender affirming care for troops, two officers say Hegseth forced them out after questioning his policies, home foreclosures are up 71% nationwide, and Republicans blocked a bill that would stop Trump’s bribe force one retrofit.

GUEST: John Fugelsang: NYT best selling author of Separation of Church and Hate, and host of the John Fugelsang Show on Sirius XM Progress channel 127, weekdays at Noon ET.

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Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-they-targeted-two-saudi-oil-tankers-2026-07-22/

Republican blocks bill to halt retrofit of Qatari-gifted Air Force One - The Washington Post

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-committee-jack-smith-criminal-referral-doj/

Houthis attack oil tankers in Red Sea as Iran, Trump battle over trade routes

Judge questions Pentagon’s testosterone policy in trans ban lawsuit | AP News

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/23/us/mn-lawmakers-killing-sentencing

https://www.ms.now/news/hegseth-pentagon-purge-officers-forced-out

https://abcnews.com/US/foreclosures-rise-nationwide-data-shows/story?id=134525683

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-trump-iran-war-powers/

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/07/22/wv-gop-house-member-elliott-pritt-charged-with-enticing-minor-girl-through-roblox-snapchat/

https://www.ms.now/news/doj-investigating-rep-cory-mills

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/world/europe/epstein-daniel-siad-dead-model-scout.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/22/takeaways-arizona-primaries-republican-2020-election-deniers-advance/

Fired federal prosecutor in Seattle sues Trump - POLITICO

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-approves-landmark-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-in-big-win-for-kingdom-2ed77584

House passes Pentagon funding and limits on stock trades in a last dash before recess : NPR

6 Democrats cross aisle, join GOP to back annual defense policy bill

Today, RFK Jr pauses a billion dollars in Medicaid to California and Minnesota, Rep. Jamie Raskin is seeking documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s foreign contacts, IRS Chief Frank Bisignano spied on colleagues when he worked at JPMorgan, Trump and the OMB are violating the Impoundment Control Act by ignoring Congressional appropriations, an appeals court has overturned the release order of Mohsen Mahdawi, an appeals court has denied Peter Navarro’s bid to overturn his contempt of congress conviction, and a federal judge says Trump has to hand over his financials in discovery in the BBC libel case.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

Trump and OMB accused of violating power of the purse via rejected cuts

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-appeals-court-overturns-order-releasing-pro-palestinian-protester-mahdawi-2026-07-21/

RFK Jr pauses $1bn Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota | Medicaid | The Guardian

Raskin seeks documents into Jeffrey Epstein’s foreign contacts - Live Updates - POLITICO

IRS Chief Frank Bisignano Spied on Colleagues When He Worked at JPMorgan - WSJ

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Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

ICE shared Medicaid data it shouldn’t have with Palantir : NPR

Rubio urges international counterterrorism crackdown on the far-left - ABC News

https://www.ms.now/news/trump-legal-bills-pac-millions

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-phone-records.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/judge-puts-temporary-pause-paramount-warner-bros-merger-rcna587804

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-should-preserve-reflecting-pool-evidence-judge-says

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/19/troy-jackson-likely-maine-senate-nominee-platner-01004490

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/20/darline-graham-launches-senate-campaign-south-carolina-lindsey-graham-01004994

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/20/nancy-mace-not-run-for-senate-01005210

Join DEFIANCE.org

You can watch the entire interview here:

Today, Senator Warren calls out millions in missing Trump library bribes, Markwayne Mullin threatens state election officials with jail time, a top IRS was fired for opposing the president’s tax immunity granted by Todd Blanche, more details emerge about the abusive past of the ICE agent that murdered Johan Guerrero, FBI said it will no longer investigate ICE murders as the agency is going to investigate itself, Donald is planning to sell insider trading tips early to Wall Street investors, an ICE concentration camp contractor shot a protestor in Colorado, the US military has launched a new round of strikes after Iran killed two service members in Jordan, the administration has launched the Alien Terrorist Deportation Court, a judge ruled the firing of the FEMA CFO was illegal, and the Tate brothers were arrested in Miami for extradition to the UK on rape and sex trafficking charges.

GUEST: Scott Greytak | Deputy Executive Director of Transparency International U.S. joins me to discuss cryptocurrency and the CLARITY Act.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/07/16/ice-david-brouillette-johan-guerrero-maine-shooting/138be3c6-816a-11f1-8a16-393bd03340b0_story.html

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/homeland-security-mullin-threaten-state-election-officials-voter-registration-save/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/16/inside-trumps-remaking-american-elections-00999693

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/trump-media-early-access-truth-social-posts-rcna587912

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/17/trump-fema-firing

ICE Processing Center Officer Accused of Shooting Protester Near Colorado Facility - Newsweek

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/top-treasury-tax-official-ousted-after-clashes-with-white-house-over-irs-audits-60d5b1df

https://www.ms.now/news/trump-library-corporate-settlements-democrats-letter

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/trump-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-01004184

https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-18-2026-5adfef67554652580963684d9a663af2?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6a5bba8d41d4be0001ee9e18&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

Mullin Threatens Local Election Officials With Jail Time - The New York Times

The Tate brothers arrested by US Marshals in Miami on UK extradition request over rape and sex trafficking charges | CNN

Today, multiple 2020 election deniers met this week at the White House ahead of Trump’s address, The ex-wife of the ICE officer who shot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Maine has come forward to say that he had mental health issues and was abusive in their relationship, Todd Blanche says he will meet with Epstein survivors so he can get his nomination to Attorney General out of committee, JD Vance’s security detail is fed up with last-minute personal and family trips, White House officials were asked to surrender their phones in a wide-ranging leak investigation, 103 House Democrats voted against aid to Israel including Nancy Pelosi, Kegseth says the flyovers will continue until morale improves after buzzing beachgoers in Florida, the McCains are raising money to re-elect Democrat Katie Hobbs as governor of Arizona, Donald’s teleprompter operator made six figures betting on his speeches, and the Treasury will begin minting $1 coins with Trump’s face after snubbing the Harriet Tubman $20 bill.

GUEST: John Fugelsang. Host of The John Fugelsang Show on Sirius XM Progress 127 weekdays at Noon ET, NYT best selling author of Separation of Church and Hate.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

Vance’s security detail ‘fed up’ with hastily arranged personal and family travel requests

US Mint to begin producing $1 coins featuring Trump - POLITICO

Exclusive: Officials asked to turn over phones at the White House as Wiles, Patel lead intensifying leak probe | CNN Politics

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/15/us/politics/democrats-house-israel-vote-aid.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navys-blue-angels-low-flyover-pensacola-beach-florida-video/

In Arizona, the McCain name is now raising money for a Democrat

https://abcnews.com/US/white-house-teleprompter-operator-made-100k-betting-trumps/story?id=134764573

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/democrats-israel-support

https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/16/ice-agent-who-shot-man-in-biddeford-identified-as-former-maine-law-enforcement-officer/

https://www.ms.now/news/election-denial-activists-briefed-at-white-house-ahead-of-trumps-prime-time-speech

Today, Todd Blanche and Jay Clayton testify in their respective confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill, Trump says ICE should continue traffic stops less than one day after DHS suspended the practice, Donald threatens to destroy bridges and civilian power plants in Iran, and ICE admits it has a trove of documents about being stationed at polling places.

GUEST: Adam Klasfeld with to discuss the Todd Blanche confirmation hearing

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/ice-agents-polling-places-documents-democrats-foia-demand/

AG nominee Blanche told top Democrat he ‘made a mistake’ with $1.8B anti-weaponization fund | Courthouse News Service

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-ice-traffic-stops-shootings-maine-texas-rcna587620

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0608wy8pro

Today, E Jean Carroll gets her $5M payment from Trump plus interest per court documents, the Justice Department loses another voter roll case bringing them to zero for 13, the Wisconsin Elections Commission has made two criminal referrals to the Brown County DA against Elon Musk for his $1M voter lottery scheme, Senate Democrats have blocked the $1.15T Pentagon policy bill, ICE has been ordered to stop pursuing people in cars, one of the strictest abortion bans in the US could be defeated in November, Marco Rubio launches a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, New York became the first state to ban data centers, new polling shows Talarico leads Paxton among Hispanic business owners in Texas, and Michael Cohen has been secretly meeting with Donald Trump

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

Michael Cohen Helped Convict Trump. Now, He’s Making Nice Again. - The New York Times

https://www.ms.now/news/new-polling-shows-talarico-leads-paxton-among-hispanic-business-owners

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/e-jean-carroll-trump-5-million-sex-abuse-defamation-payment/

Trump DOJ 0 for 13 in voter roll grab after court dismisses West Virginia lawsuit - Democracy Docket

ICE told to stop pursuing people in cars as pressure to arrest blamed for fatal shootings

One of strictest US abortion bans could be overturned in November’s election | Idaho | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/13/marco-rubio-dismantle-international-criminal-court

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/14/us/supreme-court-kagan-barrett

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article316506896.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium-2026-07-14/

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/politics/elon-musk-wisconsin-supreme-court-1-million-checks

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/14/senate-dems-block-defense-bill-protest-iran-war-00997134

Trump’s HHS backs off most radical effort to stop healthcare for trans youth : NPR

Today, Trump will give a Thursday night address likely to produce falsified evidence of foreign interference in the 2020 election, a federal judge has sanctioned two lawyers and referred Blanche and Woodward to the bar for disciplinary action after finding Donald’s lawsuit against the IRS was a fraud on the court, the Justice Department has finally turned over evidence in the shooting case of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, 12 states have filed a lawsuit to block the Paramount / Skydance Warner Bros. merger, the Governor of South Carolina has appointed Lindsey Graham’s sister to take over his Senate seat for the remainder of the term, ICE agents have killed another person in a vehicle in Biddeford Maine sparking protests at Susan Collins’ office, 20 agents from the FBI and other federal agencies were seen with U.S. Capitol Police officers entering Lindsey Graham’s house, and Katie Phang fires back at Todd Blanche’s refusal to release court-ordered Epstein documents.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.startribune.com/renee-good-alex-pretti-federal-evidence-shared-with-minnesota-investigators/601866776

12 states file lawsuit to block $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-lindsey-graham-congress-2026-election-doj-iran-live-updates-rcna587234

https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/13/shooting-reported-in-biddeford-2/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/13/trump-recommends-lindsey-grahams-sister-serve-rest-his-senate-term/

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779.20.0.pdf

https://www.ms.now/news/trump-classified-intelligence-midterm-elections-2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/us/biddeford-maine-ice-shooting.html

Today, Lindsey Graham died this weekend and a scramble for his Senate seat is already underway, New York Times journalists have been subpoenaed over the story revealing deficiencies in the Qatari bribe jet, the FBI has admitted it has training videos on who to redact from the Epstein files, a Houston man killed by ICE was not their original target, Trump has ousted the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission ahead of the midterms, Jeanine Pirro begs a judge for more time to produce records relating to Kash Patel’s drinking, Judge Kelly has granted Trump’s motion to dismiss the Proud Boys’ seditious conspiracy charges, Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by IDF during his West Bank visit, and whistleblowers have detailed several problems stemming from rushed or improper reconstruction of the Kennedy Center.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/witnesses-houston-ice-shooting.html

Trump ousts Election Assistance Commission members ahead of midterms

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/10/migrants-who-saw-man-killed-by-ice-houston-say-he-did-not-ram-officers/

Mexican immigrant killed by ICE was not target, Democratic lawmaker says

https://www.rawstory.com/pirro-patel-drinking-lawsuit/

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/business/media/new-york-times-trump-subpoenas.html

Rep. Ro Khanna detained by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit

Democrat reveals whistleblower allegations of Kennedy Center construction woes | AP News

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/12/house-republicans-fight-lindsey-graham-appointment-00994123

In the summer, multiple anonymous FBI and DOJ sources who participated in the review confided in me that there were training videos instructing them on how to find, log, and redact Trump’s name.

I filed a Freedom of Information Act request, then sued the government to get the videos. In a stunning admission, the FBI just sent me their response confirming the videos exist. I have forwarded the information to House Oversight and Senate Judiciary committees ahead of this week’s confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche.

I will show you the letter and discuss the massive implications with my lawyer today at Noon PT / 3 PM ET on The Breakdown.

Subscribe now

You can watch live here in an hour:

.

Today, Mexico is seeking criminal charges over deaths linked to ICE after the fatal shooting of a Houston man, the family of a man found dead off Horn Island in Mississippi is calling for a transparent investigation, US commanders ignored warnings of outdated intelligence ahead of the strike that killed 168 students in Iran, Graham Platner has suspended his campaign but still hasn’t filed the paperwork to withdraw, Governor Pritzker in Illinois has signed a law protecting transgender patients from the federal government, Senator Markey goes scorched earth on Seth Moulton for throwing trans kids under the bus, and after being ousted from Late Night, Steven Colbert gets a record 9 Emmy nominations.

GUEST: John Fugelsang, host of Tell Me Everything on Sirius XM Progress Channel 127, weekdays at Noon ET, 9 AM PT and NYT Best Selling Author of Separation of Church and Hate.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/graham-platner-out-whats-next.html

Maine Democrats plan nomination convention to choose Platner replacement - Live Updates - POLITICO

https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/07/08/family-of-nolan-wells-found-dead-off-mississippi-island-calls-for-transparent-investigation/

Erin In The Morning

IL Gov. Pritzker Signs Law Protecting Trans Patients By Removing Testosterone from Govt. Monitoring Program

Read more

17 days ago · 561 likes · 12 comments · s. baum

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/us-commanders-intelligence-iran-school

Erin In The Morning

Markey Tells Moulton He Threw Trans Kids "Under the Bus" In MA Dem Senate Primary Debate

Read more

15 days ago · 289 likes · 17 comments · s. baum

Texas ICE Killing Darkens: Rep Says Witnesses Pressured to Self-Deport | The New Republic

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/08/feds-sideline-texas-officials-probe-into-ice-shooting-district-attorney-says/

Inside the tense final hours of Graham Platner’s campaign - POLITICO

Today, Judge Kaplan has ordered the release of $5M plus interest to E. Jean Carroll over Donald’s objections; Trump unexpectedly sidelines the Qatari Bribe Force One jet; a court orders Donald’s name to stay off the Kennedy Center as the case proceeds; Judge Hanna Dugan was sentenced to no jail time and a $5,000 fine; Texas Senate candidate and state Attorney General Ken Paxton probably committed voter fraud; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear demands proof of life from Senator McConnell; a mother who claims vaccines killed her children has been charged with their murders; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:
Judge Hannah C. Dugan Faces Fine But No Prison Time | The New York Times

Judge orders E. Jean Carroll be paid $5.8M in Trump sex abuse and defamation case | AP News

Appeals court denies Trump’s request to halt removal of his name from the Kennedy Center | NPR

Ken Paxton’s voter registration may violate Texas election law | The Texas Tribune

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Demands Health Update on Mitch McConnell | The New York Times

Mother who claims vaccines killed her 18-month-old twins is charged with their murders | NBC News

Trump flies old Air Force One out of Turkey, switches to new jet in Britain for trip home | Reuters

Today, the Maine Democratic Party is weighing its options for selecting a new candidate should Graham Platner drop out, a Trump-appointed judge blocks the government from getting the names of 2020 Georgia election workers, new data shows that Obamacare enrollment has dropped dramatically over the past year, a new lawsuit shows the United States shared asylum application details with Iran, an Afghan national who fought with US forces has died in ICE custody, the family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard is demanding answers, and Belgium beats and then trolls the US Men’s National Team on Monday night.

GUEST: My friend and New York Times bestselling author, founder of Defiance.org Miles Taylor.

Click to listen for free. Never any paywalls!

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/who-would-replace-graham-platner-maine.html

Belgium beats, then trolls, U.S. team on Monday night - NBC Sports

New 50-state data shows steep drops in Affordable Care Act enrollment | AP News

New lawsuit alleges US shared asylum application details with Iran : NPR

Afghan national who fought with U.S. forces died of allergic reaction in ICE custody

Family of man shot by Tennessee National Guard demands answers | AP News

Federal judge rejects Trump administration effort to get names of 2020 election workers in Fulton County

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/graham-platner-bernie-sanders-maine.html