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[00:00]
Michael Popoff
Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment
[00:22]
Commercial Narrator
of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan. Required $15 per month equivalent taxes and feeds. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy. See terms when it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot. And turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today. Close your eyes, exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts keep your wellness routine going strong all summer. Kachava's new travel packs help you stick to your daily ritual even when you're on the go. Just one packet of Kachava's all in One Nutrition Shake provides complete nutrition wherever you are. With 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens, adaptogens and more. Simplify your daily ritual. Go to cachava.com and use code news for 15% off. That's K A C H A V A.com code news.
[02:00]
Michael Popoff
He didn't have the votes on Wednesday. He didn't have the votes on Thursday. He didn't have the votes on Friday, and he certainly doesn't have them leading into the weekend. In fact, Todd Blanch looks like he's lost the support of Donald Trump. But what this is really all about is that Trump wants Blanche to stand and deliver and make sure that Donald Trump and his family get a pardon, a release related to the Jan6 fund and that phony settlement that's already been found to have been entered in bad faith by Todd Blanche. And Donald Trump wants Todd Blanche on the firing line and he will not relent and release Todd Blanche. That's the reason Todd Blanche can't cut a deal with Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. It's not because he doesn't want the job. It's not because he himself wouldn't be willing to finally put out of its misery and our misery the Jan6Anti Weaponization Fund or the OR and the accompanying release. But this is all about the release, the pardon. The reason Trump is squirming is and he's trying to make it about the Jan6 fund as he doesn't want to go public with the fact that he wanted Todd Blanche as a condition of getting the attorney general nod to the day after. That Jan6 fund was created to compensate people that abused and maimed and tried to murder police officers and elected officials. The very next day, obviously at Donald Trump's request to be and and behest, Todd Blanche entered a one paragraph document. That's the tail that's wagging the dog. And that's why he can't get the votes right now, because it's not up to him. Even Cornyn and Tillis have said, I don't know what's going on here. It seems like somebody else is calling all of the shots. Yeah, the guy's name is Donald Trump because he wants desperately that release. He wants t desperately that pardon, super pardon for tax liability and audit liability worth hundreds of billions with a B of dollars to him and his family. I just got through interviewing Senator Cory Booker, the senior senator from New Jersey who's in the room where it's happening as one of the 10 Democrats. And I just interviewed him as Thursday's confirmation hearing had to be canceled and postponed because repeat after me, they don't have the votes. And I thought now's a great time to kind of bring you up to speed about everything as we lead into the weekend and beyond here on the Midas Touch Network in Legal af. I'm a traveling Michael Popak for the next couple of weeks with my family. But, you know, justice and the intersection of law and politics don't rest. And so we can't either. I'm glad you're here. Take a minute, hit that free subscribe button over on the Legal AF YouTube channel. All right, let's get down to what's going on here. This is a Senate Judiciary Committee that's controlled by Republicans. They slid in Lindsey Graham's sister, who has no background in being on the Judiciary Committee. They slid her into the slot to be sort of a seat filler to vote for Todd Blanche. But they sort of forgot about Cornyn and Tillis. And Donald Trump finally woke up and said, oh, you mean the senator Corden Cornyn, the guy that I opposed in the Texas primary, who now lost his job in the Senate come January, is opposed to me. Oh, Thom Tillis, the guy that I constantly abuse, who also is going to be resigning come January. They're opposed to me. They want Todd Blanche on one issue and one issue only to come clean. I won't let them. In fact, Donald Trump continues to lie to the American people about what this whole thing is about. He says it's about the people that were on a get this phrase and innocent journey, an innocent journey from the Ellipse to the Capitol to attack with murderous cries and blood lust to kill elected officials and to do battle with Capitol Police. We had a series of Capitol Police that committed suicide. You know what Donald Trump said about that in his, in his posting? He thought, he said, yeah, he thought that many of the, the Jan Sixers had taken their own life. No, it was law enforcement because of what they saw that day. Imagine your own nation attacking you. So when I interviewed Senator Booker, we talked about the dirty little secret here that Donald Trump continues to want to ignore and the press follows it. I'm reading things like HuffPost and reading other, you know, mainline mainstream journalism, and they're always talking about the fun, the fun, the fun they never talk about. And link it back to the settlement agreement amendment by Todd Blanche about the release, the super pardon. We do. Here's my clip of an interview that I just had with Senator Booker in the last 24 hours.
[07:00]
Senator Cory Booker
And now we have two people that saying, no, I can't have history looking back and saying that we allowed the president of the United States to have a slush fund and what could be hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax immunity for the cheating that this president we know does.
[07:16]
Michael Popoff
That's what I want to focus on, Senator Booker, because I don't think this is my working theory. I don't think this is a problem of having Todd Blanche put in writing the thing that he's told members of the House and told judges and unsworn testimony that the fund. Look at the, look at this interesting and precise choice of words, that the fund is dead. I don't think that's the problem. I Think the problem is the there is somebody who doesn't want the super pardon, the release of Donald Trump, his family, his affiliates from tax and audit liability, which is the thing I think Donald Trump really cares about, never really caring about the fund. Somebody doesn't want that to disappear. That's my working theory.
[08:01]
Senator Cory Booker
No, you and I have the same belief. Everybody needs to understand who this guy is. I've watched him for decades before he was president. Bankrupt New Jersey casinos, Drake Drive small contractors out of business by refusing to pay him, have failed endeavor after failed endeavor from Trump stakes to Trump University from housing, his charitable foundation be revealed to be an absolute scam to get him more money, take money from people and not do what they're supposed to do. So we know who he is and his time as president. It's all about his megalomania and his avarice.
[08:36]
Michael Popoff
Now, Cornyn can't figure it out either. John Cornyn came out and gave this press statement about I can't figure. He must think I'm going to go away. I'm not going to go away. And he signaled that it's not just Cornyn and Tillis that have a problem. Many on the Senate Judiciary Committee have a problem with the Jan6 fund and that super pardon given to Donald Trump and his family. Play the Corning clip. Maybe they think I'm just going to give up or, you know, go along, but they're mistaken. Did they say they're going to respond to you by 4pm today? Did they say they respond to you? I think they, I think they realize now that we're serious. And I think Senator Tillis is pretty much on the same page that I am. So they better get real. And there's not much time left now. If Donald Trump really does support Todd Blanche, he sure has a funny way of showing it. And you know that Donald Trump doesn't like to be associated with losers. If you know anything about Donald Trump, he doesn't like to be on a team with a loser. That's, that's one of many reasons why Alina Haba is no Longer a acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey. Lindsey Halligan is no longer the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Tulsi Gabbard is no longer in his administration as the Director of National Intelligence. A Pam Bondi is no longer the Attorney General, and Kristi Noem is no longer the head of ice. The question now is, has Todd Blanche now fallen into the loser category? It looks to me like he has because the first thing that Donald Trump put on social media was not a ringing endorsement. Like, I'm going to go through. I'm going to go through fire and hell and hell and back to support Todd Blanche. Oh, no. He said, just pull the nomination. I'll just pull the. No, he's a good guy. I'll pull the nomination. We'll try it again next year. Next year when the numbers are maybe worse. Doesn't that give a target for the Democrats to aim and the independents to aim for? Deny Donald Trump the House, deny him the Senate and give the Senate over to the Democrats so that Donald Trump doesn't get to have Todd Blanch as attorney general. Hasn't he made the equation? No. Now we're down to simple arithmetic. It used to be a more complicated calculus, if you know what I mean. So, you know, I didn't know what to make. It was sort of like, you know, the owner of a sports team, which Donald Trump used to be in his, in his lifetime, giving a ringing endorsement but faint praise about a sports coach that he employs. I think he's doing a great job. We're going to wait till the end of the season before we make a final decision. But I, and like two days later, the guy resigns, saying he needs to spend more time with his family. We're having that moment right now with Donald Trump. Here's what Trump posted and I'll try to, you know, I, after six years of doing this, you know, I'm fluent, I have a PhD in Trump on how to interpret things. Here's what Donald Trump had to say in his postings. I'll just point to the parts that relate to Blanche. He said, John Cornyn never had a problem with the so called fund which will not benefit me, but rather the great American patriots who were hunted like dogs and whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed by the crooked Joe Biden administration. Stop right there. First of all, Cornyn, and tell us hate the fun, but they hate more the, the super pardon to you and your family, which you ignore in your, every time you talk about what this, what this is about, you try to make it about the people on an innocent journey. You know, the, the lovely people who, you know, erected a guillotine and brought makeshift weapons and real weapons and used it to attack the Capitol Police and the Metro Police. Right. He goes on to say, millions of people agree with me, as we have proven in my landslide presidential win. All right? He beat sort of a hobbled Kamala Harris, you know, after a lack of a primary for the Democrats after Joe Biden pulled out late. Todd Blanche, a good man. This is, this is, this is now 3/4 to 4/5 of the way through the posting. And he finally mentioned Todd Blanche. Faint, damning, faint praise. As we say in the business, Todd Blanche, a good man, should be immediately approved as a US Attorney General. Thank you. Thank you. I love our cat, Chanel, but I definitely don't love everything that comes with having a cat, especially the litter box. Since switching her to Smalls, though, I've noticed a real difference. Smalls Fresh cat food is protein packed, made with preservative free, 100% human grade ingredients you'd find in your fridge, and it's delivered right to your door. My cat goes absolutely feral for these recipes and I've noticed more energy, a softer coat, and a whole lot less stink. It makes sense because Smalls is fresh. Gently cooked food is made without preservatives, so cats get more of the nutrition they actually need. In fact, after switching to smalls, 88% of cat owners reported overall health improvements. And if you're worried your cat might be picky, you can try Smalls risk free. They'll refund you if your cat won't eat their food. So stop serving your little carnivore a bowl of processed shortcuts for a limited time because you are a legal AF listener. Get 60% off your first order plus free shipping and free treats for life when you head to smalls.com legalaf that's 60% off your first order plus free shipping and, and free treats for life when you head to smalls.com legal a f I had a conversation about what was going on here and fundamentally whether we should be concerned that the replacement for Tom Blanche could be even worse. I actually asked Senator Booker, I said, on behalf of our, of our audience, I said, you know, some in our audience are saying maybe we should just take, just take Blanche because the next person I don't know, Bill Pulte, Jeanine Pirro, one of these, you know, Mike Davis, one of these other MAGA crazies would be worse. But he made a very compelling point about why we have to fight so hard. Play my clip. Some people are like, well, he's terrible, Todd Blanch, but the next nominee if he loses could be worse. In other words, we know that Donald Trump is picking from the bottom of the barrel, the bottom of dealing from the bottom of the deck. Some people I have actually said and I've told them it is possible that Donald Trump is his own Attorney General. There's nothing in the Constitution that says the president can't be his own attorney general. So what do you say to people that say, let's just take Todd Blanche, the devil you know, the next one could be even worse. It could be Bill Pulte, right? It could be Jeanine Pirro. It could be, you know, Harmeet Dhillon. Fill in the blank. What do you say to those people?
[15:47]
Senator Cory Booker
I would say, please don't surrender to that idea because that will lead us into a pretty terrible place. I know from my own history as a black American that people fought hard as hell for every inch of ground we gained. And this idea that if we just acquiescence, if we just give in, maybe it won't be as bad as we imagine it to be, that to me, is inviting disaster and accepting, resigning yourself to injustice. We have to fight. I am telling you right now, when it comes to principled stands, we have to stand up or there'll be the slow erosion of the very principles that are worth fighting for.
[16:37]
Michael Popoff
Now, here's what Thom Tillis had to say. The other, the other swing vote here from North Carolina always comes off. I mean, I don't, I don't agree with most of what he does, but he always comes off as very reasonable when he's dealing with these particular issues. He said about four hours ago, the president made it clear today that the so called anti weaponization fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it. While I never disagreed that the Biden administration pursued a number of vindictive prosecutions related to Jan6, that's where I kind of go. I kind of jumped the tracks with Tillis. But let's continue. The criminals who assaulted police officers and defiled our nation's capital are not, quote, great American patriots quoting from Donald Trump, who are, quote, victims of government abuse. Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government. Senator Cornyn and I, Tom Tillis Rights, have been working with Blanche to end the fund. And he's been forthright, thoughtful, impatient. It's a shame his confirmation has hit a snag only because of an incompetent personal advisor to the president who refuses to amend the bogus settlement. So here this is again. Classic Thom Tillis. He creates the straw man of this unknown personal advisor to the president and says that's the boogeyman, not Trump, who is calling the shots here. And I don't know if that's. He thinks we, if he thinks we'll think it's Stephen Miller. It's the only person in the White House that has that type of power. I don't think it's Susie Wiles, the chief of staff. So if you're looking for somebody on the inside, inside it's Stephen Miller, but I don't think it's Stephen Miller. I think what corny, what Tillis is doing is trying like he did with the when Jeanine Pirro brought the prosecution, attempted prosecution against Jay Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, Tillis was like, I think the president's getting some bum advice. I think he should that was like a, to give Trump some face saving in order to solve this and blame this unknown person in the White House not named Donald Trump that's calling the shots. Forget that this is all about the release and the super pardon. There's only one person in the White House that wants it. It's the president of the United States, Donald Trump. Tillis continues. I will continue working in good faith to put an end to put an end to this legal and political albatross and prevent any potential misallocation of taxpayer dollars. But it's this phone, this creation of this phony boogeyman, you know, the real president that that is just until is trying to throw Trump a bone so he can sweep in and say, I got some bum advice and I've decided that I'm going to rip up the whole darn thing. He's not going to rip up the whole darn thing. He could care less about the Jan6 fund. He's always wanted the release that Blanche gave him. Blanche is the only attorney general that was willing to give him that. That was the condition to get nominated. Todd Blanche was left twisting in the wind for several months while Donald Trump allowed a little bit of a Hunger Games to break out about the attorney general position. Will, will it be Janine Pirro? Will it be Harmeet Dylan, the civil Rights Division head? Will it be Lee Zeldin, the head of the epa? No. Or will it be the guy that will do anything I asked him to do, including creating $100 billion worth of tax liability to audit exposure, release and immunity for me? That's the guy that gets it just days after he announced it. You don't think that was a quid pro quo? You don't think that was the deal? That was the transaction for the art of the deal President it certainly was. We'll continue to follow it. All right here. You're on the Midas Touch Network in Legal af. I'm Michael Popoff. Not my normal studio. I'M on holiday with my family, but we can't take a break. We're trying to defeat Todd Blanche's Attorney General. So together we'll do it. Hit that free subscribe button on legal a YouTube channel until my next report, I'm Michael Popak. Can't get your fill of Legal af? Me neither. That's why we formed the Legal AF substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do called, wait for it Morning af. What else? All the other contributors from Legal a for there as well. We got some new reporting, we got interviews, we got ad free versions of the podcast and hot takes where Legal aforementioned on substack. Come over now to free subscribe
[21:17]
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[22:03]
Michael Popoff
love this episode, make sure you're subscribed to the Intersection Audio Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. It's my solo ride and we release new episodes daily, all completely free.

Summary5 min read

Legal AF by MeidasTouch — "Trump Suddenly Traps His Own AG Pick"

Episode Date: August 2, 2026
Host(s): Michael Popok, Ben Meiselas, Karen Friedman Agnifilo
Guest: Senator Cory Booker

Episode Overview

This episode explores the explosive political and legal drama surrounding Donald Trump’s stalled nomination of Todd Blanche for Attorney General. Host Michael Popok and guest Senator Cory Booker dive deep into how Trump’s demand for a sweeping "super pardon" for himself and his family — particularly as it relates to Jan 6 and tax liabilities — has collapsed support for his AG pick among Senate Republicans. Focused on real-time developments, the episode breaks down the behind-the-scenes deals, exposes Trump’s true motives, and outlines why the Senate is refusing to move forward.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Senate Judiciary’s Standstill: A Nomination in Crisis

[01:59] Michael Popok

Trump lacks the votes to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General, due largely to his unyielding insistence on a release (super pardon) from Jan 6 and tax/audit liabilities.
Todd Blanche’s one-paragraph amendment to a "phony settlement" related to the Jan 6 fund became the sticking point. Trump refuses to allow Blanche to negotiate or drop the settlement, paralyzing the nomination.

“Trump wants Blanche to stand and deliver and make sure that Donald Trump and his family get a pardon, a release related to the Jan 6 fund and that phony settlement... That’s why he can't get the votes right now, because it’s not up to him.”
— Michael Popok [02:40]

Senate Republicans (notably John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina) refuse to move forward, citing the problematic fund and especially the underlying super pardon.

The True Motivation: Immunity for Trump and Family

[06:59] Senator Cory Booker

The Jan 6 fund is a smokescreen. What Trump truly wants is immunity for himself and his associates from tax and audit liability.
Booker affirms the fund is only “worth hundreds of millions” to Trump, signaling the high stakes.

“We have two people saying, no, I can't have history looking back and saying we allowed the president... to have a slush fund and... tax immunity for the cheating that this president we know does.”
— Senator Cory Booker [06:59]

A Pattern of Self-Dealing and Abuse

[08:00] Senator Cory Booker

Booker provides context: Trump’s history of bankruptcies, business scams (Trump University, charitable foundation), and self-dealing. The super pardon ties into a long history of evading accountability.

“So we know who he is... his time as president — it's all about his megalomania and his avarice.”
— Senator Cory Booker [08:00]

The Backroom Politics: Who’s Really Pulling the Strings?

Trump tries to deflect blame onto advisors; senators suspect “someone else is calling all the shots.”
Popok rejects this narrative: “The guy’s name is Donald Trump because he wants desperately that release... super pardon for tax liability.” [02:50]
Senator Tillis points fingers at a supposed "incompetent personal advisor," but Popok notes this is a political smokescreen.

Trump’s Weak Public Support for Blanche

[11:52] Michael Popok

Trump’s social media statements on Blanche lack conviction, referencing him only deep into his posts and with faint praise.
Rather than defend Blanche, Trump pivots to attacking critics and threatening to pull the nomination.
The hosts liken this to Trump’s habit of abandoning perceived "losers" or liabilities on his team.

“He finally mentioned Todd Blanche. Faint, damning, faint praise. As we say in the business, Todd Blanche, a good man, should be immediately approved as US Attorney General. Thank you.”
— Michael Popok, paraphrasing Trump [12:40]

The Democratic Strategy: Why Not “Just Take Blanche”?

[14:45] Michael Popok and Senator Cory Booker

Popok voices a question from listeners: Would it be better to accept Blanche, out of concern that Trump’s next nominee could be worse?
Booker rebuffs this argument, citing civil rights struggles: yielding on principle tolerates injustice and erodes constitutional values.

“Please don’t surrender to that idea because that will lead us into a pretty terrible place... if we just give in, maybe it won’t be as bad as we imagine — that to me, is inviting disaster and accepting, resigning yourself to injustice. We have to fight.”
— Senator Cory Booker [15:47]

Republican Reactions: Cornyn & Tillis Dig In

Cornyn and Tillis remain publicly opposed, harshly criticizing both the fund and especially the proposed super pardon.
Popok notes the emerging consensus is less about the fund itself, more about refusing Trump’s sweeping immunity.

“Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government.”
— Senator Thom Tillis, as quoted by Popok [16:40]

Tillis blames a “personal advisor” for sabotaging negotiations, but Popok debunks this as an attempt to let Trump save face.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Trump’s Motivation:
“This is all about the release, the pardon... worth hundreds of billions with a B of dollars to him and his family.”
— Michael Popok [02:59]
On Republican Resistance:
“Maybe they think I’m just going to give up, or, you know, go along, but they’re mistaken.”
— Sen. John Cornyn [08:35]
On Lessons from History:
“Please don’t surrender to that idea... we have to stand up or there’ll be the slow erosion of the very principles worth fighting for.”
— Senator Cory Booker [15:47]

Key Timestamps

[01:59] — Overview of deadlocked Judiciary vote, Trump’s motives for the “super pardon”
[06:59] — Senator Cory Booker on dangers of the release and the super-pardon
[08:00] — Booker's history lesson on Trump’s pattern of corruption and self-dealing
[11:52] — Analysis of Trump’s public statements and reluctance to defend Blanche
[14:45] — Popok/Booker on risks of settling for a compromised AG
[16:36] — Sen. Thom Tillis's full statement rejecting both the fund and the pardon logic

Tone and Style

Throughout, the podcast maintains an analytical, urgent, and critical tone. Popok’s style is direct and unsparing, with a sense of both legal expertise and political urgency. Senator Booker’s contributions add moral perspective and an emphasis on fighting for principle, not just pragmatism.

Summary

This episode offers a penetrating look at the legal and moral stakes of Trump’s failed AG nomination. Far from being a mere political sideshow, the fight over Todd Blanche centers on Trump’s attempt to secure sweeping immunity for himself — a move even Senate Republicans refuse to abet. With expert legal analysis and firsthand political insight, the episode illustrates why resisting such self-serving power plays is essential to constitutional government, regardless of what compromise might offer in the short term.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:00]
Michael Popoff
Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment
[00:22]
Commercial Narrator
of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan. Required $15 per month equivalent taxes and feeds. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy. See terms when it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot. And turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today. Close your eyes, exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts keep your wellness routine going strong all summer. Kachava's new travel packs help you stick to your daily ritual even when you're on the go. Just one packet of Kachava's all in One Nutrition Shake provides complete nutrition wherever you are. With 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens, adaptogens and more. Simplify your daily ritual. Go to cachava.com and use code news for 15% off. That's K A C H A V A.com code news.
[02:00]
Michael Popoff
He didn't have the votes on Wednesday. He didn't have the votes on Thursday. He didn't have the votes on Friday, and he certainly doesn't have them leading into the weekend. In fact, Todd Blanch looks like he's lost the support of Donald Trump. But what this is really all about is that Trump wants Blanche to stand and deliver and make sure that Donald Trump and his family get a pardon, a release related to the Jan6 fund and that phony settlement that's already been found to have been entered in bad faith by Todd Blanche. And Donald Trump wants Todd Blanche on the firing line and he will not relent and release Todd Blanche. That's the reason Todd Blanche can't cut a deal with Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. It's not because he doesn't want the job. It's not because he himself wouldn't be willing to finally put out of its misery and our misery the Jan6Anti Weaponization Fund or the OR and the accompanying release. But this is all about the release, the pardon. The reason Trump is squirming is and he's trying to make it about the Jan6 fund as he doesn't want to go public with the fact that he wanted Todd Blanche as a condition of getting the attorney general nod to the day after. That Jan6 fund was created to compensate people that abused and maimed and tried to murder police officers and elected officials. The very next day, obviously at Donald Trump's request to be and and behest, Todd Blanche entered a one paragraph document. That's the tail that's wagging the dog. And that's why he can't get the votes right now, because it's not up to him. Even Cornyn and Tillis have said, I don't know what's going on here. It seems like somebody else is calling all of the shots. Yeah, the guy's name is Donald Trump because he wants desperately that release. He wants t desperately that pardon, super pardon for tax liability and audit liability worth hundreds of billions with a B of dollars to him and his family. I just got through interviewing Senator Cory Booker, the senior senator from New Jersey who's in the room where it's happening as one of the 10 Democrats. And I just interviewed him as Thursday's confirmation hearing had to be canceled and postponed because repeat after me, they don't have the votes. And I thought now's a great time to kind of bring you up to speed about everything as we lead into the weekend and beyond here on the Midas Touch Network in Legal af. I'm a traveling Michael Popak for the next couple of weeks with my family. But, you know, justice and the intersection of law and politics don't rest. And so we can't either. I'm glad you're here. Take a minute, hit that free subscribe button over on the Legal AF YouTube channel. All right, let's get down to what's going on here. This is a Senate Judiciary Committee that's controlled by Republicans. They slid in Lindsey Graham's sister, who has no background in being on the Judiciary Committee. They slid her into the slot to be sort of a seat filler to vote for Todd Blanche. But they sort of forgot about Cornyn and Tillis. And Donald Trump finally woke up and said, oh, you mean the senator Corden Cornyn, the guy that I opposed in the Texas primary, who now lost his job in the Senate come January, is opposed to me. Oh, Thom Tillis, the guy that I constantly abuse, who also is going to be resigning come January. They're opposed to me. They want Todd Blanche on one issue and one issue only to come clean. I won't let them. In fact, Donald Trump continues to lie to the American people about what this whole thing is about. He says it's about the people that were on a get this phrase and innocent journey, an innocent journey from the Ellipse to the Capitol to attack with murderous cries and blood lust to kill elected officials and to do battle with Capitol Police. We had a series of Capitol Police that committed suicide. You know what Donald Trump said about that in his, in his posting? He thought, he said, yeah, he thought that many of the, the Jan Sixers had taken their own life. No, it was law enforcement because of what they saw that day. Imagine your own nation attacking you. So when I interviewed Senator Booker, we talked about the dirty little secret here that Donald Trump continues to want to ignore and the press follows it. I'm reading things like HuffPost and reading other, you know, mainline mainstream journalism, and they're always talking about the fun, the fun, the fun they never talk about. And link it back to the settlement agreement amendment by Todd Blanche about the release, the super pardon. We do. Here's my clip of an interview that I just had with Senator Booker in the last 24 hours.
[07:00]
Senator Cory Booker
And now we have two people that saying, no, I can't have history looking back and saying that we allowed the president of the United States to have a slush fund and what could be hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax immunity for the cheating that this president we know does.
[07:16]
Michael Popoff
That's what I want to focus on, Senator Booker, because I don't think this is my working theory. I don't think this is a problem of having Todd Blanche put in writing the thing that he's told members of the House and told judges and unsworn testimony that the fund. Look at the, look at this interesting and precise choice of words, that the fund is dead. I don't think that's the problem. I Think the problem is the there is somebody who doesn't want the super pardon, the release of Donald Trump, his family, his affiliates from tax and audit liability, which is the thing I think Donald Trump really cares about, never really caring about the fund. Somebody doesn't want that to disappear. That's my working theory.
[08:01]
Senator Cory Booker
No, you and I have the same belief. Everybody needs to understand who this guy is. I've watched him for decades before he was president. Bankrupt New Jersey casinos, Drake Drive small contractors out of business by refusing to pay him, have failed endeavor after failed endeavor from Trump stakes to Trump University from housing, his charitable foundation be revealed to be an absolute scam to get him more money, take money from people and not do what they're supposed to do. So we know who he is and his time as president. It's all about his megalomania and his avarice.
[08:36]
Michael Popoff
Now, Cornyn can't figure it out either. John Cornyn came out and gave this press statement about I can't figure. He must think I'm going to go away. I'm not going to go away. And he signaled that it's not just Cornyn and Tillis that have a problem. Many on the Senate Judiciary Committee have a problem with the Jan6 fund and that super pardon given to Donald Trump and his family. Play the Corning clip. Maybe they think I'm just going to give up or, you know, go along, but they're mistaken. Did they say they're going to respond to you by 4pm today? Did they say they respond to you? I think they, I think they realize now that we're serious. And I think Senator Tillis is pretty much on the same page that I am. So they better get real. And there's not much time left now. If Donald Trump really does support Todd Blanche, he sure has a funny way of showing it. And you know that Donald Trump doesn't like to be associated with losers. If you know anything about Donald Trump, he doesn't like to be on a team with a loser. That's, that's one of many reasons why Alina Haba is no Longer a acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey. Lindsey Halligan is no longer the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Tulsi Gabbard is no longer in his administration as the Director of National Intelligence. A Pam Bondi is no longer the Attorney General, and Kristi Noem is no longer the head of ice. The question now is, has Todd Blanche now fallen into the loser category? It looks to me like he has because the first thing that Donald Trump put on social media was not a ringing endorsement. Like, I'm going to go through. I'm going to go through fire and hell and hell and back to support Todd Blanche. Oh, no. He said, just pull the nomination. I'll just pull the. No, he's a good guy. I'll pull the nomination. We'll try it again next year. Next year when the numbers are maybe worse. Doesn't that give a target for the Democrats to aim and the independents to aim for? Deny Donald Trump the House, deny him the Senate and give the Senate over to the Democrats so that Donald Trump doesn't get to have Todd Blanch as attorney general. Hasn't he made the equation? No. Now we're down to simple arithmetic. It used to be a more complicated calculus, if you know what I mean. So, you know, I didn't know what to make. It was sort of like, you know, the owner of a sports team, which Donald Trump used to be in his, in his lifetime, giving a ringing endorsement but faint praise about a sports coach that he employs. I think he's doing a great job. We're going to wait till the end of the season before we make a final decision. But I, and like two days later, the guy resigns, saying he needs to spend more time with his family. We're having that moment right now with Donald Trump. Here's what Trump posted and I'll try to, you know, I, after six years of doing this, you know, I'm fluent, I have a PhD in Trump on how to interpret things. Here's what Donald Trump had to say in his postings. I'll just point to the parts that relate to Blanche. He said, John Cornyn never had a problem with the so called fund which will not benefit me, but rather the great American patriots who were hunted like dogs and whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed by the crooked Joe Biden administration. Stop right there. First of all, Cornyn, and tell us hate the fun, but they hate more the, the super pardon to you and your family, which you ignore in your, every time you talk about what this, what this is about, you try to make it about the people on an innocent journey. You know, the, the lovely people who, you know, erected a guillotine and brought makeshift weapons and real weapons and used it to attack the Capitol Police and the Metro Police. Right. He goes on to say, millions of people agree with me, as we have proven in my landslide presidential win. All right? He beat sort of a hobbled Kamala Harris, you know, after a lack of a primary for the Democrats after Joe Biden pulled out late. Todd Blanche, a good man. This is, this is, this is now 3/4 to 4/5 of the way through the posting. And he finally mentioned Todd Blanche. Faint, damning, faint praise. As we say in the business, Todd Blanche, a good man, should be immediately approved as a US Attorney General. Thank you. Thank you. I love our cat, Chanel, but I definitely don't love everything that comes with having a cat, especially the litter box. Since switching her to Smalls, though, I've noticed a real difference. Smalls Fresh cat food is protein packed, made with preservative free, 100% human grade ingredients you'd find in your fridge, and it's delivered right to your door. My cat goes absolutely feral for these recipes and I've noticed more energy, a softer coat, and a whole lot less stink. It makes sense because Smalls is fresh. Gently cooked food is made without preservatives, so cats get more of the nutrition they actually need. In fact, after switching to smalls, 88% of cat owners reported overall health improvements. And if you're worried your cat might be picky, you can try Smalls risk free. They'll refund you if your cat won't eat their food. So stop serving your little carnivore a bowl of processed shortcuts for a limited time because you are a legal AF listener. Get 60% off your first order plus free shipping and free treats for life when you head to smalls.com legalaf that's 60% off your first order plus free shipping and, and free treats for life when you head to smalls.com legal a f I had a conversation about what was going on here and fundamentally whether we should be concerned that the replacement for Tom Blanche could be even worse. I actually asked Senator Booker, I said, on behalf of our, of our audience, I said, you know, some in our audience are saying maybe we should just take, just take Blanche because the next person I don't know, Bill Pulte, Jeanine Pirro, one of these, you know, Mike Davis, one of these other MAGA crazies would be worse. But he made a very compelling point about why we have to fight so hard. Play my clip. Some people are like, well, he's terrible, Todd Blanch, but the next nominee if he loses could be worse. In other words, we know that Donald Trump is picking from the bottom of the barrel, the bottom of dealing from the bottom of the deck. Some people I have actually said and I've told them it is possible that Donald Trump is his own Attorney General. There's nothing in the Constitution that says the president can't be his own attorney general. So what do you say to people that say, let's just take Todd Blanche, the devil you know, the next one could be even worse. It could be Bill Pulte, right? It could be Jeanine Pirro. It could be, you know, Harmeet Dhillon. Fill in the blank. What do you say to those people?
[15:47]
Senator Cory Booker
I would say, please don't surrender to that idea because that will lead us into a pretty terrible place. I know from my own history as a black American that people fought hard as hell for every inch of ground we gained. And this idea that if we just acquiescence, if we just give in, maybe it won't be as bad as we imagine it to be, that to me, is inviting disaster and accepting, resigning yourself to injustice. We have to fight. I am telling you right now, when it comes to principled stands, we have to stand up or there'll be the slow erosion of the very principles that are worth fighting for.
[16:37]
Michael Popoff
Now, here's what Thom Tillis had to say. The other, the other swing vote here from North Carolina always comes off. I mean, I don't, I don't agree with most of what he does, but he always comes off as very reasonable when he's dealing with these particular issues. He said about four hours ago, the president made it clear today that the so called anti weaponization fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it. While I never disagreed that the Biden administration pursued a number of vindictive prosecutions related to Jan6, that's where I kind of go. I kind of jumped the tracks with Tillis. But let's continue. The criminals who assaulted police officers and defiled our nation's capital are not, quote, great American patriots quoting from Donald Trump, who are, quote, victims of government abuse. Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government. Senator Cornyn and I, Tom Tillis Rights, have been working with Blanche to end the fund. And he's been forthright, thoughtful, impatient. It's a shame his confirmation has hit a snag only because of an incompetent personal advisor to the president who refuses to amend the bogus settlement. So here this is again. Classic Thom Tillis. He creates the straw man of this unknown personal advisor to the president and says that's the boogeyman, not Trump, who is calling the shots here. And I don't know if that's. He thinks we, if he thinks we'll think it's Stephen Miller. It's the only person in the White House that has that type of power. I don't think it's Susie Wiles, the chief of staff. So if you're looking for somebody on the inside, inside it's Stephen Miller, but I don't think it's Stephen Miller. I think what corny, what Tillis is doing is trying like he did with the when Jeanine Pirro brought the prosecution, attempted prosecution against Jay Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, Tillis was like, I think the president's getting some bum advice. I think he should that was like a, to give Trump some face saving in order to solve this and blame this unknown person in the White House not named Donald Trump that's calling the shots. Forget that this is all about the release and the super pardon. There's only one person in the White House that wants it. It's the president of the United States, Donald Trump. Tillis continues. I will continue working in good faith to put an end to put an end to this legal and political albatross and prevent any potential misallocation of taxpayer dollars. But it's this phone, this creation of this phony boogeyman, you know, the real president that that is just until is trying to throw Trump a bone so he can sweep in and say, I got some bum advice and I've decided that I'm going to rip up the whole darn thing. He's not going to rip up the whole darn thing. He could care less about the Jan6 fund. He's always wanted the release that Blanche gave him. Blanche is the only attorney general that was willing to give him that. That was the condition to get nominated. Todd Blanche was left twisting in the wind for several months while Donald Trump allowed a little bit of a Hunger Games to break out about the attorney general position. Will, will it be Janine Pirro? Will it be Harmeet Dylan, the civil Rights Division head? Will it be Lee Zeldin, the head of the epa? No. Or will it be the guy that will do anything I asked him to do, including creating $100 billion worth of tax liability to audit exposure, release and immunity for me? That's the guy that gets it just days after he announced it. You don't think that was a quid pro quo? You don't think that was the deal? That was the transaction for the art of the deal President it certainly was. We'll continue to follow it. All right here. You're on the Midas Touch Network in Legal af. I'm Michael Popoff. Not my normal studio. I'M on holiday with my family, but we can't take a break. We're trying to defeat Todd Blanche's Attorney General. So together we'll do it. Hit that free subscribe button on legal a YouTube channel until my next report, I'm Michael Popak. Can't get your fill of Legal af? Me neither. That's why we formed the Legal AF substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do called, wait for it Morning af. What else? All the other contributors from Legal a for there as well. We got some new reporting, we got interviews, we got ad free versions of the podcast and hot takes where Legal aforementioned on substack. Come over now to free subscribe
[21:17]
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[22:03]
Michael Popoff
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