Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Episode: Federal Judge Issues Restraining Order on Trump for Shocking Conduct
Date: November 6, 2025
Hosts: Ben Meiselas, Michael Popok, Karen Friedman Agnifilo
Summary by: [Your Name]

Overview

This episode dives into a dramatic new legal development out of Chicago, where federal Judge Ellis has issued a restraining order—and a scathing rebuke—against the Trump Administration’s "Operation Midway Blitz." The hosts, especially Michael Popok, break down Judge Ellis’s findings regarding federal agents' excessive use of force on First Amendment protesters, the exposure of false testimony by a senior federal officer, and the powerful literary and historical references used in the court’s oral order. The episode contextualizes the ruling within broader patterns of law, historical references, and ongoing legal battles with ties to Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judge Ellis Shuts Down "Operation Midway Blitz”

• Context: Operation Midway Blitz, led by federal officer Greg Bevino under the Trump administration, targeted journalists and protesters in Chicago, using pepper spray, tear gas, and pepper balls.
• Judge’s Ruling: Judge Ellis delivered a 90-minute oral order, issuing a preliminary injunction to halt federal officers’ violent actions against First Amendment protesters.
  • [00:30] “Judge Ellis has not only shut down the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz... but she found in her 90 minute delivery of her preliminary injunction from the bench today she found that Greg Bevino... lied repeatedly in his deposition.” — Michael Popok

2. Exposing False Testimony and Federal Misconduct

• Greg Bevino’s Perjury: Bevino claimed he was hit by rocks before deploying tear gas, but Judge Ellis, relying on video evidence, found this to be a lie.
  • [02:50] “She found the Greg Bevino... lied repeatedly in his deposition saying... he was hit with rocks... Judge Ellis said that you are a liar and that did not occur.” — Michael Popok
• Clergy and Protester Abuse: The judge referenced video evidence of clergy being targeted by pepper balls, emphasizing the excessive and unconstitutional conduct.

3. Judge’s Rhetorical and Historical Flourishes

• Opening and Closing References:
  • Opened order by reciting Carl Sandburg’s poem about Chicago, specifically, “...I turned once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer.” ([03:21])
  • Concluded by quoting John Adams’ letter: “Liberty once lost is lost forever.”
• These references situate the ruling firmly within American tradition and constitutional values.
  • [06:00] “She quoted John Adams in a letter to Abigail Adams, his wife, the famous quote liberty once lost is lost forever. And what she said is she is proud of the Chicagoans who stood forward in protest, including the clergy, to protect the most vulnerable in their community...” — Michael Popok

4. Legal Consequences & Ethical Implications

• Lawyer Accountability: Popok points out that lawyers who presented Bevino’s false testimony may face severe professional consequences, including possible bar complaints for suborning perjury.
  • [09:03] “The lie is also bad for the lawyers who have an obligation of candor to the tribunal, which has been violated... It's called suborning perjury. It will get you to lose your law license.” — Michael Popok

5. Contrasts and Contextualization

• Contrasts Judge Ellis’s approach with Judge Perry, who previously blocked deployment of the National Guard (pending Supreme Court review), emphasizing the role of different judicial authorities in curbing federal overreach.

6. The Broader Trump Legal Landscape

• Reference to past legal troubles for Trump-aligned lawyers (e.g., Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell) as part of a pattern of disrespect for the judicial process.
  • [10:13] “Justice Donald Trump brought down the rule of law and our justice system when he was criminal defendant Donald Trump. And all the lawyers that lost their bar licenses...” — Michael Popok

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Literary/Historical Reference:
  • “She opened today's recitation of her order quoting from Carl Sandberg, the famous poem about Chicago... She ended it with the letter that John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail about liberty lost.” — Michael Popok [01:24]
• On Judicial Candor:
  • “As a longtime 35 year lawyer in federal courts, the jaw dropping observation by a federal judge that a person in leadership within an administration came into her courtroom and lied and was caught doing is earth shattering.” — Michael Popok [08:25]
• On Lawyer Accountability:
  • “The lie is also bad for the lawyers who have an obligation of candor to the tribunal, which has been violated. And so Justice Donald Trump brought down the rule of law and our justice system when he was criminal defendant Donald Trump. And all the lawyers that lost their bar licenses...” — Michael Popok [09:03]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:30] – Breaking down Judge Ellis’s oral order and exposure of false testimony
• [02:50] – Details of Bevino’s deposition and judge’s findings of perjury
• [03:21-03:36] – Literary and historical quotations in judge’s oral order
• [06:00] – Broader implications for civil liberties and legal tradition
• [08:25] – Popok contextualizes the significance of public perjury by a federal officer
• [09:03] – Legal and ethical fallout for lawyers involved in false testimony
• [10:13] – Connections to Trump’s legal history and sanctions against former Trump lawyers

Tone and Style

The episode is urgent, incisive, and fueled by both legal rigor and passion for constitutional values. The hosts—particularly Michael Popok—deliver analysis with a mix of professional gravitas, historical awareness, and a distinctly activist perspective, using memorable language and references to underline the significance of the developing case.

For ongoing updates:

• Subscribe to Legal AF’s YouTube & Substack for new filings, written orders, and daily analyses.
• “We’re doing 10 videos a day just to keep up with the criminality of the Trump administration. Come join us…” — Michael Popok

End of Summary