Furious GOP Judge Unleashes on Trump in Open Court in MN!!

Summary

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Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Episode: Furious GOP Judge Unleashes on Trump in Open Court in MN!!
Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Michael Popok (with the MeidasTouch Network)

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Overview

In this Legal AF episode, Michael Popok delivers a scathing breakdown of the explosive order issued by Chief Judge Schultz, a conservative federal judge in Minnesota, targeting the Trump administration’s repeated defiance of court orders involving ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The episode centers on how Judge Schultz has meticulously documented ICE’s noncompliance—revealing almost 100 violations in a single month—and his pointed warnings to ICE officials and the Trump administration. Popok also addresses the political backlash against Schultz, the exposure of controversial ICE tactics, and threats to the rule of law and constitutional freedoms under Trump-appointed officials.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Judge Schultz Exposes ICE’s Court Defiance

[02:29]–[07:25]

• Popok begins by quoting Judge Schultz’s damning order:

  "ICE has likely violated more court orders in this month, January 2026—it’s not even over yet—than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." – Michael Popok quoting Judge Schultz ([02:34])

• Judge Schultz catalogues:

  • 96 court orders violated in 74 cases—just during January 2026.
  • Describes the Minnesota federal judiciary as “groaning under the weight” of supervising ICE’s activity and addressing protest cases, street violence, and due process for migrants.
  • When ICE ignored a court order to release/review the case of a detainee referred to as Juan T.R., Judge Schultz threatens contempt and possible jail time for ICE officials, especially Acting Director Todd Lyons.

• Judge Schultz’s warning to ICE:

  "ICE is not a law unto itself ... must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated." ([06:28])
  He hints at future contempt proceedings and personal accountability for top ICE officials.

• Grounds for Sanctions:

  • Juan T.R. may further seek monetary sanctions.
  • The systemic nature of ICE’s defiance is underscored as not mere error, but deliberate noncompliance.

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The Political Backlash Against Judge Schultz

[08:59]–[10:45]

• Popok exposes right-wing attacks on Schultz, despite his conservative credentials (appointed by Bush, not a “leftist” or “activist”).

• Fox News attempts to question Schultz’s impartiality over charitable donations to immigrant-rights organizations:

  "Judges are allowed to be apparently a member of the Federalist Society, exclusive clubs ... and they can also contribute to the ACLU and immigration rights projects once in a while without it making them unfit or biased ..." – Michael Popok ([09:19])

• Popok highlights the double standard applied to conservative judges versus those perceived as liberal.

• Focus on why the Trump administration is hiding Todd Lyons:
  Revelations that leaked memos authored by Lyons allegedly gave ICE agents excessive authority (including use of battering rams for home raids) based only on administrative warrants—potentially violating the Fourth Amendment.

• Political consequences for Trump officials and allies:

  • Recent firings (e.g., Greg Bevino of Border Patrol) and attempts by Trump loyalists to dodge public scrutiny.

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Broader Implications: Rule of Law and First Amendment Threats

[10:46]–[12:05]

• Popok concludes with concerns about press freedom and the chilling effect on dissent under Trump:
  • Notes arrest of Don Lemon at the Grammy Awards for covering a protest, drawing parallels to attacks on journalists.
  • The administration’s attempts to suppress independent media and stifle the freedom of expression:

    "It shows you that Donald Trump will stop at nothing to crush dissent, First Amendment expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression and independent media." ([11:23])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE’s violations:

  "The extent of ICE’s non-compliance is almost certainly substantially understated. This list is confined to orders issued since January 1, 2026, and hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges." – Michael Popok quoting Judge Schultz ([04:56])

• On political attacks on Judge Schultz:

  "How are they going to come after Schultz? Rock-rib conservative, Bush appointee... Oh! Fox propaganda network and its black ops... the judge donated to an immigrant rights project with his wife." ([08:59])

• On threats to civil liberties:

  "ICE is not a law unto itself. ... ICE has every right to challenge orders, but must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated." – Michael Popok ([06:28]) "Donald Trump will stop at nothing to crush dissent, First Amendment expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression and independent media." ([11:23])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:29]–[07:25] – Popok’s detailed breakdown of Judge Schultz’s order and damning ICE violations
• [08:59]–[10:45] – Analysis of backlash and attempts to undermine Judge Schultz
• [10:46]–[12:05] – Broader implications for rule of law and press freedom

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Tone and Language

The episode is direct, urgent, and critical of both ICE’s conduct and the Trump administration’s efforts to circumvent judicial oversight. Popok, while analytical, uses pointed language to highlight hypocrisy and the gravity of ongoing constitutional violations. The show’s commitment to independent legal analysis and fierce defense of civil liberties is evident throughout.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode sharply unpacks the Minnesota federal court’s rebuke of ICE and exposes the Trump administration’s pattern of noncompliance and hostility toward the rule of law. Popok emphasizes the troubling escalation of government defiance, dangers to constitutional freedoms, and the critical legal battles that lie ahead—reminding listeners why vigilance and independent reporting are more vital than ever.

Transcript

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[Michael Popak]

[e-mail] according to a new order of the Chief Judge of the Minnesota Federal Courts. Listen to this Quote from his order. ICE has likely violated more court orders in this month, January 2026. It's not even over yet than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. Judge Schultz pushing back, fighting back against the Trump administration and its defiance, its refusal to file, to comply with orders in a brand new orders of his in which he has cataloged that it that just this month, ICE has violated 96 court orders in 74 cases. And the judge is concerned he's looking to put somebody in jail or find them in contempt. And we're here for it. On the Midas Touch Network and Legal af, I'm Michael Popak. How did this all start? Well, Chief Judge Schultz, because he's in Minnesota, has a number of cases in front of him from the protest on the street, from the murders on the street by ice, and he also supervises all the other judges in Minnesota within the 8th Circuit. And he ordered last week that a petitioner identified as Juan TR be released, be given a bond hearing or be immediately released. The bond hearing didn't happen. And when the deadline came and went and they violated that order, the judge issued another order. He said, if he's not released by this Friday, the time of my recording, then he's going to call in and require and command that Todd Lyons, the acting head of ice, show cause why he should not be found in contempt unless a stipulation is filed by Friday that Mr. Mr. Kwan T.R. is released. Well, they did that. But if the Department of Justice felt like, well, we're out of the woods now, we released the guy, that's the end of it. No, we have the concluding order. He's got to get his pound of flesh. Judge Schultz, and here's what he said in his new order, which is up on Legal AF substack. I'm glad you're here, by the way. Midas Touch independent journalism under attack. The day of Don Lemon's arrest. Hit the free subscribe button, come over to Legalif YouTube and show your support for what we do here on YouTube and on in an independent journalism. Here's what the judge had to say on page two. Respondents didn't hold a bond hearing. The court then issued a show cause cause order and scheduled a hearing at which it ordered the personal appearance of Todd Lyons, acting Director of the U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement. The court noted that if the parties filed a stipulation indicating that one had been released, the court would cancel the hearing. It would not require Lions to appear. The parties have now filed such stipulation and therefore the Court will not require Lions to appear. But according to the judge on page two, that does not end the court's concerns. Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. Now, when I first read that, I was like, oh, like in a year, that's, that's really high. In a year, it's in a month, it's in the month of January, it's this month. The extent of ICE's non compliance is almost certainly substantially understated. This list is confined to orders issued since January 1, 2026, and hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges. Because the judges of Minnesota are groaning under the weight and the responsibility of all, not just the cases where ICE executes or Border Patrol executes an American, but all the other migrants and people who are picked up and Americans who are picked up and arrested have to be processed through the judicial system. It all falls on the Minnesota courts. The judge continues. Judge Schultz, this list should give pause to anyone, no matter his or her political beliefs. Who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2020 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. The court warns. We're getting to the warning part now. The court warns ICE that future noncompliance with court orders may result in future show cause orders requiring the personal appearance of Lions or other government officials. ICE is not a law unto itself. ICE has every right to challenge orders, but must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated. Juan asked this court to schedule a hearing. So about the hardships he suffered and asking for effectively sanctions. The court will not schedule a hearing at this time. If Juan wants to seek monetary sanctions, he may file a properly supported motion to that effect. Judge Shelton, Legal AF is brought to.

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[Michael Popak]

Now, what's happened since. Oh, you got. You know, I was always wondering how they're going to come after Schultz Rock rib conservative, Bush appointee. Not leftist, not Marxist, not activist. Oh, they found it. Fox propaganda network and it's black ops. Oh, the judge donated to an immigrant rights project with his wife. Oh, really? I got news for them. Judges are allowed to be apparently a member of the Federalist Society, exclusive clubs, all sorts of MAGA clauses, and they can also contribute to the ACLU and immigration rights projects once in a while without it making them unfit or biased or conflicted to make rulings in cases. That's the reason that he ordered it is not because of his donations. It's because of the 96 orders that have been violated, including about Todd Lyons and of the Trump administration wants to hide Todd Lyons because he's the author of the secret memo that got leaked by two insider Department of ICE whistleblowers who said he wrote or signed a memo that gave ICE officers carte blanche to use battering rams to burst down the front doors of your home in violation of the Fourth Amendment with all. All they have in their hands besides the battering ram is the administrative warrant issued by a Trump judge in ice. So a Trump judge, on Trump advice, uses a Trump agent to go make an arrest. We're missing something, aren't we? An independent, neutral, federal judge, District Court, Article 3 Judge or a magistrate judge. Just outrageous that Todd Lyons. And I'm sure that's one of the reasons they wanted to hide him. Just like they got rid of Greg Bevino, the head of Border Patrol. This was going to be his swan song. He was going to. He ended up getting fired by Trump. Christy Gnome, Sideline almost on her way out. Pam. Bonnie still running around as if she's got a. A job, as if she's got job security when we know she doesn't. And. And now they're hiding Todd Lyons. We'll cover it all right here on the Midas Touch Network. One plea. Friends of us Friends of Midas touch like Don Lemon, arrested at the Grammy Awards for being a journalist because he was a journalist that was covering a protest at a Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. There's gonna be a press conference. They're gonna I'm sure we'll get our hands on the arrest warrant or the indictment or the criminal complaint, but it shows you that Donald Trump will stop at nothing to crush dissent. First Amendment expression, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and independent media. Live here on YouTube on the Midas Dutch network. On Legal AF, hit the free subscribe button. Just use your thumb finger. Same thing on Legal AF YouTube channel. Now more than ever, Legal AF substack where we post this kind of order for you to read. Keep our community together. Keep us on the air till my next report. I'm Michael Popak.

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Are there as well.

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