GOP Judge Unleashes on Trump in Open Court in Minnesota

Summary

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Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Episode: GOP Judge Unleashes on Trump in Open Court in Minnesota
Date: January 31, 2026
Hosts:

• Ben Meiselas (MeidasTouch founder & civil rights lawyer)
• Michael Popok (national trial lawyer strategist)
• Karen Friedman Agnifilo (former Chief Assistant DA, Manhattan)

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Overview of Episode’s Main Theme

This episode dives deep into a bombshell federal court order out of Minnesota, where Chief Judge Schultz, a conservative George W. Bush appointee, fiercely rebukes ICE for its rampant defiance of court orders in immigration cases. The discussion centers on the unprecedented scale of noncompliance, the Trump administration's disregard for judicial authority, and the brewing showdown between the federal judiciary and executive branch over the rule of law.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judge Schultz’s Unprecedented Rebuke of ICE

(00:59 – 05:55)

• Scope of the Issue: Judge Schultz found that, in just the month of January 2026, ICE violated 96 court orders in 74 cases in Minnesota alone.

  • “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, 00:59)

• Immediate Case:

  • The judge had ordered the release or a bond hearing for a detainee, Juan TR (name redacted for privacy), which ICE failed to comply with by the deadline.
  • Judge Schultz threatened to summon Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, for contempt.
  • ICE complied at the last minute but the judge kept up pressure, cataloging systemic noncompliance.

• Tone of Judicial Frustration:

  • “This list should give pause to anyone, no matter his or her political beliefs, who cares about the rule of law...” (Judge Schultz, quoted by Michael Popok, 05:17)

• Legal Impact:

  • Judge Schultz warned of future contempt proceedings and emphasized that ICE isn’t "a law unto itself."
  • ICE “must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated.”

• Sanctions and Next Steps:

  • Court declined to immediately sanction ICE but left the door open for sanctions if properly requested:
    • “If Juan wants to seek monetary sanctions, he may file a properly supported motion to that effect.” (05:49)

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2. Political Fallout and Media Response

(07:28 – 09:48)

• Right-Wing Attacks on the Judge:

  • After the order, conservative media (notably Fox) tried to paint Judge Schultz as biased because of minor past donations to immigrant rights groups.
  • Michael Popok counters by noting judges donate across the spectrum and that this is a non-issue:
    • “Judges are allowed to be apparently a member of the Federalist Society… they can also contribute to the ACLU and immigration rights projects once in a while without it making them unfit.” (Michael Popok, 07:45)

• Trump Administration’s Attempts to Shield Officials:

  • ICE head Todd Lyons is described as being “hidden” by the administration to prevent scrutiny.
  • Lyons authored a controversial memo, revealed by whistleblowers, instructing ICE to use battering rams to enter homes with only administrative, not neutral judicial, warrants:
    • “All they have in their hands besides the battering ram is the administrative warrant issued by a Trump judge in ICE… We’re missing something aren’t we? An independent, neutral federal judge.” (Michael Popok, 08:22)

• Pattern of Accountability Avoidance:

  • References to other top officials being fired, demoted, or protected—painting a picture of systematic evasion of judicial oversight.

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3. The Broader Theme: The Rule of Law vs. Political Power

(09:22 – 10:35)

• Attacks on Journalists and the First Amendment:

  • Example given of Don Lemon, journalist, being arrested while covering a protest in St. Paul, Minnesota—part of a broader crackdown on dissent and the press.
  • “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.” (Michael Popok, 09:54)

• Call to Support Independent Journalism:

  • Urges the Legal AF community to stay informed, emphasizing the importance of platforms and reporting on these developments.

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Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE's Lawlessness:

  • “ICE has likely violated more court orders in this month… than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
    — Michael Popok quoting Judge Schultz (01:09)

• A Conservative Judge's Courage:

  • “Rock-rib conservative, Bush appointee—not leftist, not Marxist, not activist. Oh, they found it! Fox propaganda network… Oh, the judge donated to an immigrant rights project with his wife. Oh really?”
    — Michael Popok (07:28)

• On Trump Administration's Evasion:

  • “And now they're hiding Todd Lyons. We'll cover it all right here on the Midas Touch Network.”
    — Michael Popok (09:03)

• On Press Freedom:

  • “Donald Trump will stop at nothing to crush dissent, First Amendment expression, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and independent media.”
    — Michael Popok (09:54)

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:59: Introduction of Judge Schultz’s searing order against ICE
• 03:40: Details of the Juan TR bond hearing and ICE’s noncompliance
• 04:37: Judge Schultz’s warning and potential contempt proceedings
• 05:17: Extended quote from Judge Schultz’s order
• 07:28: Right-wing media response and allegations against Judge Schultz
• 08:22: Breaking down Todd Lyons’ memo and ICE’s unconstitutional home raids
• 09:22: Broader context of attacks on press and democracy
• 09:54: Don Lemon’s arrest and the chilling effect on journalism

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Episode Flow & Tone

• The episode is brisk, unapologetic, and highly engaged, with sharp legal analysis and a sense of outrage at executive abuses of power.
• Michael Popok, in particular, delivers detailed explanations packed with passion, legal context, and a defense of the judiciary’s independence, while consistently calling for the audience to support independent journalism and legal accountability.

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Summary

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the developing constitutional crisis around law enforcement’s defiance of judicial authority, as well as the Trump-era attacks on democratic norms and the press. The hosts contextualize Judge Schultz’s fiery order as both a rare act of judicial courage and a red warning sign for the state of rule of law in America.

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Transcript

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[Legal Commentator]

Terms 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 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 on Michael Popak. How 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 protests 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 to 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, time of my recording, then he's going to call in and require in 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 Lemons 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 ethics 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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[Legal Commentator]

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 until my next report. I'm Michael Popak.

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