Legal AF by MeidasTouch – Episode Summary: March 29, 2025

Released on March 30, 2025

Hosts:

• Ben Meiselas: Founder of MeidasTouch Network and civil rights lawyer
• Michael Popak: National trial lawyer strategist
• Karen Friedman Agnifilo: Former Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office

Executive Produced by Meidas Media Network

1. Introduction

In this robust and informative episode of Legal AF, hosts Ben Meiselas and Michael Popak delve into some of the most pressing legal and political developments of the week. Skipping past advertisements and initial introductions, the episode focuses on significant court rulings affecting former President Donald Trump’s administration, the implications of these decisions on the legal landscape, and the roles of influential law firms in these high-stakes cases.

2. Trump’s Legal Struggles in Federal Courts

Timestamp [02:15]

Ben Meiselas opens the discussion by highlighting President Donald Trump's repeated losses in federal courts. He emphasizes that three separate rulings against Trump have significantly undermined his legal strategies and authority.

Ben Meiselas [02:15]: “Donald Trump loses three times to the three law firms in federal court that actually stood up to his executive orders targeting those law firms.”

Key points include:

• Losses in Federal Courts: Trump faced legal defeats in cases where he attempted to undermine law firms opposing his executive orders.
• Judge Boasberg’s Rulings: Notably, Judge Boasberg has issued critical decisions restricting the Trump administration’s misuse of communication platforms like Signal for classified information, violating the Presidential Records Act.
• Deportation and Concentration Camps: Judge Boasberg extended an injunction preventing the Trump administration from deporting migrants to concentration camps in El Salvador without due process, a decision now pending appeal to the Supreme Court.

3. Judicial Rulings and Their Implications

Timestamp [05:38] – [24:33]

Michael Popak provides a detailed analysis of Judge Boasberg’s rulings and their broader implications:

• Signal App Case:

  • Violation of Presidential Records Act: The Trump administration was prohibited from using Signal for official communications, ensuring that all such interactions remain documented.
  • Injunction Extension: The temporary restraining order was extended to mid-April, pending further judicial review.

  Michael Popak [05:38]: “Judge Boasberg is also handling the case by the ACLU regarding Donald Trump's regime's kidnapping of migrants and sending them to concentration camps in El Salvador.”

• Alien Enemies Act Case:

  • Extended Injunction: This case deals with Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants without due process.
  • Court’s Stance: The injunction preventing these actions was upheld in a 2-1 ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, reinforcing judicial oversight over executive actions.

  Michael Popak [15:22]: “The D.C. circuit Court of Appeals issued a bad ruling regarding Donald Trump's terminations of the National Labor Relations Board member and the merit protections board member.”

• Controversial Rulings:

  • Some rulings, like those concerning the termination of NLRB members, have been criticized as unfavorable, highlighting the mixed outcomes of recent judicial decisions.

  Michael Popak [12:06]: “All the rulings except for the ghost guns were bad or at least, not good.”

4. The Role of Law Firms in Upholding Democracy

Timestamp [24:33] – [51:50]

Ben Meiselas and Michael Popak discuss the pivotal role of law firms in resisting executive overreach:

• Law Firms Taking a Stand:

  • Firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and Wilmer Hale are commended for defending the rule of law against the Trump administration’s attempts to manipulate legal systems for political gain.

  Ben Meiselas [15:22]: “There are law firms like Perkins, Coie Jenner and Block, Wilmer Hale who are fighting back on the bad guy, bad person side of this.”

• Law Firms Bending the Knee:

  • In contrast, firms like Skadden and Paul Weiss are criticized for aligning with Trump’s administration, prioritizing profits over ethical obligations and pro bono commitments.

  Ben Meiselas [15:22]: “Skadden has sacrificed their professional ethics and their professional responsibility on the altar of their profits per partner.”

• Impact on Legal Ethics:

  • The divergence in law firms’ responses underscores a broader battle within the legal community about maintaining integrity versus succumbing to political pressures.

  Ben Meiselas [15:22]: “If you didn't want to be a lawyer at this critical moment in time and you wanted to just make money in business, there were plenty of ways to do that without taking the bar and becoming and swearing an oath.”

5. Michael Popak’s New Law Firm

Timestamp [27:44] – [52:21]

A significant segment of the episode focuses on Michael Popak’s launch of his own boutique law firm, Popak Law Firm:

• Focus Areas:

  • Handles catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, car and trucking accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and assault cases.

  Michael Popak [25:23]: “Michael Popak was a former big firm lawyer early on in his career. He started his own law firm as well, which is a small boutique that he has right now.”

• Access and Support:

  • The firm offers free consultations and operates on a contingency basis, ensuring that justice is accessible to those who cannot afford high legal fees.

  Ben Meiselas [27:44]: “If you have a case, it's the POPAC firm dot com. We'll put it up on the screen. And we also have a very easy 1-800-number that's staffed. It's 1-877-popoc-AF.”

• Community Response:

  • The firm has already garnered substantial interest, receiving over a thousand inquiries, reflecting the community’s trust and support for their mission to uphold democratic values through legal advocacy.

6. Supreme Court Ruling on Ghost Guns

Timestamp [50:34] – [81:00]

The episode concludes with a discussion on a pivotal Supreme Court decision concerning ghost guns:

• Ruling Details:

  • The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against ghost guns, a significant blow to the claims of the NRA and the Trump administration.

  Ben Meiselas [75:45]: “We got a 7 to 2 ruling. And seven thought that's not such a great idea. Let's find a way to shoehorn these DIY kits into the regulations.”

• Implications:

  • This ruling mandates stricter regulation on ghost guns, which are often untraceable and used in violent crimes, aligning with public safety concerns.

  Ben Meiselas [75:45]: “You got to get a background check and you got to get registered. It's not going to be an off the grid weapon because so many of them are ending up in the perpetration of violent crime.”

• Judicial Interpretation:

  • Justice Gorsuch authored the majority opinion, emphasizing that the Gun Control Act of 1968 remains robust against modern challenges posed by ghost guns.

  Michael Popak [77:04]: “Gorsuch reproduced just buy, point, buy, build and shoot. Right. And that's the point.”

7. Conclusion and Call to Action

In wrapping up, Ben and Michael reiterate the importance of staying informed and engaged in legal battles that shape democracy. They encourage listeners to support Michael Popak’s new firm, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and engage with their content to promote vigilance against executive overreach.

Ben Meiselas [82:04]: “We covered a lot. Very comprehensive episode on today's Legal AF. Share this network with friends, family members, coworkers.”

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Meiselas [02:15]: “Donald Trump loses three times to the three law firms in federal court that actually stood up to his executive orders targeting those law firms.”

• Michael Popak [05:38]: “Judge Boasberg is also handling the case by the ACLU regarding Donald Trump's regime's kidnapping of migrants and sending them to concentration camps in El Salvador.”

• Ben Meiselas [15:22]: “If you didn't want to be a lawyer at this critical moment in time and you wanted to just make money in business, there were plenty of ways to do that without taking the bar and becoming and swearing an oath.”

• Michael Popak [24:33]: “History will have a very dark and dim view on the firms that submitted during this moment. It is a travesty, in my view, for anyone who supports democracy..."

• Ben Meiselas [75:45]: “We got a 7 to 2 ruling. And seven thought that's not such a great idea. Let's find a way to shoehorn these DIY kits into the regulations.”

• Michael Popak [77:04]: “Gorsuch reproduced just buy, point, buy, build and shoot. Right. And that's the point.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of Legal AF serves as a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing legal battles surrounding Donald Trump’s post-presidency actions and their implications for American democracy. By highlighting both victories and setbacks within the judicial system, the hosts underscore the critical role of law firms and individual legal professionals in upholding constitutional principles. Michael Popak’s launch of his own law firm symbolizes a commitment to ethical advocacy, providing listeners with resources and avenues to support and engage in legal reform.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the intersection between law and politics, Legal AF offers invaluable insights, bolstered by expert analysis and a steadfast dedication to democratic integrity.

Stay Informed. Stay Engaged. Democracy Prevails.