Legal AF Podcast: The Intersection with Michael Popok – January 13, 2026
Podcast Theme & Overview
This episode of “Legal AF” features Michael Popok at the helm for “The Intersection,” delivering incisive analysis of the latest explosive—and deeply concerning—developments at the intersection of law and politics in Trump-era America. The show’s focus swings from the chaos inside the Department of Justice (DOJ), to landmark lawsuits brought by Democratic state attorneys general, to attempts by the Trump administration to weaponize federal agencies for political aims. Notably, Popok spotlights the moral and legal reckoning facing the DOJ after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent and its ensuing internal exodus, along with other seismic news including lawsuits by Attorneys General Keith Ellison and Rob Bonta, attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, and legal actions by/against Sen. Mark Kelly. The conversation is defined by the urgent, candid, and impassioned tone that typifies Legal AF.
Table of Contents
- Department of Justice in Crisis: Resignations and Scandal
- The ICE Shooting of Renee Good & Cover-up Attempts
- Civil Rights Division Exodus & Harmeet Dhillon’s Role
- Attorney Generals Fight Back – Keith Ellison and Minnesota’s Lawsuit
- Special Guest Segment: California AG Rob Bonta’s Legal Battles
- Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Under Attack—The “Dark Jay” Moment
- Mark Kelly Lawsuit: On Speech, Oversight, and Democratic Norms
- Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Episode Timestamps for Major Segments
1. Department of Justice in Crisis: Resignations and Scandal <a name="doj"></a>
Key Points:
- Popok opens with a blistering account of the “dumpster fire” that is the DOJ, noting 10 senior leaders/prosecutors resigning or being fired in just 24 hours—directly linked to Trump’s attempts to use DOJ for political revenge or cover-ups.
- Specific mention is made of the resignation of the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson and his two lieutenants, alongside half a dozen senior figures from the Civil Rights Division.
- Cites a move by DOJ to order Thompson to investigate Renee Good’s widow, Becca Good, as a “left-wing agitator”—a red line that led to resignations.
“There is just some things that a prosecutor who has taken an oath…will not do. Every person has to make that decision for themselves.” – Michael Popok (12:40)
2. The ICE Shooting of Renee Good & Cover-up Attempts <a name="reneegood"></a>
Key Points:
- The killing of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent has sparked outrage and precipitated DOJ resignations.
- DOJ allegedly pressured local federal prosecutors to criminally target Becca Good, the deceased’s widow, to advance a right-wing narrative.
“We shouldn't believe our lying eyes in the videos... We should believe that somehow Becca Good is a bad person… They’ve been radicalized to do what? To blow whistles? To dance in their car, honking the horn?” – Michael Popok (13:00)
- Senator J.D. Vance (R) is heard advancing the administration’s story, resisting any empathy for Good and calling her a “victim of left-wing ideology.”
“You’ve got to be a little brainwashed to get to that point… I certainly wish that she hadn’t got there.” – J.D. Vance (14:33)
- Popok calls out the falsehoods directly: “We’ve all seen the video. She was there first… She was sitting in the car to make a point, to make a protest point. As a US Citizen.” (15:18)
3. Civil Rights Division Exodus & Harmeet Dhillon’s Role <a name="civilrights"></a>
Key Points:
- Senior career officials in the Civil Rights Division resigned after new chief Harmeet Dhillon refused to let them investigate the ICE agent who shot Renee Good.
- The division, once proud of its history in prosecuting seminal civil rights cases, is now depicted as being dismantled from the inside out for political reasons.
“She [Dhillon] was given the same mission by Donald Trump that he gave Linda McMahon for the department of Education: chloroform it. Put it out of business, stop using it, if anything, weaponize it.” – Michael Popok (18:24)
4. Attorney Generals Fight Back: Keith Ellison and Minnesota’s Lawsuit <a name="ellison"></a>
Key Points:
- Minnesota AG Keith Ellison files a federal lawsuit to challenge ICE’s use of excessive force and federal agent surges in Minnesota, asserting violations of the Constitution and of local sovereignty.
- The lawsuit mirrors similar actions in other states (notably Illinois’).
Keith Ellison, press conference:
“We allege that the surge, reckless impact on our schools… is a violation of the 10th Amendment and the sovereign laws and powers the Constitution grants to states… We ask that the courts will end the surge of thousands of DHS agents into Minnesota.” (25:16)
5. Special Guest: California AG Rob Bonta’s Legal Battles <a name="bonta"></a>
A. Filing the 54th Lawsuit Against Trump Administration <a name="bonta54"></a>
- Bonta confirms he won’t run for governor in 2026 but seeks reelection as AG, citing the critical legal frontlines.
- He details the achievement of having filed 54 lawsuits against Trump policies in under a year—a mix of civil rights defenses and battles over federal overreach.
- Many of these lawsuits are collaborative efforts among the 23 Democratic AGs nationally.
“When we fight, we win. When we stand against injustice… and go to court and hold this administration accountable to the law and to the facts, we win.” – Rob Bonta (34:56)
B. Defending Transgender Rights Amidst Culture Wars <a name="transrights"></a>
- Bonta’s 54th suit challenges a Trump admin condition requiring states to “erase” transgender and non-binary identities to receive funding—calling the rule “inhumane, cruel, and wrong.”
- These actions tie into the national legal battle over transgender rights, as also argued before the Supreme Court that same day.
“They're trying to impose conditions on us to shove a hateful agenda down our throat. And we won't stand for it.” – Rob Bonta (37:00)
- Discussed alongside the SCOTUS hearing on West Virginia’s attempt to ban transgender student athlete Becky Pepper.
C. Blocking Trump’s Attempt to Cut Welfare Funding <a name="welfare"></a>
- Bonta recently obtained a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) against a Trump admin policy to withhold $10B in safety-net funds from five blue states, zero evidence of fraud being cited as pretext.
- The move targets “our most vulnerable Californians… families, seniors, the disabled… based on an unsubstantiated, empty, baseless allegation of fraud.” (44:14)
D. Cooperation Among Democratic AGs <a name="agcollab"></a>
- Extensive “war room” style coordination among Democratic AGs before and after Trump’s inauguration, maximizing knowledge sharing and strategic lawsuits.
“We feel that we're able to deliver more as a whole than we [could] as the sum of our parts, and that we have created something special. We like each other, Michael.” – Rob Bonta (50:37)
6. Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Under Attack—The “Dark Jay” Moment <a name="powell"></a>
Key Points:
- Trump attempts to force Powell out as Fed Chair by launching a criminal investigation into alleged construction cost overruns, aiming to undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence.
- Powell, usually soft-spoken, fires back, reinforcing the need for the Fed to make policy “without political fear or favor,” and receives rare bipartisan support from Senate Republicans and international central bankers.
“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.” – Jay Powell (60:53)
- Popok explains how Trump's tactics backfired, cementing Powell in office and even fracturing GOP unity on the Senate Banking Committee.
7. Mark Kelly Lawsuit: On Speech, Oversight, and Democratic Norms <a name="kelly"></a>
Key Points:
- Sen. Mark Kelly is being threatened with censure and worse by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump for reminding military members of their duty to uphold the Constitution—not just follow illegal orders.
- Trump publicly called for Kelly to be “hanged;” Hegseth labeled him as potentially having committed war crimes.
- Kelly has filed suit to defend his First Amendment rights and legislative independence.
“What I really worry about are the other veterans out there… that don't have a platform like I do. Where are they going to be with this administration if they decide to speak out?” – Mark Kelly (69:35)
8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments <a name="quotes"></a>
-
Popok (opening on DOJ chaos):
“The dumpster fire that is the Department of Justice has gotten a lot worse in the last 24 hours, if that is at all possible.” (02:00)
-
On Renee Good’s widow, Becca’s statement:
“Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children... I’m now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him, that the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts and we need to show them a better way.” (27:00)
-
On bipartisan pushback to Trump’s Fed attack:
“All Donald Trump had to do was shut his, you know what? Mouth, which he's incapable of doing... and he would have gotten exactly what he wanted.” – Michael Popok (61:55)
-
AG Bonta, on defending trans rights:
“They just try to use it as a wedge issue to attack and turn it into a political weapon… they checked [their humanity] at the door. They need to… find it and bring it back.” (41:18)
9. Episode Timestamps for Major Segments <a name="timestamps"></a>
- DOJ Dumpster Fire, Initial Context: [02:00–12:30]
- The Renee Good Shooting and Right-Wing Cover-Up: [12:30–18:30]
- Civil Rights Division Exodus (Harmeet Dhillon): [18:30–24:30]
- Keith Ellison Lawsuit Press Conference: [25:16]
- Becca Good’s Statement (Read by Popok): [26:36]
- Rob Bonta Interview Start: [33:04]
- Why Bonta is Staying as AG: [33:23]
- On Lawsuits Against Trump, National Guard Suits: [34:56]
- On the 54th Lawsuit (Transgender Rights): [36:54]
- On Child Welfare Funding TRO: [44:14]
- On AGs’ Collaboration: [50:37]
- Powell & Fed Investigation: [53:24–61:55]
- Powell’s Video Response Clip: [60:53]
- Mark Kelly Lawsuit & Trump’s Threats: [69:17]
- Closing Thoughts—Call to Action: [71:04–76:40]
Summary Takeaways
This episode delivers a forceful unpacking of the Trump administration’s attempts to bend the rule of law in its favor, the implosion of internal DOJ integrity, and the coordinated pushback by state-level Democratic leaders. With interviews and rapid analysis, Popok and guests paint a picture of a legal and political system under siege—but also a landscape of fierce resistance, innovation, and hope. The episode is a must-listen for a nuanced, boots-on-the-ground understanding of how democracy and the rule of law are being stress-tested in real time.