Legal AF: "Trump Folds Big Time as Courts Force His Hand"

Podcast: Legal AF by MeidasTouch
Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Michael Popok (national trial lawyer strategist), Ben Meiselas, Karen Friedman Agnifilo
Special Guests: Sky Perryman (Democracy Forward), Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)

Overview

This episode centers on the swift legal battle surrounding the Trump administration's initial refusal to fund SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) anti-hunger benefits and the subsequent court orders that forced Trump’s hand. Michael Popok offers legal context and interviews key participants, dissecting the administration's maneuvers, the coalition that secured a legal victory for SNAP recipients, and the broader repercussions for law, politics, and public welfare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Administration Attempts to Withhold SNAP Payments

• Issue: Trump’s administration initially refused to fully fund the $8 billion monthly SNAP payment, vital for over 40 million Americans, despite a court order.
• Tactics: Administration claimed lack of funds and bureaucratic hurdles, sought an appellate court stay, and proposed partial payments.
• Judicial Response: Judge McConnell (Rhode Island) issued a unilateral, forceful order demanding the Executive Branch find the money and pay in full.

Quote:
"They caved in the face of a federal judge's order to fund fully the SNAP anti-hunger payments. By close of business today, it appears that $8 billion has been funded by the Trump administration..."
— Michael Popok, [02:46]

2. The Role of Legal Advocacy Groups & State AGs

• Democracy Forward & Sky Perryman: Led by public interest attorneys, they obtained temporary restraining orders against the federal government, compelling immediate payment.
• Coalition Tactics: 23 Democratic Attorneys General filed their own suit in parallel, creating multifront legal pressure.

Quote:
"Democrats, Democratic attorney generals, public interest groups like Democracy Forward ran into court and obtained... two separate temporary restraining orders from Judge McConnell." — Michael Popok, [03:59]

3. Explosive Court Proceedings and Federal Excuses

• Government’s Attempted Evasion: DOJ argued a single judge should not dictate executive funding; tried to claim administrative impossibility despite access to existing funds.
• Judge’s Clarity: The judge exposed the pretext, instructing the government to use the $23 million in the Child Nutrition Fund to top up SNAP for November.

Quotes & Moments:
"The federal government was lying to the judge. They had a pot of money to make the $8 billion SNAP payments..."
— Michael Popok, [04:51]

"...even today, we have never not had SNAP funded, even in government shutdowns... The court was clear last Friday... they had an obligation under the law to do so, and that their dragging their feet was unlawful."
— Sky Perryman, [06:17]

4. The Human Toll & Political Calculations

• Impact on Vulnerable Americans: Delays meant mothers couldn’t buy food, millions left without benefits; the show underscored how the political gamesmanship endangered real lives.
• Courtroom 'Fireworks': Judge McConnell strongly rebuked the administration for administrative filibusters that hid the actual funds available.

Quote:
"We should not have to sue the President of the United States to care about the most disadvantaged in our society." — Michael Popok, [08:09]

5. Governor Josh Shapiro’s Response and Emergency Action

• State-Level Mitigation: Explains steps Pennsylvania took: suing the administration, enacting an emergency declaration, securing interim funding, rallying donations.
• Ultimate Solution: Acknowledges state action couldn't substitute for federal responsibility; celebrates court victory ensuring SNAP is federally funded again.

Quote:
"Our neighbors who were hungry, one out of every eight of our neighbors relies on this funding, and it was taken away. And we went to work here in the Commonwealth to look out for our fellow neighbors... We sued the Trump administration to get those SNAP benefits flowing again." — Governor Josh Shapiro, [08:29]

"...we know that the only answer here is for the federal government to do the right thing and simply fund SNAP. That's why I sued them. And after I sued them. We won." — Governor Josh Shapiro, [10:55]

6. The Broader Political Blowback

• Election Impacts: The episode suggests the Trump administration’s handling of the issue contributed to Republican electoral losses.
• Host’s Editorial: Popok contrasts Trump’s lavish lifestyle and indifference with the struggles of ordinary Americans, tying it back to the dire need for competent governance and compassion.

Quote:
"That's the sound of crying babies and hungry seniors, courtesy of Donald Trump, who trolled them on Election Day by saying he wasn't going to make the SNAP payments even if ordered to do so because the Democrats needed to reopen the government..." — Michael Popok, [12:44]

Notable Quotes With Timestamps

• Michael Popok:
  "They caved in the face of a federal judge's order to fund fully the SNAP anti-hunger payments..." [02:46]
  "We should not have to sue the President of the United States to care about the most disadvantaged in our society." [08:09]

• Sky Perryman:
  "The court was clear... they had an obligation under the law to do so, and that their dragging their feet was unlawful." [06:46]
  "...it means that a mom that needs to go to the grocery store to put food in the cabinet for her kids can't do so for a period of days and weeks. There's truly just no way of tolerating that." [07:09]

• Governor Josh Shapiro:
  "We sued the Trump administration to get those SNAP benefits flowing again... And after I sued them, we won."[10:55]

Major Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:46] - Michael Popok details Trump administration’s capitulation and the court’s role.
• [06:17] - Sky Perryman discusses origins of the crisis and the legal battle in detail.
• [08:29] - Governor Josh Shapiro on Pennsylvania’s response and court victory.
• [11:22] - Popok breaks down the multi-pronged legal strategy and judicial rebukes.
• [12:44] - Popok editorializes on the contrast between political priorities and the needs of ordinary people.

Conclusion

This episode of Legal AF powerfully chronicles a high-profile showdown between the Trump administration and advocates for the hungry, highlighting the essential role of court intervention in forcing the executive branch to honor its obligations to citizens. By weaving legal analysis with on-the-ground activism and political context, the episode underscores the stakes of government action — and inaction — for millions of Americans. The hosts remind the audience that without vigilance and advocacy, essential lifelines like SNAP can become pawns in larger political games, making robust legal oversight and civic engagement more critical than ever.