Legal AF by MeidasTouch – “Trump Suffers Total Wipeout in Court in Worst Week Yet”
Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Michael Popok (on behalf of MeidasTouch Network)
Summary by: [Expert Podcast Summarizer]
Main Theme / Purpose
This episode of Legal AF offers a sweeping analysis of the worst legal week yet for Donald Trump and his administration, featuring a remarkable series of setbacks in courts across the United States. Host Michael Popok recounts a losing streak spanning federal, appellate, and Supreme Court proceedings. He highlights how these rulings collectively represent a restoration of the rule of law and a major obstacle to Trump’s efforts to reshape federal policies, especially in regard to immigration, social welfare, and protest rights. The episode further contextualizes these legal losses within the political landscape after a devastating election night for MAGA-Republicans.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Historic Legal Defeats for Trump and His Administration
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Overview: Trump and MAGA lost in eight separate court proceedings over the past week, spanning jurisdictions nationwide, with combined losses reaching ten by the episode’s end.
Quote:“Donald Trump and his administration are going down the drain. He is finally being chopped down to size by the hundreds of lawsuits that have been brought against him.”
— Michael Popok (00:31) -
Significance: Courts imposed multiple injunctions and rebuked Trump’s Department of Justice for overreach, procedural flaws, and lack of credibility.
- “It’s all turning terribly, terribly against Donald Trump and in favor of our rule of law, our system of justice. It’s getting its groove back.” (00:49)
2. Coast-to-Coast Case Summaries
Rhode Island (Permanent Injunctions, SNAP Funding)
- Action:
- Judge McConnell issued a permanent injunction blocking the withholding of billions in infrastructure payments to “sanctuary” states.
- Issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) that forced Trump’s administration to pay out $5 billion of $8 billion in overdue SNAP anti-hunger payments to 42 million Americans.
- Remaining dispute on $3 billion is now before the Supreme Court.
“Judge McConnell, the chief judge, issued not one but two major orders this past week alone... That’s now. So at least he was able to get 5 out of the 8 billion now.”
— Michael Popok (01:27–02:15)
Massachusetts (Extending SNAP Protections)
- Action:
- Judge Telwani also ruled against DOJ, protecting SNAP benefits for millions, including 16 million children.
Washington D.C. (Jury Acquittal)
- Action:
- A jury acquitted the so-called “sandwich guy” (a former DOJ paralegal prosecuted for throwing a sandwich at a CBP officer).
“Juries are not buying what the Department of Justice is selling at all.”
— Michael Popok (02:53)
Eastern District of Virginia (“Comey” Case)
- Action:
- Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick forced the DOJ to turn over all documents and grand jury materials relating to James Comey.
- Rebuked DOJ for “prosecuting first and investigating second.”
South Carolina (Letitia James Grand Jury Materials)
- Action:
- Judge Curry (sitting in South Carolina) demanded grand jury material on Lindsey Halligan, questioning her appointment as a U.S. Attorney.
- Potential ramifications for the indictment against Letitia James.
Supreme Court: Tariffs Case
- Action:
- Supreme Court oral arguments over Trump tariffs—potentially worth trillions—cast doubt on Trump’s legal rationale even among conservative justices.
“Even the MAGA right wing and Trump appointees were not pleased with Donald Trump’s arguments about his trying to tariff, tariff and taxes way stealing power from Congress.”
— Michael Popok (04:23)
Chicago (Protesters’ Rights)
- Action:
- Judge Ellis escalated a TRO to a preliminary injunction, finding that the Trump administration abused First Amendment protesters and clergy.
- Discovered perjury by Operation Midway Blitz’s leader, and condemned lawyers for suborning perjury.
“She found that was a lie, that he perjured himself and she entered a preliminary injunction against further abuse of protesters in Chicago.”
— Michael Popok (05:19)
Oregon (National Guard Deployment)
- Action:
- Trump-appointed Judge Immergut issued a permanent injunction forbidding Trump from deploying the National Guard in Portland, Oregon.
- Ruled Trump violated state sovereignty and the 10th Amendment.
3. Political Fallout: Election Night Losses
- Pattern:
- Democrats made significant gains in New Jersey, Mississippi, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.
- California voters passed Prop 50 to redraw legislative maps for more Democrat seats.
- Noted demographic shifts: women, independents, and Hispanics turning against Trump.
Quote:
“Thirteen delegates in Virginia, now blue. Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court justices in Pennsylvania, all the ones, the six that were up that are blue, they won.”
— Michael Popok (06:37)
4. Analysis: Systemic Weakness at DOJ Post-Trump
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Observation:
- DOJ’s credibility is fundamentally broken after years of Trump leadership.
Quote:
“The Department of Justice is not doing well because Donald Trump destroyed its integrity, destroyed its authenticity, destroyed its ethics. It has no credibility in the courtrooms.”
— Michael Popok (08:01) -
Summary of the Week’s Defeats:
- 10 major legal losses, encompassing injunctions, jury acquittals, unfriendly oral arguments, and procedural reprimands nationwide.
Quote:
“A historic losing streak of 10 cases… in front of juries, supreme courts, appellate courts, federal courts, from Rhode Island to California and Oregon, from sea to shining sea, from the purple mountains to the—sorry, I’m starting to break out into patriotic song here.”
— Michael Popok (08:22-08:38)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the cascade of losses:
“If I was a law firm that represented a client and had to report to them that in one week we lost... We would be fired.”
— Michael Popok (07:44) -
Encouraging resilience:
“I know a lot of people… are getting fatigued and they shouldn’t be…. Focus on democracy and the rule of law and what we’re doing in the courts with almost, you know, 7, 800 cases, it’ll end up being soon. And a 90% winning streak in those cases.”
— Michael Popok (08:40) -
On the purpose of the litigation:
“What we’re doing to both win, stop Donald Trump and he folds, get billions of dollars where it belongs or tie Donald Trump up in knots and slow down his fascism, his dictatorial, tyrannical pace and hold him accountable. That’s what’s happening.”
— Michael Popok (09:00)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:30–01:27: Introduction to the week’s legal defeats
- 01:27–02:15: Rhode Island decisions (permanent injunction, SNAP payments)
- 02:15–02:53: Massachusetts SNAP decision + “Sandwich guy” acquittal
- 02:53–04:23: Eastern District of Virginia, South Carolina decisions
- 04:23–05:19: Supreme Court oral arguments on tariffs
- 05:19–05:55: Chicago protesters’ case, findings of perjury
- 05:55–06:37: Oregon National Guard case and introduction to election night context
- 06:37–08:01: Election night analysis, DOJ’s credibility breakdown
- 08:01–08:38: Week in review, national legal losing streak
- 08:40–09:20: Encouragement to audience, final reflections on the week
Episode Tone
Candid, urgent, but ultimately optimistic about the trajectory of legal accountability and the resilience of democratic institutions. Michael Popok blends legal expertise with clear, accessible commentary aimed at both informed listeners and the broader public.
Additional Notes
- The episode is sharply focused on the substantive legal victories and does not delve into the personalities of the judges or opponents except where strictly relevant.
- The host closes by encouraging engagement (subscribing, joining Substack), underscoring Legal AF’s mission to provide timely litigation updates and honest analysis.
For listeners seeking a highly informed, succinct, and passionate breakdown of the cascade of legal setbacks for Trump, this episode delivers clarity, context, and motivation to stay engaged with the movement for rule of law in America.