No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen

Episode Title: Trump runs into BRICK WALL in court
Date: October 12, 2025
Host: Brian Tyler Cohen
Guests: Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Raphael Warnock, Rep. Melanie Stansberry, California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Episode Overview

This episode tackles breaking legal developments stymieing Donald Trump's domestic troop deployments, explores the broader implications for democracy and future elections, and dives deep into the ongoing government shutdown—focusing on the healthcare crisis caused by the GOP’s efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Through interviews with key Democratic lawmakers and a state Attorney General, Brian Tyler Cohen spotlights judicial pushback on Trump’s actions, exposes Republican divisions, and assesses the stakes for millions of Americans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judicial Roadblocks to Trump’s Troop Deployments

([00:31]–[07:00])

• Cohen details how federal courts have repeatedly blocked Trump’s attempts to deploy National Guard troops to major blue cities (LA, Portland, Chicago), citing lack of factual basis and constitutional overreach.
• Notably, each loss in court is informing other cases, with judges referencing previous rulings and recognizing a pattern of abuse.
• Cohen warns against normalizing military presence in cities:

  “We cannot normalize US Troops being deployed into American cities. … None of this is normal, acceptable, or legal.” ([02:15])

• He links Trump’s motives to future election subversion:

  "The real goal for Trump here is to both normalize Americans to the idea of troops in our cities and to give himself a legal framework to be able to do so, so that when the election rolls around ... he won't face any legal roadblocks to be able to do so." ([03:30])

• Judicial pushback is a crucial check, but risk at higher court levels remains.

  "After the trial courts comes the appeals courts, and after that, of course, comes the U.S. Supreme Court... a long way to go." ([05:45])

2. Interview: Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) on the Shutdown and ACA

([07:03]–[18:55])

• Schatz describes Republican strategy as shortsighted—motivated by Trump’s demands rather than policy or morality.
• On GOP underestimating premium increases:

  "They were just doing a Trump thing. … But now they're seeing these premiums increase. … Now the letters are going out to tell people, your rates are up. And so it is starting to sink in." ([07:54])

• Schatz rejects cynicism of “let them stew”:

  “We actually really care about tens of millions of Americans being thrown off their health care. … We’re trying to fix it.” ([11:08])

• Speaks to Democratic unity and the realities of an incremental but critical fight:

  “We have to understand that this is an incremental process, … But on the other hand … inserting ourselves into the legislative process to get a W is a really important first step.” ([14:28])

• On latest Trump legal moves (indicting Letitia James):

  “It's malicious prosecution. … Two things are true… Donald Trump would absolutely become an authoritarian permanent ruler if he could. The other is that we're pretty long way from that. As long as we all are disciplined and smart and together and fight like hell.” ([16:57])

3. Interview: Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on ACA and Rural Health

([20:40]–[32:34])

• Warnock highlights the lived crisis—ACA premiums doubling/tripling with vast impact, especially in red states.

• "3 out of 4 of the Americans who are relying on the ACA subsidies come from red states that Trump won? … This is about folks sitting around their kitchen table right now trying to figure out how in the world are they going to be able to afford health care come January 2026." ([22:56])

• Describes frustration with GOP inaction as public pressure mounts (even Marjorie Taylor Greene voices dissatisfaction):

  "It's a critical moment for the average person anytime Raphael Warnock and Marjorie Taylor Greene… are essentially saying the same thing." ([26:13])

• Warnock emphasizes bipartisan need and rural hospitals’ dire situation:

  “They may have to close their ICU. Imagine that you’re in a rural town and they have to close your local ICU. This is untenable. It's unsustainable.” ([28:20])

• On hope and resisting despair:

  “They're trying to weaponize despair. … Evil always goes too far. … It contains within itself the seed of its own destruction. Our job is to help it do what it does, to keep fighting a good fight.” ([30:34])

4. Interview: Rep. Melanie Stansberry (D-NM) on Shutdown Politics & the Epstein Files

([32:34]–[47:30])

• Stansberry denounces GOP for "locking out" Democratic lawmakers during the shutdown—public sees through the “not believable” lies.
• Skeptical of Republican promises on ACA subsidies:

  "They've shown that they are not a reliable negotiating partner. … Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly made statements ... saying Republicans don't have a plan." ([35:00])

• Discusses GOP’s lack of a workable plan and their internal chaos:

  "Going into the dark mind of the GOP right now is a somewhat futile task.” ([38:28])

• On blocking Epstein files: the refusal to swear in a new member is a transparent attempt to avoid a vote on disclosure—tying together democracy, rule of law, and personal threats to members by Trump:

  "This is possibly the largest sex trafficking and predatory scheme in American history. And Donald Trump and Mike Johnson are engaging in a cover up to shield people that were involved in raping children." ([45:17]) “The President and his chief staff are literally calling members and saying, if you sign on to this discharge petition, it’s considered a hostile act. … This is gangster activity.” ([46:26])

5. Interview: California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Court Victories & Federalism

([47:33]–[62:34])

• Bonta recounts the latest round of court wins blocking Trump’s efforts to deploy the California and Texas National Guard to Oregon (and other cities).

  “This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law, and that the President’s determination … was untethered from the facts. … Trump is not a king. He’s not above the law.” ([50:39])

• The judge recognizes administration’s "whack-a-mole" approach—trying different states after being blocked.
• Courts are tracking patterns and becoming less deferential:

  “I think judges are watching … this is unprecedented stuff. … There’s always an additional escalation that’s dangerous, something unprecedented that’s happening.” ([53:11])

• On Trump’s use of “insurrection” as legal pretext:

  “He, as a figment of his imagination and not backed by the actual facts on the ground, … consistently states that there are invasions, emergencies, rebellions … just not true.” ([56:22])

• Bonta’s key legal warning to appellate courts:

  “We’re seeing Trump given an inch and taking a mile, and when offered some deference by the court, completely abusing it.” ([59:01])

• Ninth Circuit is being put on notice regarding the dangers of unchecked deference.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On judicial resistance:

  “It makes Trump’s chances of winning harder and harder with each city that he tries to invade.”
  — Brian Tyler Cohen ([01:50])

• On the stakes:

  “You’re going to double the premiums for 22 million Americans, many of whom, most of whom are Republicans.”
  — Sen. Brian Schatz ([07:54])

• On bipartisan impact:

  “3 out of 4 of the Americans who are relying on the ACA subsidies come from red states that Trump won.”
  — Sen. Raphael Warnock ([22:56])

• On resisting despair:

  “They're trying to weaponize despair. ... Evil always goes too far ... It contains within itself the seed of its own destruction.”
  — Sen. Raphael Warnock ([30:34])

• On GOP chaos and the ACA:

  “Going into the dark mind of the GOP right now is a somewhat futile task.”
  — Rep. Melanie Stansberry ([38:28])

• On legal standards:

  “This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law, and the President’s determination ... was untethered from the facts.”
  — Judge Immergut (recounted by Rob Bonta, [50:40])

• On Trump’s authoritarian impulses:

  “Donald Trump would absolutely become an authoritarian permanent ruler if he could. The other is that we’re pretty long way from that. As long as we all are disciplined and smart and together and fight like hell.”
  — Sen. Brian Schatz ([16:57])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:31] – Cohen lays out the judicial brick wall stalling Trump’s troop deployments.
• [07:03] – Start of interview with Sen. Brian Schatz (ACA subsidies, shutdown politics).
• [20:40] – Interview with Sen. Raphael Warnock (premium hikes, rural hospitals, hope).
• [32:34] – Interview with Rep. Melanie Stansberry (shutdown narratives, Epstein files fight).
• [47:33] – Interview with CA AG Rob Bonta (court victories over National Guard deployments).
• [55:12] – Bonta explains the unprecedented federal-state constitutional clashes.
• [59:01] – Discussion on potential for appellate courts to rein in Trump’s abuse of legal deference.

Tone & Language

• The episode maintains a sense of urgency, outrage, and hope, blending legal analysis, political strategy, and moral clarity.
• Speakers emphasize direct, plain language (“gangster activity,” “go fuck yourself,” “not a king”) to reflect both the seriousness and absurdity of current events.
• Repeatedly, the guests and host frame issues by centering real people—workers, rural hospitals, families facing premium hikes—while also grounding the discussion in constitutional checks and the defense of democracy.

Conclusion

This episode underscores a pivotal moment: courts are asserting themselves as guardians against Trump’s authoritarian ambitions even as Republicans’ internal disarray deepens the healthcare crisis for millions. With interviews from legislative and legal leaders, Brian Tyler Cohen spotlights both the danger of normalization and the power of organized resistance—insisting that while threats are real, coordinated and principled fight-back is having concrete effects.