UnJustified – "Brief Hallucinations"

Podcast: UnJustified
Hosts: Allison Gill and Andrew McCabe
Date: March 29, 2026
Episode 62

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the continued erosion of rule of law and civil liberties under Trump's Department of Justice, spotlighting a series of confounding and at times darkly comic developments. Gill and McCabe break down major stories: an Iranian hacker group's breach of FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email, accidental disclosure of Trump’s classified-document motives by Pam Bondi, and legal head-shaking over Department of Justice missteps in various cases. The hosts’ recurring segment – “Hit Me in the Head With a Bat” – showcases DOJ blunders undermining judicial trust. Listener questions cap off the discussion, particularly concerning Trump’s voting rights post-felony conviction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iranian Hackers Breach FBI Director’s Personal Email

Timestamps: 00:53 – 09:58

• Breaking News: Cybercriminals linked to Iran (Handala hack group) accessed FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email.

  • "The FBI said in a statement that it was, quote, aware of malicious actors targeting Patel's personal email..." (03:08, Gill)
  • DOJ had just seized Handala’s domains, and hackers registered a new one on that same day to breach Patel.

• Nature & Implications of the Breach:

  • The hacked account was Patel’s personal, not an FBI address.
  • Hosts discuss how even personal accounts are tightly monitored for senior officials, and this is a significant embarrassment.
  • "It’s deeply embarrassing to the Bureau and to him, and I guess it’s just the most recent embarrassment connected to him." (08:58, McCabe)

• Critical Context:

  • The breach comes after Patel fired Iran counterintelligence specialists from the FBI, making the subsequent vulnerability more glaring.
  • "Probs don't fire the Iran experts because they were part of the classified documents investigation." (07:33, Gill)

2. Pam Bondi’s Accidental Disclosure of Trump’s Motive

Timestamps: 09:58 – 31:46

• Surprise Memo Leak:

  • A progress memo from Jack Smith’s investigation, revealing possible Trump motives for retaining classified documents (potential enrichment via business interests), was accidentally released by AG Pam Bondi to Congress.
  • "Pam Bondi...handed a Jack Smith memo discussing both cases...to Congress, which Jamie Raskin then promptly released to the press." (13:51, Gill)

• Motive Revealed:

  • Trump appears to have retained classified documents linked to his global business interests, possibly intending to profit.
  • “Trump possessed classified documents pertinent to his business interests, establishing a motive for retaining them..." (20:16, McCabe quoting memo)

• Pam Bondi’s Blunder:

  • Bondi violated a judge’s injunction by releasing this memo. Now, Congressional Democrats and legal teams are questioning whether that breach could open doors to long-withheld report sections.
  • "What blows me away is that this memo made it out to Congress. While that injunction is in place. And probably accidentally." (22:06, Gill)

• Response and Spin:

  • Trump’s camp and DOJ issued denials and deflections, dismissing the revelations as political attacks.
  • "It's pathetic that Democrats with zero credibility like Jamie Raskin are still clinging to deranged Jack Smith and his lies..." (22:15, McCabe quoting Trump's White House spokesperson)

3. Absurdities in DOJ Prosecutions: The Jerome Powell Investigation

Timestamps: 34:37 – 48:27

• No Evidence, No Crime, But an Investigation Anyway:

  • DOJ under Jeanine Pirro acknowledged to Judge Boasberg they had "no evidence" of wrongdoing in investigating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's conduct and billion-dollar cost overruns.
  • “We do not know at this time what evidence there is of fraud or criminal misconduct, arguing only that the project is a $1.2 billion over budget and it just doesn't seem right.” (38:10, Gill quoting DOJ)

• Judicial Rejection and Political Pressure:

  • Boasberg quashed DOJ subpoenas, calling them harassment and noting the lack of any factual basis.
  • "A spokesperson for the U. S. Attorney's office said Tuesday that the pur. A grand jury investigation is to determine whether there is probable cause that a crime was committed. Quote, that is exactly what we're doing here..." (39:59, McCabe)

• Implied Motive:

  • The investigation appears politically motivated, aimed at pressuring Powell to resign.

4. Other Developments

Timestamps: 48:27 – 50:49

• Turnover and a New U.S. Attorney: New Jersey finally gets a consensus appointment after previously appointed court officers were systematically fired by the Trump DOJ.

5. Segment: Hit Me in the Head with a Bat

Timestamps: 50:49 – 57:07

• Showcasing DOJ Fumbles and Erosion of ‘Presumption of Regularity’:
  • ICE lawyers in Minnesota submitted briefs with “non-existent citations” (fake/no legal precedent).
    • "Neither quote appears in Planned Parenthood NOR in any 8th Circuit case the court has found..." (53:28, McCabe quoting Judge Brazel)
  • DOJ repeatedly concedes it cannot defend against immigrant bond hearings, admits no argument can be made.
    • “Unresigned counsel was unable to obtain documentation sufficient to provide factual support for a response. That is the lawyerly way of phrasing, your honor, we got nothing.” (55:31, McCabe)
  • DOJ admits relying on a non-existent ICE memo to justify courthouse arrests.
    • “We write respectfully and regrettably to correct a material mistaken statement of fact that the government made to the court and the plaintiffs.” (56:38, Gill quoting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton)

6. Listener Q&A: Trump’s Right to Vote as a Convicted Felon

Timestamps: 57:07 – 62:36

• How did Trump vote in Florida after conviction?
  • Florida honors the law of the state where the felony occurred. Since New York restores voting rights post-incarceration (and Trump has never been jailed), he retains the right to vote.
  • "Trump can vote because of Democrats expanding voting rights." (59:16, Gill)
  • Trump voted by mail—ironically, given his prior attacks on mail-in voting.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• "It’s deeply embarrassing to the Bureau and to [Kash Patel], and I guess it’s just the most recent embarrassment connected to him."
  — Andy McCabe (08:58)

• "What blows me away is that this memo made it out to Congress. While that injunction is in place."
  — Alison Gill (22:06)

• "We do not know at this time what evidence there is of fraud or criminal misconduct...there are 1.2 billion reasons for us to look into it."
  — DOJ Deputy (38:10, as quoted by Gill)

• "Neither quote appears in Planned Parenthood NOR in any 8th Circuit case the court has found."
  — Judge Brazel, as quoted by McCabe (53:28)

• “Your honor, we got nothing.”
  — Andy McCabe summing up ICE’s court admission (55:31)

• "Trump can vote because of Democrats expanding voting rights."
  — Alison Gill (59:16)

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

• Patel Email Hack & Iran Counterterror: 00:53–09:58
• Pam Bondi’s Document Mishap / Trump Motive: 09:58–31:46
• Jerome Powell & Fed Subpoenas (Cynical DOJ Investigations): 34:37–48:27
• “Hit Me in the Head with a Bat” DOJ Legal Fiascos: 50:49–57:07
• Listener Question (Trump & Felon Voting Rights): 57:07–62:36

Tone & Format

The conversation is sharp, wry, and at times openly exasperated—balancing legal expertise, investigative rigor, and dark humor. Both hosts blend serious alarm about institutional decay with incredulity at the incompetence and politicization of DOJ under Trump.

Summary

This episode of UnJustified exposes the profound damage done to the Department of Justice’s integrity, as evident via diplomatic blunders, accidental leaks, embarrassing legal admissions, and the strategic—or simply reckless—politicization of prosecutions. Gill and McCabe provide expert context and biting commentary on details often missed by mainstream coverage, while listener engagement and open Q&A demystify the realities of legal and civil processes in Trump’s America. The “Hit Me in the Head with a Bat” segment serves as a recurring and increasingly necessary catharsis for those shocked by the new ab/normal.