LIVE: BREAKING NEWS on LEGAL AF…POPOK and MEISELAS - 5/2/2026 | Legal AF

California Governor Gavin Newsome's $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox has been allowed to proceed by a Delaware judge, moving into the discovery phase. Newsome specifically chose the $787 million figure to mirror Fox's settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. The case centers on Fox's misreporting of the timing of a phone call between Newsome and Donald Trump regarding the National Guard deployment, and Fox branding Newsome a liar.

The judge rejected Fox's motion to dismiss, citing that Fox is a Delaware corporation and that Newsome adequately alleged actual malice by showing Fox ignored countervailing facts to run a politically motivated story. This opens the 'floodgates of discovery,' similar to the Dominion case, which exposed internal Fox emails and communications.

Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the U.S. government (taxpayers) has been stalled by a federal judge in Florida due to concerns about a collusive lawsuit. The judge questioned jurisdiction, as Article III of the Constitution requires adverse parties and a genuine case or controversy, not an executive branch suing itself to force a settlement.

The judge appointed three top law firms (Devil Voice in Plimpmpton, Selen Gay, and a third unnamed firm) as amicus curiae to provide independent guidance on whether a president can sue his own executive branch agency for money damages while in office. This move aims to create a robust record for potential appeals and prevent a 'rubber stamp' settlement.

In civil cases brought by members of Congress and Capitol police officers against Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6th insurrection, a federal judge opened discovery. Trump, however, is attempting to block depositions, arguing he is too busy as president for litigation.

Trump previously tried and failed to claim immunity in these cases, which were filed in 2021. The hosts highlight the hypocrisy of Trump initiating numerous personal lawsuits (including the $10 billion government suit) while simultaneously claiming to be too busy to participate in discovery for cases where he is a defendant. The Department of Justice is reportedly intervening on his behalf to block these proceedings.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch is allegedly bringing politically motivated criminal charges to secure the permanent AG position. This includes a second indictment against James Comey for a social media post (8647 with seashells, interpreted as a death threat by Trump) and charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in Alabama.

The Comey indictment is described as 'flimsy,' with even former AG Pam Bondi reportedly refusing to pursue it. The SPLC is accused of wire fraud for allegedly concealing an informant program, despite having worked with the same prosecutor's office, the FBI, and local law enforcement for 30 years. The SPLC claims grand jury misconduct, suggesting prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence.

The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that gutted Section Two of the Voting Rights Act, continuing a trend of weakening the bipartisan 1960s legislation. The hosts argue this ruling effectively enables racist gerrymandering by allowing states to dilute minority votes under the guise of 'political gerrymandering.'

The decision frames efforts to create majority-minority congressional districts as 'racist' while ignoring the underlying racist intent of maps designed to dilute black and brown votes. Justice Alito's majority opinion is criticized for giving 'lip service to our racist past' while declaring a 'post-racial world' where such protections are no longer needed, despite data showing gerrymandering is still necessary to ensure minority representation in the South.

The Trump administration is actively attacking the American Bar Association (ABA) and state bar associations, attempting to defund them and challenge their role in accrediting law schools and evaluating judicial qualifications. The hosts frame this as an attack on science, qualifications, and independent oversight within the legal profession.

Trump views the ABA's focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for law school accreditation as a 'four-letter word.' The administration is trying to remove the ABA's sole authority for accreditation, aiming to create a 'crop of MAGA lawyers' from non-diverse, non-EDI-focused curricula. The ABA has responded with lawsuits against the Trump administration for blacklisting law firms.

Spirit Airlines declared bankruptcy, leading to 17,000 job losses. While right-wing media blamed Biden's 2024 antitrust proceedings, the hosts attribute the bankruptcy to Trump's economic policies and the 'Iranian war,' which doubled jet fuel prices.

Spirit Airlines had not turned a profit since 2019, during Trump's previous term. The hosts contrast Trump's administration's inability to 'bail out' Spirit Airlines, despite its impact on 17,000 jobs and the summer travel season, with the Obama administration's successful bailouts of the auto and banking industries. They criticize Trump's Commerce and Treasury Secretaries for their inaction.