Transcript

FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!

From MeidasTouch · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

January 31, 2026 · 10 min · 1,641 words · 13 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!", an episode of MeidasTouch published January 31, 2026 (10 min, about 1,641 words). It mentions 10 people, works and ideas, including Andrew Schultz, ICE, Michael Popak, Legal AF, Todd Lions.

What this episode is about

A Minnesota federal judge, Chief Judge Schultz, has expressed strong opposition to the actions of ICE, citing its significant violations of court orders—96 in just one month. He has indicated potential contempt actions against ICE leadership for failing to comply with a prior order regarding the release of a detainee, reflecting growing tensions between the judicial system and the Trump administration's enforcement policies.

Key takeaways

ICE's January record: 96 court violations in 74 cases, dwarfing entire agency's history—talk about a New Year's resolution gone awry.
Judge Schultz isn't just throwing shade; he's spotlighting systemic issues with ICE’s utter disregard for the rule of law.
From negligent to notorious: in one month, ICE's actions raise existential questions about federal accountability and judicial authority.
Defiance from ICE? More like a slippery slope—violating court orders may soon require a personal appearance from the acting director.
Politics aside, Judge Schultz’s predicament suggests that even established norms can bend when they collide with agency arrogance.

Who speaks in this episode?

Michael Popak (Host) · 9 min speaking
Judge Schultz (Guest) · 1 min speaking
Todd Lions (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

0:00 – 3:00: Andrew Schultz, ICE, Legal AF, Todd Lions
3:00 – 6:00: Freedom from Religion Foundation, Andrew Schultz, ICE, Legal AF
6:00 – 9:00: Todd Lions, Andrew Schultz, Legal AF, Midas Touch Network
9:00 – 10:12: Legal AF, Michael Popak

Notable quotes from "FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!"

Judge Schultz pushing back, fighting back against the Trump administration and its defiance, its refusal to file to comply with orders in a brand new orders of his in which he has cataloged.
about Andrew Schultz · at 0:21
Judge Schultz. And here's what he said in his new order, which is up on Legal AF Substack. I'm glad you're here, by the way. Might as touch independent journalism under attack, the day of Don.
about Legal AF · at 2:00
Juan asked this court to schedule a hearing so about the hardships he suffered and asking for effectively sanctions. The court will not schedule a hearing at this time. If Juan wants to.
about Juan TR · at 4:33
Constitution expressly forbids. That's where the Freedom from Religion Foundation comes in. FFRF is a national nonprofit that uses education, advocacy, and the law to hold…
about Freedom from Religion Foundation · at 5:21

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Andrew Schultz — Person · Referenced authority (chief judge issuing orders) · 5 mentions · first at 0:21
Central judicial figure in the episode: he issues orders against ICE, catalogs alleged violations (96 orders/74 cases), and threatens contempt/show-cause proceedings including potential personal appearance by Todd Lyons.
Michael Popak — Person · Main speaker (host/commentator) · 2 mentions · first at 0:50
He narrates and analyzes Judge Schultz’s order, ICE non-compliance, and the threatened contempt/show-cause process involving Todd Lyons and the release of Juan TR.
And the judge is concerned. He's looking to put somebody in jail or find them in contempt. And we're here for it on the Midas Touch Network and Legal AF.
Todd Lions — Person · Referenced government official (subject of potential contempt/show-cause) · 5 mentions · first at 1:33
He is identified as the acting head/director of ICE and is named in Judge Schultz’s show-cause order as the official who could be compelled to personally appear to explain ICE’s non-compliance.
The court then issued a show cause order and scheduled a hearing at which it ordered the personal appearance of Todd Lions, acting director of the US Immigration and Customs…
Juan TR — Person · Referenced petitioner/detainee (subject of release/bond-hearing order) · 3 mentions · first at 1:11
He is the petitioner whose ordered bond hearing/release allegedly was not timely provided by ICE, triggering Judge Schultz’s escalation (show-cause order) and broader scrutiny of ICE non-compliance.

Companies & orgs

ICE — Company · Case study · 4 mentions · first at 0:06
Central to the discussion for violating court orders and defying judicial authority.
Judge of the Minnesota federal courts, and listen to this quote from his order, ICE has likely violated more court orders in this month, January 2026, it's not even over yet…
Legal AF — Company · Business focus · 7 mentions · first at 0:46
The platform where the discussion is hosted and the order is published.
Midas Touch Network — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 0:46
The network hosting the Legal AF show and promoting independent journalism.
And the judge is concerned. He's looking to put somebody in jail or find them in contempt. And we're here for it on the Midas Touch Network and Legal AF.
Trump Administration — Company · Referenced entity · 2 mentions · first at 0:21
Mentioned in the context of defiance and refusal to comply with court orders.
Judge Schultz pushing back, fighting back against the Trump administration and its defiance, its refusal to file to comply with orders in a brand new orders of his in which he has cataloged.
Department of Justice — Company · Referenced entity · 1 mention · first at 1:45
Mentioned in the context of legal proceedings and court order violations.
Found in contempt unless a stipulation is filed by Friday that Mr. Mr. Juan TR is released. Well, they did that. But if the Department of Justice felt well, we're out of the woods now, we release the guy, that's the end of it.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 According to a new order of the chief judge of the Minnesota federal courts, and listen to this quote from his order, ICE has likely violated more court orders in this month, January 2026, it's not even over yet, than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. Judge Schultz pushing back, fighting back against the Trump administration and its defiance, its refusal to file to uh comply with orders in a brand new orders of his in which he has cataloged that it that just this month ICE has violated 96 court orders in 74 cases.

0:42 And the judge is concerned. He's looking to put somebody in jail or find them in contempt. And we're here for it on the Midas Touch Network and Legal AF. Michael Popak. How did this all start? Well, Chief Judge Schultz, because he's in Minnesota, has a number of cases in front of him from the protests on the street, from the murders on the street by ICE, and he also supervises all the other judges in Minnesota within the ETH circuit. And he ordered last week that a petitioner identified as Juan TR be released be given a bond hearing or be immediately released. the bond hearing didn't happen. And when the deadline came and went and they violated that order, the judge issued another order.

1:25 He said if he's not released by this Friday, the time of my recording, then he's going to call in and require in command that Todd Lions, the acting head of ICE, show cause why he should not be found in contempt unless a stipulation is filed by Friday that Mr. Mr. Juan TR is released. Well, they did that. But if the Department of Justice felt like, well, we're out of the woods now, we release the guy, that's the end of it. No, we have the concluding order. Uh, he's got to get his pound of flesh. Judge Schultz. And here's what he said in his new order, which is up on Legal AF Substack. I'm glad you're here, by the way. Might as touch independent journalism under attack, the day of Don Lemon's arrest. Hit the free subscribe button. come over to Legal AF YouTube and show your support for what we do here on YouTube and on uh in an independent journalism. Here's what the judge had to say on page two.

2:25 Respondents didn't hold a bond hearing. The court then issued a show cause order and scheduled a hearing at which it ordered the personal appearance of Todd Lions, acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Uh the court noted that if the parties filed a stipulation indicating that one had been released, the court would cancel the hearing, it would not require lions to appear. Parties have now filed such stipulation and therefore the court will not require lions to appear. But according to the judge on page two, that does not end the court's concerns.

2:59 Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. Now, when I first read that, I was like, "Oh, like in a year?" That's that's really high. In a year, it's in a month. It's in the month of January. It's this month. The extent of ISIS non-compliance is almost certainly substantially understated. This list is confined to orders issued since Jan 1, 2026 and hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges because the judges of Minnesota are are are groaning under the weight and the responsibility of all not just the cases where ICE executes or Border Patrol executes an American, but all the other migrants and people who are picked up and and and Americans who are picked up and arrested have to be processed through the judicial system. It all falls on the Minnesota courts.

3:51 The judge continues, "Judge Schultz, this list should give pause to anyone, no matter his or her political beliefs, who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." The court warns, we're getting to the warning part now. The court warns ICE that future non-compliance with court orders may result in future show cause orders requiring the personal appearance of lions or other government officials. ICE is not a law unto itself. ICE has every right to challenge orders but must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated.

4:33 Juan asked this court to schedule a hearing so about the hardships he suffered and asking for effectively sanctions. The court will not schedule a hearing at this time. If Juan wants to seek monetary sanctions, he may file a properly supported motion to that effect. Judge Shel Legal AF is brought to you by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The First Amendment isn't ambiguous and it isn't optional. It's clear government may not establish religion and it may not favor one belief system over another. But across the country, lawmakers and public officials are testing those limits, pushing prayer into public schools, carving out religious exemptions that undermine civil rights and blurring the line between church and state in ways the Constitution expressly forbids. That's where the Freedom from Religion Foundation comes in. FFRF is a national nonprofit that uses education, advocacy, and the law to hold government

5:35 accountable when it crosses that line, protecting the rights of believers and non-believers alike. Because religious freedom doesn't mean government endorsed religion. It means freedom of conscience for everyone. If you care about the Constitution, the rule of law, and a government that works for all of us, not just the loudest or most powerful, now is the time to act. Visit ffrf. us/newyear or text the word legal af11511 to learn more and join. Go to ffrf.us us/newyear or text legal AF to 511511 and help protect our country that belongs to all of us. Go to ffrf.

6:20 us/newear or text legal af to 511511 today. Message and data rates may apply. Now, what's happened since? Oh, you got, you know, I was always wondering how they were going to come after Schultz. Rock ribbons conservative Bush appointee, not leftist, not Marxist, not activist. Oh, they found it. Fox Propaganda Network and it's Black Ops. Oh, the judge donated to an immigrant rights project with his wife. Oh, really? I got news for them. Judges are allowed to be apparently a member of the Federalist Society, exclusive clubs, uh, all sorts of MAGA causes, and they can also contribute to the ACLU and, uh, immigration rights projects once in a while without it making them unfit or biased or conflicted to make rulings in cases. That's the reason that he ordered it is not because of his donations. It's because of the 96 orders that have been violated, including about Todd Lions.

7:24 And of course, the Trump administration wants to hide Todd Lions, because he's the author of the secret memo that got leaked by two insider department of uh uh ICE whistleblowers, uh who said he wrote or signed a memo that gave ICE officers cart blanch to use battering rams to burst down the front doors of your home in violation of the Fourth Amendment. with all all they have in their hands besides the battering ram is the administrative warrant issued by a Trump judge in ICE. So, a Trump judge on Trump advice uses a Trump agent to go make an arrest. We're missing something, aren't we? An independent neutral federal judge, district court, article 3 judge, or a magistrate judge. Just outrageous that Todd Lions. And I'm sure that's one of the reasons they wanted to hide him.

8:12 Just like they got rid of Greg Bevino, the head of Border Patrol. This was going to be his swan song. He was going He ended up getting fired by Trump. Christy Gnome sideline almost on her way out. Pam Bonnie still running around as if she's got a a job as if she's got job security when we know she doesn't. And uh and now they're hiding Todd Lions. We'll cover it all right here on the Midas Touch Network. One plea. Friends of us, friends of Mightest Touch, like Don Lemon, arrested at the Grammy Awards for being a journalist because he was a journalist that was covering a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

8:57 There's going to be a press conference. are going to I'm sure we'll get our hands on the arrest warrant or the indictment or the criminal complaint, but it shows you that Donald Trump will stop at nothing to crush dissent, first amendment expression, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and independent media live here on YouTube, on the Midas Network, on Legal AF. Hit the free subscribe button. Just use your thumb finger. Same thing on Legal AF YouTube channel now more than ever. Legal AF Substack where we post this kind of order for you to read. Keep our community together, keep us on the air.

9:31 Until my next report, I'm Michael Popak. Can't get your fill of legal AF? Me neither. That's why we formed the Legal AF Substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the Substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do called, wait for it, Morning AF. What else? All the other contributors from Legal AF are there as well. We got some new reporting. We got interviews. We got ad free versions of the podcast and hot takes. Where? Legal AF on Substack. Come over now to free subscribe.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!"?

Michael Popak (Host), Judge Schultz (Guest), Todd Lions (Guest).

What is "FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!" about?

What is mentioned in this MeidasTouch episode?

10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Andrew Schultz, ICE, Michael Popak, Legal AF, Todd Lions, Midas Touch Network. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "FURIOUS GOP Judge UNLEASHES on Trump in OPEN COURT in MN!!"?

The episode runs 10 min; the transcript is about 1,641 words in 13 timestamped sections.

More from MeidasTouch

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 31, 2026.