OA1253 - It's spring cleaning time in this week's news, in which we answer patron questions on everything from DOJ lying to a federal judge about ICE's policy on arresting immigrants in courthouses to DOJ lying about violating court orders. Also: the Trump administration's unbelievable gift to some of the worst of the worst J6rs, the D.C. Circuit's inexplicable termination of Judge Boasberg's contempt proceedings against the administration for violating his orders, and a major ruling in one of the most important deportation cases in US history. We chase these shots of 200-proof reality out with a chaser: Did the 5th Circuit really just legalize bathtub gin? Find out in today's boozy footnote!

1. "DOJ admits ICE courthouse arrests relied on erroneous information," Sergio Martinez-Beltran (NPR, 3/26/2026)

2. Email in which ICE revised its policy to exclude arrests at immigration court, filed March 24, 2026 in the Southern District of New York

3. Appeals court again blocks Boasberg contempt probe into Alien Enemies Act deportations (Politico, 4/14/2026)

4. On Petition for Writ of Mandamus, In Re: Trump et al, D.C. Cir (April 14, 2026)

5. Unopposed Motion to Vacate Convictions and To Remand For Dismissal With Prejudice filed April 14, 2026

6. Order in National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service, et al. filed April 11, 2026 in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

7. Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Federal Law Banning Home Alcohol Distilleries (Reason, 4/11/2026)

8. Decision in McNutt et al. v. United State Department of Justice, Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau filed April 11, 2026 in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

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VR28 - On this week's Vapid Response, we survey the fallout from California Congressman Eric Swalwell's recent exposure as a longtime sexual predator and ensuing swift exit from both the California governor's race and Congress itself. What does Swalwell's fall say about how our country's two political parties handle these kinds of allegations in 2026--and can we once again count on The Federalist to deliver the stupidest possible take on the situation? We then briefly revisit the single worst take on the allegations raised against Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation process before paying tribute to the women who organized to bring Swalwell's many abuses of his power and privilege to light.

OA1252 - Just one month ago, nine people were convicted in a Texas federal court for their participation in a protest outside the Prairieland ICE facility in a first-ever prosecution in which the Department of Justice claimed that support for so-called "Antifa" constituted "material support for terrorism." What can we learn from the plight of the Prairieland defendants about how the Trump administration is punishing dissent, and where do things go from here? We are joined by Ron, a community member who attended the trial, and Prairieland defense attorney Xavier de Janon of the People's Law Collective and National Lawyers Guild for their unique perspectives on this important case.

1. "Support the Prairieland Defendants" (DFW Support Committee website)

2. Superseding indictment with material support for terrorism charges (filed 12/10/2025)

3. '"Exclusive: FBI Files Counter Government's Argument in Texas "Antifa" Trial," Adam Federman, In These Times (3/26/2026)

4. "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence (NPSM-7)", The White House, September 25, 2025

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