Ep 234 — Holy Grand Jury, Batman! – Law and Chaos

DOCKET ALERTS:

A federal judge in Colorado enjoined the National Science Foundation from shutting down the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. APA, FTW!

The DC Circuit ruled that Pete Hegseth's policy kicking out all trans service members and barring enlistment by anyone who ever had a diagnosis of gender dysphoria is rooted in animus and cannot stand. But the remedy was narrowly cabined to the plaintiffs in this case, and only those who are currency active duty.

The Supreme Court let Alabama redraw its Congressional maps while primary voting was already underway and use a racially-discriminatory map in order to squeeze one more Republican seat in Congress out for the 2026 midterms.

Doofus of the Day: BATMAN! Eric Batman, some whiny dork in LA who says his Christian faith means that he has to work from home during June lest he be oppressed by a trans flag flying outside his office. The grifters at Liberty Counsel eagerly fundraising off their preposterous trollsuit on Doofus's behalf.

MAIN SHOW:

The DOJ filed a superseding indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center. It's meant to remedy the obvious deficiencies in the first indictment, but it actually seems to bolster the SPLC's claim that they were trying to protect informants, not take down donors.

Meanwhile, DOJ seems to have leaked a draft version of the new indictment to reporters before presenting it to the grand jurors, potentially violating grand jury secrecy. SPLC moved for a show cause order forcing DOJ to explain "its conduct and why it should not be sanctioned considering the prejudicial consequences at stake here."

Back in Chicago, US Attorney Andrew Boutros explained that he wasn't inappropriately trying to voir dire the grand jury. Perish the thought! And how very dare you, sir! He was just advising them that if they didn't think they could convict, they should put their hands up and explain themselves. Ummmmm…..

On May 1, NASDAQ implemented major rule changes to the way in which newly-public companies can join the Nasdaq 100 index.

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research v. National Science Foundation

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72496922/university-corporation-for-atmospheric-research-v-national-science/

Talbott v. USA [Trans Troops DC Circuit]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69800554/nicolas-talbott-v-usa/

Allen v. Milligan (Alabama redistricting) [Supreme Court stay]

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a1314_7m58.pdf

SpaceX Prospectus

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1181412/000162828026036936/spaceexplorationtechnologi.htm

NASDAQ 100 New Methodology

https://indexes.nasdaq.com/docs/Methodology_NDX.pdf

Liberty Counsel's press release (Batman v. Los Angeles County)