Trump's DOJ Flips On Big Law, Then Flips Back in 24 Hours...

What this episode covers

One year ago, Donald Trump launched his war on law firms with unconstitutional executive orders targeting firms he didn't like. Four firms fought back and won. Nine others capitulated, pledging over $1 billion in free legal services to Trump-favored causes. And 187 of the top 200 law firms said nothing.Now, in an unprecedented move, Trump's Department of Justice dismissed its own appeal against the firms that fought back — only to reinstate it the very next morning. Marc Elias, who has practiced law for 30 years, explains why this has never happened before, what it means for the rule of law, and what it reveals about the DOJ's lack of independence from the White House.Support Democracy Docket's mission:https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/anchor-youtube-thursday00:00 Trump’s War on Law Firms01:10 A Year of Retaliation and Executive Orders01:53 Targeting Perkins Coie06:01 Paul Weiss Capitulates10:45 The Silent Majority of Big Law14:49 The Four Firms That Fought — And Won17:22 DOJ Dismisses the Appeal21:15 DOJ Reverses Itself in 24 Hours25:36 Why Trump Got Angry28:09 Why Letting the Appeal Proceed Could Backfire30:38 A Reckoning for the Nine Firms33:14 Who Stands Up — And Who Stays Silent35:17 What You Can Do

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Defending Democracy with Marc Elias?

This episode is 38 minutes long.

When was this Defending Democracy with Marc Elias episode published?

This episode was published on March 4, 2026.

What is this episode about?

One year ago, Donald Trump launched his war on law firms with unconstitutional executive orders targeting firms he didn't like. Four firms fought back and won. Nine others capitulated, pledging over $1 billion in free legal services to Trump-favored...

Can I download this Defending Democracy with Marc Elias episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.