How Trump Is Scaring Big Law Firms Into Submission
The Daily
03/18/25
•24m
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After engaging in a campaign of retribution against his enemies within the federal government, President Trump is turning to those outside of it.
Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains what that retribution has looked like for a single law firm — and the impact it has had on the entire legal profession.
Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, covering Washington.
Background reading:
- The law firm Perkins Coie has sued the Trump administration over an executive order that would make it all but impossible for the firm to advocate for its clients.
- The president’s use of government power to punish law firms is seen by some experts as undercutting a basic tenet: the right to a strong defense.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Maansi Srivastava for The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Previous Episode
The Weekend Democrats Went to War — Against Each Other
March 17, 2025
•30m
Warning: This episode contains strong language.
Over the past few days, a routine debate over government funding has exploded into an angry showdown over the Democrats’ identity in the Trump era, and whether their current leadership is right for the moment.
Catie Edmondson, who covers Congress, and Shane Goldmacher, who covers national politics, discuss a weekend that rocked the Democratic Party.
Guest:
- Catie Edmondson, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.
- Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Senator Chuck Schumer broke with his party to clear a path for a Republican spending bill that kept the government open.
- Young Democrats’ anger boiled over as Mr. Schumer retreated on a shutdown.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Eric Lee/The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Next Episode
Trump’s Showdown With the Courts
March 19, 2025
•30m
President Trump’s showdown with the courts reached a new milestone on Tuesday, when he called for a federal judge to be impeached and the chief justice of the Supreme Court publicly scolded the president in response.
Luke Broadwater, who covers the White House for The Times, discusses the deportation case at the center of the confrontation — and whether the constitutional crisis that many have feared has now arrived.
Guest: Luke Broadwater, who covers the White House for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- A judge ordered deportation planes to turn around. The White House didn’t listen.
- The order has made the judge in the deportation case a target of Republican anger.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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