Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney.bsky.social
Senior legal affairs reporter at POLITICO with a focus on democracy, the balance of power and the clash between the Trump administration and courts.
Judge Gary Brown, a Trump appointee in New York, rebukes ICE for arresting two people erroneously — including a U.S. citizen — and later claiming "mistaken identity."
"ICE agents falsified official records," he says. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"ICE agents falsified official records," he says. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 5, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Judge Gary Brown, a Trump appointee in New York, rebukes ICE for arresting two people erroneously — including a U.S. citizen — and later claiming "mistaken identity."
"ICE agents falsified official records," he says. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"ICE agents falsified official records," he says. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Judge Stadtmueller, a Reagan appointee in Wisconsin, orders the release of an ICE detainee in part because of the "systemic rigging of bond hearings against detainees."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Judge Stadtmueller, a Reagan appointee in Wisconsin, orders the release of an ICE detainee in part because of the "systemic rigging of bond hearings against detainees."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
DOE announced last week that it was publishing a list of foreign donors to U.S. institutions who had previously been promised confidentiality.
Last night, a judge blocked the publication, citing risks of retaliation for donors from repressive regimes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Last night, a judge blocked the publication, citing risks of retaliation for donors from repressive regimes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 2, 2026 at 1:41 PM
DOE announced last week that it was publishing a list of foreign donors to U.S. institutions who had previously been promised confidentiality.
Last night, a judge blocked the publication, citing risks of retaliation for donors from repressive regimes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Last night, a judge blocked the publication, citing risks of retaliation for donors from repressive regimes. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
JUST IN: A judge in D.C. has barred DOJ from re-charging Davey Hearn over the Reflecting Pool damage, saying Trump's commentary and pressure on prosecutors had permanently tainted the case. www.democracydefendersfund.org/wp-content/u...
October 1, 2026 at 2:53 PM
JUST IN: A judge in D.C. has barred DOJ from re-charging Davey Hearn over the Reflecting Pool damage, saying Trump's commentary and pressure on prosecutors had permanently tainted the case. www.democracydefendersfund.org/wp-content/u...
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the legality of ICE's mandatory detention policy, weighing in on an issue that has been ovewhelmingly rejected by district and appeals courts but has nevertheless roiled the justice system nationwide.
www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
Supreme Court will rule on Trump’s ICE detention policy
Lower courts have overwhelmingly rejected ICE’s novel view of its detention authority.
www.politico.com
October 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the legality of ICE's mandatory detention policy, weighing in on an issue that has been ovewhelmingly rejected by district and appeals courts but has nevertheless roiled the justice system nationwide.
www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
JUST IN: A federal judge has denied DOJ's effort to obtain Georgia's complete, unredacted voter list, the latest in a string of more than two dozen defeats for the Trump administration in efforts to obtain state voter rolls. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#146 in United States v. Raffensperger (N.D. Ga., 1:26-cv-00485) – CourtListener.com
ORDER. It is ORDERED that Defendant Raffensperger and Intervenor-Defendant's BVMF's Motions to Dismiss (Docs. 16, 23 ) are GRANTED IN PART as set forth in this Order. Intervenor-Defendants' Common Cau...
storage.courtlistener.com
September 30, 2026 at 9:23 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has denied DOJ's effort to obtain Georgia's complete, unredacted voter list, the latest in a string of more than two dozen defeats for the Trump administration in efforts to obtain state voter rolls. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NEW: The Justice Department's ethics complaint seeks recusal of Minnesota federal judges for speaking to the NYT about their efforts to manage the deluge of ICE detention cases that flooded their dockets during Operation Metro Surge.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Justice Department files ethics complaint against Minnesota federal judges
DOJ alleges the district judges showed bias when they spoke to The New York Times about the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
www.politico.com
September 30, 2026 at 6:59 PM
NEW: The Justice Department's ethics complaint seeks recusal of Minnesota federal judges for speaking to the NYT about their efforts to manage the deluge of ICE detention cases that flooded their dockets during Operation Metro Surge.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
NEW: It's hard these days for members of Congress to transcend the news cycle with viral moments in committee hearings.
Sen. Schmitt today raised the bar with an allegation against Jack Smith that imploded in real time.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Sen. Schmitt today raised the bar with an allegation against Jack Smith that imploded in real time.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Republicans wanted Jack Smith to give them a smoking gun. They got a gaffe instead.
The former special counsel’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee was marked by personal insults rather than new revelations.
www.politico.com
September 29, 2026 at 9:24 PM
NEW: It's hard these days for members of Congress to transcend the news cycle with viral moments in committee hearings.
Sen. Schmitt today raised the bar with an allegation against Jack Smith that imploded in real time.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Sen. Schmitt today raised the bar with an allegation against Jack Smith that imploded in real time.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
NEW: We launched this tracker in May, when ICE's detentions had been rejected about 10,000 times by federal courts. It's doubled in less than five months.
See and sort the latest numbers, plus read the rulings. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
See and sort the latest numbers, plus read the rulings. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
September 29, 2026 at 8:19 PM
NEW: We launched this tracker in May, when ICE's detentions had been rejected about 10,000 times by federal courts. It's doubled in less than five months.
See and sort the latest numbers, plus read the rulings. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
See and sort the latest numbers, plus read the rulings. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
NEW: Sen. Eric Schmitt exposed Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan.
Schmitt's erroneous effort to catch Smith in a lie resulted in Smith confirming he went to see Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes play the Terrapins in Maryland in 2023.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Schmitt's erroneous effort to catch Smith in a lie resulted in Smith confirming he went to see Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes play the Terrapins in Maryland in 2023.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Sen. Eric Schmitt pins down Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan
It appeared that the Missouri Republican misinterpreted a text message reference to the "hawks."
www.politico.com
September 29, 2026 at 3:32 PM
NEW: Sen. Eric Schmitt exposed Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan.
Schmitt's erroneous effort to catch Smith in a lie resulted in Smith confirming he went to see Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes play the Terrapins in Maryland in 2023.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Schmitt's erroneous effort to catch Smith in a lie resulted in Smith confirming he went to see Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes play the Terrapins in Maryland in 2023.
w/ Chris Marquette
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Reposted by Kyle Cheney
BREAKING: #SCOTUS again rejects GOP bid to tweak Missouri district lines to pick up another U.S. House seat, chides lower federal courts for ignoring Purcell principle and interfering in state decisions just prior to election. Remarkably, no noted dissent. www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Supreme Court again snubs GOP gerrymander in Missouri
Justices also warned federal courts not to interfere with state decisions.
www.politico.com
September 25, 2026 at 10:16 PM
BREAKING: #SCOTUS again rejects GOP bid to tweak Missouri district lines to pick up another U.S. House seat, chides lower federal courts for ignoring Purcell principle and interfering in state decisions just prior to election. Remarkably, no noted dissent. www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
BREAKING: The Supreme Court is requiring Missouri to use its 2022 map in the general election, rejecting a late push by lower courts to require the state to implement a GOP-friendlier 2025 gerrymandering.
September 25, 2026 at 10:18 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court is requiring Missouri to use its 2022 map in the general election, rejecting a late push by lower courts to require the state to implement a GOP-friendlier 2025 gerrymandering.
NEW: Trump’s ballroom? Actually it’s a ‘military complex.’ Trump’s arch? Also a ‘military complex.’ That press ban? A national security move.
The president keeps cloaking pet projects in NatSec rationales — and judges are increasingly looking askance.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The president keeps cloaking pet projects in NatSec rationales — and judges are increasingly looking askance.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Trump’s ‘magic words’: National security
www.politico.com
September 25, 2026 at 8:54 PM
NEW: Trump’s ballroom? Actually it’s a ‘military complex.’ Trump’s arch? Also a ‘military complex.’ That press ban? A national security move.
The president keeps cloaking pet projects in NatSec rationales — and judges are increasingly looking askance.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The president keeps cloaking pet projects in NatSec rationales — and judges are increasingly looking askance.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
JUST IN: A federal judge (Trump-appointed Stephanie Gallagher) has held the Trump administration in contempt for deporting a man to El Salvador in violation of three court orders. She's ordering the government to return him.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 25, 2026 at 6:54 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge (Trump-appointed Stephanie Gallagher) has held the Trump administration in contempt for deporting a man to El Salvador in violation of three court orders. She's ordering the government to return him.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Tonight’s state dinner guests at the White House with President Xi include:
• Chief Justice John Roberts,
• Jane Sullivan Roberts, Spouse
• Justice Amy Coney Barrett
• Jesse Barrett, Spouse
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh
• Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, Spouse
• Chief Justice John Roberts,
• Jane Sullivan Roberts, Spouse
• Justice Amy Coney Barrett
• Jesse Barrett, Spouse
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh
• Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, Spouse
September 24, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Tonight’s state dinner guests at the White House with President Xi include:
• Chief Justice John Roberts,
• Jane Sullivan Roberts, Spouse
• Justice Amy Coney Barrett
• Jesse Barrett, Spouse
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh
• Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, Spouse
• Chief Justice John Roberts,
• Jane Sullivan Roberts, Spouse
• Justice Amy Coney Barrett
• Jesse Barrett, Spouse
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh
• Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, Spouse
NEW: The Trump administration is asking SCOTUS to let it resume third-country deportations without the due process protections — like more than 24 hours notice and availability of fear-based challenges — ordered by lower courts.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Trump admin asks Supreme Court to lift limits on third-country deportations
www.politico.com
September 24, 2026 at 11:34 PM
NEW: The Trump administration is asking SCOTUS to let it resume third-country deportations without the due process protections — like more than 24 hours notice and availability of fear-based challenges — ordered by lower courts.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
JUST IN: A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction upbraiding ICE for mass arrests that have strained detention facilities and forced detainees all over the country into "overcrowded, squalid, and degrading rooms for excessive periods of time" www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/defaul...
September 24, 2026 at 3:29 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction upbraiding ICE for mass arrests that have strained detention facilities and forced detainees all over the country into "overcrowded, squalid, and degrading rooms for excessive periods of time" www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/defaul...
NEW: A federal judge ordered the White House to immediately restore hard passes for POLITICO, CNN and MSNOW, saying President Trump's ban punished "routine" reporting and the WH provided zero evidence for its national security claims.
w @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Judge restores White House access for POLITICO, CNN and MS NOW
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the return of press credentials President Donald Trump had revoked.
www.politico.com
September 24, 2026 at 6:21 AM
NEW: A federal judge ordered the White House to immediately restore hard passes for POLITICO, CNN and MSNOW, saying President Trump's ban punished "routine" reporting and the WH provided zero evidence for its national security claims.
w @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
One of the “sensitive” stories the White House accused Politico of publishing was based on quotes from a background briefing on Iran … arranged by the White House and provided to multiple news outlets.
t.co/lUZRJiNcje
t.co/lUZRJiNcje
September 23, 2026 at 9:38 PM
One of the “sensitive” stories the White House accused Politico of publishing was based on quotes from a background briefing on Iran … arranged by the White House and provided to multiple news outlets.
t.co/lUZRJiNcje
t.co/lUZRJiNcje
NEW: Judge Kelly signaled Wednesday he was skeptical of the constitutionality of President Trump's media ban and said he would rule on it "as soon as I can."
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Judge appears skeptical of Trump’s effort to ban news outlets from White House
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, said he would rule soon.
www.politico.com
September 23, 2026 at 8:51 PM
NEW: Judge Kelly signaled Wednesday he was skeptical of the constitutionality of President Trump's media ban and said he would rule on it "as soon as I can."
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
NEW: DOJ is justifying President Trump's ban on media orgs by citing stories about sensitive topics like depleted U.S. munitions, the war in Iran, Trump's ballroom security features and ... bad "vibes" at the GOP midterm convention
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Trump cites national security, midterms coverage to defend press ban
www.politico.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:59 AM
NEW: DOJ is justifying President Trump's ban on media orgs by citing stories about sensitive topics like depleted U.S. munitions, the war in Iran, Trump's ballroom security features and ... bad "vibes" at the GOP midterm convention
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
NEW: Lazy postman or election tampering mastermind?
DOJ says a Utah mailman — who tossed 300 undelivered primary ballots in the trash — helps justify Trump's crackdown
But the man told investigators he was just tossing a pile of ads to ligthen his load.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
DOJ says a Utah mailman — who tossed 300 undelivered primary ballots in the trash — helps justify Trump's crackdown
But the man told investigators he was just tossing a pile of ads to ligthen his load.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
September 23, 2026 at 1:00 AM
NEW: Lazy postman or election tampering mastermind?
DOJ says a Utah mailman — who tossed 300 undelivered primary ballots in the trash — helps justify Trump's crackdown
But the man told investigators he was just tossing a pile of ads to ligthen his load.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
DOJ says a Utah mailman — who tossed 300 undelivered primary ballots in the trash — helps justify Trump's crackdown
But the man told investigators he was just tossing a pile of ads to ligthen his load.
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
DEPT. OF UNCANNY TIMING: A ruling *today* from the D.C. Circuit underscored the steep hill facing Trump's ban on three media organizations from the White House.
The lead author: Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The lead author: Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Appeals court’s Capitol steps ruling may signal trouble for Trump on media ban
The D.C. Circuit reaffirmed Tuesday that government restrictions on First Amendment activity must be “viewpoint neutral.”
www.politico.com
September 22, 2026 at 5:49 PM
DEPT. OF UNCANNY TIMING: A ruling *today* from the D.C. Circuit underscored the steep hill facing Trump's ban on three media organizations from the White House.
The lead author: Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The lead author: Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
NEW: It's the gerrymander that won't die.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a GOP-friendly Missouri map expected to net the party a congressional seat — despite what everyone thought was an earlier death knell from SCOTUS.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a GOP-friendly Missouri map expected to net the party a congressional seat — despite what everyone thought was an earlier death knell from SCOTUS.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Appeals court revives GOP gerrymander in Missouri that Supreme Court killed off twice
The 8th Circuit on Monday blocked a ruling from the state’s highest court that sharply rebuked the Republican secretary of state.
www.politico.com
September 21, 2026 at 10:33 PM
NEW: It's the gerrymander that won't die.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a GOP-friendly Missouri map expected to net the party a congressional seat — despite what everyone thought was an earlier death knell from SCOTUS.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a GOP-friendly Missouri map expected to net the party a congressional seat — despite what everyone thought was an earlier death knell from SCOTUS.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
JUST IN: A federal judge has tossed the defamation lawsuit by Cassidy Hutchinson's former lawyer, Stefan Passantino, against MSNBC commentator Andrew Wesissman.
ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
September 21, 2026 at 6:53 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has tossed the defamation lawsuit by Cassidy Hutchinson's former lawyer, Stefan Passantino, against MSNBC commentator Andrew Wesissman.
ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...