Episode 108: Political Questions and Suppression of the Press (NPR, PBS)

Trump's Executive Orders continue to make headlines. This week, we are discussing Trump's continued reliance on the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans and a federal Texas court that has defied Trump on these deportations with its May 1, 2025 order.  

In the Texas case, J.A.V. v. Trump, Judge Fernandez Rodriguez, Jr., of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, stopped the deportation of Venezuelans who are currently being held in a Texas prison awaiting deportation to El Salvador, ruling that there was no invasion of the United States by Venezuelans as required by the Alien Enemies Act. He also discussed the important legal theory of the "Political Question" doctrine. Through the Political Question doctrine, the U.S. Constitution says that there are specific powers designated to specific governmental branches. With respect to the President, the courts generally defer to the President as Commander and Chief when he acts in his capacity as a political actor with regard to foreign policy. However, in this case, Judge Rodriguez, Jr., decided that the Political Question doctrine does not apply when the President gives an arbitrary meaning to the specific language of the U.S. Constitution and other law. Therefore, Judge Rodriguez determined that the courts can review the President's use and application of the Alien Enemies Act and can make orders regarding that usage.

In other Executive Orders, Donald Trump ended direct and indirect federal funding to press outlets NPR and PBS and most federal funding to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) that oversees the Voice of America. These Executive Orders have already eliminated hundreds of jobs at these agencies and have brought up constitutional questions of Freedom of the Press under the First Amendment. 

Grab a glass of wine and join our Constitutional scholar, Dr. John R. Vile, and our full-time practicing attorney, Virginia Vile Tehrani, Esq., for a very lively and passionate discussion about the Political Question doctrine and Trump's violation of the Freedom of the Press.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

To learn more about Virginia Tehrani, Esq., check her out at: https://www.tehranilawllc.com/about-us/our-team/

To learn more about Dr. Vile and his amazing background and expertise in the American Constitution, along with a list of his publications about the Constitution, check him out at: https://www.mtsu.edu/honors/staff/vile.php

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS! Attorney Virginia Tehrani and former law student Chelsey Rogers (now attorney!) of The Law Unscripted team join up to provide supplemental Bar Examination and Law School study courses! These include outlines, lectures, discussions, and hypotheticals for the 8 core law school and bar examination subjects. You can purchase products a la carte, in bundles, or as a package on our website at www.thelawunscripted.com.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

📱 Subscribe and Listen to The Legal Weekly Wine HERE: YouTube: https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLBPnyN4sdWJiHQ58lo2OS3GkYpKGrxypP/videos

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Have an idea for a topic? Leave a comment with your suggestions. Have a Question? Contact us at info@tehranilawllc.com. Enjoy what you’re watching? Check out our other podcast, The Law Unscripted, here on this channel or on your favorite podcasting site where we take on legal topics in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBPnyN4sdWJjGewivn9FctvVQsKHY8vrA

https://thelawunscripted.podbean.com

Social Media:

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lawunscripted

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelawunscripted

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tehranilawllc

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thelawunscripted

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelawunscripted

Podcasts: https://www.thelawunscripted.com/free-resources/podcasts/

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Legal Disclaimer

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

All commentary and opinions expressed in this podcast and video are solely for informational purposes and should not be taken as legal advice. Virginia Tehrani is an excellent attorney, but she is not your attorney. Dr. John Vile is not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice. Nothing in this podcast and video create a legal or contractual relationship between any listener or viewer and the hosts of this show, Tehrani Law, LLC, or The Law Unscripted. If you need assistance with a legal problem, contact an experienced attorney in your local area. All stock images and graphics provided by WikiMedia Search Media royalty free and paid subscription to Wondershare Filmora Filmstock.