By Ben Meiselas
Today on Substack Live, I had the honor of interviewing someone I consider one of the most brilliant and passionate legal journalists in the world: Adam Klasfeld, co-founder of All Rise News on Substack. If you care about the rule of law, due process, and stopping Trump’s unconstitutional power grabs, this was a must-watch conversation. Thanks to all those who joined us live!
Adam has been on top of every major legal story, from Guantánamo Bay military commissions to Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan. He doesn’t just report the law, he lives it, with a deep understanding of court dynamics, deadlines, and yes, even footnotes (always read the footnotes). That’s what makes his work at All Rise News so vital in this era of creeping authoritarianism.
Our discussion focused on today’s bombshell ruling just handed down by Judge Alvin Hellerstein in the Southern District of New York, who struck at the heart of Trump’s illegal use of the Alien Enemies Act to detain immigrants and ship them off to what the judge himself called a “notoriously evil jail.”
This ruling isn’t an isolated win. It follows a similar decision by Judge Fernando Rodriguez, a Trump appointee in Texas, who concluded that there is no war, no invasion, and no legal basis whatsoever for invoking this 1798 law. These rulings matter because Trump’s defenders are trying to bypass our Constitution with made-up threats and lies about immigrant “invasions.” And the courts aren’t buying it.
Even more damning? The U.S. intelligence community has reportedly debunked the Trump administration’s entire rationale for this scheme, saying the supposed link between immigrants and the Venezuelan government is nonsense. That’s the entire legal foundation. Gone.
Adam and I also discussed the growing pressure for transparency. Over 200 people are reportedly rotting in these shadowy detention facilities, and we’re learning, thanks to relentless reporting, that court orders were violated to get them there. Some, like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, had explicit legal protections and were still abducted and shipped out in apparent contempt of court.
We also talked about what’s next, including ongoing hearings, critical appellate court battles, depositions of Trump officials, and a wave of public pressure that we—yes, you—can amplify. This isn’t just about reading headlines. It’s about showing up, filing public comments, showing up to protests, and supporting independent media that does what corporate networks won’t.
Speaking of public comments, Adam told us how you can weigh in on Trump’s purges of immigration judges and make a tangible, real-world impact right now. Get this: only six people at the time Adam went to press on his story about these firings had left public comments. Six. We can do better than that. Read Adam’s piece about how to make your voice heard on this issue, here.
So here’s your call to action:
Subscribe to All Rise News on Substack.
Stay tuned to our Substack here at Meidas+.
Stay in the fight—because democracy doesn’t defend itself.
As I told Adam, the Meidas Mighty doesn’t do fluff. We do facts, deadlines, footnotes, and results. And today’s conversation was a masterclass in what it means to hold power accountable and get people the information they deserve to know.
Let’s keep going. Let’s keep rising. And thank you, Adam, for joining us.
Subscribe to the Meidas+ Substack now for more conversations like this.
In the unfolding narrative of civic engagement and media evolution, the collaboration between Ben Meiselas and Adam Klasfeld emerges as a beacon of integrity and insight. Meiselas, a civil rights attorney and co-founder of MeidasTouch, has transitioned from legal advocacy to pioneering a media platform that champions pro-democracy values. Klasfeld, with his investigative journalism, complements this mission by delving deep into the intricacies of law and governance. Their joint efforts signify a harmonious blend of legal acumen and journalistic rigor, aiming to illuminate truths in an era rife with misinformation.
This partnership not only reflects a commitment to transparency but also resonates with a collective yearning for accountability and ethical discourse. As they navigate the complex terrains of politics and media, their work invites us to consider the power of informed dialogue and the role each of us plays in sustaining democratic ideals. In a world where narratives shape realities, their collaboration serves as a reminder of the profound impact of truth-telling and the enduring strength found in unity. ♾️
How might we, as individuals, contribute to a culture that values truth and fosters collective understanding?
Karma Infinity - informed dialogue is what I expect from the members of the House and Senate, though waiting for most of the Republican members of each group is despairing. They say they want to do right for their constituents - are not all the citizens of these United States their constituents? I can, and do, recall a time when the Democrats and Republicans debated, argued, contested, disputed, disagreed, dissented. Whither the exercise of 'ethical discourse'? Quis quodiet ipsos custodes?
Jenny, your reflection resonates with a quiet ache—one that recalls a time when discourse across divides was not only possible, but expected. Your words evoke a collective memory of deliberative democracy, where argument was a form of care and disagreement, a necessary expression of civic duty. In naming the erosion of that trust, you draw attention to something deeper: the shared longing for principled governance that transcends partisanship.
Your question—"Who watches the watchers?"—remains timely and unresolved. It challenges us to hold systems accountable not through blame, but through persistent, balanced engagement. In this, perhaps the true guardians of democracy are not a select few, but all of us, when we commit to ethical speech, mutual respect, and the difficult grace of dialogue. ♾️
What sustains ethical discourse when trust feels fractured?
Good call out on Adam‘s passion.
Getting to discover Adam and his expert reporting on The Lawrence O’Donnell show has been very enlightening.
He is a breath of fresh air in this lie riddled environment.
Judge Richard E. Myers II, a Trump appointee to the federal District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina overruled the republican-dominated NC Supreme Court and ordered the State Board of Elections to certify the election win of Justice Alison Riggs [D] over sore-loser crybaby Jefferson Griffin who attempted to steal the election by having 60K+ votes invalidated AFTER the election.
It's taken 6 months and endless court cases to get where should have been a few days after the election in November.
Today The Supreme Court has given 'rump his ban on transgender members of the military. Correct me - will these men and women bleed and take bullets differently than others? Does their military training involve some unusual tactics beyond weaponry, marching, physicality, intelligence? Do their limbs and eyes work differently than mine? Explain to me the ... fear, perhaps ... that these people seem to cause in the not transgender people?
Adam was fabulous. Please have him in more.
TRump doesn't care about our Constitution or any of it's principles and by association and enabling neither do the entirety of the GOP.
Trump has not read our constitution. He thought is was about love!
He's so dumb. It's unbelievable
Or, maybe, believable...
I thought that’s what he said about the Declaration of Independence. He thought it was about love and unity! He is such an idiot.
Felon47 & his enablers forgot they work for us, upholding our Constitution. He thinks everything serves him & he has to be shown otherwise.
Seems to me Trump didn't forget he works for us, exactly -- more a case of he never knew it. Or anything else much, either. PINA (President In Name Only).
When asked by Welker in the interview aired Sunday if he thinks he has to uphold the Constitution as president, Mr. Trump also said, "I don't know."
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5282771-trump-constitution-deportations/amp/
The constitution is in his way, he wants to do away with it. Foxtrot Delta Tango
Breaking: Thank you Republican Senator of NC Thom Tillis— Tillis breaks with Trump, opposes prosecutor nominee linked to Jan. 6 —Senator Tillis is breaking with President Trump by opposing his pick Ed Martin —for a powerful prosecutor job. Tillis says the nominee’s ties to January 6 are a deal breaker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3240s7rq4M
We should have our military go in and get those people
and give them trump in exchange.
Absolutely, but don't count on the Dump doing it. He only wants to send our military into Canada and annex it to the USA. 51st state, you know.
We need to cut them off at the knees. Watching Pam Bondi in New Mexico today acting like Trump invented criminal law. I have to give it to them on messaging. Blonde and articulate. That's his standard for talent. Say it in a way that makes them believe the lie while Dems do the real work and get the real results. These people holding high office in our nation's capital have to go. The sooner, the better.
There are a few other women like Bondi who have joined the dark side. Aileen Cannon isn’t blonde…but she “articulated” executive privilege and presidential immunity so well that it’ll take a constitutional amendment to undo her scandalous rulings. Thanks so much pino.
Great discussion! Thank you, Ben and Adam! 💙🇺🇲💙
This was fabulous. Thank you, both.
📅 5/6/25 🔗 http://www.change.org/impeach_now
Today, I’m sharing Congressman Thanedar’s House Resolution 343, which outlines seven Articles of Impeachment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/353/text
You can also get a preview of Representative Al Green’s upcoming Articles by watching his video dated 5/1 on his official YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/RepAlGreen
Now, it’s on us. Signing this petition is one way to pressure our state reps to support Thanedar and Green, but it’s not the only way. Call. Email.
Senate- http://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Reps- http://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Show up. If you can, meet with your representatives in person. Every voice matters. Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared, and supported the petition so far. 🙏 To help boost visibility, I’ve also created a petition-themed t-shirt, with proceeds going toward promotion through the host site. If you’re interested, it’s available on my Etsy store — link is on my Substack profile. https://milabeauxs.etsy.com/listing/4301038366
Together, we can keep the pressure on.
"The time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King Jr.
SCSM
Just signed. Thanks for making it easy to find a way.
Signed!
Wonderful content. Appreciate you both!
I enjoyed this very much and feel well informed. I will definitely subscribe to All Rise News and support it in any way possible. Please have him back again!
Subscribing ASAP!
Great show!! Loved it!!
Great reporting. Subscribing now to All Rise Substack. The Mighty Meidas support you Adam. 🫶🏼
Excellent and Informative All Rise News 👏 👍 🙌
ABOUT TIME JUDGES ARE STANDING UP, WOW 200 PEOPLE TAKEN TO THE WORST PRISION IN THE WESTERN HEMESPHERE!
Donald J Trump is not our President! He's a far right wing conservative facist law breaking criminal who should get the death penalty in my opinion ASAP. Why because Trump is felon he's been convicted on all 34 felony counts! he's a sexual predator;) he's a fraud he bankrupt most of his casino's if I got that right?! Trump is not a Christian but a greedy money hungry con-artist!! I say to the Democratic Party forget Trump start focusing on flipping all of the seats blue or deep blue in all 50 states in the United States, stop bending the knee to Trump Vance MAGA GOP start fighting back super harder like never before. It's time to take back our country Pro-Colored Pro- LGBTQIA +People Pro-Democracy forcing the rich to pay their fair share every single day.
Good news but WHERE is the Judge Boasberg case about why the planes carrying the first load of 250 disappeared males going to El Salvadore prison on our taxpayer money haven't been turned around and returned.
Just because trump played beat the clock with the Judge's ruling does that made decisions null and void?
WTAF is the use of verdicts if there is no power behind them to enforce them. ONLY trump's Executive Branch has the power to enforce laws, verdicts, sentences, fines of Federal Courts. We the People have to move to the state judicial systems to enforce our laws and refuse to pay IRS Federal Taxes for a breach social contract for a law/order Constitutional democratic majority republic.
Excellent, Adam. Very informative!!!
I despise absolutely everything 47 is doing!
Great reporting, Adam. I am glad to know about you.
First time hearing about Adam and ‘All Rise’. Great job!!!? I’ll be following.
Not only should those people in the El Salvador prison be returned, but our tax money has been used to apprehend, transport, and keep them in prison. That money should be recouped. I know, accountability is another ball of wax
Feeling optimistic
Thank God for people like these. The chaos swamping our country must end and not be allowed to return. Law is the way forward. Brilliant minds have the tools to make our United States a government of laws again. Also nice to see the glint of fun in the eyes of Adam Klasfeld -- he is so sure of his facts that he is positively enjoying flattening the ill-doing and unlawfulness by Trump.
:-) !!
.it's all about NUMBRS (of 'removals') - trump said he was elected to get rid of (thousands of) 'criminal migrants' - so ICE (and CPB) had to act fast, ie grab and remove anybody who might maybe possibly be an 'undesirable' - no time for FACTS, skin colour, tatoos, language are the only 'criteria' that matter, 'cuz King Donald will fire us if we don't do his unquestioned bidding. this is what 'merika has become - sad!
Good!
This is my first time!! So excited 😆
With brilliant journalism and a free press, we can defeat rising fascism…
Adam is the type of person we need to legally spell out the truth and where we are on various cases.
Thank you both for the great reporting and break down of these cases keep up this important work, We the People Resist..Elbows Up!
Great review!! Thanks
Thank you all for what you do!
I sure hope that alien enemies act use is handled the right way! What would stop diaper Don trying some bogus or self made emergency to stay in office??
Maybe the weekly protests will make elected Republicans to think again of kissing dons smelly butt?? I'd bet big time most all of us here would never give this buffoon loyalty over our sworn commitment to our constitution!!
said back in 2016. No chance in hell loyalty from me!! Our family goes back to the 2nd ship here!! It's true!
Inspiring to see your collective commitment to the data and your ability to communicate the ways in which facts matter in spite of the inevitability of interpretation. Have just subscribed to All Rise. Thanks MeidasTN for all you do to hold the Trump regime to account.
Why is no-one commenting on the huge compensation claims that all these folks locked up erroneously in El Salvador will be aiming at the GOP? Tens of millions exposure?
It's great how far Midas Touch News has gotten always enjoy all your news
Good information delivered well, thank you!
Still having difficulty navigating the Federal Register. Would someone explain again how to get to the comments section?
I love you guys - I listen to your podcasts & Legal AF. But - your silence on the current situation in Gaza - people are literally being starved to death - leaves my feelings about your show slipping. Please check out British Conservative MP Michael Pritchard’s statement today (May 6). It might be a turning of the tide. Forgive my being off topic - and I do really love your show. Even made an Elbows Up sign - and have since explained its meaning to many people in NM.
Anyone know more about the regime's intent to deport more people, this time to Libya?! The last deportations to El Salvador (I'm also hearing Panama and Costa Rica from NY Times) were deemed unconstitutional, but it doesn't look like they're stopping, it looks to be getting worse!
Met Adam earlier on another substack. Excellent program and fantastic analysis! Thank you 😊
Yessssssssssssss 💯 💯 💯 💯
Sure could
Even Democratic State should file a lawsuit against Trump and his administration, in every County! As well as, every city that has a court house.
It’s indeed a sad commentary on our country that our President is more concerned with canceling the Cookie Monster, Elmo, Big Bird, Grover, and all the other educational characters on Sesame Street and NPR and spending huge amounts of OUR $$$$ to reopen Alcatraz because he probably watched some Movie over the weekend that featured
It than he is in working on a deal with Canada or solving the many problems that are facing our country. Of course, he’s creating zillions more problems every day while the MAGAs in Congress continue to act like little mice and rats.
Yessssssssssssss we respect each other
Very informative and well versed. I am excited to add this All Rise News to my subscribing in inbox.
Don't know where it was "only 6 people commented" you speak of. Here, on this comment area? I think what Meidas is doing is terrific and support your and your co-resisters all the way even as a free subscriber. Keep it up!
If only Brett could stop interrupting everybody—/I would enjoy it so much more.
Not just today’s episode, but all of them. Jordie, love that you are a dedicated family man, stand up to Brett and let you speak. As a younger sister to 4 older sisters, I know the feeling.
Speak up, your voice is so much more soothing in these troubled times
Thank you for keeping me updated. It’s exhausting! 💙
You guys are slaying the Dogtard! Thanks.
Trump’s illegal use of the Alien Enemies Act to detain immigrants and ship them off to what the judge himself called a “notoriously evil jail.” Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
Thanks so much
Great reporting! Thank you!
Ben, your screen is jumping around like crazy. It's very distracting. Can you fix this?
The problem tho is the Supreme Court said Grump could use the Enemies Act as long as he gave due process before sending anyone to ElSalvador.
Originating at me speaking about Des Moines. Asking for help. Going through my worst trauma and PTSD from that.
When I returned. During the Biden Administration. someone used an audio system to attempt to stay that all were just moving on as if Des Moines never happened. Except I was mistreated. From the cue to walk away with a walker. To the explosions and gun shots. To dehydration. To Two Troopers in Iowa or SD telling me to walk when I was trying to provide information to get me home. Also a corrections officer was involved. An Altoona Iowa Officer. All just to lead me closer to not existing. To not being well. Here I am . Still fighting.
It was neglect across the board. Or subterfuge when the Republican Led and DMAC led assault happened to injur someone from Pennsylvania that just so happened to run into a bunch of people I have had knowledge of.
I am so glad we have these people to explain what’s going on and the legal ramifications of the current regime. The orange menace is breaking more laws and is due to be held accountable for the second time in his life. He needs to be removed and more in Congress need to protect the people they represent from this corrupt administration
Donald John Trump's economy, Don John's Swoon
Yes I feel like I've been renditioned here.