Two federal judges appointed by President Barack Obama appeared on a progressive podcast to criticize the Department of Homeland Security’s general counsel for publicly documenting what he described as judicial activism in immigration cases, according to The Federalist.
District Judges Esther Salas and Beth Bloom used their Friday appearance on the Legal AF podcast to attack DHS General Counsel James Percival over a recent series of posts on X. Percival’s thread, titled “Worst of the Worst, District Judge Edition,” highlighted rulings from several Democrat-appointed judges in immigration cases involving the Trump administration.
The thread focused on cases involving what Percival characterized as judges sidestepping the Supreme Court’s Mullin v. Doe ruling on Temporary Protected Status and the government’s deportation efforts.
Judges Claim Posts Amount to Intimidation
Salas, whose son was killed by what she described as a “disgruntled attorney,” accused Percival of “mischaracterizing” judicial rulings. She claimed the social media posts functioned as intimidation tactics against the judiciary.
“You wanna go on the Worst of the Worst list next week, judge? You wanna do that, or fall in line?” Salas said, characterizing what she viewed as the implicit message. She further described the posts as “anti-democratic.”
Bloom echoed similar concerns, calling Percival’s thread an “intimidation tactic.” She said the posts represent “unjustified attacks that are designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to bring others to do harm.”
Percival’s posts did not contain threats or calls for violence against judges. The thread named specific judges, summarized their rulings, and explained how those decisions conflicted with administration policy objectives.
Podcast’s Partisan Ties Raise Questions
The judges’ decision to appear on Legal AF has drawn scrutiny due to the podcast’s partisan affiliations. The program is produced by the MeidasTouch Network, an outlet founded by the same individuals who created the MeidasTouch PAC, which supported Democratic candidates during the 2020 election cycle.
This year, Soros Fund Management led an investment round into the MeidasTouch Network. According to Bloomberg, the outlet did not disclose the investment terms but stated it would use funding from Soros and other unnamed investors to expand its digital news operation.
The podcast episode also featured Paul Kiesel, founder of Speak Up for Justice and a Los Angeles trial attorney. While the organization describes itself as nonpartisan, the Capital Research Center reported that Kiesel has previously donated to Democratic campaigns and organizations.
A review of Legal AF’s YouTube channel shows content heavily critical of President Trump and his administration, as well as the conservative-majority Supreme Court.
DHS Counsel Defends Criticism as Legitimate
In video posted to social media, Percival defended his characterization of certain district court rulings as political activism. “What’s going on with some of these District Judges is absolutely ABSURD…what these judges are doing is engaging in naked politics and then they’re shrouding it in the thin veneer of legalese,” he said.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between the judiciary and executive branch over immigration enforcement and other policy areas where courts have issued injunctions blocking administration initiatives.
Pattern of Threats Against Conservative Justices
The judges’ appearance on the podcast follows years of documented threats and intimidation efforts directed at conservative Supreme Court justices, according to The Federalist’s reporting.
In 2020, then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh they would “pay the price” for rulings on abortion. The 2022 leak of the draft Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade triggered death threats against conservative justices and protests at their homes.
The demonstrations at justices’ residences continued despite federal law prohibiting such activity. A man traveled to Justice Kavanaugh’s home with weapons and the intent to kill him, later receiving what critics described as a lenient sentence from a Biden-appointed judge.
Other incidents include a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan publicly fantasizing about throwing beers at Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Clarence Thomas delivering speeches remotely due to security threats, and an attempted swatting incident at Barrett’s residence.
The contrast between the judges’ characterization of Percival’s criticism as dangerous intimidation and the documented pattern of actual threats and violence directed at conservative justices has raised questions about consistency in concerns over judicial independence and safety.
Source: thefederalist.com — https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/03/obama-judges-attack-dhs-on-anti-trump-podcast-for-noticing-their-colleagues-activism/