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The Grim Implications of the Supreme Court’s Ballroom Ruling

The Grim Implications of the Supreme Court’s Ballroom Ruling

The Republican appointees have given the Trump administration a license to lie

Ankush Khardori
Ankush Khardori

Sep 1, 2026

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6 min read

The Strange Legal Logic of the Meta Settlement

The Strange Legal Logic of the Meta Settlement

Plus: the DOJ's Kennedy Center gambit, a lazy critique of the legal press, and more

Aug 28, 2026

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7 min read

Michael Cohen Walked Right into Trump’s Trap

Michael Cohen Walked Right into Trump’s Trap

Plus: Trump's ballroom, U.S. attorneys serving illegally, and more

Aug 24, 2026

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6 min read

The Administrative State Is on Life Support, but It's Not Dead

The Administrative State Is on Life Support, but It's Not Dead

How Donald Trump and the Supreme Court's conservative justices fundamentally changed the federal government — and what to do about it

Aug 19, 2026

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16 min read

More from Open File

Trump Is Trying to Blackmail the Supreme Court. Again.

The administration now claims that building Trump’s ballroom is a national security imperative

Aug 17, 2026

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4 min read

Trump Is Trying to Blackmail the Supreme Court. Again.

The Trump Administration Is Enabling Financial Crime

Plus: the Truth Social lawsuit, ICE run amok, and more

Aug 14, 2026

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6 min read

The Trump Administration Is Enabling Financial Crime

Samuel Alito Is Not Doing Himself Any Favors

The Supreme Court justice recently spoke out about a new biography of him. The biographer responds.

Aug 11, 2026

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16 min read

Samuel Alito Is Not Doing Himself Any Favors

Two Bad Arguments Carried Blanche Over the Finish Line

Plus: Anthony Fauci, Big Law, and more

Aug 7, 2026

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5 min read

Two Bad Arguments Carried Blanche Over the Finish Line

Inside the Court Case that Could End Super PACs

Plus: the latest on Todd Blanche

Aug 5, 2026

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14 min read

Inside the Court Case that Could End Super PACs

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Analysis of the Justice Department, the courts, and the intersection of law and politics

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‘They Are Skilled at Chaos and Cruelty’

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver opens up about the Trump DOJ’s criminal case against her and the latest killings by ICE officers

Inside the Court Case that Could End Super PACs

Plus: the latest on Todd Blanche

What I Learned By Watching Every Todd Blanche Appearance

The acting AG’s nomination for the permanent position may be in serious trouble, particularly given the ongoing instability of the Senate Republican conference

Introducing Open File

What this is, what to expect, and why I'm starting it now

Ankush Khardori

Ankush Khardori is a former federal prosecutor writing about national legal affairs — the Justice Department, the courts, and the intersection of law and politics.

About Open File

Open File

Analysis and commentary on national legal affairs — covering the Justice Department, the courts, and the intersection of law and politics — from former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori.

© 2026 Open File.
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