The Trump DOJ Adds to the Chaos in Politics: The Economic Ripple Effect

Another day, another round of chaos. I’ve said it repeatedly: Chaos breeds political instability, and political instability leads to financial instability. There’s so much happening right now. Take the stock market, for instance—it’s been a disaster. Then, there’s the issue of the tariffs. One moment they’re active, the next they’re not. By the time you go to bed, they’re back again. Meanwhile, the DOJ (Department of Justice) is spearheading a constitutional crisis. It’s all chaos. So, let me ask you a question.

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Key Points:

• Chaos in politics leads to financial instability.
• Inconsistent policies erode trust and disrupt business.
• Markets value consistency over everything: While some volatility is expected, extreme fluctuations in the economy, like a 401k’s drastic swings, are unsettling and undesirable.
• The current chaotic tariff policy of President Trump creates market instability and disrupts the global economy.
• Businesses are already feeling the impact of trade disruptions, whether it’s Amazon canceling orders from China or consumers already being hit with a tariff surcharge.
• Economic consequences affect everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
• Targeting lawyers raises serious constitutional concerns and is a step towards fascism, a dictatorship, and a constitutional crisis.
• Executive Orders against law firms and the ABA (American Bar Association) are absurd and have negative financial repercussions.
• The ban on DOJ lawyers joining the ABA will likely result in lawsuits and further clog the courts, straining the judicial system.
• Individuals and businesses need to be financially prepared.

It’s No Way to Run a Business or Country

If you’re doing business with someone who constantly changes their mind, telling you one thing one day, something else the next, and then reversing their decision yet again, it creates nothing but chaos. Imagine three days later, they change their mind once more.

Then, they call you and suggest going back to the original agreement. Would you continue doing business with such an individual or company? Most likely, you’d say no. This kind of behavior is pure chaos, and all it does is distract you. You have a business to run, and every moment spent dealing with this person is a moment taken away from focusing on your business. It’s simply not worth it, so you move on to a new company to do business with.

The new business might charge you more or less for the same product, or the quality might vary—sometimes better, sometimes worse. But one thing that markets and people value above all is consistency. Nobody enjoys a roller coaster ride when it comes to the economy. Sure, we don’t mind going to the fair to ride a rollercoaster, but when it’s about your money, it’s a different story. No one wants to see their 401K at $60,000 one day and $40,000 the next. That kind of volatility is unsettling. Trillions have already been lost.

Once again, chaos leads to political instability, which in turn creates financial instability. Now, apparently, tariffs have been paused for 90 days. Supposedly, based on phone calls from Presidents, Prime Ministers, and leaders of other countries. No deals have been finalized. Whether these calls even happened as claimed, only time will tell. But as of now, there’s no deal.

So, what’s the point of imposing tariffs if they can be delayed for 90 days based on a phone call? We’ve already seen this happen with Canada and Mexico, and there’s no reason to believe this time will be any different. This chaos has wreaked havoc on the stock market, wiping out wealth and hurting businesses.

Tariffs are already hurting businesses because they create uncertainty about what tomorrow will bring. Instability never works—it doesn’t work in business, personal lives, marriages, relationships, education, or anywhere else. It might make for great movies, but it’s disastrous in real life. This chaos is evident in the struggles businesses are facing today.

Some can’t get products from China, or China has been canceling shipments. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly canceled millions of dollars’ worth of products they had on order. Some consumers are already seeing a tariff surcharge on their online purchases.

This is all part of the larger issue I keep emphasizing. It doesn’t matter what your political party is—blue state, red state, purple state, yellow state, or any other color—it’s going to affect you. We’re all in this together.

For example, as I was editing this, I read an article that extensions to apply for FEMA aid for those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina have been denied. Hurricane Helene cost me a car, my camper should have been totaled, and I spent at least $4,000 out of pocket on the house, and I still need to spend another $1,500 to fix my steel shed garage. FEMA helps offset some of the costs. If not, I would be at least $4,000 more in debt.

While the country may be divided over politics, one thing that unites us is economics. Division, whether in a country or a business, is a recipe for failure. You can’t run a business when a nine-member board has nine conflicting points of view. It just doesn’t work. Being divisive doesn’t work in corporate America, and it certainly isn’t working in political America.

Let me address another topic I came across this morning that struck me as utterly ridiculous. There’s talk about lawyers being targeted by the Department of Justice or the Trump administration.

Lawyers Are on the Hit List Thanks to the DOJ

At first glance, it might seem like baseless chatter when people say there’s a constitutional crisis, but consider this: A lawyer, Amir Makled, recently returned from a vacation in the Dominican Republic and was stopped at the airport. Why? Because his clients are high-profile immigration cases. He was interrogated for two hours, and federal agents demanded access to his cell phone.

Let’s be clear—this is illegal, plain and simple. Lawyers have what’s called ‘work product,’ which includes confidential information. The agents even suggested he sift through his phone and hand over non-confidential information. Really? With thousands of emails to sort through? It’s absurd.

Typically, in a court case, a judge appoints a special magistrate to review information and determine what is confidential or considered work product and what is not. For example, if I email a cousin about playing golf over the weekend, that’s fine for review. However, anything related to my clients is protected and cannot be disclosed.

However, this issue of targeting lawyers has escalated. We’ve seen executive orders stating that certain law firms have lost their security clearance or access to courthouses—an action that is beyond absurd. Not to mention the Executive Orders aren’t worth the paper they are written on.

The American Bar Association and the Trump Administration

Today, I came across something new with financial implications. Lawyers working for the government, such as the DOJ, are now prohibited from being members of the ABA (American Bar Association). Think about that for a moment—they can’t be members. The reasoning? Apparently, the ABA is labeled as a leftist organization.

To clarify, the ABA is a voluntary organization and the largest association for lawyers. It advocates in Congress, submits amicus briefs (friend-of-the-court briefs), and provides continuing legal education (CLE) courses.

These courses are essential for maintaining a law license, as every state requires a certain number of credits within a specific timeframe. For instance, Florida recently increased the requirement to 36 credits every three years. Lawyers often use the ABA’s resources, such as online videos and quizzes, to earn these credits. This applies not only to private lawyers but also to government attorneys such as those in the DOJ.

Now, with this prohibition, DOJ lawyers can no longer participate in ABA events, which are held nationwide and offer opportunities to network and collaborate with other lawyers. From an economic perspective, this will undoubtedly impact the ABA. Membership fees and CLE courses, which are not cheap, generate significant revenue. Losing government lawyers as members will result in financial losses, potentially leading to staff layoffs.

What we’re seeing at the federal level isn’t much different—layoffs affecting IRS workers, probation officers, and employees of the National Park Service. More chaos, right? Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for my DOGE check and still waiting to see all this supposed fraud with Social Security uncovered. Funny how they can stop lawyers at airports and issue executive orders, yet we can’t find a single person who’s committed Social Security fraud. Odd, isn’t it?

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Sure, there might be one person, but apparently, they haven’t been found yet. Social Security isn’t exactly an easy system to defraud. And where are these mythical 200-year-olds supposedly collecting Social Security checks? It’s more likely that a family member is involved, but no one has uncovered that either. It’s all gibberish, all lies, all smoke and mirrors.

Back to the ABA situation—barring DOJ lawyers from being members is simply absurd. It’s bound to have a financial impact. This is why I always stress the need to be prepared. We’re getting hit financially from every angle. Someone working at the ABA today probably never imagined they’d lose their job over something like this—fewer members lead to less revenue and inevitable cuts. Now, from a practical standpoint, here’s some friendly advice to the federal government.

You’ve just managed to upset an entire organization—the largest in the country—run by lawyers, with lawyers, and for lawyers. What do you think is going to happen? A lawsuit is inevitable. If one isn’t filed by tomorrow, I’d be shocked—definitely by Monday. And here we go again: lawsuits cost money. More taxpayer dollars will be spent as DOJ lawyers are forced to argue in court why this is supposedly acceptable under the First Amendment, which it clearly is not. Meanwhile, the courts will be clogged with this nonsense.

And let’s not forget—will this target just the ABA as a whole, or will branch offices be dragged into it as well? This could spiral into a mess very quickly. Now, consider the broader impact: what about your case? Why hasn’t it been heard yet? Because the courts are flooded with garbage—garbage executive orders targeting law firms, garbage executive orders banning membership in the ABA. Garbage lawsuits that require the time, money, and energy of the DOJ to defend. If this isn’t a hallmark of dictatorship, I don’t know what is. Someone enlighten me.

It certainly sounds like a dictatorship when lawyers are told they can’t be members of a voluntary organization—an organization that includes liberals, conservatives, and everyone in between. It’s just a professional association for lawyers. It’s like saying you can’t be a member of the Florida Bar because it’s ‘too left.’ That’s absurd. The Florida Bar, like the ABA, has members from across the political spectrum. This is pure garbage.”

All this chaos, all this garbage—it always costs money, one way or another. Whether it’s lost revenue or the expense of court battles, the financial toll is inevitable. Time is money, and these cases are clogging the system. DOJ lawyers are stuck wasting their time on this nonsense instead of focusing on more pressing matters, like actual crimes being committed.

Take Attorney General Pat Biondi’s recent action, for example. Biondi suspended a DOJ lawyer because there wasn’t a legitimate argument to present in court regarding an executive order. Lawyers in that position face two choices: make a frivolous, gibberish argument and risk being sanctioned by the court, or refuse and get fired. The right thing to do—legally, morally, and ethically—is clear. Lawyers cannot and should not go into court with garbage arguments. That’s simply not how the system works.

As a result, we’re going to see more lawyers quitting, getting fired, or being sanctioned if they’re reckless enough to make those arguments. Which means, ultimately, qualified and ethical lawyers would skip working for the DOJ.

And yet, the chaos continues. It’s going to cost money, no matter what. The real question is: Can you figure out how it’s going to affect you?

Be Prepared as Much as You Can Be

If you’re in business, self-employed, or an entrepreneur, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent money from slipping away. For W-2 employees, the answer is simpler: hold back and save. Don’t get creative with spending right now. I’ve been advocating this approach since before President Trump took office. Now might not be the time to take financial risks or make big moves.

• You Have to Remain Sane As We Are Surrounded by Chaos

For example, relocating to the other side of the country could be risky. My wife and I have considered it, but for now, the answer is no. If an irresistible offer comes along, we might reconsider, but it’s better to hold back and wait for clarity.

For business owners, the situation is more complex. Many interviews with business owners highlight how current events are affecting them. If you source products from China, you may need to explore alternatives. Adapt to the situation, analyze your circumstances, and write everything down to help you see all the angles. Then, revisit your analysis to ensure you haven’t missed anything. The challenges are coming from multiple directions, making it difficult to predict the next obstacle. But careful planning and adaptability are key.

To all the business owners out there, I truly empathize with you. I know it’s not easy navigating through all this chaos. While W-2 employees might have a slightly easier time—they can hold back and save—your businesses are likely facing these challenges head-on, and it’s not an easy road. Just hang in there.

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This podcast was transcribed from an audio recording. The transcription may contain inaccuracies or errors due to the limitations of transcription software and the quality of the audio. I have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the transcription but cannot guarantee it.

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