In a surprising late Sunday opinion, Judge Chutkan decided to reinstate the gag order placed on Donald Trump on October 16th. Trump immediately appealed the gag order and Judge Chutkan placed a stay on it (meaning it was paused and not enforceable) just a few days later.

Well, clearly things have changed. This probably has to do with the incredibly detailed 32-page filing by Jack Smith's office opposing the motion to stay. In it, they portray Trump as an active danger who must be restricted by the court to protect the integrity of the trial AND to protect the physical safety of government witnesses.

The brief states that “the defendant has returned to the very sort of targeting that the Order prohibits, including attempting to intimidate and influence foreseeable witnesses, and commenting on the substance of their testimony,"

Later in the filing the prosecutors state: “[Trump] well knows that, by publicly targeting perceived adversaries with inflammatory language, he can maintain a plausible deniability while ensuring the desired results...The defendant knows the effect of his targeting and seeks to use it to his strategic advantage while simultaneously disclaiming any responsibility for the very acts he causes.”

To bolster their claims about the danger Trump poses, they note the recent prosecution of a man who went to Barack Obama's home right after Trump posted a link to an article with the Obama's DC home address. They also discuss the danger Mike Pence faced after Trump publicly attacked him online leading up to January 6th insurrection. And most recently, Trump attacked his former Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, after ABC broke news that Meadows had worked out an immunity deal with Jack Smith. Trump publicly attacked Meadows on Truth Social and that post was Exhibit A in the filing opposing the stay pending appeal.

It worked, clearly. Trump is now gagged again - both in New York and in DC. How long until he violates one or both? My guess? Soon.