Is This Behavior Warranted?

Steve commits murder, Anne pursues him to the full extent of the law, and Mack is on a mission from God.

REFERENCES

So, by warrant here, we’re talking about honest-to-gosh legal warrants:

Legal Information Institute. “Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/warrant

We need to make a distinction because there are administrative warrants:

Legal Information Institute. “Administrative Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_warrant

So, the executive branch:

Legal Information Institute. “Executive Branch.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_branch

You need to have probable cause:

Legal Information Institute. “Probable Cause.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause

Article III judge:

Constitution Annotated. “Article III.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-3/

For search and seizure:

Legal Information Institute. “Search and Seizure.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/search_and_seizure

In the Fourth Amendment:

Constitution Annotated. “Fourth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

A lot of times, it is for a civil thing:

Legal Aid Society of Northeaster New York. “The Differences Between Criminal Court and Civil Court.” Updated August 4, 2022. LawHelp.org. https://www.lawhelp.org/resource/the-differences-between-criminal-court-and-ci

ICE, the organization:

https://www.ice.gov/

They’ve got to be out in a public place, and then they’re authorized by their own agency to detain them:

Diaz, Jaclyn. “What ICE Agents Can and Cannot Legally Do During Arrests.” Updated September 19, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5517998/ice-arrest-rules-explained

It’s not just search everything:

United States Courts. “What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?” https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-fourth-amendment-mean

Writs of assistance:

Britannica Editors. “Writ of Assistance.” Updated 2020. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/writ-of-assistance

The in-between time between the Seven Years War (the French and Indian War)…:

Britannica Editors. “Seven Years’ War.” Updated March 23, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War

…and the run-up to the Revolution:

Wallace, Willard M. “American Revolution.” Updated March 20, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution

So famous Supreme Court case, Mapp vs. Ohio, 1961:

Oyez. “Mapp v. Ohio.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1960/236

When did administrative warrants come into play:

Arthur, Andrew R. “Going Back to the Past to Explain ‘Administrative Warrants,’ Immigration Enforcement.” February 5, 2026. Center for Immigration Studies. https://cis.org/Arthur/Going-Back-Past-Explain-Administrative-Warrants-Immigration-Enforcement

I kind of wonder how the Revenue Cutter Service operated:

Vergun, David. “Coast Guard Celebrates 235 Years Protecting Nation’s Waterways.” August 1, 2025. Joint Base San Antonio. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4261826/coast-guard-celebrates-235-years-protecting-nations-waterways/

Like an early DOGE or something:

Fields, Gary. “A Year After Trump’s DOGE Cuts, Workers Whose Lives Were Upended Ask What Was Saved.” March 27, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-year-after-trumps-doge-cuts-workers-whose-lives-were-upended-ask-what-was-saved

While Civics on the Rocks didn't actually find an answer to this question, we’re sure they had something that gave them paper authorization, because otherwise they’re kind of pirate-y. Feel free to look for it for yourselves:

National Archives. “Records of the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS).” Reviewed January 11, 2023. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/coast-guard/revenue-cutter-service

And it’s not a letter of marque or reprisal:

Mulligan, Steve P. “Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 1): Introduction and Historical Context.” February 26, 2025. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11272

And those are called origin statutes, by the way, or organic statutes:

Ballotpedia. “Organic Statute.” https://ballotpedia.org/Organic_statute

Some of it is, also, due process rights:

Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/

We couldn’t find a comprehensive list of agencies that use administrative warrants, but multiple ones are authorized to do so, including the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA).

Let’s do the EPA, that’s a fun one:

https://www.epa.gov/

Oh, postal inspectors(!):

United States Postal Inspection Service. “Security: It Comes With the Stamp.” https://www.uspis.gov/

The EPA has people who enforce EPA regulations:

EPA. “Criminal Enforcement: Special Agents.” https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-enforcement-special-agents

Some of what they do, like postal inspectors, it could be a civil thing, it could also be a criminal thing:

Office of Inspector General. “Office of Investigations.” https://www.uspsoig.gov/about-us/office-investigations

Things like wire tapping:

Legal Information Institute. “Wiretapping.” Reviewed July 2024. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/wiretapping

Damn spot:

Shakespeare. “The Tragedy of Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1.” https://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/macbeth.5.1.html

You’re on oath or affirmation:

Legal Information Institute. “22 CFR § 92.18 - Oaths and affirmations defined.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/92.18

Now, we’re playing Clue:

The Strong National Museum of Play. “Clue.” https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/clue/

Yes, Anne can go into Steve’s house to arrest him with her warrant:

Wallentine, Ken. “Whose House Is This? I Think I Know.” 2023. Lexipol. https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/whose-house-is-this-i-think-i-know/

And then somebody pulls over Steve, and runs his license and registration through SCMODS:

https://youtu.be/pwqwSukyBvg?si=Kz9XB3WL4-k0vU9S

Yes, in most cases, Anne would need a separate warrant to take Steve’s DNA:

National Institute of Justice. “DNA–A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory.” https://nij.ojp.gov/nij-hosted-online-training-courses/dna-prosecutors-practice-notebook-inventory/preparing-cases-involving-dna/admissibility/court-order-or-search-warrant

So, the phone question is a little more complicated. As one legal source noted, phone technology evolves faster than the law does. If a legal authority figure uses your face to open your phone without your permission, you have a case to bring an unlawful search complaint against them. However, most legal sources we found recommend you use a strong password:

Old, Jake. “Privacy Implications of Biometric Phone Encryption in Police Investigations.” Tennessee Bar Association. https://www.tba.org/?pg=crimjustice

It’s not civil because it’s a misdemeanor:

Legal Information Institute. “Misdemeanor.” Reviewed August 2021. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/misdemeanor

So, the two Supreme Court cases that Mack describes did occur, but they happened two years apart.

The phone search was unlawful:

Oyez. “Riley v. California.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/2013/13-132

But the full body cavity search, because it was motivated by the fact that the police are responsible for the safety of all persons onsite, that search was permissible:

Oyez. “Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2011/10-945

Welcome to being a woman in America:

Center for Reproductive Rights. “Bodily Autonomy Fact Sheet Series: Abortion, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Fourteenth Amendment.” July 22, 2025. https://reproductiverights.org/resources/bodily-autonomy-fourteenth-amendment-fact-sheet/

Hot pursuit—it was a term that was made a thing by the Supreme Court…:

Justia. “United States v. Santana, 427 U.S. 38 (1976).” https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/427/38/

…not Roscoe P. Coltrane:

https://youtu.be/mPHnfcg6sPA?si=X4Tul9x0QxMHJHnN

In case you were wondering, hot pursuit comes from maritime law, where a nation’s ships are justified to pursue invaders into international waters, and its first known use was in 1743:

Merriam-Webster. “Hot Pursuit: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pursuit#word-history

So, about the rocket propelled grenade launcher—it’s kind of a good news, bad news thing. So, Texas has declared private ownership of such weapons to be illegal…:

Texas Constitution and Statutes. “Sec. 46.05. Prohibited Weapons.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=PE&chapter=PE.46&artSec=46.05

…unless they are registered under the National Firearms Act:

 ATF. “National Firearms Act.” https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/laws-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives/national-firearms-act

It depends on what you want to do with the fact pattern of the story:

Stockwell Law Firm. “How to Write an Effective Legal Fact Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide.” https://www.stockwelllawfirm.com/single-post/how-to-write-an-effective-legal-fact-pattern-a-step-by-step-guide

The term for that is exigent circumstances:

Legal Information Institute. “Exigent Circumstances.” Reviewed December 2022. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/exigent_circumstances

ICE, who many people in this country feel are acting illegally and outside of the bounds for which they were created:

Epstein, Kayla. “What is ICE and What Powers Do Its Agents Have to Use Force?” February 4, 2026. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp80ljjd5rwo

And many of those people are federal judges:

Cheney, Kyle. “Our Running List of Judges Who Rule on ICE’s Mass Detention Policy.” Updated April 3, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/18/trump-judges-immigration-detention-00784614?_sp_pass_consent=true

They have internal legal advice that tells them their administrative warrants are perfectly fine for entering people’s homes:

James, Hannah. “DHS Warrantless Home Entry Memo’s Fourth Amendment Problem.” Updated February 4, 2026. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dhs-warrantless-home-entry-memos-fourth-amendment-problem

Including knocking down doors and using explosives to breach them to do so:

Brook, Jack. “A U.S. Citizen Says ICE Forced Open the Door to His Minnesota Home and Removed Him in His Underwear After a Warrantless Search.” January 20, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-u-s-citizen-says-ice-forced-open-the-door-to-his-minnesota-home-and-removed-him-in-his-underwear-after-a-warrantless-search

We just generally said ICE, but sometimes it’s Border Patrol:

Mehta, Sarah. “Border Patrol Agents Replace Top Leadership at ICE Offices Despite Human Rights Violations.” November 6, 2025. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/border-patrol-agents-replace-top-leadership-at-ice-offices-despite-human-rights-violations

The incredible lack of training:

Bennett, Geoff and Anderson, Jonah. “Whistleblower Warns ICE Has Slashed Training for Recruits [Video and transcript].” PBS News Hour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whistleblower-warns-ice-has-slashed-training-for-recruits

Which is why some of the guys have shot themselves:

Rahman, Billal and Gooding, Dan. “ICE Agents Keep Accidentally Shooting Themselves.” Updated February 20, 2026. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/ice-agents-keep-accidentally-shooting-themselves-11540132

In some of these encounters, like Renee Good…:

Schuppe, Jon and Smith, Patrick. “Minneapolis Police, Fire Department Reports Reveal Chaotic Moments After ICE Officer Fatally Shot Renee Good.” Updated January 16, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-police-fire-department-reports-reveal-chaotic-moments-ice-rcna254362

…and others:

McSwane, J. David. “Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting.” February 1, 2026. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/alex-pretti-shooting-cbp-agents-identified-jesus-ochoa-raymundo-gutierrez

Learn what you can do, what you can’t do, and what you shouldn’t do:

Yoon, Byul. “Your Questions Answered: Filming ICE Interactions Safely.” March 3, 2026. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/your-questions-answered-filming-ice-interactions-safely

They are murdering people:

Bennet, Geoff and Norris, Courtney. “‘He Took My Son’s Life for Nothing,’ Says Mother of Man Killed by Immigration Agent [Video and transcript].” March 19, 2026. PBS News Hour.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/he-took-my-sons-life-for-nothing-says-mother-of-man-killed-by-immigration-agent

They have a habit of leaving:

Fanelli, Gino. “ICE Agents in the Park Ave Neighborhood Spark Large-Scale Protest.” September 9, 2025. WXXI News. https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2025-09-09/ice-agents-in-the-park-ave-neighborhood-spark-large-scale-protest

Specifically, ACLU:

ACLU. “Know Your Rights.” https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights

The marches, almost all of them, have been peaceful:

Reid, Tim and Brooks, Brad. “Anti-Trump Rallies Hit Thousands of U.S. Cities for ‘No Kings’ Protest.” Updated March 30, 2026. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rallies-planned-thousands-us-cities-no-kings-protest-against-trump-2026-03-28/

Regular citizens in Minnesota:

Janssen, Emma. “When ICE Blows Through Rural America.” March 30, 2026. The American Prospect. https://prospect.org/2026/03/30/apr-2026-magazine-when-ice-blows-through-rural-america-minnesota/

The guy who was the head of the Border Patrol operation in Minnesota was removed from that:

Raza, Sarah and Fingerhut, Hannah. “Minnesota Launches Probe That Could Bring Charges Against Federal Immigration Officers.” March 3, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/minnesota-launches-probe-that-could-bring-charges-against-federal-immigration-officers

Including law enforcement of the state and local variety:

Yang, Hannah; Sepic, Matt; and Schaper, David. “St. Peter Police Chief Intervened and Got Federal Agents to Release Resident, Sources Say.” Updated January 31, 2026. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/30/st-peter-police-chief-intervenes-prevents-federal-agents-from-arresting-resident

Our first cocktail was a Scofflaw:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/scofflaw/

It is kumquats where you eat the peel of the citrus:

Fox 13 Tampa Bay. “How to Eat a Kumquat [Video].” https://youtu.be/OmiUgaic2nE?si=2DSoq-gt1zDlv-f0

Second cocktail was the Algonquin:

https://www.liquor.com/algonquin-cocktail-recipe-8383879

Which was named for the hotel in New York City:

https://www.algonquinhotel.com/

Sake is not a wine, it is its own thing:

Wine and Spirit Education Trust. “5 Sake Facts Every Drinks Professional Needs to Know.” May 2024. https://www.wsetglobal.com/knowledge-centre/blog/2024/march/05/5-sake-facts-every-drinks-professional-needs-to-know/

27 CFR, Section 5.143 defines whiskey:

Code of Federal Regulations. “27 CFR 5.143.” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-5.143

You can find whiskeys made from quinoa, for example:

Peters, Josh. “Corsair Quinoa Whiskey Review.” February 10, 2016. The Whiskey Jug. https://thewhiskeyjug.com/american-whiskey/corsair-quinoa-whiskey-review/

In the interest of full disclosure, since recording this podcast, Civics on the Rocks has discovered that someone has indeed made a rice whisky:

Burke, Eric. “J. T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey.” November 30, 2022. Bourbon Guy. https://www.bourbonguy.com/blog/2022/11/30/jt-meleck-american-rice-whiskey

No, because there is no honey:

Hive Mind Mead. “The History of Mead.” https://hivemindmead.com/pages/mead-101-everything-about-mead

The law has, indeed, changed and it is now totally fine to have a home distillery in Texas:

Capriglione, Giovanni. “HB 2278.” Texas Policy Research. https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/bills/89th-legislature-hb-2278/

As of this podcast, World Market no longer sells a home brew sake kit. However, several other companies do online, in case you wanted to find something like that. (Anne's out. This is on you.)

I don’t know if you ever saw the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi:

https://youtu.be/0VB_DrsHDQ0?si=8YjFvlhvUCGrX4a5

It’s like family delineated:

Japan. “Exploring the Soul of Japanese Sake Breweries Across the Tohoku Region.” January 2022. https://www.japan.travel/en/japan-magazine/2201_exploring-soul-japanese-sake-breweries-across-tohoku-region/

It’s not tequila:

Forget, A. J. “The Difference Between Agave Spirits and Tequila.” May 14, 2025. The Takeout. https://www.thetakeout.com/1854905/agave-spirits-vs-tequila-difference/

A growing whiskey history in Japan:

Japan. “Japanese Whisky.” https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-whisky/

That’s how you go blind:

Claw Hammer Supply. “Can Making Alcohol at Home Make You Go Blind [Video]?” https://youtube.com/shorts/5VAogia7Oow?si=Zv9RFa0kI0Svhyb9

A packed column…:

Chemical Packings. “Essential Guide to Packed Bed Column Design.” November 24, 2024. https://www.chemicalpackings.com/article/packed-column.html

…not a tray column:

Chemical Packings. “Distillation Column Trays and Packing: A Comprehensive Overview.” February 1, 2025. https://www.chemicalpackings.com/article/distillation-column-tray.html

We’re going to need black suits, black hats, sunglasses, black ties:

https://youtu.be/WZ3zZ-aWi6U?si=y9W6WUMxjdJg6qmi

Or NATO straps:

Horus Watch Straps. “What is a NATO Watch Strap?” https://www.horusstraps.com/blogs/news/what-is-a-nato-watch-strap?srsltid=AfmBOor5YD3GFgPYbTCgfbQm0h7uHsSAUlMhsjd2IsocQvX5lWQnp-1B

Original Bond or vintage Bond, Bond 2021, and modern Bond:

Esprit Nato. “NATO Strap and James Bond.” https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/content/10-nato-watch-strap-band-and-james-bond-007

Goldfinger, in the beginning of the movie:

https://youtu.be/NVg23yjKl1g?si=TisLfRcSQ8sjQHke

No Time to Die actually starred Daniel Craig:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/

Quantum of Solace:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/

You wanna fun fact? Sean Connery’s wetsuit is not an authentic wetsuit or dry suit. Here’s someone with a much more thorough explanation than Anne’s:

Spaiser, Matt. “The Black Diving Suit in Goldfinger.” November 4, 2024. Bond Suits. https://www.bondsuits.com/the-black-diving-suit-in-goldfinger/

So, there’s wetsuits and dry suits:

Mustang Survival. “The Difference Between Wetsuits and Dry Suits.” May 21, 2025. https://mustangsurvival.com/blogs/resources/the-difference-between-wetsuits-and-dry-suits

So, for our last cocktail, we went back to a Saratoga:

https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2196/saratoga-cocktail

ICE is still in Minnesota:

Collins, Jon and Martin, Kate. “Half of Those Arrested by Federal Agents in Minnesota This Winter Have Already Been Deported.” April 3, 2026. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/03/half-of-those-arrested-by-federal-agents-in-minnesota-this-winter-have-already-been-deported

And cars:

NBC10 Philadelphia. “ICE Agents Smash Car Window During Arrest of Man in Cumberland County [Video].” March 28, 2026. https://youtu.be/zN2MWICVb24?si=hsTequ2py3HGhrop

And sending people, including little kids, to concentration camps:

Martínez-Beltrán, Sergio. “ICE Detention Deaths Are on a Record Pace. One Texas Facility Bears the Brunt.” April 3, 2026. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2026/04/03/nx-s1-5754749/ice-detention-deaths-are-on-a-record-pace-one-texas-facility-bears-the-brunt

And they literally have:

Goodman, Joshua and Sullivan, Tim. “They Thought They Were in Court for a Routine Immigration Hearing, But Walked Into a Deportation Trap.” November 19, 2025. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/they-thought-they-were-in-court-for-a-routine-immigration-hearing-but-walked-into-a-deportation-trap

Minnesota Public Radio:

https://www.mpr.org/

The national news is a business, it’s an entertainment industry:

Seth, Shobhit; Brock, Thomas; and Velasquez, Vikki. “The World’s Top 10 News Media Companies.” January 15, 2026. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/021815/worlds-top-ten-news-companies-nws-gci-trco-nyt.aspx

Texas Public Radio:

https://www.tpr.org/

The Texas Tribune:

https://www.texastribune.org/

A Texas journalist named Olivia Messer:

https://thebarbedwire.com/author/olivia/

The Barbed Wire:

https://thebarbedwire.com/

A story they did in the aftermath of the July 4th floods:

Rangel, Leslie and Messer, Olivia. “‘It’s a Waking Nightmare’: Camp Mystic Alum Recalls Flood That Hit the Same Cabins in 1987.’” The Barbed Wire. July 8, 2025. https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/08/camp-mystic-alum-remembers-past-flood/

ProPublica:

https://www.propublica.org/

And “dun-dun” is a reference to the television show Law and Order. But you already knew that.