Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing to become the acting Attorney General, Judge Williams’ opinion on Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, and the role Senate hearings play in trust and transparency. Then, the #Sisters review the recent violent incidents involving ICE agents, reflect on the danger the administration’s approach poses to public safety, and call for proper training and accountability. They also dissect Trump’s speech on election integrity, analyze it in the context of misinformation and disinformation, and examine the impact of false narratives on future elections.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Joyce Vance answer listener questions on everything from how Democrats should wield executive power to a social media ban for minors, and more. They discuss John Brennan’s ability to protect himself from the Trump administration by proactively filing lawsuits, whether a case can be appealed multiple times, what they think of a social media ban for minors, the ability of Congress to create and dissolve independent commissions, how a Democrat president should govern after the SCOTUS rulings strengthening the executive branch, and the value of being an extrovert in the legal field.
Read MoreJill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to criticize Blanche for undermining DOJ independence, acting as Trump’s personal lawyer, and purging career officials who worked on Trump or J6 cases. Then, the #Sisters analyze the deadly ICE shooting of longtime Houston resident Lorenzo Salgado Arajo, contrasting official claims with video and witness evidence, and discuss use-of-force violations and due process failures. They also expose the administration’s efforts to intimidate election officials, send monitors, issue criminal warnings, and fire members of the Election Assistance Commission to undermine trust in the midterms.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Jill Wine-Banks answer listener questions on moving immigration courts to the judicial branch, how to call a constitutional convention, and more. They explain why immigration judges should be independent from the DOJ, discuss the legal effect of pardons on guilt and restitution, push back against attempts to downplay Watergate and rehabilitate Richard Nixon, clarify how a constitutional convention would work under Article V, and strongly advocate for more cameras in courtrooms to increase public trust in the judicial branch.
Read MoreBarb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the recent Supreme Court rulings and how they affect our lives. They review the implications of the decisions on birthright citizenship, the president’s control over independent agencies, voting rights, transgender participation in sports, and campaign finance. During it, they analyze the court’s performance, expose its connection to Trump and the MAGA agenda, and call for more protections for the rights of all individuals. They also delve into how the court makes decisions, expose its inconsistencies, and lay out the trends it seems to be following as it heads into the upcoming term.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Kimberly Atkins Stohr and Joyce Vance answer listener questions on de facto versus de jure, navigating a legal career path, jurisdiction over Trump’s arch, and more. They explain why Virginia has no jurisdiction to stop Trump’s arch, detail the procedural twists in his Florida IRS case, offer advice on avoiding conflicts of interest from political involvement, strongly endorse public tax disclosures for transparency, give legal examples of de facto versus de jure issues using voting rights scenarios, and reflect on mentorship, pro bono work, and finding a rewarding path in public service.
Read MoreKimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss new developments regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act following a lawsuit by Katie Phang and the future of the case as it heads to appeal. Then, the #Sisters review Justice Alito’s recent authorship of immigration rulings affecting TPS and asylum seekers, as well as the dissents by Justices Kagan and Sotomayor. They also explain the power of dissents against impactful majority decisions, how they can be used as a tool for future change, and the constitutional implications of federal overreach in the states.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Jill Wine-Banks and Joyce Vance answer listener questions on the Trump-IRS lawsuit settlement, the War Powers Resolution, posthumous prosecutions, and more. They discuss whether Trump’s non-adversarial IRS suit can produce a valid broad tax forgiveness deal for him and his family, congressional checks on potential military action in Iran, Katie Phang’s lawsuit against Todd Blanche, how to safely renew your passport, why the dead cannot be prosecuted, and the process of how the vice president is sworn in after a president resigns or dies.
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks answer your questions on Trump’s controversial slush fund, crimes committed in prison, and more. They discuss why the president cannot legally use taxpayer money as a personal slush fund, ongoing lawsuits challenging the fund, creative ways Congress and citizens might push back, the best internships for aspiring law students, when the hosts first knew they wanted to become lawyers, how crimes in federal prisons are prosecuted compared to the outside world, and whether Trump could receive an automatic self-pardon for potential insider trading.
Read MoreJoyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss Kash Patel’s premature announcements of arrests in a possible terror plot that could compromise the investigation and an alleged slush fund for FBI agents. Then, the #Sisters discuss the need for congressional oversight of law enforcement following the FBI’s search of the Ohio Organizing Collective in a move that could jeopardize voting rights and registration efforts. They also review Hemani v United States, looking at the facts of the case, the intersection of the 2nd Amendment and drug use, and the court’s tendency towards decisions favoring gun rights.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer listener questions on presidential appointments, Trump’s use of the DOJ against political enemies, online threats, and more. They discuss whether a president’s former personal attorney can serve as Attorney General, the constitution and what citizens can do to strengthen democracy on the country’s 250th birthday, whether national monuments can be renamed or repurposed, if a future DOJ can overturn Trump’s “in perpetuity” tax agreement, how online threats become legally actionable, the ability of Trump’s doctor to invoke the 25th Amendment, and why the DOJ is pursuing cases against Trump’s perceived enemies rather than his personal lawyers.
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks answer your questions on Trump’s controversial slush fund, crimes committed in prison, and more. They discuss why the president cannot legally use taxpayer money as a personal slush fund, ongoing lawsuits challenging the fund, creative ways Congress and citizens might push back, the best internships for aspiring law students, when the hosts first knew they wanted to become lawyers, how crimes in federal prisons are prosecuted compared to the outside world, and whether Trump could receive an automatic self-pardon for potential insider trading.
Read MoreJill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the latest developments concerning the slush fund for J6 defendants and others, covering court rulings by Judges Leon and Brinkema that halted it and skepticism about the administration’s claims that it was dead. Then, they examine Ken Paxton’s retaliatory lawsuit against the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue and the partisan congressional hearing that sought to question its CEO. They also analyze Trump’s push to have Congress pass a resolution expunging his two impeachments from the record, explaining why his plan won’t work and how it weakens existing avenues for government accountability.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Joyce Vance answer listener questions on prosecutor ethics, protest rights, trademark law, and more. They discuss whether state bars can discipline federal prosecutors who follow Trump over the rule of law, the difference between protected peaceful protest and actions that can lead to arrest, whether Patagonia has a strong trademark infringement case against drag performer Pattie Gonia, if Todd Blanche could face disbarment for unethical conduct after leaving the Trump administration, whether the Attorney General is legally required to be a lawyer, and classic legal fiction books.
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks answer your questions on Trump’s controversial slush fund, crimes committed in prison, and more. They discuss why the president cannot legally use taxpayer money as a personal slush fund, ongoing lawsuits challenging the fund, creative ways Congress and citizens might push back, the best internships for aspiring law students, when the hosts first knew they wanted to become lawyers, how crimes in federal prisons are prosecuted compared to the outside world, and whether Trump could receive an automatic self-pardon for potential insider trading.
Read MoreJoyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss John Bolton’s plea deal, compare it to the Petraeus case, explore its Biden-era origins, and contrast Bolton’s cooperation with Trump’s obstruction. Then, the #Sisters dissect Trump’s controversial cabinet picks, particularly the unqualified loyalist Bill Pulte as acting DNI and Todd Blanche for AG, despite his handling of the Epstein files, the slush fund, and other red flags in his confirmation. They also analyze the SCOTUS shadow docket reversal in Alabama’s Milligan case and the Calais ruling, warning of an open season on racial and political gerrymandering nationwide.
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Read MoreThis episode was recorded prior to the news that the Trump Administration has suggested that it will follow court order and not use the Anti-Weaponization slush fund it created. We note that DOJ has not canceled the immunity it granted Trump from investigations and payment of past taxes that might be owed and has not said they will not find and fund an alternative method to pay those convicted of Jan6 crimes. Legal challenges remain ongoing and remain necessary.
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks answer your questions on Trump’s controversial slush fund, crimes committed in prison, and more. They discuss why the president cannot legally use taxpayer money as a personal slush fund, ongoing lawsuits challenging the fund, creative ways Congress and citizens might push back, the best internships for aspiring law students, when the hosts first knew they wanted to become lawyers, how crimes in federal prisons are prosecuted compared to the outside world, and whether Trump could receive an automatic self-pardon for potential insider trading.
Read MoreKimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the Trump administration's revenge prosecution of E. Jean Carroll, examining the motivations behind the investigation, the allegations against her, and the role of financial backers in her civil suit against the President. Then, they expose the DOJ's prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case, review the vindictive prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and highlight the dangers of politicizing DOJ appointments. They also explain the recent SCOTUS decision overturning the murder conviction of Terry Pitchford due to racial discrimination in the jury selection process, and the implications of Justice Kavanaugh’s opinion on future cases.
Read MoreIn this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer your questions on everything from nationwide injunctions and the mifepristone ruling to the case against Luigi Mangione, and more. They discuss whether universal injunctions are still allowed after recent Supreme Court decisions, Congress’s limited power over state redistricting and apportionment under the Voting Rights Act, the suppression of evidence in the Luigi Mangione trial, Trump’s audit immunity, whether the statute of limitations is truly a “get out of jail free” card, how the Calais decision shifted Voting Rights Act claims from effect to intent, and if the current Supreme Court justices get along behind the scenes.
Read MoreBarb McQuade hosts #SistersinLaw to discuss the DOJ “anti-weaponization” slush fund that uses $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to pay Trump, his allies, and J6 rioters for alleged government “weaponization,” along with a lifetime IRS audit ban for Trump. Then, the #Sisters break down the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel’s memo declaring the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional, the federal court injunction blocking the White House from ignoring the law, and the danger to our system. They also examine the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, the evidence against him, its questionable timing, and the possibility of military action.
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