#SistersInLaw

Barb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the recent legal developments surrounding the indictment of James Comey, his attempt to dismiss is, the definition of true threats, and the difference between selective and vindictive prosecution.  Then, the #Sisters examine the botched confirmation of Todd Blanche’s appointment to Attorney General, Trump’s influence on the proceedings, and the challenge...

Barb McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer listener questions on everything from privacy protections to Latin legal terms. They discuss the EU’s GDPR as a model for treating personal data as belonging to individuals, whether media outlets face liability for declining to air presidential speeches live, how to respond when people treat “socialism” as a curse word, why Trump’s impeachments cannot...

Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the NYT’s victory over the DOJ’s attempt to subpoena its reporters to testify about their national security reporting and the effects government actions can have on press freedom and democracy. Then, the #Sisters review the legal allegations Jim Jordan has levied against Jack Smith, the political motivations involved, and the role of the Speech...

In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Jill Wine-Banks answer listener questions on everything from the Emoluments Clause to restoring trust in the rule of law.  They discuss whether the Qatari plane gift violates the Emoluments Clause and how Congress could enforce it, the filibuster’s role in enabling more extreme judicial nominees, concerns about raids on groups like the Lea...

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 cal...

In 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 f...

Jill 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 proc...

In 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 R...

Barb 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...

In 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, s...

Kimberly 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 po...

In 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 a...

Joyce 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 regist...

In 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,...

Jill 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 hear...

In 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...

Joyce 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 fu...

This 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...

Kimberly 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...

In 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 Rig...

Barb 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 inj...

In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Jill Wine-Banks answer your questions on everything from impeaching Trump, Vance, and the cabinet all at once to AI-generated political ads, and more. They discuss whether Article II, Section 4 allows mass removal of the entire executive branch, Congress’s power to set mandatory minimum sentences, the legality of Trump’s picture on U.S. passport...

Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to explain the D.C. Circuit arguments over Trump’s 2025 executive order punishing elite law firms for representing clients and causes he dislikes, the firms’ lower court wins, the government’s failed arguments, and the court’s skepticism. Then, the #Sisters examine the DOJ subpoena to the Wall Street Journal issued as part of a leak investigation, and discuss it...

In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins-Stor answer your questions on everything from the Secretary of Defense’s firing powers to conservatorships, and more. They discuss Pete Hegseth’s removal of the Secretary of the Navy, how the Posse Comitatus Act applies to JAG attorneys prosecuting civilian cases, whether substituting the United States as defendant in the E. J...

Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss Chief Justice Roberts’ defense of the SCOTUS against partisanship accusations, the controversy over its Louisiana v. Callais ruling and the immediate implementation of the decision, and Justice Jackson’s pushback on the court.  Then, the #Sisters break down the escalating gerrymandering war, Trump’s pressure on Republicans to redraw maps mid-decade, and D...