264: Unlawful Orders

264: Unlawful Orders

Author: Politicon November 29, 2025 Duration: 1:09:20
Jill Wine-Banks hosts this week’s episode, discussing the tragic shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., the legal and personal impacts of military service, and the investigation into the Afghan refugee accused in the attack, along with the political reactions that may shape what comes next. The Sisters also dig into community safety, recent indictments involving Comey and James, and the controversies around improperly appointed U.S. attorneys, while unpacking a video from former military members in Congress urging service members to defy orders they deem illegal. They explore the uproar surrounding the video, potential responses from the FBI and Defense Department, the limits of congressional speech protections, and the delicate balance between free expression, political pressure, and understanding what truly counts as an illegal order under military law.


Get the brand new ReSIStance Hoodie, T-Shirt & Mini Tote at politicon.com/merch

Additional #SistersInLaw Shows & Content Are Here!
Check out Jill’s Politicon YouTube Show: Just The Facts
Check out Kim’s Newsletter: The Gavel 

Books & Upcoming Tour Events From The #Sisters
Joyce’s new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, is now available.  For a limited time, you have the exclusive opportunity to order a signed copy here!  Also, don’t miss her upcoming book tour, tickets available on her Substack.

Pre-order Barb’s new book, The Fix. You can also get Barb’s first book, Attack From Within, here, now in paperback.  Make sure you don’t miss her ongoing tour.  You can buy tickets at barbaramcquade.com for all upcoming shows.

Add the #Sisters & your other favorite Politicon podcast hosts on Bluesky

Get your #SistersInLaw MERCH at politicon.com/merch

WEBSITE & TRANSCRIPT

Email: SISTERSINLAW@POLITICON.COM or Thread to @sistersInLaw.podcast

Get text updates from #SistersInLaw and Politicon. 

From the #Sisters:

From Joyce’s Substack - Sorry, George Washington Would Not Have Hanged Them

Support This Week’s Sponsors

Calm:
Go to calm.com/SISTERS for 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire
Library

Factor Meals:
Eat smart at FactorMeals.com/sil50off  and use code sil50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year.

Quince:
Go to Quince.com/sisters for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada

Aura Frames:
Aura Frames is the perfect gift!  Shop now with holiday savings and get an exclusive $45-off their Carver Mat frame at auraframes.com/SISTERS. Promo Code: SISTERS

Ridge Wallet: 
Go to www.Ridge.com/SISTERS for up to 47% Off your order during their biggest sale of the year.



Get More From The #SistersInLaw

Joyce Vance: Bluesky | Twitter | University of Alabama Law | Civil Discourse Substack | MSNBC | Author of “Giving Up Is Unforgiveable”

Jill Wine-Banks: Bluesky | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight For Truth & Justice Against A Criminal President | Just The Facts YouTube

Kimberly Atkins Stohr: Bluesky | Twitter | Boston Globe | WBUR | The Gavel Newsletter | Justice By Design Podcast

Barb McQuade: Bluesky | Twitter | University of Michigan Law | Just Security | MSNBC | Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America



Four women who have been at the very center of American legal and political power come together for frank, insightful, and often surprising conversations. #SistersInLaw, from Politicon, features Joyce Vance, Barbara McQuade, Kimberly Atkins Stohr, and Jill Wine-Banks-each a former federal prosecutor or top legal analyst-as they dissect the week’s most pressing news. This podcast goes beyond the headlines, offering a unique blend of legal expertise, historical context, and sharp commentary that only insiders with their depth of experience can provide. Listeners hear these sisters in law break down complex court rulings, political maneuvers, and constitutional questions with clarity and a shared sense of purpose. Their dynamic discussions cut through the noise, revealing the underlying mechanisms of justice and governance. It’s a masterclass in understanding how the law truly intersects with politics and daily life, delivered with the candor and rapport of trusted colleagues. For anyone seeking to comprehend the real stakes behind today’s stories, this is an essential listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

#SistersInLaw
Podcast Episodes
310: Oh The Hypocrisy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:03
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 T…
308: Trump’s Revenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:00
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 fin…
307: The Return Of The Power Broker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
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 di…
306: Trump Slush Fund: Are You Kidding Me‽ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:46
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 l…
305: Golden Idol [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
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 whe…
304: Inspiring Women [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:02
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 gove…
303: Fire In The Hole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
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 re…
302: The Gerrymandering Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:27
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 decis…
301: CSI: Seashells Division [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:12
In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Barb McQuade answer your questions on everything from the powers of the judicial branch to pursuing a case in small claims court, and more. They discuss whether t…