271: Trump Threatens To Invoke The Insurrection Act

271: Trump Threatens To Invoke The Insurrection Act

Author: Politicon January 17, 2026 Duration: 1:12:23

Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to explain the Insurrection Act in light of Trump’s threat to invoke it, examining historical precedent, how the act differs from the powers granted under similar laws, the necessary conditions for its use, and ways to peacefully resist.  Then, the #Sisters review the validity of the administration’s announcement of a criminal investigation targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell for alleged false statements during a Senate hearing, and put it in the context of the wider war on independent agencies.  They also investigate the merits of the FBI’s search of a WaPo journalist’s home and sound the alarm over the erosion of press freedoms.   

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WEBSITE & TRANSCRIPT

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From the #Sisters

Robert Hubbell: Addressing Misconceptions About The Insurrection Act

From Jill

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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: barbaramcquade.com | 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
288: Taking Liberties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:35
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the murder charges filed against Alexia Moore in Georgia after she had to g…
287: Did Someone Call For A Juris Doctor? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:21
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Barb McQuade answer your questions on everything from Trump’s at…
286: The Old Cyber Ninjas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:48
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to expose the Trump administration’s attempts to weaken trust in our elections by sending…
285: Behind The Curtains (At Mar-A-Lago) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:59
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer your questions on everything fr…
284: The $64,000 Question [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to explain the allegations that Trump abused a minor revealed in the latest rele…
283: A Pirate’s Life For Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Barb McQuade and Joyce Vance answer your questions on everything from the cases…
282: But Her Deposition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:20
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Barb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to review the closed-door depositions of Bill and Hillary Clinton in front of the House O…
281: Order In The Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:49
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour In this episode of #SistersInLaw Sidebar, Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr discuss the actions the average person…
280: The Red Queen’s Revenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:00
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to analyze the SCOTUS ruling shutting down Trump’s tariffs, explain the major question…
279: A Riot Is An Ugly Thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:23
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Barbara McQuade emphasize the need for civic engagement and government…