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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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”

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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
278: Is ICE Melting? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:04
Get tickets for the #SistersInLaw Live Show in Denver, Colorado, on 4/23/26 at politicon.com/tour Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to cautiously celebrate ICE’s retreat from Minneapolis now that Congress is stepping up it…
277: Shattered Norms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:18
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Kimberly Atkins Stohr and Barbara McQuade take your questions on some of the most pressing issues confronting the country, how our system operates, and ways to take action. They discus…
276: Sisters Named In The Epstein Files [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:37
Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to dive deeper into the events surrounding the FBI’s seizure of election-related documents in Fulton County, Georgia, by reviewing the merits of the case, highlighting how it imp…
275: Watching The Watchers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:07
In this episode of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks debut the first round of audio questions and cover pressing legal issues raised by listeners. They discuss the surveillance of protestors by federal age…
274: The Law of the Chicken of the Sea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Barb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to review the FBI search warrant executed at the Fulton County Elections Operations Center in Georgia, the implications for election integrity, odd things about the case, and how it relat…
273: Sisters Sidebar: Congress, You Up? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:57
In the inaugural episode of Sisters Side Bar, Barb McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr build on the hit #SistersInLaw podcast by interacting with listeners, answering questions, and sharing their experiences. Together, the…
272: ICE Freezes Out The 4th Amendment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:40
Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to put the spotlight on a memo telling ICE agents that they can enter homes without a warrant, explain whether these actions are prohibited by the 4th Amendment, and weigh the legality…
270: Make 1984 Great Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:11
Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to mourn the killing of Renée Good by an ICE agent, weigh its legal implications, explain the jurisdictional challenges playing out between the state of Minnesota and the federal…
269: Testimony [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:49
Barb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to relay the #Sisters’ 2026 predictions on everything from SCOTUS ethics to crypto, political engagement, and even fashion trends. Then, they revisit the events of J6 and analyze Jack Smi…
268: Gratitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the SCOTUS ruling blocking Trump from deploying the National Guard to Chicago, the reasoning behind the dissents and concurring opinion, and what the ruling means for simila…