303: Fire In The Hole

303: Fire In The Hole

Author: Politicon May 13, 2026 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 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. Jean Carroll case could reopen presidential immunity, if the Roberts’ Court would have upheld the Voting Rights Act in 1965, using a dictionary definition of 86 to defeat Jim Comey’s indictment, and the process for initiating conservatorships.

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WEBSITE & TRANSCRIPT

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

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Mentioned By The #Sisters

From Jill - Opinion | The line between civilian and military law enforcement is blurring. Congress must act.

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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: 50

#SistersInLaw
Podcast Episodes
339: Don’t Take The Polygraph! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:13
Joyce Vance and Barb McQuade answer listener questions on everything from Trump’s White House ballroom to the insanity defense, and more. They discuss the Supreme Court’s halt of construction without deciding its legalit…
338: Follow The Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:27
Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss Trump’s unusual payments to his staff and his promise of $5,000 to voters if they vote for Republicans during the midterm elections. Then, the #Sisters dissect the gerrymanderin…
337: Pro Bono Pros [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:16
Barb McQuaid and Jill Wine-Banks answer listener questions on everything from ICE accountability to vacated convictions, and more. They discuss why courts cannot independently prosecute federal agents who overstep the la…
336: You’ve Got Mail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
Barb McQuade hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the recent legal battles over Trump’s attempts to interfere with mail-in voting and the potential legal consequences for presidential election meddling. Then, the #Sisters revi…
335: Presidents, Lies, & Videotape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:40
Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks answer listener questions on everything from prosecutorial liability to bodily autonomy, and more. They discuss why lying to the public is not a crime and how impeachment or elections are…
334: He’s Like A Little Baby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:10
Jill Wine-Banks hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the State Department’s war on immigrants, the revocation of B1 and B2 visas, how it affects asylum seekers, and the legal basis for extradition after being targeted by ICE.…
333: Weekend At Mitch’s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
Barb McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer listener questions on everything from selective prosecution to the origins of the filibuster. They discuss how discrimination claimants can proceed given the current state of…
332: Stars & Stripes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:55
Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the Pentagon’s war on the Constitution, looking at the lawsuit against the so-called Department of War regarding the independence of the military newspaper Stars & Str…
331: Blanche V. Barr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Jill Wine-Banks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr answer listener questions on everything from Fifth Amendment protections and contempt of Congress to the lasting effects of presidential pardons. They discuss whether Dr. Anthony…
330: Everything Is Illegal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:25
Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to discuss the recent developments in the fraud case against the SPLC by doing a deep dive into the background of the organization, explaining the charges against it, and highlighting the…