327: Dr. Fauci Goes To Washington

327: Dr. Fauci Goes To Washington

Author: Politicon August 5, 2026 Duration: 23:06

Barb McQuade and Jill Wine-Banks answer listener questions on everything from completing a FOIA request to Trump’s trademark on MAGA.  They discuss how long FOIA responses can take and the option to sue, First Amendment limits on trademarking political slogans like “Make America Great,” the constitutional ban on foreign emoluments and the Qatar plane gift, why jointly impeaching and convicting Trump and Vance is impractical due to succession rules, the release of Fauci’s government-computer notes and his repeated Fifth Amendment invocations, and the lack of any constitutional requirements to serve as a federal judge.

Freshen up your spring wardrobe!  Get the ReSIStance T-Shirt, Mini Tote, and other #SistersInLaw gear at politicon.com/merch! 

Additional #SistersInLaw Projects

#SistersInLaw Main Show

Jill’s Politicon YouTube Show: Just The Facts

Kim’s Newsletter: The Gavel

Joyce’s new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, is now available, and for a limited time, you have the exclusive opportunity to order a signed copy here. 

Order Barb’s new book, The Fix, or her first book, Attack From Within, now in paperback. 

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. 

Mentioned By The #Sisters

Order Barb’s new book, The Fix, and get tickets for her book tour!

Support This Week’s Sponsors:

Helix: 
Find your perfect mattress with Helix’s Best of Web, Extended 4th of July Sale! Get 27% off sitewide at helixsleep.com/sisters!

Wild Alaskan Company: 
Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your
door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/SISTERS

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: 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…