Unlock weekly bonus eps + ad-free listening

$9.99/mo or $99.99/yr after trial

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

Slate Podcasts
  • 4.6 (3.3K)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America.Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Bonus: Trump’s Hand-Picked Attorney’s Final Act

    JAN 25 · BONUS • SLATE PLUS EARLY ACCESS

    Bonus: Trump’s Hand-Picked Attorney’s Final Act

    Riddle us this: What do Linsday Halligan and Greenland have in common? Their stories reveal how to beat Trump—or at least slow him down. In this week’s Amicus Plus bonus episode, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss Halligan’s unlawful appointment, and how a huge ruling by a Trump-appointed district judge could serve as a blueprint for getting the president to tuck his tail in defeat. They take us through this historic dressing-down, and explain how vital it can be for a judge to simply … make the administration comply. Finally, Mark and Dahlia bring us up to speed on the international confrontation over Greenland, and explain what these seemingly unrelated fights could reveal about the limits of presidential power at home and abroad.

    21 min

  2. 19H AGO

    Who Gave ICE Permission to Trample the Constitution?

    The evidence is mounting that ICE is not only unbothered by moral boundaries, but immigration and customs enforcement agents acting on behalf of President Trump believe they are not constrained by constitutional red lines, either. According to a super-secret internal memo flagged in a whistleblower complaint this week, the Fourth Amendment simply doesn’t apply to ICE. That sense of impunity is also clear in a growing chamber of horrors from their enforcement operations; from masked agents taking a child in a blue bunny hat, to the shooting of Renee Good. Worryingly, this sweeping concept of immunity is kind of true—though maybe not for the reason you think. This week on Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick talks with Alex Reinert, the Max Freund Professor of Litigation & Advocacy at Cardozo School of Law. He is also the director of the Center for Rights and Justice and Co-Director of the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy. Alex explains the origins of qualified immunity—a legal theory that allows law enforcement officers to be free from consequences for their actions—why ICE’s lawlessness is not a new phenomenon (even if it is a phenomenon in hyperdrive under Trump), and what we can do about the obvious problem of maximal impunity for the people who have the most power to inflict harm. Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  3. 3D AGO · BONUS

    Preview: Fed Up

    In this member-exclusive episode, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the Supreme Court’s fact-free foray into Trump v. Cook, a case that economists warn could crater the economy. President Donald Trump spent the first weeks of his second stint in the White House firing a lot of people from government agencies. For the most part, the High Court’s conservative justices let it slide, in line with their general “he’s the President, let him do it” posture. But Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook was different. In August, Trump fired off a post on Truth Social, then sacked Cook a few days later, leaving a huge question mark hanging over the independence of the Fed.  Turns out, that’s a very big deal for anyone who wants to avoid hyperinflation and economic disaster. During Wednesday’s arguments, it was clear that even Trump’s hand-picked justices felt as though they would like to avoid such catastrophes. What ensued was more about feelings, fear, and frustration than law, but that may be the best we can hope for.  This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Amicus—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
  4. Bonus: Fed Up

    3D AGO · BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Bonus: Fed Up

    In this member-exclusive episode, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the Supreme Court’s fact-free foray into Trump v. Cook, a case that economists warn could crater the economy. President Donald Trump spent the first weeks of his second stint in the White House firing a lot of people from government agencies. For the most part, the High Court’s conservative justices let it slide, in line with their general “he’s the President, let him do it” posture. But Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook was different. In August, Trump fired off a post on Truth Social, then sacked Cook a few days later, leaving a huge question mark hanging over the independence of the Fed. Turns out, that’s a very big deal for anyone who wants to avoid hyperinflation and economic disaster. During Wednesday’s arguments, it was clear that even Trump’s hand-picked justices felt as though they would like to avoid such catastrophes. What ensued was more about feelings, fear, and frustration than law, but that may be the best we can hope for. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Amicus—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen.

    36 min
  5. Bonus: SCOTUS’ Title IX Pretzel

    6D AGO · BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Bonus: SCOTUS’ Title IX Pretzel

    Over the course of more than three hours this past Tuesday, the court heard arguments about whether trans student athletes have a right to compete in school sports. In this week’s Amicus Plus bonus episode: an essential explainer of the arguments in Little v Hecox and West Virginia v BPJ from a former Department of Education lawyer who wrote guidance for interpreting Title IX. Now a partner at the Potomac Law Group, Mary Rohmiller authored a key amicus brief in the second case. She explains to Mark some of the major misunderstandings of the law, and how a broad ruling in this case could have devastating implications for all kinds of students. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Amicus—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen.

    27 min

  6. JAN 17

    Invoking the Insurrection Act

    President Trump REALLY wants to invoke the Insurrection Act. He’s fallen hard for this 200-year-old law that would allow him to deploy active duty military to enforce civilian law on American streets. On this week’s Amicus podcast, co-host Mark Joseph Stern is joined by Professor Steve Vladeck, a nationally recognized expert on the Supreme Court, federal courts, national security law, and military justice. They discuss what’s been stopping Trump from invoking the act so far, why he has no legal authority to do so right now, and what happens if he does it anyway. Next, Mark talks to Julia Gegenheimer, former special litigation counsel in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and now a special litigation counsel at Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. Julia and Mark discuss the remaining paths to justice after the killing of Renee Good and examine what happens when the DOJ abandons its duty to seek accountability and vindicate civil rights.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m
  7. Bonus: So… Republican Judges Did Something Good About Abortion

    JAN 11 · BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Bonus: So… Republican Judges Did Something Good About Abortion

    Christmas has come and gone, but the Wyoming Supreme Court delivered a late gift this week. On this week’s Slate Plus members-only episode, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern talk about the conservative court’s ruling striking down the state’s abortion ban. They discuss the ways in which real law was done here, and celebrate the reminder that maybe legal analysis still matters. Mark recommends that listeners check out Mary Ziegler’s Slate piece, “A Red State High Court Just Struck Down an Abortion Ban. The GOP Has Itself To Blame.” Meanwhile, Lindsey Halligan is back—or perhaps never went away? Despite a ruling that she could not actually hold the position, Halligan is still claiming to be a U.S. Attorney. A judge has gotten wise to this and signaled that real professional penalties may be in store for the lawyer that wasn’t. Finally, Mark and Dahlia tee up next week’s SCOTUS arguments about bans on transgender peoples’ rights to play sports. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Amicus—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen.

    20 min

  8. JAN 10

    Renee Good and Trump’s Age of Immunity

    You saw it. We all saw it. We all saw what happened in Minneapolis when an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good for the crime of being in her car. This week on Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern attempt to digest this week’s horrific events and wonder if there is even a possibility of justice. Dahlia recommends “They Didn’t Even Need A Deepfake” by Slate’s Molly Olmstead. Later in the show, Mark speaks with Brian Finucane, a senior advisor to the International Crisis Group. He spent a decade in the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser. Brian and Mark discuss the lawlessness of Trump’s foreign policy (cough cough, Venezuela), and how the administration’s approach embraces some of the worst aspects of tough-guy masculinity. Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m
See All (565)

Trailers

Shows with Subscription Benefits

Unlock weekly bonus eps + ad-free listening

$9.99/mo or $99.99/yr after trial

View Subscription FAQs

Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
3,315 Ratings

About

A show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America.Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

More From Slate Podcasts

You Might Also Like