Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks

Jill Wine-Banks & Politicon
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“Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks” is a podcast  hosted by the renowned lawyer and former Watergate prosecutor, Jill Wine-Banks. In each episode, Wine-Banks brings her decades of legal experience and sharp analytical skills to bear on current political and legal issues, offering viewers clear, concise explanations of complex topics.

  1. 5d ago

    Trucker Tough: Bernadette Greene-Placentia on Surviving an Attack and Refusing to Quit Her Race for Congress

    Content warning: this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault.  Jill Wine-Banks talks with Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. A former long-haul trucker and small-business owner with more than four million miles on the road, she explains why that experience qualifies her for Congress and what she'd tackle first, from Social Security and health care to lowering the cost of household goods. In August, while repairing her campaign signs late at night, Bernadette was sexually assaulted. She talks openly about the shock, anger and self-blame that followed, why she waited to report, and what friends, family and hotlines can do to help a survivor, including documenting what happened and getting a rape kit even before deciding whether to go to the police. And she explains why dropping out of the race never crossed her mind. If you or someone you know needs help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential and open 24/7: call 800-656-4673 (800-656-HOPE), text HOPE to 64673, or chat online at the link below. HELP AND RESOURCES RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ RAINN https://rainn.org/ National Sexual Violence Resource Center https://www.nsvrc.org/ Joyful Heart Foundation https://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/ End the Backlog (untested rape kits) https://www.endthebacklog.org/ LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE Bernadette for Congress https://bgp4az.com/ AP: Arizona congressional candidate says she was sexually assaulted while fixing campaign signs https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2026/10/08/arizona-congressional-candidate-says-she-was-sexually-assaulted-when-repairing-campaign-signs/ Joanna Connors, I Will Find You (Grove Atlantic) https://groveatlantic.com/book/i-will-find-you/

  2. Oct 6

    Nevada's Election Chief Takes On Trump's DOJ

    Four weeks from Election Day, Jill Wine-Banks sits down with Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, to ask the question keeping so many of us up at night: can the Trump administration interfere with our elections? Aguilar's answer: elections belong to the states, and secretaries of state have been preparing since the last cycle. He explains how a group of Republican secretaries of state helped convince the Supreme Court to block the Postal Service's mail-ballot rule, and why Nevada won't run its voter rolls through the federal SAVE database despite pressure from the state's Republican governor. Then the story of how Nevada called the administration's bluff. The president claimed 16,000 noncitizens were on Nevada's rolls, and DHS threatened prison if the state didn't comply. "Here I am, come get me," Aguilar said. When DHS finally sent its data, it had done work on just 185 names, and Nevada's own review found no reason to believe any of them were noncitizens. Aguilar also reveals seven grand jury subpoenas and a DOJ investigation targeting him, and describes the administration's intimidation as "like lasagna": thin layers that add up to something substantial. Jill shares that she may be under investigation herself, for her work as a Watergate prosecutor 52 years ago. Plus: why secretary of state races are the best insurance policy for 2028, and how you can help right now by voting, becoming a poll worker, or volunteering as an ACLU poll observer. LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE Cisco Aguilar for Secretary of State: https://voteforcisco.com Democratic Association of Secretaries of State: https://demsofstate.org The Nevada Independent: 185 voters flagged by the Trump administration are likely citizens, state says https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/185-noncitizen-voters-flagged-by-trump-admin-in-nevada-are-likely-citizens-state-says Las Vegas Review-Journal: DOJ tells Nevada election chief he is under investigation https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/doj-tells-nevada-election-chief-he-is-under-investigation-3884314/ SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court denies the administration's request to implement parts of the USPS mail-in voting rule https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/ Defending Our Vote: the ACLU's poll monitor and election protection program: https://www.aclu.org/campaigns-initiatives/election-safeguarding Jill Wine-Banks: https://www.jillwinebanks.com CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar 2:45 "They're not going to take control of our elections" 3:53 Working with Republican secretaries of state 4:46 The Supreme Court, the Postal Service and mail ballots 6:47 Why Nevada won't use the federal SAVE database 8:30 16,000 "noncitizen voters" … down to zero 11:20 Seven grand jury subpoenas and a DOJ investigation 12:11 Jill: Are the Watergate prosecutors next? 13:06 Should secretaries of state be partisan? 14:32 The 2026 races and the insurance policy for 2028 16:35 500 bills to restrict voting: how you can help 17:52 Become a poll worker or poll observer 18:48 Federal monitors at the polls? 20:41 Thank you, Secretary Aguilar

  3. Aug 31

    The $2.4 Trillion Fight Over California's Billionaire Tax

    Jill talks with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West president Dave Regan about Proposition 40, a California ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on residents worth more than $1 billion to help offset major federal healthcare cuts. Regan explains how the tax would work, responds to critics, and argues that the cuts could leave 3.5 million Californians without coverage and cost 150,000 healthcare jobs. They also discuss the billionaire-funded opposition, Governor Newsom’s stance, and the union campaign that put Prop 40 on the ballot.

  4. Jul 3

    The Unexpected Truth About Reparations

    Reparations and the Fight Against Historical Discrimination — An Interview with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss Join us as we explore Evanston’s groundbreaking reparations program, the legal challenges it faces, and how it sets a precedent for addressing historical injustices. Mayor Daniel Biss shares insights on city-led reparations, the role of government in repairing past harms, and the broader implications for society and democracy. Key Topics:The origin and scope of Evanston’s reparations program, focusing on housing equity.Eligibility criteria: who can apply and under what circumstances.The legal battles, including Department of Justice intervention and constitutional considerations.How the program differentiates from reparations for slavery, emphasizing local accountability.The international precedent for reparations and lessons from Germany’s post-Holocaust efforts.The political climate, attempts to rewrite history, and the importance of acknowledging past injustices.The broader significance of reparations in fostering racial justice and societal healing.

  5. Mar 19

    We Are Not Going To Save Our Country By Hating MAGA

    Jill Wine-Banks is joined by award winning screenwriter of The Hunger Games, Captain Phillips, Richard Jewel and so much more Billy Ray, Its an engaging interview, Billy discusses his transition from screenwriting to YA novel writing, the environmental themes in his new book 'Burn the Water,' and the importance of storytelling in politics and society. He shares insights on building worlds, emotional storytelling, and the parallels between fiction and political messaging. CHAPTERS00:00 Billy Ray's Transition to Novel Writing02:58 The World of 'Burn the Water'05:56 Themes of Love and Equality08:46 Environmental Concerns and Activism12:00 Political Messaging and Storytelling14:50 The Underclass and Societal Divisions17:54 Imposter Syndrome and Personal Growth20:55 The Future of Billy Ray's Writing Career

  6. Feb 26

    What Did The King Know, And When Did He Know It?

    Jill Wine-Banks is joined by royal author Andrew Lownie to discus the ongoing scandal surrounding the British royal family, particularly focusing on King Charles and Prince Andrew. Lownie reveals that King Charles was warned about Andrew's misconduct and the implications of the Epstein scandal. He explores the potential for King Charles to abdicate due to public pressure and the legal ramifications of Andrew's actions, including the destruction of evidence and the serious charges he may face. The conversation also touches on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death and the broader implications for the monarchy. Chapters00:00 The Epstein Crisis and Royal Complications04:06 King Charles: Knowledge and Complicity08:54 The Financial Misconduct Allegations14:37 Destruction of Evidence and Legal Implications22:59 The Future of Prince Andrew and the Royal Family24:11 Epstein's Death: Murder or Suicide?

  7. Jan 14

    Hegseth's Quagmire of Military Retaliation

    Jill Wine-Banks and Rachel Van Landingham discuss the legal implications of Secretary Hegseth's actions against Senator Kelly, focusing on military law, the treatment of retirees, and the ethical considerations surrounding military conduct. They explore the boundaries of lawful orders, the concept of perfidy in warfare, and the broader implications of military actions in non-international conflicts. The conversation highlights the tension between military authority and legal rights, emphasizing the need for accountability and adherence to the rule of law. Chapters:00:00 Secretary Hegseth's Campaign Against Senator Kelly02:41 Legal Implications of Hegseth's Actions08:24 The Broader Impact on Military Retirees09:20 Navigating the Risks of Speaking Out10:27 Contempt and Military Law: A Complex Landscape14:05 The Ethics of Military Engagement19:16 Disobeying Unlawful Orders: A Military Perspective25:16 The Role of Civilians in Military Operations29:32 Understanding Perfidy in Warfare

  8. 12/31/2025

    The Impact of 2025

    Jill WIne-Banks & Victor Shi  discuss the significant events of 2025, the evolving landscape of communication across generations, and the challenges faced in politics and media. They explore the impact of climate change, immigration issues, and the role of messaging in engaging younger voters. The discussion also touches on the importance of addressing policies that resonate with the electorate and the need for a robust political strategy moving into 2026.

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About

“Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks” is a podcast  hosted by the renowned lawyer and former Watergate prosecutor, Jill Wine-Banks. In each episode, Wine-Banks brings her decades of legal experience and sharp analytical skills to bear on current political and legal issues, offering viewers clear, concise explanations of complex topics.

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