Main Justice

In this episode:Mary and Andrew welcome you to the “new world.” In a post-midterms America, President Trump and the DOJ find themselves facing significant oversight from a soon-to-be Democratic Congress. The co-hosts break down a potential impeachment, early resignations and firings and the potential impacts to the judiciary moving forward — in Andrew’s words, Congress potentially “reigning in the worst impulses of a president who clearly has no one around him doing that.” Down at the state level, the DOJ attempts to build a criminal case regarding the Alaska Senate election, but... “it’s not unlawful,” says Mary, paraphrasing the Alaska Supreme Court.  Plus, Trump’s “vanity projects” get humbled: a Temporary Restraining Order on the Monumental Arch in Washington and a new appointment of a special master to investigate the East Potomac Golf Course case.Further Reading: The proposed articles of impeachment for Pete Hegseth.UPDATE: After recording this episode, the House defeated Rep. Thomas Massie’s impeachment resolution against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In a 211-204 vote, House Republicans were able to effectively kill the resolution by referring it to the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Massie was the sole Republican to vote with Democrats against the procedural move. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode: On the eve of Election Day, Mary and Andrew discuss the defeats the Trump administration has suffered in its attempts to disrupt state elections and potentially intimidate voters and election workers. “Our biggest adversary is the federal government,” says Mary.  First, a federal judge rejected the DOJ’s preemptive challenge to the certification of Alaska’s Senate race results if the Republican candidate loses. Channeling Mary, Andrew asks, “What on God's Green Earth is the Department of Justice thinking?”  Then, we go to California, where the federal government is stymied yet again in their attempt to put aside 20,000 ballots from alleged noncitizen voters -- a move from the government that Andrew calls the “Raffensberger call on steroids.”  Relatedly, a federal judge restricts DHS’s field operations to find noncitizen voters, concluding its efforts likely violate the Voting Rights Act, while several prominent unions sue the DOJ over threats to election officials.  And finally, James Comey can’t stay out of the news, the golf course case gets even more contentious, and Trump’s triumphal arch faces more scrutiny. Further Reading: Just Security 2026 Midterms: Election Integrity Litigation Tracker Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:   Mary and Andrew examine the “extraordinary efforts of the federal government to preemptively interfere with the midterm elections,” starting with the Ninth Circuit’s ruling against DOJ’s attempt to block more than 20,000 alleged noncitizen votes. Mary and Andrew call the suit “outrageous.” Then, election pre-interference goes beyond the “lower 48.” The DOJ filed what Mary calls a “frivolous” lawsuit to block the certification of the Senate race in Alaska if the Republican candidate on the ballot, Dan Sullivan, loses, noting potential confusion with the Independent candidate of the same name. Put simply, Andrew says, “That’s not the way it works.” Then, “a tale of two Comeys”: James Comey is charged for the third time while a judge rules that his daughter, Maurene Comey, was unlawfully fired by the Trump administration. And the golf course saga continues with a ruling in prose. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:President Trump is trying to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington D.C. without proper judicial approval, the latest of many examples of this administration evading due process. Mary poses a question: “If this kind of thing can happen about a golf course, what’s the next time?” The DOJ sues California to block more than 20,000 mail ballots, alleging the voters are likely noncitizens. “If you do not see this as a precursor to what the Department of Justice could easily do — or try to do” ahead of the midterms, says Andrew, “you are living with your head buried in the sand.”Andrew and Mary discuss updates in the investigation into Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and how this situation is yet another example of the government undermining due process — in this case, that of a sitting congresswoman actively up for reelection.Plus, a judge issues an injunction securing CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s White House access until the case is settled in court, a win against Trump’s political retaliation. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode: Thing one: retribution. “We are IN the midterms,” Mary stresses when discussing federal agents executing a search on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in relation to an unspecified “ongoing federal criminal investigation.” “The Department of Justice is taking a very, very overt public action targeted at a sitting congressperson.”  Even more retribution: Mary and Andrew say President Trump’s committee of inquiry to assess whether Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook committed mortgage fraud is the administration’s latest attempt to fire her. Thing two: attacks on the press. The White House media ban nears a decisive conclusion as Trump launches an anti-trust investigation into five networks. Andrew says “the investigation IS the punishment.” Editors' Note: After recording (and as predicted by Andrew and Mary), U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled Tuesday night to restore White House press access to MS NOW, CNN, and Politico indefinitely. For more on this story visit ms.now.Thing three: propaganda. Trump’s political ads are struck down, but Andrew and Mary say the damage has already been done.  Further Reading:  Here is the Charlie Savage piece for The New York Times, which Andrew says gives insight into the administration’s “effort to create and manufacture propaganda and misinformation.” Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.