Power without guardrails doesn’t just bend the law—it breaks trust. We sit down with former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade to unpack how federal-state partnerships actually solve complex crimes, and why those partnerships falter when DOJ norms are sidelined by politics and performative “toughness.” From FBI and DEA collaborations that cross borders to the grand jury and charging protocols that keep prosecutions rooted in facts, we walk through the machinery that keeps justice fair—and what happens when leaders try to manipulate our systems to their own advantage. Barb takes us inside the culture of DOJ: why morale matters, how selective investigations and “name and shame” tactics corrode legitimacy, and what it costs when dockets are flooded with low-complexity immigration cases at the expense of public corruption, cartel, and violent crime work. We get specific on Arizona’s fentanyl pipeline, agent redeployments that weaken strategic cases, and the difference between optics and outcomes. We also examine leadership under pressure, from subpoenas targeting gender-affirming care to universities and hospitals that “obey in advance,” and why institutions must balance legal risk with their own organizational values. We don’t stop at problems. Together, we outline a path to repair: codify core DOJ norms into durable regulations, restore a real firewall between the White House and federal investigations, reinvest in prevention and complex cases, and demand a Congress that reasserts oversight regardless of party. The through line is simple and urgent—democracy relies on rules, habits, and courage.
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31:48
Tomorrow's Cures, Today's Cuts: The Hidden Cost of Health Agency Rollbacks
The dismantling of America's public health infrastructure is happening at breakneck speed, with potentially catastrophic consequences for generations to come. When top CDC scientists walk out in protest, we should all pay attention. That's exactly what we explore in this urgent conversation with Will Humble, Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Association, who brings decades of public health leadership experience to help us understand what's at stake.What happens when anti-vaccine ideology drives national health policy? The answer is chilling. Humble breaks down how the gutting of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices could lead to essential childhood vaccines being dropped from recommended schedules. Since these recommendations determine what's covered by both the Vaccines for Children program (serving over 50% of American children) and private insurance, the result would be widespread vaccine inaccessibility. At $200 per COVID vaccine and similar costs for other immunizations, many families simply couldn't afford to protect their children.Beyond vaccines, the administration's proposed 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health threatens to collapse the research pipeline that delivers medical breakthroughs. As Humble explains, NIH-funded research on mRNA technology enabled rapid COVID vaccine development and now holds tremendous promise for cancer treatment. Cutting this funding doesn't just delay progress—it drives researchers overseas and creates a scientific brain drain that could take decades to rebuild.The assault extends to medical education itself, with new loan limits making it financially impossible for many students to become doctors, especially in critically needed primary care fields. Combined with inadequate support for residency programs, these policies will worsen physician shortages, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is already precarious.The stakes couldn't be higher. Listen now to understand the full scope of this public health crisis and what we can do to fight back before it's too late. Share this episode with anyone who cares about protecting our nation's health and scientific leadership.
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Human Trafficking: Beyond the Headlines
Award-winning prosecutor Melissa Palepu takes us beyond the headlines to reveal the unsettling reality of human trafficking in America. This eye-opening conversation dismantles widespread misconceptions about what trafficking actually looks like and who it affects.Forget what you think you know about human trafficking. The "white van abduction" scenario represents just 6% of cases. Instead, traffickers target vulnerable individuals through manipulation and false promises. Even more surprising? Labor trafficking—not sex trafficking—constitutes the largest category worldwide, hiding in plain sight in restaurants, farms, nail salons, and construction sites.Palepu shares disturbing insights into how traffickers now target children through video games and social media platforms parents may not even recognize. With candid urgency, she emphasizes why open conversations with children about online dangers aren't optional—they're essential protection against predators who have adapted to the digital world.Current political realities have created additional barriers to fighting trafficking effectively. Increased immigration enforcement has silenced many victims who fear deportation more than their exploiters. Meanwhile, high-profile cases like Epstein's become political footballs while actual victims are forgotten and trafficking networks continue operating with impunity.For parents, educators, and concerned citizens alike, this episode provides crucial knowledge about trafficking's warning signs and how communities can respond. The prosecution of these cases faces enormous hurdles—from resource limitations to widespread misunderstanding of trafficking dynamics among judges and juries—yet remains essential to disrupting these criminal networks.Join us to understand why human trafficking continues to flourish despite increased awareness, and what meaningful action looks like beyond hashtags and headlines. Subscribe now to hear more conversations that cut through misinformation and bring expert perspectives on the most pressing legal and social issues of our time.
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End of Summer Lawsuit Roundup: Dozens of Lawsuits and Billions Saved
AG Mayes and AG Nessel are back from a summer break to take us behind the scenes of their relentless legal battle against what they describe as the most unconstitutional administration in American history. They’ve filed over 25 lawsuits against the Trump administration in just six months, working around the clock to protect their states from illegal trespasses against their residents’ rights and devastating federal funding cuts.The financial stakes couldn't be higher. Through successful litigation, Michigan has preserved $1.6 billion and Arizona $1.2 billion in federal funding for critical programs including healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public safety. These victories come at a crucial time as both states face potential budget shortfalls from the recently passed "big bill for billionaires" that slashes taxes for corporations and the wealthy while cutting essential services. The AGs walk us through their most significant wins: preventing the dismantling of AmeriCorps, protecting library funding serving millions of cardholders, saving cancer research and treatment programs, and stopping illegal conditions on roads funding. In many cases, the Trump administration simply abandoned its efforts after initial court defeats rather than pursuing appeals – a pattern the AGs attribute partly to staffing challenges at the Department of Justice, where many experienced attorneys have departed. Perhaps most alarming is the administration's aggressive data collection efforts. Both AGs express deep concern about federal agencies attempting to "hoover up" massive amounts of personal information from Treasury, IRS, Medicaid, and SNAP programs. This intrusive data gathering crosses partisan lines – as Mayes notes, traditionally Republicans have opposed such "Big Brother" surveillance. The question remains: what happens to all this sensitive personal data, and who controls it?
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The Fight for Public Education: The Critical Battle to Save the Department of Education
When public education comes under attack, who stands in the breach? Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes take us behind the scenes of their critical legal battles to protect students, teachers, and the very institution of public education in America.Their fight is deeply personal. Nessel shares the story of her son with significant learning disabilities whose life was transformed by a dedicated teacher who continued teaching while battling terminal cancer. "She wasn't ready to die until Zach had finished fifth grade," Nessel recounts. That boy, once considered unlikely to read or write, later graduated from Michigan State with a 4.0 GPA. For Mayes, whose mother and sister both served as public school teachers, these attacks on education compelled her return to politics after a decade-long absence.The attorneys general detail their successful legal actions to prevent the dismantling of the Department of Education, protect AmeriCorps programs training desperately-needed teachers, and ensure promised ESSER funds reach school districts that had already committed to projects. Their interventions have prevented devastating budget shortfalls for already underfunded schools across America.NEA President Becky Pringle, drawing on her 31 years teaching middle school science, offers powerful insights into education's connection to democracy itself. "You could follow the trajectory of a society," she explains, noting that falling societies invariably begin by "taking away the right of its citizens to learn." From book bans to curriculum censorship to teacher intimidation, the current climate threatens not just academic achievement but the foundation of democratic participation.The conversation exposes the false promise that dismantling federal education programs would simply transfer funds to states, pointing to evidence from Arizona where universal voucher programs have diverted billions toward private education while draining public resources. As class sizes grow, special education supports vanish, and teachers face unprecedented pressure, the attorneys general remain committed to their fight for America's educational future.Subscribe to learn how these legal battles affect every family in America and what's at stake for our democracy itself.
Over Pantsuits and Lawsuits with Attorneys General Kris Mayes and Dana Nessel
Pantsuits and Lawsuits is a no-holds-barred podcast featuring Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes as they break down the biggest legal and political battles shaping the nation. With sharp wit and deep expertise, these two trailblazing AGs will keep you informed on what’s happening in their offices, how they’re fighting to protect your rights, and what’s at stake in the courts. From democracy and civil rights to corporate accountability, they’ll tackle it all—bringing in expert guests along the way to dig even deeper. Smart, bold, and unapologetically candid—this is the legal commentary you didn’t know you needed.
Luister naar Pantsuits and Lawsuits with Attorneys General Kris Mayes and Dana Nessel, Podcast #ONDERMIJNING en vele andere podcasts van over de hele wereld met de radio.net-app
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