Broken Law

Hosted by American Constitution Society

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211

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Ever feel like the law is stacked against you? It probably is. Broken Law speaks truth to power in discussing how our laws and legal system serve the few at the expense of the many. This is where law meets real life. Hosted by the staff of the American Constitution Society, we reckon with the origins of our legal system, interview people on the frontlines of the progressive legal movement, and chat about necessary legal reforms to restore our democratic legitimacy and improve the lives of all people.

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October 13, 2026Episode 21128 min

Episode 211: Truth and Reconciliation? Transitional Justice in the Trump Era and Beyond

Insiders likened aspects of Trump’s proposed “anti-weaponization fund” to a truth and reconciliation commission—a key transitional justice process—to legitimize the corrupt mechanism. Yet, the Trump Administration’s use of transitional justice terms to address supposed abuses of the past brings up important questions about what transitional justice mechanisms might be needed to address rights violations occurring during Trump’s term. Diane Furstenau is joined by Lisa Dicker, Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director of the Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution at St. John’s University School of Law, to discuss Trump’s use of transitional justice terminology, as well as what transitional justice may look like in the post-Trump era. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program Guest: Lisa K. Dicker, Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director of the Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution, St. John’s University School of Law Link: The Politics of Justice: Analyzing the Politicization of Transitional Justice Processes Link: Transitional Justice at Home Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

September 29, 2026Episode 21045 min

Episode 210: What’s at Stake in State AG Elections

State attorneys general have been in the news a lot lately. But many people don’t fully understand what the job of state attorney general entails, and voters too often skip these races on their ballot because they don’t know anything about the office or the candidates. With 30 states and the District of Columbia holding elections for their attorneys general this November, understanding the role of your state attorney general is important to being an informed voter. Former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin joins Broken Law to talk about what the job of a state AG is and what’s at stake in these elections. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Valerie Nannery, Senior Director of Policy and Program Guest: Matthew Platkin | Partner, Platkin LLP; former New Jersey Attorney General Link: ACS Event: Protecting Voters & Our Votes: State Attorneys General on Democracy’s Frontlines Link: State Attorneys General Project Link: Voter Protection Volunteer Opportunities Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

September 15, 2026Episode 20941 min

Episode 209: Protecting the Vote

The first ballots of this year's midterms have been sent out, and with that, it is officially election season. Katie Waldo of We the Action and Nicholas Gothard of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law join Ashley Erickson to discuss ways that lawyers and law students can get involved in election protection efforts in 2026. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Ashley Erickson, Senior Director of Network Advancement Guest: Katie Waldo, Managing Director, We the Action Guest: Nicholas Gothard, Senior National Coordinator, Election Protection, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Link: 2026 Guide to Voter Protection Opportunities for Lawyers, We the Action Link: Sign Up to Volunteer for the 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline Link: Sign Up to Be a Poll Worker Link: State Voting Laws Roundup, Brennan Center for Justice Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

September 3, 2026Episode 20853 min

Episode 208: For the United States: Rebuilding Independence at the Department of Justice

The Department of Justice is in crisis. The bedrock principle of non-interference, once held sacrosanct by administrations of both parties, has been jettisoned. The Attorney General has directed the Department to represent the President and his agenda above all else. Thousands of attorneys and professionals have left or been forced out as leadership pursues personal and political grudges at the President’s open direction. What reforms can be instituted to restore the department’s independence? What can be done by Congress or outside organizations to bring oversight to the abuses taking place within the department? What can future administrations do to restore the Department’s professionalism and reputation? Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program, ACS Guest: Rachel Rossi, President, Alliance for Justice (and Panel Moderator) Guest: Rupa Bhattacharyya, Legal Director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law Guest: Stuart Delery, Partner, Gibson Dunn Guest: Stacey Young, Founder & Executive Director, Justice Connection Link: Blanche won't pledge DOJ independence from Trump, by Andrew Pantazi Link: How the Trump administration erased centuries of Justice Department experience, by Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer Link: How Trump is weaponizing the DoJ to ‘bully, prosecute, punish and silence’ his foes, by Peter Stone Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

August 18, 2026Episode 2071 hr 2 min

Episode 207: Puerto Rico: A Part of but Apart from the U.S.

Nine years after Hurricane Maria and ten years after a fiscal control board was imposed on Puerto Rico, the second Trump Administration is now using the island for its own aims while neglecting the needs of the island's citizens. In this episode, Dr. Marisol LeBrón joins Valerie Nannery to dig into Puerto Rico’s colonial status, how it effects the everyday lives of Puerto Ricans, and how it enables the Trump Administration’s reinvigorated Monroe Doctrine. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Valerie Nannery, Senior Director of Policy and Program Guest: Dr. Marisol LeBrón, Associate Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Link: Policed: A Latinx History of State Violence, by Marisol LeBrón Link: Puerto Rico Syllabus Link: Making Never-Never Land: Race and Law in the Creation of Puerto Rico, by Mónica A. Jiménez Link: The U.S. Constitution Meets Democratic Theory: The Puzzling Cases of Puerto Rico and D.C., by Luis Fuentes-Rohwer & Guy-Uriel Charles Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

August 4, 2026Episode 20634 min

Episode 206: Pink Crime

In the wake of recent SCOTUS decisions like Dobbs and Skrmetti , the bodies and actions of queer people, mothers, and pregnant people have been increasingly criminalized. Lindsay Langholz is joined by Valena Beety to discuss her new book, Pink Crime: Fighting Against the Criminalization of Motherhood, Pregnancy, and Queer Identity , and how women and queer people are being punished for crimes that never occurred at all. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Lindsay Langholz, Vice President of Policy and Program Guest: Valena Beety, Robert H. McKinney Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law Link: Pink Crime: Fighting Against the Criminalization of Motherhood, Pregnancy, and Queer Identity, by Valena Beety (30% off code: TNP30) Link: Tip that saw Pete Buttigieg separated from his children was not vetted and informant may have been ‘mentally unstable’, by Jasmine Fernández Link: Post-Dobbs Pregnancy Criminal Cases, Pregnancy Justice Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

July 21, 2026Episode 20538 min

Episode 205: Civil Society Under Attack

In backsliding democracies around the world, civil society organizations have consistently been targeted by government actors in order to stifle dissent and pluralism. ACS Director of Policy and Program Diane Furstenau joins Lindsay Langholz to discuss this pattern and what lessons we can learn from other countries' experiences as we face similar threats at home. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Lindsay Langholz, Vice President of Policy and Program Guest: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program, ACS Link: Monitor: Tracking Civic Space, CIVICUS Link: Resource Collections, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law Link: The Impacts of the Recent Executive Orders on Nonprofits, National Council of Nonprofits Link: Civil Society Rights & Resiliency Resources, Charity & Security Network Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

July 7, 2026Episode 2041 hr 10 min

Episode 204: The Imperial Presidency

Checks on executive power have become fully unbalanced, with boundaries and guardrails overrun daily. Congressional leadership unwilling to challenge a president of their own party and an enabling Court have thus far proven largely uninterested in reining in a president who openly defies constitutional and legal constraints on his power. A recent panel at ACS's 2026 National Convention tackles the question of what can be done now to curb executive power and rebalance our branches of federal government? Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Lindsay Langholz, Vice President of Policy and Program Guest: Vanita Gupta, Director of the Center for Law and Public Trust, NYU Law Guest: Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law, Yale Law School Guest: Barbara McQuade , Professor from Practice, University of Michigan Law School Guest: Hon. Jamie Raskin , Member, U.S. House of Representatives for the 8th District of Maryland Guest: Donald Sherman , President and Chief Executive Officer, CREW Link: Videos of all 2026 National Convention Panel Conversations Coming Soon Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

June 23, 2026Episode 20341 min

Episode 203: The Trump Admin's Multifaceted Attacks on Legal Education

Since retaking office, the Trump Administration has put the legal profession in the crosshairs through executive orders, administrative rules, and public pressure campaigns targeting lawyers, law firms, and judges. In a recent wave of attacks, the Administration has set its sights on law schools and law students. Amanda Fuchs Miller joins Ashley Erickson to discuss the various levers of federal power being pulled by the Administration to target legal education and what can be done about it. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Ashley Erickson, Senior Director of Network Advancement Guest: Amanda Fuchs Miller, President, Seventh Street Strategies Link: An Under the Radar Attempt to Politicize Federal Funding Needs Your Input, by Amanda Fuchs Miller Link: Notice and Comment Project, ACS Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.

June 9, 2026Episode 2021 hr 20 min

Episode 202: SCOTUS Term Refresher

In the final weeks of the 2025-2026 term, the Supreme Court will issue over two dozen decisions in key cases. Before this final stretch, we return to ACS's Supreme Court Preview event to refresh our collective memories on those cases still outstanding and as an opportunity to reflect on what the term has yielded thus far. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.org Host: Valerie Nannery, Senior Director of Policy and Program Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Senior Writer, Slate Magazine Guest: Carlos A. Ball, Distinguished Professor of Law and Judge Frederick Lacey Scholar, Rutgers Law School Guest: Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, David Dinkins '56 Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center for Criminal Justice, Brooklyn Law School Guest: Pamela S. Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford Law School Guest: Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar, Director of the Center for Immigrants' Rights Clinic, and Clinical Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson Law Link: ACS National Supreme Court Preview 2025-2026 Link: Supreme Court Term in Review, Georgetown Law on July 1 Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube ----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2026.