Dahlia Lithwick on Defending Our Constitution (Al Franken podcast on YouTube)

We're joined by our good friend, Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor at Slate and host of the Amicus podcast, to cover a wide range of topics, including the courts and their role during this difficult time in American history.

We start with Minnesota and the disturbing actions of ICE that have rattled the nation. From the ICE abduction of 5-year-old Liam Ramos to the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Dahlia connects the dots between eroding civil liberties and a Supreme Court that has systematically dismantled accountability.

We also discuss Trump's recent FBI seizure of ballots in Georgia and what that could mean for our democracy. Dahlia issues a strong warning about where all of this could be heading and how we need to be prepared for it.

Plus, Dahlia walks us through some of the cases currently before the Supreme Court: the further gutting of the Voting Rights Act, controversial redistricting, Trump's retribution, and tariffs.
Interview: 

https://youtu.be/OfFDMaB6mJ0?si=MdgUoKNdSRnBJoZv

The Gospel of Deportation: Why Christian Nationalists Love ICE (Reign of Error Pilot Episode) (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

In this special episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad introduces Reign of Error, a new investigative series hosted by journalist Sarah Posner. The pilot episode, titled "The Gospel of Deportation: Why Christian Nationalists Love ICE," sets the tone for the series by examining how Christian nationalist theology is shaping immigration policy, public rhetoric, and the use of state power. Brad joins Sarah to frame the project's goals and to unpack why immigration enforcement has become such a powerful site for religious symbolism, moral certainty, and political violence in the Trump era.

The conversation explores how biblical language, evangelical identity, and nationalist mythmaking are used to justify mass deportations, expanded ICE authority, and the erosion of civil liberties. Brad and Sarah trace these narratives through current events, media spectacle, and political leadership, showing how religious certainty is weaponized against vulnerable communities while distracting from broader policy failures. The episode also offers moments of clarity and resistance, highlighting court challenges, community organizing, and the importance of sustained public engagement.
Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/the-gospel-of-deportation-why-christian-nationalists-love-ice-reign-of-error-pilot-episode?hsLang=en

Peter Thiel’s Gospel Part II: Palantir and the Philosopher-King (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Dr. Brad Onishi dives into the ideological roots of one of Peter Thiel’s most significant ventures, Palantir. Drawing from Thiel’s reflections on Leo Strauss’s philosophy and the aftermath of 9/11, Onishi explores how Palantir embodies a tech-driven strategy for national defense. The discussion extends to Thiel’s collaborations with figures like Alex Karp and how their collective efforts align with a vision of Western superiority, national security, and technological dominance. This episode also touches on the broader implications of Palantir’s integration into U.S. government and surveillance, raising crucial questions about civil liberties and geopolitical strategies.

Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/peter-thiels-gospel-part-ii-palantir-and-the-philosopher-king/

Suspending Habeas Corpus = Authoritarianism + SCOTUS gets one right (kind of) (Andrew Seidel; One Nation, Indivisible podcast, Episode #014)

What happens when political leaders suggest suspending habeas corpus—the centuries-old legal safeguard that protects us from unlawful imprisonment? Andrew breaks down the ancient origins and critical importance of this bedrock of liberty, revealing how attacks on it are more than rhetoric—they’re warning signs of authoritarianism.

He also unpacks a major update in the fight for church-state separation: the Oklahoma Catholic Charter School case. The Supreme Court has issued a temporary win for public education and religious freedom—but the battle isn’t over yet.

Finally, Andrew issues a powerful call to action. Now is not the time to be silent. Learn how you can help defend democracy by standing up for civil liberties and showing up at rallies nationwide.

• Kristi Noem https://youtu.be/qPK41OPq6VY?feature=shared
• Re Crane and Noem https://www.borderreport.com/video/noem-says-conditions-could-back-suspension-of-habeas-corpus/10716530/
• Stephen Miller clip: https://youtu.be/evIsu20wFLI?feature=shared

Interview: 

https://onenationindivisible.supercast.com/subscriber_v2/feed_items/495745

Deploying on U.S. Soil: How Trump Would Use Soldiers Against Riots, Crime and Migrants - The New York Times

The former president's vision of using the military to enforce the law domestically would carry profound implications for civil liberties…

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/17/us/politics/trump-2025-insurrection-act.html

Opinion | Overruling abortion rights could have much broader implications on Americans’ liberty - The Washington Post

…That protection extends not only to marriage, the court held in Casey (and later in Obergefell v. Hodges for same-sex couples), but also to "procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education." The right to home-school your child? The right to cohabitate with family members? The right to buy birth control? The right to have as many children as one sees fit? Pull on the string to unravel Casey , and rights that all Americans, from the most conservative to the most progressive, take for granted could come undone...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/30/overruling-abortion-rights-could-have-much-broader-implications-americans-liberty/