Boom! Lawyered

Join Andrea Grimes, a journalist and vice president of research at Reproaction, as she dives into the battlefield of reproductive rights. She uncovers the insidious links between anti-abortion and anti-democracy movements, revealing the challenges pro-abortion activists face in combating disinformation. Andrea also discusses her latest venture, The Flytrap, a feminist blog aimed at reviving diverse and inclusive media. With a blend of earnestness and humor, she highlights the power of collective media in shaping future journalism.

Can pro-natalists go touch some grass? A trio of conservative attorneys general filed a complaint in federal court claiming the availability of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions in the United States, creates a “sovereign injury” to the states themselves. They argue that mifepristone lowers teen birth rates in violation of the states’ “population interests.”Jess and Imani get into why this argument is essentially constitutionally-mandated eugenics and how it could expand state police power. We could be entering an entirely new era of constitutional law.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that episodes like this one are only made possible with the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

Dive into the complexities of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, especially as it intertwines with recent legal battles over emergency abortion care. Explore the surprising role of the Spending Clause, once overlooked but now pivotal in the ongoing legal discourse. The hosts humorously dissect how conservative strategies are reshaping abortion rights, highlighting the influence of key Supreme Court justices. Get ready for a lively conversation about the tensions between state laws and federal mandates in healthcare.

Project 2025, the 2024 election’s big bad wolf, is coming for reproductive justice. The Heritage Foundation’s policy prescription for a second Donald Trump administration would turn the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) on its head and explicitly allow anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.This week, Jess and Imani dive into the Project 2025 policy positions that pose the biggest threat to reproductive health care. From disavowing abortion to its “life agenda,” the parade of horribles would, if implemented, entrench the country further into Christofascism. Mentioned in this episode:National Women’s Law Center Project 2025 reportRewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that episodes like this one are only made possible with the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

If there’s one thing conservatives like doing, it’s finding the perfect plaintiff to be the face of a court challenge to a policy that will strip people's rights.Enter: the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and their plaintiffs: a group of goat-herding Anglican nuns, who are challenging a New York state regulation that requires employers to provide medically necessary abortions in their employee health insurance plans.In this week's Boom! Lawyered, Jess and Imani get you caught up on Diocese of Albany v. Harris, and the Becket Fund's petition to the Supreme Court asking the justices to take up their case.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that episodes like this one is only made possible with the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

Welcome to a new season of Boom! Lawyered, which also means a new Supreme Court term is around the corner. What better way to usher that in with friend-of-the-pod Elie Mystal joining Jess and Imani on the season premiere of the podcast?They try to answer important questions weighing on all our minds, including:Is the gig finally up for Chief Justice John Roberts and his reputation as anything other than a Republican operative?Is there real momentum for meaningful Supreme Court reform?What is Elie's proposal for expansive Court reform?Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that episodes like this one is only made possible with the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

Jess, a savvy political commentator, and Imani, a legal and social issues expert, explore pressing questions from listeners. They dissect Vice President Kamala Harris's reproductive rights messaging and the realities of potential abortion law changes in a second Trump term. The duo critiques the Biden administration’s approach to emergency abortion care, reflecting on the healthcare crisis. They also tackle the Comstock Act's outdated relevance and discuss necessary judicial reforms, all sprinkled with insightful humor.

Chris Geidner, a legal expert well-versed in LGBTQ+ rights, joins the discussion to unpack the Biden administration's new Title IX rule banning sex discrimination in federally funded schools. They dive into the ongoing legal battles across states seeking to block these protections. The conversation explores landmark cases like the Supreme Court's Bostock decision and the implications for LGBTQ+ students. Chris also sheds light on the impact of judicial trends on trans rights, highlighting critical legal challenges ahead.

Editor's note: This episode was recorded before President Joe Biden's SCOTUS reform proposals. Black women law nerds, unite! "We're having a moment," as this week's special guest Madiba Dennie says.Dennie is a lawyer, deputy editor and senior contributor at Balls and Strikes, and the author of The Originalism Trap. She joins Jess and Imani to discuss how originalism is not a legitimate intellectual theory, the idea of "jurisdiction stripping," and the next Supreme Court term.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that rapid reaction episodes like this one is only made possible with the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

Special guest Lizz Winstead discusses expanding courts, abortion access, and moderating a satirical debate. Other topics include starting a band called Mife and Misotones, Kamala Harris in Biden's campaign, using humor in political resistance, and unique advocacy in reproductive politics.