
Boom! Lawyered
Every week, Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy take you on a wild ride through the latest legal battles in the fight for reproductive justice. On everything from abortion rights to trans discrimination to racial justice, Boom! Lawyered will help you get smart, stay mad, have fun, and fight back.
Produced by Rewire News Group.
Latest episodes

Sep 29, 2023 • 50min
Our Big SCOTUS Preview
The hosts of this podcast discuss upcoming Supreme Court cases including access to mifepristone, racist gerrymandering, and insurance coverage for gender-affirming care. They also explore topics such as the impact on abortion cases, accessibility lawsuits, enforcement of ADA and civil rights laws, gerrymandering and racial discrimination, gender affirming care, gun ownership restrictions, and undermining rights and privileges of marginalized groups.

Sep 22, 2023 • 32min
Meet Ginni Thomas, the Tenth Justice
Ginni Thomas, Justice of the Supreme Court, is discussed in this podcast. Topics include corruption within the Supreme Court, Justice Alito's leaked information, Ginny Thomas' influence in the conservative movement, and her controversial actions.

Jun 29, 2023 • 35min
The End of Affirmative Action
Well, it happened: The Supreme Court killed affirmative action, with all six conservative justices—yes, including so-called moderate Chief Justice John Roberts—ruling against the policy in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard/University of North Carolina.In the live season finale of Boom! Lawyered, Jess and Imani break down the majority and dissenting opinions, and the impact it will have on college admissions. They also dig into 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which is expected to come down Friday—the final day of the Court's term—and Melissa Gira Grant’s bombshell report in the New Republic.Rewire News Groupis a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered—especially live episodes like this one—is only made possible by the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up forThe Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

Jun 20, 2023 • 26min
Federal Judge Body Slams DeSantis' Attacks on Trans Kids
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle didn't mince words in his barnburner of an opinion striking down Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' draconian anti-trans bill. In his opinion for Doe v. Ladapo, Hinkle wrote: "Pushing individuals away from their transgender identity is not a legitimate state interest."On a new episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jess and Imani break down the decision and what's next for trans rights in the Sunshine State.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by 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.

Jun 16, 2023 • 29min
Tribal Sovereignty Triumphs in Latest SCOTUS Decision
Jess and Imani are back with a rapid reaction analysis of Brackeen v. Haaland, a case that threatened the Indian Child Welfare Act, which ensures that Indigenous children stay in their families and tribes. Just when we thought the Supreme Court couldn’t surprise us anymore, a majority of justices voted to protect tribal sovereignty, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting.Jess and Imani dig into why the Brackeens lost, Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s majority opinion, and how the issue could get raised again in the future.Rewire News Groupis a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered—especially rapid reaction episodes like this one—is only made possible by 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.

Jun 12, 2023 • 27min
Jess Valenti on the Fall of 'Roe' One Year Later: "All of This Is a Tragedy"
It's just Jess Pieklo on the podcast this week, and she's joined by a special guest: feminist author Jessica Valenti, who created the newsletter Abortion, Every Day. This episode is part of our special issue, which you can view here.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by 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.

Jun 5, 2023 • 33min
Welcome to Sweaty SCOTUS Season
It's June, which means only one thing: Sweaty SCOTUS Season is here. All month long, we'll be waiting on the Supreme Court justices to release their decisions on cases heard this term.In a new episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jess and Imani take a closer look at the four cases we'll be keeping an eye on—and yes, will have live rapid reaction episodes once those decisions drop. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates and on YouTube to get notified when we go live.Rewire News Groupis a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by the support of listeners like you! If you can, please join our team by donating here.And sign up forThe Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

May 15, 2023 • 38min
The North Carolina Abortion Ban Is a Disaster
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina are legislating a horrible abortion ban in the shadows that could eventually make its way up to the Supreme Court. And we know these justices just love to legislate on the shadow docket, so that's a bad sign. And the even bigger issue? The First Amendment violations. Join Jess and Imani this week as they break down what's going on in North Carolina.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by 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.

May 8, 2023 • 37min
The Supreme Court Is Corrupt
This week, Jess and Imani get into all clownery and corruption at the Supreme Court and what they learned from last week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearings over SCOTUS ethics (like Chief Justice John Roberts refusing to show up and testify).Mentioned in this episode:Rewire News Group's billboard in Memphis!Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by 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.

May 1, 2023 • 24min
Why Is Everybody Talking About the Comstock Act?
Conservatives are trying their hardest to resurrect the Comstock Act as a way to ban mailing abortion pills. This week, Imani is joined by special guest and colleague Garnet Henderson, Rewire News Group's senior multiplatform reporter and resident Comstock Act expert, to break down how we got here and where we're going. You won't be surprised to learn that there's someone familiar behind the push to ban access to abortion pills by mail.Rewire News Group is a nonprofit media organization, which means that Boom! Lawyered is only made possible by 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.