Topic: Federalist Society

Donald Trump has nominated his former defense attorney, Emil Bove, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The nomination is controversial because Bove is not a member of the Federalist Society, signaling Trump's break from the organization after several of its recommended judges ruled against him in lower courts.

The Department of Justice's decision to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams led to a wave of resignations, including acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon. Sassoon, a Federalist Society member, alleged a "quid pro quo" where Adams would support Trump's immigration policies in exchange for the dismissal. The Trump administration defended the move as a policy shift, while critics labeled the event the "Thursday Afternoon Massacre."

A professor at the American University in Paris claims Donald Trump has been "captured" by a Christian nationalist movement involving the Heritage Foundation and evangelical churches. The discussion notes that the Johnson Amendment in the IRS tax code prohibits pastors from advising congregations on how to vote from the pulpit.

The show concludes with a clip of Attorney General Bill Barr speaking to the Federalist Society about the "holy mission" of progressives to remake society through state power. The hosts sign off with their traditional credits, mentioning Opportunity Zone 33 and FEMA Region 6. The final moments include a reminder that "Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himself" and a series of "end of show mixes" featuring debate highlights and host banter.

Attorney General William Barr delivered a speech to the Federalist Society criticizing the "resistance" movement against the Trump administration. Barr argued that opponents have used every available maneuver to sabotage the executive branch, effectively shredding political norms. He characterized the current political climate as a "scorched earth" war against the administration's legitimacy.

Senator Mike Lee of Utah delivered a speech to the Federalist Society warning about the long-term sustainability of the $21 trillion national debt. He noted that while debt service payments are currently manageable at $300 billion, they could spike to $1 trillion annually if Treasury yield rates return to their historic averages. Lee expressed concern over how the US will handle the next major international crisis or recession.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was heckled by two Methodist ministers during a Federalist Society event in Boston. The ministers called on Sessions to "repent" for his policies, citing biblical verses. Democracy Now's coverage of the event was criticized for misidentifying the church affiliations of the protesters to lend them more institutional authority than they actually possessed.