Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed and sworn in as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And almost immediately, Trump fired off another executive order establishing a “Make America Great Again” commission. The group, made up of leadership from multiple federal agencies, was tasked with making healthy food more affordable and fighting chronic disease. Sounds reasonable, right?

Wrong.

This week, Jess and Imani dig into the biggest changes that could be worming their way into U.S. public health infrastructure with Kennedy at the helm. The duo break down how Trump and Kennedy’s early actions could mark a dark shift towards state institutionalization of people who don’t bend to its will, and what it could mean for the millions of Americans already struggling to access care. 

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Abortion, and dildos, and porn, oh my! 

No but actually, there’s a dusty old law on the books that could unravel reproductive health access for years to come—the Comstock Act. And it’s just waiting for someone like the recently-confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to enforce it. 

On today’s episode of Boom! Lawyered, Imani and Jess revisit how the Trump administration could effectively ban abortion without input from Congress—all thanks to the 19th century anti-obscenity law. The pair break down how Comstock became a strong tool for the anti-choice movement and how aggressive enforcement by Attorney General Pam Bondi could upend access to contraception and even dildos.

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While Elon Musk has been taking over the government, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals quietly overturned a 60-year-old law that prevented federally-licensed firearms dealers from selling guns to anyone aged 18 to 20. Seems bad!

This week, Jess and Imani get into the weeds of Reese v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, a Second Amendment case out of the Fifth Circuit that, surprisingly, did not involve our BFF Matthew Kacsmaryk.

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And sign up for The Fallout, a weekly newsletter written by Jess that’s exclusively dedicated to covering every aspect of this unprecedented moment.

We’re on week one of Donald Trump’s second administration, and we’re already tired. On his first day in office, Trump signed executive orders attempting to end birthright citizenship and declaring that the United States only recognizes two genders, male and female.

Okay!

On today’s episode of Boom! Lawyered, Jess and Imani talk through Trump’s flurry of early executive orders. They also go down a few rabbit holes on embryo research and cowrie shells—because yes, they watched the inauguration so you didn’t have to.

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This week, Imani and Jess dive into Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case out of Texas that could upend First Amendment free speech law. At issue in the case is a Texas law that requires age verification to visit websites that offer pornographic content. An adult entertainment trade organization, the Free Speech Coalition, is arguing that the law puts internet users’ privacy and security at risk. 

Plus, there’s another problem: Conservatives could weaponize the “porn ban” law to broadly ban LGBTQ+ content or sex education materials. And dozens of states are waiting in the wings to follow suit if the Supreme Court upholds it.

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.

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This week, Jess and Imani read Chief Justice John Roberts’ annual “state of the judiciary report” so you don’t have to.

It’s one of the country’s worst New Years’ traditions, and this year was no exception. In the 2024 report, Roberts waxed poetic about the importance of protecting judicial independence, comparing Black Americans’ civil rights struggle to internet criticism of judges. 

The one word missing from the report? “Ethics.”

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Donald Trump was elected president just over a month ago, and even though he’s not in office yet, the horrors have already started. He’s threatening to halt birthright citizenship via executive action. 

This week, Jess and Imani get into the history of birthright citizenship, what could happen if Trump manages to wipe it out, and how, even though people have declared he can’t upend more than a century of precedent, his cronies on the Supreme Court may help him do just that.

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Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a case out of Tennessee that could determine whether trans minors have the right to gender-affirming care. 

In this rapid reaction episode, Jess and Imani break down the case made by Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar and the American Civil Liberties Union’s Chase Strangio, the conservative justices’ nonsense, heartless arguments, and what they’re expecting to come out of Skrmetti. 

The Court’s conservatives showed a clear disdain for gender-affirming care—but regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: Skrmetti  won’t be the end of the fight against attacks on trans rights.

Mentioned in this episode:

• What’s Next in Skrmetti?

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The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a case that could determine trans minors’ right to gender-affirming care, in December. It’s coming on the heels of Donald Trump’s successful election campaign, which he closed by attacking Democrats left and right on trans rights.

This week, Jess and Imani walk through what to expect from this case—and it’s not looking great. We’re expecting junk science, moral cowardice, and an “assurance” that this is about returning the issue to the states. 

Sound familiar?

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Well… Donald Trump is back for a second term. We hate it here!

This week, Jess and Imani go through what reproductive health-care hellscape we can expect from the next Trump administration: legally establishing fetal “personhood,” federal surveillance of pregnant people, and banning abortion pills—all eventually leading to a national abortion ban. 

We’re preparing for a parade of horribles. 

You’ve heard us say it before, and you’ll certainly hear us say it again: The only way out is through. And we’re going to get through this together.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Project 2025 Is Worse Than You Think

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.

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With the election less than a week away, abortion rights and democracy are both on the line—and that’s no coincidence.

Andrea Grimes, journalist and vice president of research at Reproaction, joins Jess and Imani this week to talk about the importance of opposition research into anti-abortion activists, how the anti-abortion and anti-democracy movements work hand-in-hand, and why there’s no shortage of work for the pro-abortion movement. Plus, the trio chats about Grimes’ new media venture—the feminist blog The Flytrap—and why collective media could be the future of journalism.

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.