The Al Franken Podcast

Barbara McQuade and Daniel Richman on Trump’s Politicization of the DOJ


Listen Later

In his second term, Donald Trump has upended many American institutions, but perhaps none more than the Department of Justice. He's filled the DOJ with lackeys, like AG Pam Bondi, who are corrupting our system of justice in ways never seen before. 

We're joined by two veterans of the DOJ: Barbara McQuade, professor at University of Michigan Law School, and Daniel Richman, professor at Columbia Law School. We discuss the disturbing tendencies of Trump's Justice Department: from emphasizing immigration enforcement, to investigating Trump’s political rivals, to firing agents en masse for prosecuting the Jan 6th cases, and so on. The damage being done will take years, if not decades, to undo.

Plus, the Epstein Files continue to impact Trump’s presidency. Why is Ghislane Maxwell being treated so well? It’s almost as if Trump hopes she’ll exonerate him in exchange for a sweetheart deal.

READ Barbara's book “Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America”: https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4577-attack-from-within

READ Daniel’s recent opinion piece in NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/opinion/trump-is-discovering-the-downside-of-a-justice-department-with-no-credibility.html

Get 20% off your first order of low carb, keto-friendly bread from our newest sponsor, Royo! Use promo code FRANKEN at www.eatroyo.com
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Al Franken PodcastBy The Al Franken Podcast

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

7,928 ratings


More shows like The Al Franken Podcast

View all
The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

The Rachel Maddow Show

37,066 Listeners

Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

Stay Tuned with Preet

32,373 Listeners

The Jim Wallis Podcast by District Productive

The Jim Wallis Podcast

139 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

12,238 Listeners

Talking Feds by Harry Litman

Talking Feds

4,591 Listeners

Brand New Bold by Brandi Samuel

Brand New Bold

17 Listeners

The Asset by District Productive

The Asset

1,812 Listeners

Hacks On Tap by Vox Media

Hacks On Tap

8,054 Listeners

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt by Politicon

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt

4,036 Listeners

We Can Do This! by District Productive

We Can Do This!

4 Listeners

Transition Lab by Partnership for Public Service

Transition Lab

96 Listeners

Impolitic with John Heilemann by Audacy | Puck

Impolitic with John Heilemann

4,646 Listeners

Unconventional Threat by District Productive

Unconventional Threat

85 Listeners

#SistersInLaw by Politicon

#SistersInLaw

10,431 Listeners

The Lincoln Project by The Lincoln Project

The Lincoln Project

9,183 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,779 Listeners

Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast by iHeartPodcasts

Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast

2,278 Listeners

The Next Level by The Bulwark

The Next Level

3,039 Listeners

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List by Black Pearl Studios

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

4,068 Listeners

Main Justice by MSNBC

Main Justice

7,074 Listeners

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell) by The Bulwark

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell)

3,486 Listeners