Broken Law
Ever feel like the law is stacked against you? It probably is. Broken Law speaks truth to power in discussing how our laws and legal system serve the few at the expense of the many. This is where law meets real life. Hosted by the staff of the American Constitution Society, we reckon with the origins of our legal system, interview people on the frontlines of the progressive legal movement, and chat about necessary legal reforms to restore our democratic legitimacy and improve the lives of all people.
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 45 minutes
- Episodes
- 183
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 122: Lessons from FDR's Court
This week, Jeanne Hruska speaks with Cliff Sloan about his new book, "The Court at War: FDR, His Justices, and the World They Made." They discuss the enduring impact of key Supreme Court decisions is…
Episode 121: The Strife Over a Single State Supreme Court Seat
Earlier this year, the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history saw Janet Protasiewicz elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On this episode, Jeanne Hruska speaks with Craig Mastantuono about t…
Episode 120: Hot Labor Summer!
This summer, we've seen high profile strikes in Hollywood, an overwhelming vote to ratify the Teamsters' agreement with UPS, and renewed energy in the labor movement. On this episode, Elizabeth Bincz…
Episode 119: Can the Law Keep Up with Climate Science?
This summer has seen no shortage of extreme weather events, bringing more attention to climate change. For the legal community, it's highlighted the question, can the law keep up with climate science…
Episode 118: When Does Criticism Become Witness Tampering?
With former President Trump now facing four indictments, Jeanne Hruska catches up with Barbara McQuade about some of the issues arising from the legal proceedings. Specifically, they delve into conce…
Episode 117: Where Is the Free Speech Breaking Point?
In the wake of his second federal indictment, former President Donald Trump and his legal team are claiming the First Amendment protects against charges of fraud, conspiracy to violate civil rights, …
Episode 116: Watch These Spaces
Today is a double feature! Jeanne Hruska speaks first with Lindsay Langholz about an unusual August election in Ohio and why the cynical ploy could be decisive for abortion rights in the state. Jeann…
Episode 115: They Are Practicing Rewriting the Constitution
If you were planning to rewrite the U.S. Constitution, it would only make sense to practice. On this week's episode, Jeanne Hruska speaks with ACS President Russ Feingold about how a far-Right organi…
Episode 114: Are You Being Surveilled at Work?
Building off episode 101, about the rise of AI chatbots, we delve into the rise of AI-powered worker surveillance on this episode. Jeanne Hruska speaks with Dr. Ifeoma Ajunwa about the use of automat…
Episode 113: Packed, Partisan, and Supremely Powerful
With the U.S. Supreme Court now on summer holiday, Jeanne Hruska catches up with Elie Mystal about his new podcast, the politics and urgency of Supreme Court reform, and his concluding thoughts on t…
Episode 112: SCOTUS Greenlights Discrimination
On the last day of Pride Month, the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ folks. Christopher Wright Durocher speaks with Professor Elizabeth Sepper about 30…
Episode 111: What Comes After Affirmative Action?
The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative supermajority has banned affirmative action in higher education. On this BONUS episode, Taonga Leslie speaks with Bethany Li, Brianna McBride, and David Lewis, l…
Episode 110: SCOTUS Keeps the Innocent Incarcerated
We cover a buffet of Supreme Court cases on this episode. Christopher Wright Durocher speaks with Professor Alexis J. Hoag-Fordjour about an array of criminal legal cases decided this term and the Co…
Episode 109: A Win for Tribal Sovereignty
This week, Lindsay Langholz speaks with Professor Wenona T. Singel to debrief the Supreme Court's decision in Haaland v. Brackeen about the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), l…
Episode 108: Part Indictment, Part Voting Rights
Two episodes in one! This week, Jeanne Hruska speaks with Barbara McQuade about the federal indictment and arraignment of former President Trump. Additionally, Lindsay Langholz speaks with Jonathan D…
Episode 107: SCOTUS Strikes a Blow to Workers' Rights
In its recent decision in Glacier Northwest, Inc v. Teamsters, the U.S. Supreme Court favored employers over workers. Elizabeth Binczik speaks with Professor Charlotte Garden about the resulting impa…
Episode 106: SCOTUS Trashes the Clean Water Act
The U.S. Supreme Court struck a devastating blow to the Clean Water Act in its recent decision in Sackett v. EPA. Elizabeth Binczik speaks with Patrice Simms and Sam Sankar from EarthJustice about th…
Episode 105: TN Rep. Pearson and Our 2023 Mid-Year Review
Recorded live at our 2023 ACS National Convention, Jeanne Hruska speaks first with TN State Rep. Justin J. Pearson about his and Rep. Justin Jones' expulsion from the TN state legislature and how we …
Episode 104: BONUS EPISODE - Debt Crisis
As our country races towards a financial cliff known as the debt limit, there is growing talk of President Biden invoking the 14th Amendment to defy the debt limit statute and continue to pay our nat…
Episode 103: Bradley Whitford Talks Courts
Bradley Whitford (West Wing, The Handmaid's Tale, Get Out) stops by Broken Law to discuss his political activism, the state of our democracy, and why courts matter.
Join the Progressive Legal Moveme…