Birthright Citizenship + Bye-Bye, Pamela Jo Bondi

About this episode

Leah and Melissa discuss the recent birthright citizenship case and the firing of Pamela Jo Bondi from the Department of Justice.

Last week saw oral arguments in the birthright citizenship case, Trump v. Barbara , and listeners, it finally happened: a legal argument so outlandish from the Trump administration that even this Court will have to rule against him. Leah and Melissa break down the back-and-forth and explain why this case will give SCOTUS credibility it doesn’t deserve. They also cover the President’s firing of the blonde with the binders, Pamela Jo Bondi–pouring one out for her chaotic, destructive reign at the Department of Justice. Favorite things: Leah: The Birthright Con , Jamelle Bouie (NYT); WNBA Players Had an Ace Up Their Sleeve in Pay Negotiations: A Nobel Laureate , Rachel Bachman & Justin Lahart (WSJ) Melissa: Parents as Regulators by Caitlin Millat, forthcoming in UCLA L. Rev.; Harlem Rhapsody , Victoria Christopher Murray; My Boo Buddies ; Artemis II Vote for us in the Webbys ! Preorder Melissa’s book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader Preorder a signed paperback of Leah’s book, Lawless, here . Follow us on Instagram , Threads , and Bluesky

People in this episode

Hosts: Leah, Melissa

Topics covered

• birthright citizenship
• Supreme Court
• Trump administration
• Department of Justice
• legal arguments
• political commentary

Keywords

• birthright citizenship
• Trump v. Barbara
• Supreme Court
• Pamela Jo Bondi
• Department of Justice
• legal arguments
• politics
• WNBA negotiations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trump administration, Department of Justice, NYT

Books & works: The Birthright Con, WNBA Players Had an Ace Up Their Sleeve in Pay Negotiations: A Nobel Laureate, Parents as Regulators, Harlem Rhapsody, My Boo Buddies, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, Lawless

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• How SCOTUS is Waging Electoral Warfare · May 18, 2026 · 1h 44m
• The Constitution (Melissa's Version) · May 11, 2026 · 1h 43m
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