The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss Trump’s desperate (and failing) attempts to punish his political enemies, from a grand jury’s refusal to indict Cassidy Hutchinson to a judge’s ruling against the firing of Maureen Comey. They also examine the DOJ’s election interference in California and Alaska, troubling corruption allegations involving Susan Collins, and why the Epstein files remain a problem for Trump.

Use code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad

Find your new fall favorites at Quince, from premium cashmere to everyday essentials. Shop at https://www.quince.com for free shipping and 365-day returns, or download the Quince app for exclusive offers. When asked where you heard about Quince, select The Illegal News to support the show.

Why is Trump’s own Justice Department investigating Corey Lewandowski, and is the corruption probe for real? Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann examine the allegations, Trump’s attempt to challenge 20,000 California voters, Russia’s latest election interference campaign, and the surprising turn in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC.

Weight Loss by Hers offers access to FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovy® pill and pen, plus personalized support. Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get started and learn more.

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss the FBI raid on Ilhan Omar, Trump’s latest overtures to Putin, and the courts’ efforts to stop his taxpayer-funded campaign ads. Plus, Weissmann explains why simply ordering Trump to stop breaking the rules isn’t enough, and whether DOJ lawyers pursuing politically motivated prosecutions could eventually face disbarment.

Celebrate Carbsgiving, Wildgrain’s biggest sale of the year! Get $40 off your first box of delicious sourdough breads, pastries, and more, PLUS free croissants for life. Visit https://wildgrain.com/ILLEGALNEWS40 or use code ILLEGALNEWS40 at checkout.

Get 15% off OneSkin, including their new OS-01 FACE RICH CREAM, with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.oneskin.co/ILLEGALNEWS. #oneskinpod #ad

Use code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com to get a FREE full-sized mascara with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann explain the explosive Kimberly Guilfoyle corruption allegations, including the $100,000 Amex payment, incriminating text messages, and why Trump might be reluctant to turn against her. Plus, Weissmann explains why Trump’s $5,000 election promise could constitute a crime, how a federal judge shut down a Trump DOJ prosecution, and why the administration’s defiance of court orders in its El Salvador deportations could still have serious consequences.

Get 50% off Factor’s chef-crafted, ready-to-eat meals, plus one free breakfast item per box for one year! Visit https://⁠FactorMeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off. Offer valid while supplies last through October 31, 2026. See website for details.

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss Jack Smith’s latest Senate testimony, including the questions Republicans didn’t ask about the actual cases against Trump and the Eric Schmitt gotcha that blew up in spectacular fashion. They also dig into the turmoil inside Trump’s DOJ, the fight over White House press access, Trump’s $1.776 billion “slush fund” case, and a Supreme Court election decision ahead of the midterms.

Explore personalized weight loss care from Hers, including access to Wegovy®. Learn more at https://forhers.com/illegalnews

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann cover Trump’s escalating war with the press, from his White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to the growing consolidation of major media companies. They also debate Zohran Mamdani’s approach to Trump, unpack the dubious “national security” rationale for Trump’s giant arch, and discuss Weissmann’s victory in the defamation lawsuit brought against him by Cassidy Hutchinson’s former lawyer.

Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com/illegalnews for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.

#ad Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://laundrysauce.com/ILLEGALNEWS #laundrysaucepod

Weight Loss by Hers offers access to affordable FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® pen, with personalized treatment plans and 100% online access to licensed providers. Get started at https://forhers.com/illegalnews

Show Links:

CNN, MS NOW & Politico sue over Trump’s White House press ban:
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/news-outlets-will-ask-judge-end-trumps-white-house-ban-hearing-2026-09-23/

Trump & Zohran Mamdani press conference:
https://www.c-span.org/event/news-conference/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-holds-press-conference-following-meeting-with-pres-trump/447368

Paramount settles states’ lawsuit over Warner Bros. takeover:
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/paramount-settles-with-california-other-states-clearing-major-hurdle-warner-bros-2026-09-21/

Trump says planned arch will house drones, snipers & ammunition:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/20/trump-says-planned-arch-will-be-military-complex-drones-snipers/

Passantino v. Weissmann — court ruling:
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2023cv02780/260017/53/

JVL is joined by Alex Wagner to trace how four conservative power brokers built the legal machine that would reshape the Supreme Court decades later, and how that project helped create the politics we’re living with today. Plus, they break down Samuel Alito’s dissent in the Supreme Court’s mail-ballot ruling and Trump’s escalating fight over the Kennedy Center.

Alex Wagner’s “The Steal”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250901637/thesteal/

Start your free trial of Perplexity Computer today at https://pplx.ai/illegalnews and experience the next phase of AI. #ad

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.oneskin.co/ILLEGALNEWS #oneskinpod #ad

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. To get started and learn more, including important safety information, Wegovy® clinical study information, and restrictions, visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews.

Andrew Weissmann turns the tables on Sarah Longwell for a conversation about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time—and what a post-Trump political future could look like. They get into Trump’s unusual hold on his voters, the right-wing media ecosystem, why Democrats too often let polls dictate what they believe, and what years of listening to voters have taught Sarah about how to build a pro-democracy coalition that can actually win.

Factor makes chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals that are ready to eat in just two minutes, with no prep or cleanup. Choose from more than 100 menu items each week, including meals, snacks, and add-ons. Head to https://factormeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50% off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Weight Loss by Hers offers access to affordable, FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® pen, with treatment handled 100% online. Connect with a licensed provider to see if treatment is right for you, and if prescribed, medication is delivered directly to your door. Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnewsto get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. To get started and learn more, including important safety information, Wegovy® clinical study information, and restrictions, visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews.

Links:

Buy Sarah's book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250464170/howtoeatanelephant

Giuliano da Empoli, The Hour of the Predator
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808353/the-hour-of-the-predator-by-giuliano-da-empoli/

Julia Curlee, “The Wrong Kind of American” — The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/10/trump-white-house-transgender-mike-pence/688284/

Julia Curlee interview, “The Trump Administration Wanted Her Expertise, Just Not Her” — The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2026/08/ra-trans-cia/688289/

Sarah Longwell and George Conway discuss Trump’s attempt to overhaul mail-in voting before the midterms—and why Conway thinks the administration’s chaotic new USPS system is likely to lose when it gets back to the Supreme Court. They also cover SCOTUS letting Trump continue construction on his ballroom, the possibility that Democrats could stop the project in January, and the Epstein questions that still aren’t getting enough attention.

Ready to reach your weight loss goals? Weight Loss by Hers offers access to personalized, affordable care, including FDA-approved GLP-1 medications such as the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® pen. Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get started and learn more, including important safety information, clinical study information, and restrictions. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.

Factor makes chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals that are ready in two minutes, with no prep or cleanup. Head to https://FactorMeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50% off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss a pair of Supreme Court moves benefiting Trump, including John Roberts allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue and a ruling affecting Trump’s plans for mail-in voting. They also examine Greg Abbott’s refusal to extradite an ICE officer accused of shooting a man and lying about it, a provocative case involving a traveler who wiped his phone rather than let border agents search it, and the unanswered questions surrounding Natalie Harp’s lack of a security clearance despite her extraordinary access to Trump.

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.

Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://BollandBranch.com/illegalnews with code illegalnews. Exclusions apply.

Use code ILLEGALNEWS at https://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad

Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/ILLEGALNEWS! #honeylovepod

Andrew Weissmann joins Sarah Longwell to discuss the Trump administration’s move to erase corporate ownership records, the latest developments in the Fauci investigation, how a bizarre election controversy in Alaska led to a DOJ investigation, and what Democrats still need to learn about persuasion in the Trump era.

Ready to reach your weight-loss goals? Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.

Upgrade your everyday with Quince and get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/IILEGALNEWS.

Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://laundrysauce.com/ILLEGALNEWS #laundrysaucepod #ad

Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets go on sale August 21. Paid members of the Bulwark members get early access via our presale NOW. Head to https://www.thebulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets.

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss the escalating campaign against Anthony Fauci, why his lawyers may see the congressional investigation as a perjury trap, and what happens now that his contempt referral is headed to Trump’s DOJ. They also take on Bill Cassidy’s vote to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump and RFK Jr.’s attacks on vaccines, and a stunning foreign bribery case involving a $10 billion investment offer, career DOJ prosecutors who wanted no part of the dismissal, and a federal judge questioning the administration’s reasons for trying to make the case disappear.

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.

Sam Stein and Andrew Weissmann discuss the Justice Department’s dismissal of charges over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, potential recourse for Olympian David Hearn, and Trump’s response. They also examine Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation prospects, the proposed “anti-weaponization” fund and tax-immunity agreement, Capital One’s anti-money-laundering claims involving Trump Organization accounts, and Anthony Fauci’s decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment before Congress.

Head to https://FactorMeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Sam Stein and George Conway discuss James Comey’s challenge to the “8647” prosecution, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court bid to overturn E. Jean Carroll’s $83 million defamation judgment, and the administration’s push for new restrictions on mail-in voting. They also cover the withdrawal of subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters and the delayed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.oneskin.co/ILLEGALNEWS
#oneskinpod

Go to https://Dupe.com for their 100% Free Research for Me comparison shopping tool. Finally feel good about what you’re buying with http://Dupe.com.

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.

Sarah Longwell welcomes George Conway back to The Illegal News to discuss Trump Media’s plan to sell Wall Street firms early access to Trump’s market-moving Truth Social posts. They also talk about DOJ subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters and their families, Trump’s Qatar jet, the newly activated Alien Terrorist Removal Court, and the Paramount–Warner merger.

Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://laundrysauce.com/ILLEGALNEWS #laundrysaucepod

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss on a week that tested both of them: Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing, and Trump's prime-time speech on election interference. Andrew walks through the cross-examination Senate Democrats didn't run—the statements that went unchallenged, the follow-ups nobody asked, and the one question about the withheld Epstein files that Blanche has still never answered. Then: why he thinks dismantling the government's election-security apparatus isn't neglect, but the point.

Also discussed: the $1.776 billion payout, the document absolving Trump of tax liability, what Blanche told the Epstein victims that simply isn't true, and why Andrew keeps calling BS.

Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Their sheets are 100% organic cotton, woven for airflow, and 94% of customers say they get softer with every wash. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://bollandbranch.com/illegalnews with code ILLEGALNEWS. Exclusions apply.

OneSkin's OS-1 peptide targets the cells behind visible aging, and their limited-edition summer bundles pair it with SPF. Get 15% off at https://oneskin.co/illegalnews with code ILLEGALNEWS. After you purchase they'll ask where you heard about them—please tell them we sent you.

Andrew Weissmann's new book is out now: https://www.amazon.com/Liars-Kingdom-Trumps-Deceit-America/dp/0316601306

Andrew Weissmann joins Sarah Longwell to discuss a big week in legal news: DOJ's stunning concession in a reporter's lawsuit over the Epstein files, the questions senators must make Todd Blanche answer at his confirmation hearing, and the Trump-appointed judge who torched DOJ's demand for the names of every 2020 election worker in Fulton County. Plus: the DOJ letter that signals a plan to challenge the 2026 midterms, and the Supreme Court's surprising ruling on your phone's location data.

Reining in a Rogue Supreme Court by Norman Ornstein
https://www.contrariannews.org/p/reining-in-a-rogue-supreme-court

Be your own boss. No dress code, no commute, no Steve from accounting. Free trial at https://shopify.com/illegalnews

Head to https://FactorMeals.com/ILLEGALNEWS50OFF and use code illegalnews50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026.

Sarah Longwell and Georgetown University Law Center's Steve Vladek discuss the Supreme Court's final day of the term—a narrow 5-4 ruling upholding birthright citizenship, the court gutting independent agency protections (while carving out a suspicious exception for the Fed), and a rapid-fire tour through rulings on mail-in ballots, trans athletes, campaign finance, TPS for Haitians, and asylum seekers at the border. Plus: why Amy Coney Barrett has become the MAGA right's newest target, and what Steve thinks Alito is waiting for before he retires.

Ready to reach your weight loss goals? Get started at https://ForHers.com/ILLEGALNEWS.

NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to https://NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order! #NOBL #ad

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann talk about the Iran nuclear deal—why the "win" Trump is selling actually leaves America with less leverage, fewer allies, and zero nuclear resolution than where we started. Plus: what Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman's book reveals about JD Vance's behind-the-scenes opposition to the war, Trump's habit of comparing himself to history's worst tyrants, and the new DOJ legal theory that could gut Americans' right to sue polluters under environmental law.

Head to https://FactorMeals.com/ILLEGALNEWS50OFF and use code illegalnews50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026.

Head to https://Superpower.com and use code ILLEGALNEWS at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod

Ready to reach your weight loss goals? Get started at https://ForHers.com/ILLEGALNEWS.

Sarah Longwell is joined by law professor and Strict Scrutiny co-host Leah Litman to discuss the White House’s plan to suspend habeas corpus, JD Vance’s push to invoke the Insurrection Act, the Gavin Newsom investigation, and the 19 Supreme Court decisions that could reshape American democracy before the midterms.

Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://laundrysauce.com/ILLEGALNEWS #laundrysaucepod

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.