Barb McQuade

Trump Fires Official Over Jobs Report, Echoing an Authoritarian Playbook (Gift Article) In firing the head of the agency that collects employment statistics, the president underscored his tendency to suppress facts he doesn’t like and promote his own version of reality.

Trump’s assault on truth is right out of the authoritarian playbook. Learn to spot the tactics in my book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...

The only weaponization involving Jack Smith is this investigation. This is worse than the Red Scare.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Downtown Detroit Is Back (Gift Article) A decade ago, the residential boom downtown would have been hard to imagine.

Great to see my beloved city of Detroit get the glowing press it deserves. If you haven’t been to the Motor City recently, come see what you are missing. Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/r...

In new episode of #SistersInLaw, we discussed the latest legal news with the Epstein scandal, AG Bondi’s meritless complaint against Judge Boasberg, and threats to the judiciary. You can listen here. www.politicon.com/podcasts/the...

Donald Trump can waive his own privacy rights and release the portions of the Epstein files that refer to him right now. It's just like a tax return, but we know how he has handled that. I'll join @AliVelshi to discuss at 10:35 am ET on @MSNBC. Please join us.

Economy Updates: After a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Fires That Agency’s Commissioner Hours after data showed cracks in the U.S. economy, President Trump said without evidence that Erika McEntarfer “rigged” the data “to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

Firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over a bad jobs report undermines government integrity and sends a chilling message to federal employees: tell POTUS what he wants to hear or else.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...

170. DOJ's (Ridiculous) Misconduct Complaint Against Chief Judge Boasberg DOJ's complaint that Chief Judge Boasberg engaged in "misconduct" would be laughably stupid if it didn't reflect such a transparently obvious and dangerous attempt to delegitimize the federal courts.

Great piece from Steve_Vladeck on why AG Bondi’s complaint about Judge Boasberg is not just baseless, but a hit job designed to intimidate other judges and discredit the judiciary.
www.stevevladeck.com/p/170-dojs-r...

Family of Epstein survivor: 'Shocking' to hear Trump say Virginia Giuffre was 'stolen' The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a survivor of Epstein's sexual abuse who died by suicide in April, urged President Trump not to consider clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell. NBC News' Monica Alba…

As I discussed with @AnaCabrera today on @MSNBC, the Trump Administration’s callousness is re-victimizing Epstein’s victims.
' www.msnbc.com/ana-cabrera-...

Ghislaine Maxwell asks SCOTUS to toss her conviction. I’l discuss with @AnaCabrera at 11 am on @MSNBC.

Opinion | Brennan and Clapper: The Trump Administration Is Rewriting History of Russia and 2016 (Gift Article) We want to set the record straight and also sound a warning.

Gifting this NYT op ed by Brennan and Clapper so that everyone can read it. They point to the public conclusions that undermine Trump Admin’s efforts to rewrite history of Russian interference in 2016 election.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/o...

Ghislaine Maxwell asks SCOTUS to toss her conviction. I’ll discuss with Chris Hayes at 8 pm ET on @MSNBC.

Mornings with Zerlina | SiriusXM Progress Rise and shine with progressive news updates during 'Mornings With Zerlina,' weekdays at 7am ET on SiriusXM Progress (Ch. 127).

I’ll join Zerlina Maxwell on Mornings with Zerlina today at 8:30 am ET. Please tune in and join us! SiriusXM Progress Ch 127
www.siriusxm.com/blog/morning...

I’ll join @TheLastWord tonight at 10 pm ET to discuss the Senate’s efforts to obtain recordings of the recent DOJ interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. @MSNBC.

Please join me and Lisa Graves for a Substack live conversation to break down the legal news at noon ET.
substack.com/@thelisagrav...

Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America Featuring Barbara McQuade, former US Attorney, professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School and best-selling author.

The book tour continues! I’ll be discussing “Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America” at the Aspen Institute on Aug 12. Learn to spot the tactics and defeat them.
www.aspeninstitute.org/events/barba...

Opinion | You May Not Be Trump’s Target This Time. But You Could Be Next. Trump’s actions against civil society harm us all.

Important piece from former DOJ official Vanita Gupta on the dangers to us all from
Trump’s attacks on non-profits.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/o...

New episode of #SistersInLaw is here. Can’t wait to listen to my sisters break down the week’s legal news while I was away. You can listen here.
www.politicon.com/podcasts/res...

Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Over Chicago’s Sanctuary Protections for Immigrants The Justice Department suit argued that the policies thwarted enforcement efforts.

Sanctuary city lawsuits are destined to fail. While cities can’t obstruct federal law enforcement, feds can’t commandeer separate sovereigns to work for them. What ever happened to states’ rights?
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Amazing how much agony has been created over a clearly unconstitutional order purporting to redefine birthright citizenship.
www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/p...

Trump Live Updates: Justice Dept. to Interview Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell Trump Administration

Is there any legitimate law enforcement reason for DOJ to interview Ghislaine Maxwell now? Or is this just a prelude to some “exoneration” of Trump?
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...

Trump-Driven Chaos Comes to U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Waves In Manhattan, Brooklyn, Albany and Newark, confusion has reigned as prosecutors are fired or walk out, and U.S. attorneys serve in limbo while awaiting confirmation.

DOJ’s termination of AUSAs is a disturbing trend. It violates civil service laws and encroaches on traditional independence of US Attorneys. Firing Trump’s “enemies” to instill fear is a danger to the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/n...

In new episode of #SistersInLaw, we discussed the legality of releasing
the Epstein files, the firing of AUSA Maurene Comey, and the gutting of America education. You can listen here.
www.politicon.com/podcasts/her...

In the Trump Administration, Watchdogs Are Watching Their Backs

Thus is not good government
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/u...

This is a meaningless trick. A court cannot violate rule 6(e), which prohibits public disclosure.

Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans advance nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove as Democrats walk out | CNN Politics Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans voted on Thursday to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, to a federal judgeship, over the loud protests of…

Senate Judiciary Committee advances nomination of DOJ hatchet man Emil Bove as appellate judge. I’ll discuss with Alicia Menendez at 9:20 pm ET on @MSNBC.
amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/...

The Contrarian Unflinching journalism in defense of democracy.

Tonight at 7:30pm ET, exclusively on our YouTube channel @contrariannews.org will be hosting a livestream covering today's Good Trouble mobilizations & honoring John Lewis

Join Katie Phang, Norm Eisen, Jim Acosta, Ashley Etienne, and Jamie Raskin here: www.youtube.com/@ContrarianN...

GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON: 6 sites in Ann Arbor · John Lewis Actions The idea is simple: Bring signs; be visible; stay nonviolent. This is the first day of the Art Fair, so many visitors to A2. Sites - and site leaders: * Westgate / Vets Park - Wendy W * Main &…

Ann Arbor will host six (!) sites for today’s Good Trouble Lives On protests! 👏👏👏

www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-a...

Trump’s New Strategy on Epstein Fallout: Blame the Democrats President Trump said the outrage among his supporters over the Epstein case was just the latest “scam” cooked up by Democrats.

Trump is trying to transmogrify the Epstein files into a conspiracy by … wait for it … Democrats!  A master class in gaslighting!  Let’s monitor this development and see if the MAGA tribe takes the bait. 
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/u...

Veteran federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, daughter of the former FBI director, has been fired from her position as an AUSA in SDNY. I’ll discuss on @MSNBC momentarily.

Trump blames Dems for Epstein backlash: 'New SCAM' There are growing cracks in the MAGA base over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. President Trump says he "doesn't understand" the interest in the case. NBC News' Julie ...

Grand jury secrecy and FOIA rules prevent disclosure of some parts of the Epstein files, but Congress could override them.
www.msnbc.com/ana-cabrera-...