Jake Kaplan

Oversight v. Overreach at DOJ When does defiance in a congressional hearing cross the line into dereliction of duty?

“What’s missing here is any sense of shame.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social reacts to AG Pam Bondi’s defiant congressional testimony about DOJ’s mishandling of the Epstein files release. Listen to a new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/lKZr85

DOJ in Crisis How might justice, public safety, and the rule of law suffer as the Justice Department struggles to retain and recruit prosecutors?

“[It’s] not good for public safety, not good for justice, [and] not good for the reputation of the Department.” - @preetbharara.bsky.social reacts to DOJ struggles to retain and recruit prosecutors. Listen to a new Insider pod w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/L62sdz

Political Retribution: From Minnesota to Georgia Why did DOJ reverse course and step in to investigate the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minnesota?

“We should be careful about taking what this administration is offering as evidence of good faith in Minneapolis at face value, because often it’s fluff with no real substance.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social. Listen to a new Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/5S-Wgd

Breaking Down the Renee Good Shooting When a federal agent uses deadly force, who decides if it was justified, and what does accountability look like?

“The sanctity of life need[s] to be at the center of any use of force by law enforcement.” -Fmr Assoc Attorney General Vanita Gupta joins @preetbharara.bsky.social & @joycewhitevance.bsky.social to discuss shooting of Renee Good. Listen to new @cafedotcom.bsky.social pod: cafe.visitlink.me/RQBRqW

Will SCOTUS Let Trump Rewrite Birthright Citizenship? Can a president rewrite the Constitution with the stroke of a pen?

“This is a very broad effort to redefine what it means to be an American.” - Fmr Dep Solicitor General Michael Dreeben on constitutionality of Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order. Listen to new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/pCldP0

Inside the Case Against Maduro Listen now | What does the U.S. capture and prosecution of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro reveal about presidential power, immunity, and the limits of the law?

“The question is this: Does [Maduro] have the same amount of immunity that Donald Trump has? - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on legal issues expected in the Maduro prosecution. Listen to a new episode of @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider podcast with @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/4cJWqM

Trump’s Law of War Listen now | Is the U.S. at war with Venezuela—and if not, can it lawfully seize a foreign oil tanker and strike suspected cartel boats?

“Once [people are] out of the fray, they are no longer legitimate targets. You can’t fire on them...you have an affirmative duty to rescue them.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on the Venezuela strikes. Listen to a new episode of the Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/SZYoDN

Trump v. The Press What happens to a free press when a president takes steps that could discourage critical coverage?

“We don’t know the stories the media is not telling because they’re afraid of...retribution...from the President.” - @berkeleylaw.bsky.social Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. Listen to a new episode of the @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/i9lDvX

From National Guard Tragedy to Immigration Battle Is Trump weaponizing the National Guard shooting in D.C. to further his immigration agenda?

“It feels like a Muslim ban on steroids.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on how President Trump is weaponizing the Nat. Guard shooting tragedy to further his immigration agenda. Listen to a new episode of the @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/aS5fMN

Vindictive Prosecution? Comey & Abrego Garcia Listen now | Is there ever a legitimate reason to “perp walk” a high-profile criminal defendant like Jim Comey?

“Trump wants the satisfaction of seeing someone he has labeled as an enemy publicly humiliated.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social reacts to reports the FBI wants to “perp walk” Jim Comey. Listen to a new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/HETzAj

Is the Comey Prosecution Fatally Flawed? Listen now | Preet and Joyce break down the weaknesses of the indictment

“He is the victim of inappropriate, illegitimate, likely unlawful retribution by the president of the United States.” - @preetbharara.bsky.social reacts to the Comey indictment. Listen to a new episode of the Insider podcast with @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/Ua3WG2

Trump’s America: Do We All Need to Carry Papers Now? Listen now | On this week’s episode of the Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss:

“In some parts of the country, it’s not a terrible idea [to carry your papers], which is a really sad commentary on where we are.” -@joycewhitevance.bsky.social on SCOTUS’s ruling on ICE raids. Listen to a new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/BuT8OF

Can Trump Do Whatever He Wants? Listen now | What does it mean for the rule of law when a president claims he has “the right to do anything I want to do” in the name of stopping crime?

“Trump is not someone who respects the bounds of law.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard to cities in the name of stopping crime. Listen to a new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/1R5iNK

Law & Order, Hold the Law Listen now | If a president can stretch the law to take over the D.C. police without a real emergency, what’s to stop him from going further in a true crisis?

“Order without law is not worth the order that you get from it.” - @preetbharara.bsky.social.
Listen to a new episode of the @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider podcast with @joycewhitevance.bsky.social discussing the legal battle over Trump’s takeover of the DC police: cafe.visitlink.me/HwiV5V

Trump’s DC Police Takeover Listen now | Does President Trump have the legal authority to put Washington, D.C.’s police under federal control?

“You can’t save a democracy by destroying a democracy.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social.
Listen to a new episode of the @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider podcast with @preetbharara.bsky.social discussing Trump’s takeover of the DC police: staytuned.substack.com/p/trumps-dc-...

Issue Brief: Texas Lawmakers Flee State to Block Congressional Map Gerrymandering Can Democrats stop Republicans’ redistricting effort?

Texas Democrats fled the state to block Republicans from gerrymandering the state’s congressional map. But will this tactic succeed? And what legal consequences might these lawmakers face? Read my latest issue brief for @cafedotcom.bsky.social on Substack: staytuned.substack.com/p/issue-brie...

AI in Trump’s America (with Nita Farahany) Listen now | Is the US falling behind by failing to implement meaningful AI safeguards?

“They’re not thinking as much about the present harm that the technology could be doing.” - @nitafarahany.bsky.social on how the Trump administration is falling behind in implementing AI safeguards. Listen to a new Insider podcast w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/XkPLzm

Fighting Trump’s Asylum Ban Listen now | Federal judge halts Trump's asylum ban, while SCOTUS permits Trump to carry out deportations to South Sudan

“It is the M.O. of this executive branch to find ways to take words out of their ordinary meaning, [and] expand them for the purpose of expanding [Trump’s] power and authority.” - @preetbharara.bsky.social. Listen to a new Insider podcast w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/AUMvxg

SCOTUS to America: "You Deal With Him" Listen now | "Justices use birthright citizenship case to limit nationwide injunctions"

“Continuing to...trust this administration to act as responsible branch of government in obeisance to the law just doesn't make sense any longer.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social reacts to SCOTUS nationwide injunctions decision on new Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/WM6vWN

Deportations at SCOTUS Listen now | Justice Sonia Sotomayor accuses the Supreme Court majority of "rewarding lawlessness" in deportation cases

“Either everyone gets due process rights or none of us do.” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on the Supreme Court’s recent deportation decision on a new Insider episode w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/A2YF_n

Case Brief: SCOTUS Upholds Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors — United States v. Skrmetti Does a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors violate the Equal Protection Clause?

Does a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors violate the Equal Protection Clause?
Read my latest case brief for @cafedotcom.bsky.social on today’s SCOTUS decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti: staytuned.substack.com/p/case-brief...

Minnesota Killings, LA Protests & ICE Raids Listen now | New Insider Podcast

“The president made a decision and it’s been countermanded. How did that happen?” - @joycewhitevance.bsky.social reacts to Trump’s immigration policy flip-flop on a new Insider episode w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/7VzAbS

Trump Deploys Troops to LA California sues Trump and Kilmar Abrego Garcia indicted

“It is a fundamental, basic cornerstone of American democracy that our military doesn’t…get involved in domestic criminal law enforcement.” - @preetbharara.bsky.social on Trump’s deployment of troops to LA. Listen to new podcast w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/8hqZFT

SCOTUS Rejects Gun Case — Case Brief: Snope v. Brown Does a ban on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment?

Does a ban on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment?
Read my latest case brief to learn more: staytuned.substack.com/p/scotus-rej...

Does using government funds to run a religious charter school violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause?
Read my latest case brief for @cafedotcom.bsky.social on the SCOTUS (non)decision in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond: staytuned.substack.com/p/case-brief...

ACLU v. Trump’s Immigration Agenda (with Cecillia Wang) Listen now | Litigating against Trump's controversial immigration policies

“Cruelty and fear are the point of what he's trying to do.” - @aclu.org’s Cecillia Wang on Trump’s immigration agenda. Listen to a new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social: staytuned.substack.com/p/aclu-v-tru...

“What a sad day it is in America where SCOTUS has to say people are entitled to due process in case you've forgotten, Mr. President.” -@joycewhitevance.bsky.social on SCOTUS Alien Enemies Act ruling. Listen to new @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/1bO7e0

Why are we so sad on our birthdays?
I wrote about the emotions I’m feeling after recently turning 30. Plus, I reflected on the moments and lessons that got me here. Check it out: jakestakes5.substack.com/p/on-turning...

“It literally means that the executive branch, the presidency, can turn into a complete and total tyrannical fascist regime.” - @rachelbarkow.bsky.social on the Trump admin. considering suspending habeas corpus. @cafedotcom.bsky.social Insider w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/Ljwiud

“[We're] at a kind of crossroads about what next step the executive branch might take and what next step the courts might take.” -@nyulaw.bsky.social Dean Emeritus @twmorrison.bsky.social on Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. Listen to a new Insider pod w/ @preetbharara.bsky.social: cafe.visitlink.me/GGnWLS