In a new episode of Slate’s Amicus, host Dahlia Lithwick and guest Joyce White Vance discuss the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump, using the week’s bulldozer imagery—and the real demolition of the White House’s East Wing—as a backdrop to examine pursuits of political opponents and congressional inaction. Vance’s new book outlines how citizens can help sustain democratic institutions.
The Amicus episode, titled “Demolition Man,” was released on October 25, 2025, with show notes invoking “bulldozers and bulwarks” as Lithwick and Vance assess the rule of law in the current moment. The episode’s timing coincides with the actual teardown of the White House East Wing to make way for a planned 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom—an episode that has drawn widespread scrutiny. (podbay.fm)
Lithwick, a senior editor who writes about courts and law for Slate, is joined by Joyce White Vance, a former U.S. attorney. The show notes frame key concerns in stark terms: “As Pam Bondi’s Justice department chases down the President’s opponents, Congress walks away from its constitutional duties, and the highest court in the land struggles to find a presidential demand too outrageous to rubber stamp.” The notes add, “It’s no wonder many Americans are exhausted by the attempt to toggle between hope and despair.” Bondi’s current role as U.S. attorney general was confirmed by the Senate in February. (dahlialithwick.com)
Vance’s new book, “Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy,” published October 21, 2025 by Dutton, is presented in the episode notes as “a manual for citizens who understand that surviving this moment (and thriving after it) is a massive team project.” The episode also counsels cautious optimism—“huff a little hopium sometimes, but only if it’s the good stuff.” (books.apple.com)
A member‑exclusive bonus episode released October 26, “Is This Trump’s Most Outrageous Legal Demand Yet?,” focuses on Trump’s bid for a large payout from his own Justice Department and related litigation over the use of federal forces. Public reporting places the compensation request at around $230 million through administrative claims, which the president has publicly discussed. (podcasts.apple.com)
Amicus is billed as “a show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America,” a longtime focus of Lithwick’s coverage. (podcasts.apple.com)
