309: EverythingEverything You Always Wanted To Know About Trump’s Slush Fund, But Were Afraid To Ask.

The hosts of Sisters Sidebar, Joyce Vance and Jill Wine-Banks, dissect the controversial $1.776 billion slush fund allegedly created by Donald Trump, calling it an illegal use of taxpayer money that violates Congress’s exclusive power of the purse. They reject the idea of using the fund to compensate victims of Trump’s own administration, emphasizing that the money belongs to the public and cannot be weaponized by a sitting president. The episode explores the legal and constitutional boundaries of presidential power, with a focus on a recent federal injunction blocking the fund’s implementation. The judges’ ruling, led by the respected Judge Leonie Brinkema, suggests the fund may be halted permanently. The hosts also debate whether taxpayers can sue over the fund, cautioning that allowing such lawsuits could open the floodgates to challenges on medical and social programs. They express deep concern over Trump’s alleged insider trading and question whether he could self-pardon—though they agree such a pardon would be unconstitutional. Still, they warn that judicial immunity and a controversial side agreement with the IRS may shield him from prosecution, though a future Democratic administration could still investigate new financial activity. The episode ends with a call to action: support the lawsuits, stay informed, and hold power accountable.