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The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act, Part II

How the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was dismantled. 

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Alli Rodgers. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is by Spatial Relations. Transcriptions of each episode are available at fivefourpod.com  View Post

Mailbag Episode: Send Us Your Questions!

It's a new year and a lot has happened since our last mailbag episode, so send us any questions you have about, well, anything at all. The winter storm, the bruises on Trump's hands, the ICE occupation of Minneapolis, what we did for the holidays.

Look forward to hearing from you!

edited to add: you can send questions in the comments here, in our DMs here, or at fivefourpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

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The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act, Part I

The history of why we needed (and still need) the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers who vote for 5-4 with your dollars, which may be the only voting you'll be able to do in the near future.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Andrew Parsons with help from Alli Rodgers and Zachary Clary. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY,...

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New Year, New 5-4 Zoom Event

Hello Court Haters of America (that should be our PAC name),

YOU’RE INVITED! we will be having a zoom event with Archenemy subscribers (that’s $10/month patrons!) to kick off the new year right THIS SUNDAY, January 18, at 9 PM eastern.

Join us for a lovely chat on 2026 resolutions, What The Hell Is Going On Right Now In America And Everywhere (another PAC name), and the pics and vids we’ve seen already this year that warm our hearts. See Exhibit A, above.

🫂...

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5-4's Return

Hey all! We wanted to give you a heads up that we will be back next week with the first of a 2-part miniseries on the Voting Rights Act. We are extremely excited to share it with you, a wide lens view of the the struggle for equality and emancipatory politics against the forces of reaction in this country, from the Civil War up until today.

We also will be hosting an Archenemies Zoom in the next week where will discuss current events around the country, the Trump loyalists in the appe...

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The 2025 5-4 Giving Guide: Don’t Let the Fascists Keep You Down

https://immigrationequality.org/

bit.ly/donatepym2025

https://www.palestinianyouthmovement.com/

https://brigidalliance.org/donate-in-2025/

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Movie Review: Average Joe [SUBSCRIBER ONLY]

A movie about a dipshit who prays his way to the Supreme Court. It’s worse than you imagine. 

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers who no longer have to watch this garbage movie.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Andrew Parsons. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is by Spatial Relations. Transcriptions of each episode are availab...

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Trump v. Orr

Trans erasure. Anti-intellectualism. Culture war. Moral panic. These are a few of the Supreme Court’s favorite things!

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers. Your support makes this podcast possible.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Andrew Parsons. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is by Spatial Relations. Transcriptions of each epis...

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Very straightforward new merch! Discounted now through Monday

Hey folks! We’ve been getting requests for the most straightforward merch ever for a while now, and on this gorgeous Black Friday, our trademarked (not actually) logline is now available — t-shirts, hoodies, hats, socks, whatever you want. It’s on sale at a discount from now until Monday at our merch store.

All the old merch — including the two decidedly NOT straightforward designs we launched early this ye...

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Fire at Will: Trump’s Illegal War in the Caribbean [SUBSCRIBER-ONLY]

These days, three degrees of separation from a drug dealer is all it takes to get you drone struck by the U.S. government in Venezuela. And look, maybe these extrajudicial killings aren’t exactly legal, but the bigger problem for all you sissy justice lovers out there is that this administration doesn’t care about the law. 

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers who, unfortunately, are at least three degrees of separation from a drug dealer. Watch out....

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Department of Homeland Security v. Thuraissigiam

** An earlier version of this episode incorrectly referred to the asylum officers who conduct credible fear interviews as border patrol agents. **

If the government is acting all authoritarian-y, detaining you in violation of your rights, there’s a basic assumption in the Constitution that you can use “The Great Writ” of habeas corpus to challenge that unlawful behavior. But Samuel Alito would like to remind you what happens when you ASS U ME. Something something immigra...

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“What's at Stake is Everything”: The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention

You've heard about all the Supreme Court cases about how immigration law is different, about how ICE's powers are different, about how the Trump administration can do whatever it wants…on this episode, Rhiannon talks to Leqaa Kordia's lawyers about what all this means for a Palestinian woman in ICE detention right now. The good news is: our liberation is interconnected, and we can fight the good fight.

Thank you so much to you, our wonderful subscribers!

Sign the Free Leqaa Peti...

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Garcetti v. Ceballos

The Supreme Court tramples upon your most sacred right: the right to complain about your co-workers.


Thank you to our wonderful subscribers! We love you, always <3


5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is by Spatial Relations. Transcriptions of each episode are available at View Post

Panic! In The Federal Judiciary [SUBSCRIBER-ONLY]

You know things are really bad when federal judges–historically an extremely reticent group–are sounding the alarm about the chaos and confusion the Supreme Court is reaping these days. Never fear, Amy Coney Barrett is here to remind all of us that everything is fine, because the shadow docket is not a big deal, originalism is fun and interesting, and she's a real human mother.

Thank you to our beautiful subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was pro...

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Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Lopez-Mendoza

I think we can all agree that the Constitution guarantees every individual certain unalienable rights–oh wait, sorry, getting a call. Right. Sorry. Okay. Yea. Got it. Hey, so I think we can all agree that immigration law is different from other laws, and the Constitution doesn’t really apply there.

Thank you to our wonderful subscribers. Our love for you will always apply here.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh prov...

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Rhiannon Interviews Mahmoud Khalil

On this episode of Popular Cradle, (Rhiannon’s other podcast!), she interviews Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by ICE for more than 100 days earlier this year. You can find Popular Cradle wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition

Feels like we should be able to collectively wrestle with the problems of a system by which 14 million people will die in the next five years because one man can decide to withhold a bunch of money that Congress said needed to be spent, but unfortunately, because of the law, and what the law says, no one can sue about it. Good luck with figuring this one out.

Thank you to our beautiful subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. ...

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Free Speech, Chilled to Perfection [SUBSCRIBER-ONLY]

Do you ever feel…like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? That’s understandable because battles over free speech and the First Amendment are raging right now, whether on the internet, on TV, in the workplace, or in the streets. But baby, you’re a firework. And the Trump administration can’t take that from you.

Thank you to our subscribers. We hope we show you what we're worth and make you go, "oh, oh, oh."

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects...

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2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Preview

You are getting very sleepy…you are getting very sleepy…HEY! Wake up. It may look like the slate of cases for this Supreme Court term doesn’t have many fundamental constitutional rights hanging in the balance, but don’t be lulled into thinking any of this is low stakes. Voting rights, trans people in sports, the death penalty—they’re still on that legal fascism grind, down to every little gear and lever.

Thank YOU, beautiful subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Pr...

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Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo

Papers, please. The hallmark of fascist states of eras past and your favorite movie about authoritarianism is now also the official policy of the United States, with the Supreme Court’s blessing. But don’t worry, you (probably) won’t be stopped, unless you kinda look Hispanic or shop at Home Depot! I feel safer already.

Thank you to our beautiful, wonderful subscribers! Stay safe out there.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Le...

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Welcome to Law School 2025

Kudos to everyone who is starting law school in this economy and during an authoritarian regime. In this annual episode, Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael share their wisdom on how to survive law school. 

Thank YOU, subscribers! You keep us going in more ways than you know.

If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at View Post

Step Your Pussy Up Under Fascism [SUBSCRIBER-ONLY]

It's okay to be scared. It's hard not to succumb to the nihilism of the second Trump administration. But that is precisely what he and his administration want you to do. Please don't fall for it. Instead, own your power, make them fear you, and for God's sake, STEP YOUR PUSSY UP! 

We appreciate our subscribers! Your support is crucial for the continuation of this group therapy.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh pro...

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Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic

Federal law says that Medicaid recipients have the right to choose their healthcare provider. One problem, though–what if a Medicaid recipient chooses to go to Planned Parenthood to get healthcare? In that case, federal law doesn’t really say what it means. Federal law is silly like that sometimes!

Thank you to our beautiful, wonderful, and can't say enough good things about you, subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Le...

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Your Questions Answered

But first: you need to ask them! We are doing a mailbag episode, please send any questions you have to fivefourpod@gmail.com if you want them answered, or post them in the replies here if you don't want them answered. Thanks!

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UNLOCKED: Trump Brings the War Home

Last week's subscriber-only episode on Trump's efforts to blur the line between the military, ICE, and other law enforcement hit a nerve — and arrived on the eve of Trump taking federal control of the Washington D.C. police department and unleashing the National Guard and FBI on the city's streets. So we've decided to UNLOCK this episode for all 5-4 listeners.

If you want more episodes like it — that is, not just case episodes but ambitious, zoomed-out looks at major issues like qu...

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McMahon v. New York

Don't be sad, little Johnny, Trump just took the Department of Education to live on a big farm with so much space to run around and play in, and all the treats the Department of Education could ever dream of. The Department of Education will miss you, too, Johnny, but we promise she's so much happier now. 

Thank you to our beautiful and educated subscribers!

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial supp...

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Trump Brings the War Home [SUBSCRIBER-ONLY]

California has become a testing ground for Trump's police state ambitions. In Los Angeles and across the country, he’s merging the military and the police into one entity with its guns aimed inward.

Thank you for being one of our beautiful, talented subscribers.

“Experts Question the Legality of Deploying Nation...

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Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton

Please have your driver's license, social security card, or any other highly personal private information ready to share if you wish to rub one out to online porn.  

Thank you to our subscribers! We don't judge your online viewing habits.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY, and our theme song is ...

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Mahmoud v. Taylor

Because the conservatives on the Supreme Court are lowkey homophobic, they have made it easier for parents of kids in public schools to opt out of topics that make them uncomfortable. LGBTQ books, no thank you— evolution, not for my kids.

Thank you for being a subscriber and for being open-minded, unlike certain justices.

5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh provides editorial support. Our website was designed by Peter M...

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NEW MERCH ALERT

Hello Patreon subscribers!

Leon here. We are pleased to be sharing with you a line of ALL NEW MERCH, now available at our online store. There are, strictly speaking, three new designs, though one of them comes in six variations.

Two of them, which we’re calling METEORIC FALL and A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, respectively, depict future scenarios conjured by Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael in a moment of unusual optimism.

The third, which we’re calling 2025-07-15 20:02:06 +0000 UTC View Post