The Al Franken Podcast Dahlia Lithwick on Defending Our Constitution
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Feb 8, 2026 
Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate and host of Amicus, breaks down how recent court decisions shape accountability and civil liberties. She traces troubling ICE actions, the implications of federal seizures of ballots, and key Supreme Court fights on voting rights, birthright citizenship, tariffs, and transparency. Short, urgent, and wide-ranging conversation about the risks to democratic institutions.
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Child Used As Bait In ICE Operation
- Dahlia Lithwick recounts Liam Ramos, a five-year-old taken from school by ICE and flown to a Texas detention center with his father.
- The family applied for asylum and were detained despite following legal procedures, then returned after public pressure.
Court Doctrine Shrinks Officer Accountability
- Lithwick argues the Supreme Court's expansion of immunity makes holding federal officers accountable nearly impossible.
- That doctrinal shift increases the likelihood of unlawful, unpunished uses of force.
Ballot Seizures As A Dangerous Precedent
- Lithwick views Trump's seizure of Fulton County ballots as a dangerous escalation and a proof of concept for national interference.
- She warns the claim of foreign interference could be used to justify federal seizure of local election materials.
