Love Wins: 10 Years of Obergefell v. Hodges - PART 2
A decade ago, two Michigan nurses embarked on a journey that would transform American history – not in hopes of a constitutional revolution, but because they wanted to protect their children.April DeBoer and Jane Rowse had been together for 18 years when they first approached attorney Dana Nessel about a seemingly simple problem. As Michigan foster parents raising three children, they faced a legal paradox: the state trusted them to foster children together but prohibited them from jointly adopting. Each parent could only legally adopt specific children, creating a precarious situation where neither had legal rights to all their children.After surviving a near-fatal car accident, the reality hit them hard – if something happened to either mother, their family could be torn apart by the legal system they trusted to protect them. What began as an adoption rights case unexpectedly pivoted when a federal judge suggested they challenge Michigan's marriage ban instead. This fateful turn transformed their personal struggle into what would become the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.April and Jayne invite listeners into the emotional Supreme Court experience – from the sea of supporters outside, to the confusing oral arguments where Justice Kennedy's position remained unclear, to the euphoric moment when they learned they'd won. With remarkable candor, they share how they balanced raising five children while becoming reluctant civil rights pioneers, and how they found courage in looking at "those tiny faces" they were fighting to protect.As we mark ten years since Obergefell, their story offers both inspiration and warning. While reflecting on how quickly attitudes have changed, these accidental figureheads also express concern about how easily these LGBTQ rights and protections could disappear. Their powerful testimony reminds us that behind every landmark legal decision are real families with everything at stake – and that ordinary citizens stepping up for their children can indeed change history.
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Love Wins: 10 Years of Obergefell v. Hodges - PART 1
Ten years after the landmark Obergefell decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel takes us behind the scenes of the historic legal battle she personally led. As the attorney who argued Michigan's DeBoer v. Snyder case (later consolidated with Obergefell), Nessel provides a remarkably candid account of what it took to secure marriage equality against overwhelming odds.Nessel shares deeply personal reflections about what the victory meant, calling the day Obergefell was decided "the best day of my life." Local clerks set up impromptu wedding services for couples who had waited decades to marry legally. Beyond the emotional impact, marriage equality brought economic benefits, increased adoption rates for foster children, and crucial family stability. Nessel's own experience as a parent illustrates how marriage rights transformed everyday life – enabling her wife to legally adopt their children and make medical decisions when their son needed surgery.This Pride Month conversation also comes with a warning. With Justice Thomas explicitly calling for Obergefell to be reconsidered and unconstitutional marriage bans still on the books in many states, the rights secured in 2015 remain vulnerable. Subscribe to hear part two of this special series featuring an interview with April and Jane themselves – the couple whose fight to protect their family changed America.Credit: This episode includes excerpts from news segments from the Associated Press, MSNBC, NBC News, WPTV News, WSBT-TV, WXYZ-TV Detroit, KHON2 News, and other clips from Youtube.
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23:42
The $625 Billion Cut That Could Break America's Healthcare System
The fight for America's health and wellbeing takes center stage as we tackle the most alarming proposals coming from Washington. Attorneys General Dana Nessel and Kris Mayes break down their ongoing legal battles against unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration – revealing why they've each filed over 15 lawsuits (and won most of them).Our candid conversation explores the real-world consequences of federal budget cuts already taking effect across America. From overflowing toilets at the Grand Canyon to park facility closures at Sleeping Bear Dunes, national treasures are deteriorating before our eyes. Meanwhile, vital nonprofit organizations that feed vulnerable populations face extinction as funding disappears.The heart of our episode features Georgetown University's Joan Alker, who delivers a masterclass on Medicaid's essential role in American healthcare. As Republicans propose slashing at least $625 billion from Medicaid – the largest cuts in history – Alker explains who stands to lose the most. Did you know Medicaid covers 40% of all births nationally and nearly half of all births in rural communities? Or that it's the primary funder of long-term care for seniors and covers almost half of all children?We examine how these proposed cuts would devastate rural healthcare systems already struggling with provider shortages and hospital closures. Alker also dissects the problematic "work requirements" some states have tried implementing – revealing shocking statistics about how they've increased bureaucracy while causing thousands to lose coverage.What makes this episode particularly powerful is the bipartisan concern emerging around these issues. As Nessel notes, people across the political spectrum are showing up at town halls worried about these changes. The message becomes clear: speaking up works, whether through contacting representatives, writing op-eds, or joining local meetings.Join us for this urgent conversation about protecting the programs that make America healthy. The time to make your voice heard is now.
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You Down with FTC? Yeah You Know Me!
Ever wonder who's fighting for fairness when corporations grow too powerful? Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes pull back the curtain on the world of antitrust enforcement with special guest Lina Khan, the groundbreaking former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission.This episode of Pantsuits and Lawsuits kicks off with a stark warning: without strong federal support, states like Michigan are left powerless against corporate abuse. AGs Nessel and Mayes join FTC Chair Lina Khan to unpack how weakened consumer protections, corporate mergers, and AI-driven “surveillance pricing” are putting everyday Americans at risk—and what’s being done to fight back. Throughout the episode, one message resonates clearly: corporate accountability requires vigilant state-federal partnerships that stand firm against powerful interests. As Khan notes, there's growing energy among young lawyers wanting to become "trust busters" - providing hope that the next generation is ready to continue this essential work.Check our department websites and social media to stay updated on our ongoing efforts to protect consumers from corporate abuses that affect your daily life.
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Reproductive Review: Bodily Autonomy and Your Right to Healthcare
The foundation of reproductive freedom in America continues to crumble beneath our feet, leaving millions without access to essential healthcare. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sits down with Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, for a sobering exploration of the post-Dobbs landscape.McGill Johnson reveals the coordinated, multi-pronged attack against reproductive healthcare access happening right now. From Title X funding cuts targeting Planned Parenthood to Supreme Court challenges that could strip Medicaid patients of their provider choices, we're witnessing a systematic dismantling of the healthcare infrastructure that millions rely upon. With 22 states now operating under abortion bans, one in three American women of reproductive age lives without access to complete healthcare.The consequences are both immediate and far-reaching. Doctors are fleeing states with abortion bans, creating dangerous healthcare deserts. Women with pregnancy complications face delayed care until they develop life-threatening sepsis. Young families are making permanent reproductive decisions out of fear. Join us for this critical conversation about what's at stake and how you can fight back through ballot initiatives, community organizing, and supporting Planned Parenthood's frontline work. Because as McGill Johnson powerfully reminds us: abortion is healthcare, bodily autonomy is essential to freedom, and none of us are truly free until all of us are free.
About Pantsuits and Lawsuits with Attorneys General Kris Mayes and Dana Nessel
Pantsuits and Lawsuits is a no-holds-barred podcast featuring Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes as they break down the biggest legal and political battles shaping the nation. With sharp wit and deep expertise, these two trailblazing AGs will keep you informed on what’s happening in their offices, how they’re fighting to protect your rights, and what’s at stake in the courts. From democracy and civil rights to corporate accountability, they’ll tackle it all—bringing in expert guests along the way to dig even deeper. Smart, bold, and unapologetically candid—this is the legal commentary you didn’t know you needed.
Listen to Pantsuits and Lawsuits with Attorneys General Kris Mayes and Dana Nessel, The DSR Network and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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