Dahlia Lithwick Knihy

Dahlia Lithwick, a leading legal commentator, recounts the inspiring story of women lawyers who bravely confronted the racism, sexism, and xenophobia during Donald Trump's presidency. Following Trump's unexpected victory in 2016, many Americans felt disoriented as his administration began implementing harmful policies. In response, women lawyers across the nation mobilized independently, united in their determination to resist injustice while Trump and his allies sought to reshape the judiciary in a conservative mold. Over the next four years, these women tirelessly fought against the chaos of Trump's presidency. Notable figures include Sally Yates, the acting attorney general who opposed the Muslim travel ban; Becca Heller, who championed refugee rights at airports; Roberta Kaplan, who took legal action against neo-Nazis in Charlottesville; and Stacey Abrams, whose efforts to safeguard voting rights significantly contributed to the Democrats' Senate victory in 2020. Lithwick's work highlights these remarkable stories, focusing on the heroes rather than the villains of the Trump era. With intimate access to her subjects, she delivers a celebration of their relentless spirit and legal ingenuity, creating a narrative that will resonate with lawyers, law students, and all hopeful Americans for generations.