Barb McQuade
banner
barbmcquade.bsky.social
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social
Wife, Mom, UMich Law School Professor from Practice, MSNOW legal analyst, The Contrarian contributor, former U.S. Attorney, EDMI
Pinned
My book, “Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America,” reveals the tactics and dangers of disinformation and offers solutions. Democracy depends on truth. More here. barbaramcquade.com
What’s next now that a judge has dismissed indictments against Jim Comey and Letitia James? I’ll discuss with Rachel Maddow at 9:40 pm ET on MS NOW.
@maddow.bsky.social
@msnownews.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Comey, James cases dismissed as judge disqualifies interim US attorney Lindsey Halligan
A judge concluded Halligan’s appointment violated laws that limit the ability of DOJ to install top prosecutors without Senate confirmation.
www.politico.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Is anyone surprised that the top MAGA trolls on X are posting from outside the U.S.?
newrepublic.com/post/203562/...
Many Top MAGA Trolls Aren’t Even in the U.S.
Elon Musk’s new X feature has been very revealing.
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
For holiday gifts, I’ll be signing copies of my book, “Attack from Within,” at @literatibookstore.bsky.social. Order by Dec 8 for mail orders and Dec 15 for in-store pickup. Order here and add customer comment for personalized request.
literatibookstore.com/book/9781644...
Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERUPDATED EDITION: The MSNBC legal analyst explores the impact of disinformation after the 2024 presidential election—and what Americans can do before it’s too late.“A comprehensive guide to the dynamics of disinformation and a necessary call to theethical commitment to truth that all democracies require.” —Timothy Snyder, author of On TyrannyDisinformation—the deliberate spreading of lies disguised as truth, whether from opportunists on the far right, misinformed media influencers, or others—is fragmenting America more than ever before, pushing the nation toward extreme views, civil unrest, and violence. In this bestselling book, now with a new foreword by the author, Barbara McQuade identifies how disinformation is seeping into all facets of our society, causing havoc in our voting systems, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and the Capitol. McQuade, an MSNBC legal analyst and former federal prosecutor confronts the ways disinformation is being weaponized to polarize voters, degrade our legal structures, and leverage the political influence of manipulators and authoritarians. Now newly updated, Attack from Within shows us how to fight back against misinformed, extremist thinking and work toward preserving America’s hard-won democracy.
literatibookstore.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Fawning over an alleged murderer is not a good look for an American president.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/o...
Opinion | No, Mr. President, We Cannot ‘Leave It at That’
Working with imperfect partners does not mean that the United States should cover up and lie about their misdeeds.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Great piece on Trump's 'Quiet, piggy' moment. This phrase could be the new shorthand way to explain how abusers silence their victims. Keep quiet or be punished cruelly.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/h...
Heidi Stevens: After Trump’s ‘Quiet, piggy’ moment, we’re done asking why survivors don’t come forward, right?
If we’re going to become a nation that truly protects children and women, we have to stop giving a pass to sexual abusers, writes Heidi Stevens.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
America was great when America was good. Make America good again.
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
In new episode of #SistersInLaw, we broke down some of the 11(!) errors the judge identified in the prosecution of Jim Comey.. And that’s even before you get to the likely fatal flaws in the case on the merits.  You can listen here.
www.politicon.com/podcast-epis...
November 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Enjoyed talking with @womensmarch.com last night about how disinformation is used to stoke division in society. We can build resilience by spotting the tactics. You can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JofU...
Reading the Revolution: Propaganda, Disinformation, and Wicked Witches
YouTube video by Women's March
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Just finished reading The Gales of November by @JohnUBacon about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I truly could not put it down. Riveting history of the Great Lakes and the people behind the legend. A+.
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
After reading the government’s brief in the Comey case, I think the indictment is valid even if the grand jurors never actually saw the final version. Of course, there are still the other 11 (!) errors the judge identified in this case that could doom it before trial. 
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I will confess, I have never seen a situation before where the grand jury never saw the indictment, so the remedy is unknown, but I can’t believe an unseen indictment could be valid.
Times www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Lindsey Halligan Admits Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment
Grand jurors have to vote on indictments to approve them, but a prosecutor told the judge in the case that only the foreperson formally approved the second charging document, a move that could…
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Trump’s reference to a reporter as “insubordinate” is all you need to know about his view of the right to a free press.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Trump says he supports release of Epstein files, but remember, DOJ still possesses and control them. AG Bondi could “pluck” some out in the name of grand jury secrecy or privacy laws. I’ll discuss on MSNOW at 11 AM ET.
www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts...
Trump says he supports release of Epstein files
Trump says he supports release of Epstein files
www.nbcnews.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I’ll be continuing as a legal analyst for MS NOW, the successor to MSNBC. New name. Same mission. I explain the law so you can form your own opinion.
@msnowreports.bsky.social
@msnowcomms.bsky.social
@MSNOW.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Gift link to NYT article about the corruption of DOJ. One former insider says “I wouldn’t even call it the Justice Department anymore. It’s become Trump’s personal law firm. … [T]he American people should be enraged.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department (Gift Article)
Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Trump’s order to DOJ to open an investigation into connections between Epstein and “Democrats” is wrong in so many ways. I’ll discuss with Alex Witt on MSNOW at 3:15 PM ET. 
November 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Trump seems to be claiming US is in an “armed conflict” with Venezuelan cartels to justify bombing boats. Congress needs to demand production of legal memo because this just doesn’t add up. “War on Drugs” was just a slogan, but Trump seems to be using it literally.
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Trump Boat Bombings Take Dark, Unnerving Turn with Leaked Memo Stunner
A new Trump administration memo argues that those carrying out the boat attacks can’t be prosecuted. Why? Because the administration says so!
newrepublic.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Trump’s order that DOJ investigate ties between Epstein and Democrats is deviously brilliant—an ongoing investigation can be used as a reason, even if pretextual, to block public disclosure of the file.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Justice Department to Investigate Epstein Ties, but Not to Trump
President Trump ordered the Justice Department to investigate the dealings of Democrats with Jeffrey Epstein, after a week in which his own relationship with the convicted sex offender was in the…
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Proving that we are indeed two different people, here I am with Joyce Vance at the Texas Tribune Festival. I can’t tell you how many people stopped me and asked me to sign her book! 
November 16, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I know I sound like a rube from the Midwest, but there’s no one driving this Waymo taxi! 🤯
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
In new episode of #SistersInLaw, we discussed questionable US Attorney appointments, pardons as revisionist history, and the Epstein files. You can listen here.
www.politicon.com/podcast-epis...
November 15, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Just arrived in Austin for the Texas Tribune Festival. I’ll be participating in conversations about the rule of law, and signing copies of my book “Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America,” at 3:15 pm CT. Please join us. More here.
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/t...
The stage is set: Our full 2025 Texas Tribune Festival lineup is here - The Texas Tribune
Tim Walz, Carol Alvarado, Vicente Fox, Ruth Simmons, Bill Kristol and Christine Brennan join our biggest TribFest yet, for can’t miss conversations about Texas, our nation and the world
www.texastribune.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
In new episode of #SistersInLaw, we discussed questionable US Attorney appointments, pardons as revisionist history, and the Epstein files. You can listen here.
www.politicon.com/podcast-epis...
November 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Retired FBI Agent Greg Stejskal shares his views of Kash Patel’s distorted loyalties: “You can’t be both the king’s wizard and a director who swore to follow the rule of law.”
www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/338...
Retired Michigan FBI Agent: It's Disgraceful to See FBI Director Kash Patel Cater to Trump's Vindictive Whims
Contributors 
www.deadlinedetroit.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Budget bill’s inclusion of funds for senators to sue DOJ for up to $500,000 each for investigating them is the ultimate pork barrel legislation. I’ll discuss with @chrislhayes.bsky.social on @msnbc.com at 8:25 pm ET.
November 15, 2025 at 1:21 AM