Jill Wine-Banks and Barb McQuade answer listener questions on everything from gift-tax rules for large White House staff gifts to whether a Speaker could refuse to swear in newly elected members, and more. They discuss the annual $19,000 exclusion versus the lifetime exemption and who actually pays the gift tax, the political-question doctrine and why a Mike Johnson logjam is theoretically possible but politically extreme, how to contact our representatives, the need to restore civics plus critical-thinking skills, practical fixes for a crashed bar-exam app plus their own exam stories, and how to beat a traffic ticket.
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Joyce Vance: Bluesky | Twitter | University of Alabama Law | Civil Discourse Substack | MSNBC | Author of “Giving Up Is Unforgiveable”
Jill Wine-Banks: Bluesky | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight For Truth & Justice Against A Criminal President | Just The Facts YouTube
Kimberly Atkins Stohr: Bluesky | Twitter | Boston Globe | WBUR | The Gavel Newsletter | Justice By Design Podcast
Barb McQuade: barbaramcquade.com | Bluesky | Twitter | University of Michigan Law | Just Security | MSNBC | Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America
QUESTIONS:
FROM MARY BETH
GOOD MORNING. IN THE LAST SHOW, JILL STATED THAT GIFTS ARE NOT TAXABLE TO THE GIVER OR THE RECEIVER. ISN’T THERE A MAXIMUM ANNUAL LIMIT BEFORE TAXES APPLY?
WOULDN’T THE RECIPIENTS OF TRUMP’S GIFTS BE SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX ON THE AMOUNT OVER THAT ANNUAL LIMIT? I LOVE THE SHOW AND LISTEN EVERY WEEK. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO
FROM KAYA
HI, SISTERS-IN-LAW. THIS IS KAYA FROM CANADA. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MIKE JOHNSON, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
IF THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, COULD MIKE JOHNSON SOMEHOW BLOCK THEM FROM BEING SWORN IN TO CONGRESS? COULD HE DO SOMETHING CRAZY LIKE SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT THE DEMOCRATS FROM GAINING CONTROL? AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS?
FROM DONNA (1)
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTION, SISTERS. THIS IS DONNA IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO EMAIL LEADERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE CONSTITUENTS WITHIN THEIR STATE CAN DO SO. IF THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD THAT HIGH OF A PUBLIC OFFICE, WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EMAIL OR CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?
FROM MARY
ONLY ⅓ OF AMERICANS CAN NAME ALL 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS THIS, AND HOW DO WE FIX IT?
FROM IRENE IN MIAMI, FL
WHAT EVIDENCE SHOULD I BRING TO FIGHT A TRAFFIC TICKET? DO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EVER WIN THESE CASES?
FROM SALLY IN BREMERTON, WA
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A LAWYER, I KNOW SEVERAL AND AM AWARE OF HOW MUCH STRESS AND PRESSURE IS INVOLVED WITH TAKING THE BAR EXAM. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT LED TO THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR EXAM BEING CANCELED EARLIER THIS YEAR. HOW WOULD YOU REMEDY THIS SITUATION? ALSO, DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY OR INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT WHEN YOU TOOK THE BAR EXAM?
Joyce Vance 
Barbara McQuade 
Kimberly Atkins Stohr 
Jill Wine-Banks