meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
KQED's Forum

ACLU’s National Legal Director Cecillia Wang on Taking Trump to Court

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6656 Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The ACLU is not new to the work of challenging presidents. During the first Trump administration, the ACLU successfully challenged Trump’s Muslim ban, border wall, and family separation policies. Since Trump took office for his second term this January, the ACLU has filed 111 lawsuits against the administration — defending birthright citizenship, opposing deportations, and challenging executive orders. As Cecillia Wang, its national legal director notes, “litigation has been a tool of first resort in protecting people’s rights and freedom.” We talk with Wang about how the ACLU is meeting this moment, and what individuals can do to ensure the preservation of civil rights and liberties. Guests: Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Support for KQBD Podcasts comes from Earth Justice. As a national legal nonprofit,

0:06.1

Earth Justice has more than 200 full-time lawyers who fight for a healthy environment. They wield the

0:12.3

power of the law to protect people's health, preserve magnificent places in wildlife, and advance

0:17.9

clean energy to combat climate change. Earth justice fights in court because the Earth needs a good lawyer.

0:24.4

Learn more about how you can get involved and become a supporter at earthjustice.org.

0:30.1

Support for KQED podcasts comes from Star One Credit Union.

0:34.7

Give your savings account the love it deserves.

0:39.0

When you keep your money with Star 1, you keep more of your money. Star 1 credit union in your best interest.

0:44.2

From KKUD in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.

1:02.2

The Trump administration has not done things the normal way.

1:05.7

In many, many cases, courts have found that the administration acted illegally.

1:10.6

But the law is not an abstract thing, and teams of lawyers working for civil society groups

1:15.6

have to actually file lawsuits and argue those cases.

1:19.6

In both of his terms, the ACLU has been a bulw against governmental overreach,

1:24.6

and this morning we're joined by Cecilia Wang, the ACLU's legal director,

1:29.0

to take stock of what's happened and answer your questions. She's coming up next right after this

1:34.9

news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Alexis Madrigal.

1:51.3

During the first Trump administration, the ACLU successfully challenged Trump's Muslim ban, border wall, and family separation policies.

2:01.2

Since Trump took office for his second term this January, the ACLU has filed, let's call it,

2:06.7

about 111 lawsuits against the administration, defending birthright citizenship, opposing deportations,

2:14.5

and challenging executive orders.

2:16.7

As Cecilia Wang, its national director, legal director notes, litigation has been a tool

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 20 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.