Holding The Line cover art

Holding The Line

Holding The Line

By: Jason Johnson and Sean Kennedy
Listen for free

About this listen

Holding the Line is a podcast from the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund sharing firsthand stories and expert insights into what it really means to serve and protect in America today.

2025 Jason Johnson and Sean Kennedy
Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Former Prosecutor Patrick Kenneally: Mugged By Reality
    Apr 10 2026

    This week Sean sat down with his old friend Patrick Kenneally, former states attorney for a county outside Chicago who, as he says, was “mugged by reality” by his wild experiences with the criminal justice system and the radical policies and practices he saw up close - and their deadly outcomes.

    This was a highly entertaining episode - Patrick is a great storyteller and we know you'll really enjoy this one.

    He discusses the importance of accountability, challenging traditional views on addiction as a disease—and proved that strict enforcement of drug laws saves lives.

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Consent Decrees, Demystified: What Everyone Needs to Know
    Apr 1 2026

    Consent decrees: what are they, when did they start—and what has the impact been on law enforcement and crime?

    Our guest, Bob Scales breaks down the political, financial, and social ramifications of these agreements and discusses why they often fail to achieve meaningful reform.

    Key Topics:

    The history and legal background of consent decrees, starting from Rodney King and the 1994 pattern of practice law

    How the Obama administration dramatically increased the use of consent decrees and the shift towards monetization and extended enforcement

    The political dynamics influencing which police departments are targeted and how investigations are often predetermined

    The impact of consent decrees on police morale, costs, and crime rates, supported by city-specific examples like Seattle and Phoenix

    The role of activists, attorneys, and political actors in shaping and perpetuating consent decree processes

    Case studies of cities like Baltimore, Phoenix, and Memphis that challenged or resisted federal intervention

    The pitfalls of relying on consent decrees for police reform versus internal improvements and voluntary change

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • The Lawyer Taking On José Garza and the Wren Collective
    Mar 25 2026

    Doug O'Connell is a former special forces officer and retired Army Colonel (Jason apologizes for mistaking him for a former JAG officer) with a passion for defending innocent military members and law enforcement officers.

    Based in Austin, Texas, Doug and his team have gone toe to toe with the radical Soros-backed DA in Travis County many times in defense of wrongfully-charged law enforcement officers—and they just keep winning.

    Doug even got the court to sanction Garza's office after catching them withholding exculpatory evidence at trial in 2022... and he's doing it again!

    Doug has filed a Motion to Dismiss the criminal case pending against LELDF supported officer Chance Bretches—alleging the Travis County District Attorney’s Office purposefully withheld exculpatory evidence during discovery.

    Jose Garza is one of the 40+ prosecutors nationwide whose offices are controlled by the Wren Collective.

    Dig into our report on the Wren Collective: https://www.policedefense.org/outsourcing-justice/

    Don't forget to hit subscribe—and leave us a five star rating and review!

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.