Month: January 2024

We're only one week into 2024, and there's so much news to catch up on! Melissa, Leah, and Kate discuss ProPublica's reporting about rich guys giving Justice Thomas money when he hinted at retiring because his salary as a justice was too low. Then, they look to the latest in state courts, which are deciding issues such as Donald Trump's presidential eligibility, women's access to emergency abortion care, and fairly drawn electoral maps. After some quick previews of the cases the Supreme Court will hear this week, they welcome special guest Ross Rayburn, Peloton instructor and author of Turning Inward: The Practice of Introversion for a Calm, Joyful, Authentic Life. Ross shares advice for staying sane in this election year, and insights on how listening to Strict Scrutiny is actually a form of meditation.

• Read ProPublica's reporting: "A 'Delicate Matter': Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign"
• Read Punish Treason, Reward Loyalty: The Forgotten Goals of Constitutional Reform After the Civil War, by Mark A. Graber
• Read the Fifth Circuit's opinion in the EMTALA case we covered last November
• Get a copy of Ross Rayburn's book, Turning Inward: The Practice of Introversion for a Calm, Joyful, Authentic Life
  • Code STRICT10 gets you 10% off at bookshop.org!

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• 6/12 – NYC
• 10/4 – Chicago

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In this Trump-free episode, Andrew and Liz break down the civil trial of the National Rifle Association beginning TODAY in New York. No, the NRA isn't going to be dissolved, but yes, they could be hit with a ton of restrictions & some bad actors could be forced to fork over a ton of money, so you'll want to follow this story.

Then, the duo tackle the passage of Steamboat Willie into the public domain. What is the public domain? What does it all mean?  Listen and find out!

Notes

DC Circuit livestream Trump Appeal Tuesday Jan 9, 9:30amET https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQ1aToavl8 

Babbitt Estate v. US — Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68139457/estate-of-ashli-babbitt-v-babbitt/

US v. Texas — Docket via Court Listener https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68134300/united-states-v-texas/ 

NY Case Search https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch

Appellate Docket No: 2023-06396

Trial Docket No: 451625/2020

US Copyright Office Circular 33 https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ33.pdf

Klinger v. Conan Doyle Estate (7th Cir. 2014) https://freesherlock.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/klinger-7th-circuit-opinion-c.pdf

Secrecy, Self-Dealing, and Greed at the N.R.A. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/secrecy-self-dealing-and-greed-at-the-nra 

NRA Awarded Contracts to Firms With Ties to Top Officials https://www.wsj.com/articles/nra-awarded-contracts-to-firms-with-ties-to-top-officials-1543590697 

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