Month: February 2019

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The NewsWorthy - Green New Deal, Amazon Blackmail & Grammys – Friday, February 8th, 2019

The news to know for Friday, February 8th, 2019!

Today, what to know about the heated testimony expected at the Capitol today, and the latest about the Green New Deal.

Plus, Ford's big investment, who allegedly blackmailed Amazon's CEO and why scientists are altering DNA. 

Those stories and many more in less than 10 minutes!

Award-winning broadcast journalist and former TV news reporter Erica Mandy breaks it all down for you.

You can also go to www.theNewsWorthy.com to see story sources and links in the section titled 'Episodes' or see below...

Today’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. You deserve to be happy.  Connect with a professional counselor in a safe, private and affordable online environment.

Go to www.BetterHelp.com/newsworthy to get a discount and get started today.

 

 

Sources: 

 

Whitaker Testifies: The Hill, Vox, CBS News, WSJ

 

Green New Deal: ABC News, Reuters, FOX News

 

More Cold Weather: AccuWeather, USA Today

 

Ford Investment:  NBC News

 

Bank Merger: BusinessInsider, CNN

 

Editing Genes?: Washington Post

 

Facebook Data Collection: NYT, CNN

 

Amazon Self-Driving Car WIRED, CNBC

 

Woody Allen Sues Amazon: Variety, TechCrunch

Amazon Blackmail: WSJ

 

Gucci Blackface Sweater: AP News

Adidas Criticism: Quartz

 

Grammys Sunday: VOX

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Opening Arguments - OA251: Gerrymandering in Maryland Heads Back to SCOTUS

Today's episode returns to one of the most critical political issues of our time:  gerrymandering of congressional districts, and in particular, the state of MD-6, which pits the Democrats as villains and Republican voters as the plaintiffs alleging disenfranchisement.  Will that role reversal be enough to win approval from SCOTUS?  Listen and find out!

We begin, however, with an update on the June Medical Services v. Gee lawsuit we first discussed in Episode 249.

After that, it's time for the deep dive into gerrymandering, which takes a look at the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland's 3-judge panel decision invalidating Maryland's 6th district; the motion to stay before the Supreme Court filed by the Plaintiffs; the opposition by the State of Maryland; and an amicus brief filed on behalf of the incumbent, Democrat David Trone.

Then, we quickly clear up the status of Stormy Daniels' lawsuits.  Did the recent dismissal with prejudice have anything to do with Donald Trump?  (No.)

We end, as always, with a brand new Thomas Takes the Bar Exam Question #113 that's coincidentally about the constitutionality of abortion restrictions.  As always, remember to follow our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and like our Facebook Page so that you too can play along with #TTTBE!

Appearances

None!  If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

1. Episode OA: 249 "Overturning Roe v. Wade Starts Today" for reference to our past discussion on the abortion cases. 2. Supreme Court’s docket in June Medical Services v. Gee 3. If you’re curious, this is what MD-6 looks like today, and this is what it looked like before the 2011 redistricting. 4. We last discussed gerrymandering in Episode OA: 185 5. We also did a deep dive into the Wisconsin case in Episode OA: 80 6. Here is the Maryland district court’s ruling court’s ruling 7. You can read the Plaintiffs’ brief 8. The state's opposition, filed by Brian Frosh 9. And the Trone amicus brief filed by Andrew’s friends at Zuckerman

Support us on Patreon at:  patreon.com/law

Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/

Don't forget the OA Facebook Community!

For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

And email us at openarguments@gmail.com

 

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The Gist - The Green New Deal Is a Dream

On The Gist, don’t lick people you work with.

In the interview, reading a whole book is great, but sometimes all you need is the introduction. Author Elisa Gabbert thinks so, and joins us to talk about intros and other “front matter”; a novel that unfolds over the course of an escalator ride; and how sitcoms have thrown our beauty barometers out of whack. Gabbert is the author of The Word Pretty. 

In the Spiel, the Green New Deal needs more scrutiny before it moves forward.

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SCOTUScast - Nieves v. Bartlett — Post-Argument

On November 26, 2018, the Supreme Court heard argument in Nieves v. Bartlett, a case considering the merit of retaliatory arrest claims in the presence of probable cause for arrest.
In 2014, Russell Bartlett was arrested by two police officers, Sergeant Nieves and Trooper Weight, during an outdoor party that was part of the annual “Arctic Man” festival held in Alaska’s Hoodoo Mountains. Bartlett, who appeared intoxicated, approached Trooper Weight, who had been speaking to a minor regarding suspected underage drinking, and loudly demanded that Weight stop. When Trooper Weight pushed Bartlett back to create space between the two men, Nieves, who had observed the contact, ran over and a struggle ensued. The officers subdued and arrested Bartlett, who was later released from detention without injury. Although the state ultimately declined to prosecute Bartlett on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, the prosecutor indicated his belief in the existence of probable cause for that arrest.
Bartlett filed suit against the officers in federal district court, claiming false arrest, excessive force, malicious prosecution, and retaliatory arrest. The district court granted summary judgment to Sergeant Nieves and Trooper Weight on qualified immunity grounds, but the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed that judgment as to the retaliatory arrest claim and remanded the case. Under circuit precedent, the Court concluded, “an individual has a right to be free from retaliatory police action, even if probable cause existed for the action.” The Supreme Court granted the officers’ subsequent petition for certiorari, however, to address whether probable cause defeats a First Amendment retaliatory-arrest claim under the civil rights statute 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
To discuss the case, we have Lisa Soronen, Executive Director of the State and Local Legal Center.
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The NewsWorthy - Virginia’s Controversies, Tipping Trouble & Spotify’s Buys (+ Grammy Music Educator Winner Melissa Salguero) – Thursday, February 7th, 2019

The news to know for Thursday, February 7th, 2019!

Today, we're talking about the accusations against the top three government officials in Virginia, and why top food delivery companies are now apologizing.

Plus: Spotify bets big on podcasts, and a rumor that a new smartphone may charge your wireless headphones...

Those stories and many more in less than 10 minutes!

Award-winning broadcast journalist and former TV news reporter Erica Mandy breaks it all down for you.

Then, hang out after the news for Thing to Know Thursday's bonus interview. This week, you'll hear from the 2018 Grammy Music Educator Award winner Melissa Salguero. She's also a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize of $1 million. She's sharing her story and discussing the importance of music in schools.

Go to www.theNewsWorthy.com to see story sources and links in the section titled 'Episodes.'

Today’s episode is brought to you by the podcast Everyday Einstein.

 

 

 

Sources: 

 

Russia Investigation AP News, Washington Post

Michael Cohen Testimony: ABC News

 

Virginia’s Political Chaos: NYT, NBC News, AP News, WSJ

 

Trump World Bank: NPR, NYT

 

Climate Change Report: NBC News, The Guardian, NYT

 

Tipping Controversy: Recode

 

Spotify Buys Podcast Companies: TechCrunch, WSJ, Reuters

 

Samsung Rumors: The Verge

 

Ariana Grande & Grammys: Variety, Billboard

 

 

 

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the memory palace - Episode 137: Swans

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia.

Music

Notes

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The Gist - The State of the Union is… Overrated

On The Gist, who oh who will govern the state of Virginia?

In the interview, when Roger McNamee jumped in as an early investor in Facebook, he might not have figured he’d end up testifying about the company in front of Congress. McNamee charts Facebook’s worrying evolution in his new book: Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe.

In the Spiel, the State of the Union address is like baseball’s All-Star Game. Flashy, but without consequence.

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