Does the transgender ideology pose dangers to school children? We’re joined today by Vernadette Broyles, a lawyer representing a girl who claims she was sexually assaulted as a five year old by a transgender child in a school bathroom. We’ve got the latest on that complaint and what’s happening. Plus, our colleagues will discuss the new Joker movie.
We also cover these stories:
The controversy over Turkey’s military move on the Syrian border continues.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy says there was “no blackmail” in a phone call he shared with President Donald Trump.
Millions of Californians are now without power due to wildfires.
Amanda Holmes reads Wallace Stevens’s poem, “The Emperor of Ice Cream.” Have a suggestion for a poem? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.
Today's episode breaks down the recent news relating to (1) legal efforts to subpoena Donald Trump's taxes, (2) the latest kerfuffle over the standing House rules and whether the impeachment inquiry is "unconstitutional" and "illegal" (it isn't), with a bonus (3) rant about PG&E's blackouts -- excuse me, "public safety power shutoff events" in Northern California. Phew!
We begin with a discussion surrounding PG&E's decision to shut off power for up to five days, affecting potentially two million people. These blackouts will have a tremendous economic and social cost -- and may cost lives, as well. Why are they happening? What's the law? Can we do anything about it? Listen and find out!
Then, it's time for a deep dive into breaking legal news this week. You may have heard that a court ordered the release of Trump's tax returns, and then that order was immediately appealed and blocked. What does it all mean and why? We dive deeply into this issue, and on the way you'll learn about Younger abstention, § 1983 cases, and much, much more!
After that, it's time for a look at the latest goalpost-moving excuse by the Republicans, this time the honestly-not-very-good argument that the impeachment inquiry is "illegal" unless authorized by the entire House of Representatives. Find out why this just isn't so.
Then, it's time for a follow-up #T3BE to last week's child-on-thin-ice. This time, we want to know: can her parents sue the day care? Listen and find out!
Upcoming 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
Don’t forget Opening Arguments LIVE in Los Angeles, CA on October 12, 2019. Here is the link!!
On The Gist, how should we feel about Ellen and George W. Bush?
In the interview, Desmond Meade of the Florida Restorative Rights Coalition is here to talk with Mike about the recent movement in Florida to give voting rights back to individuals who have previous committed felonies. They talk about how quickly the measure passed, what regaining voting rights really means, and who is actually most affected by these laws.
In the Spiel, should plans for the LGBTQ community really have been the second ever CNN town hall this year?
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Our first stop is the Bay Model in Sausalito, a roughly 1.5-acre model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system. We visit The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which pays tribute to over 100 years of surfing in the area. Our last stop is at Musée Mécanique where we meet the owner of this vast coin-operated collection.
Santa Cruz Museum Shines Light on the History of Surfing
Reported by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Bianca Taylor and Maggie Galloway. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek and Katie McMurran. Additional support from Julie Caine, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho and Patricia Yollin.
Nobel prizes this week went to a range of discoveries that you might be familiar with, in fact you might be using one of them right now – the lithium ion battery. The scientists credited with its Invention got the chemistry prize. And the tantalising prospect of life on other planets plays into the physics prize win.
And we also see what salamanders have to offer in the treatment of arthritis
(Picture: Illustration of the Earth-like exoplanet Kepler-452b and its parent star Kepler-452. Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech/Science Photo Library)
Rachel Maddow joins as guest co-host to talk about the White House announcement that they intend to obstruct the impeachment inquiry, Trump’s decision to abandon our Kurdish allies, and Facebook’s refusal to pull down false ads about Joe Biden. Then we talk to Rachel about her new book, Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth.
The news to know for Thursday, October 10th, 2019!
Today, we're talking about President Trump's demand before he'll cooperate with Democrats' investigation, the attack on an American ally, and a historic win in Alabama.
Plus: a major power outage, Toys 'R' Us has a new plan, and explaining Uber Pet...
Those stories and many more in less than 10 minutes!
Then, hang out after the news for Thing to Know Thursday's bonus interview about Hyperloop technology, and how it could revolutionize the way we travel and live.