Category: 3-LawSometimeCommentary

OA1093 - In this episode recorded on Thanksgiving Day, two vegetarians carve up the Canadian turkey born Aubrey Drake Graham. Are Drake’s exploratory legal actions against Universal Music in response to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” the weakest move in the history of rap beefs? Matt shares some of his favorite diss tracks before we consider these filings and how Drake thought he could possibly come out of this looking good. We also take a look at Jack Smith’s motion to dismiss both of the federal criminal cases against the 47th President-elect of the United States,  and what we can learn about the possible future (?) of these cases from both his motion and DC federal judge Tanya Chutkan’s order granting it. Finally, in today’s footnote Thomas provides valuable evidence for the prospective plaintiffs in a cease and desist demand recently made against the ONLY guitar endorsed by Donald Trump.

• Government’s Motion to Dismiss in U.S. v. Trump (11/25/240

• Judge Chutkan’s order on government’s motion to dismiss U.S. v. Trump (11/25/24)

• OLC memo on immunity for sitting presidents (10/16/2000)

• OLC memo on presidential self-pardons (8/5/1974)

• Verified Petition in Frozen Moments LLC v UMG/Spotify  (NY Drake payola filing)(11/25/24)

• Verified Petition seeking depositions in TX (TX Drake defamation filing)(11/25/24)

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OA1092 plus T3BE49 - we continue our conversation with Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin.

Then, it's answer time for T3BE question 48, and our new question 49! Play along on BlueSky!

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OA1091 - We are honored to welcome Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin for the first of a 2-part Thanksgiving episode dedicated with gratitude to the incredible efforts that so many naturalized Americans have made to be a part of this country. Abdi has recorded the full story of his life in his book Call Me American, in which he details the long journey from his escape from being forced into service as a child soldier in war-torn Somalia to his years as a refugee in Kenya before winning the U.S. diversity visa lottery and building a thoroughly American life in one of the last states you might expect. In this extended interview we get to know Abdi as he shares his story and his unique perspective on what the current American moment means for him and his community. 

• Call Me American: A Memoir,: Abdi Nor Iftin (2018)

• “Now is the time to buckle up and fight, not to flee,” Abdi Nor Iftin, The Forecaster (11/19/24)

• “Abdi and the Golden Ticket,”  This American Life (7/3/2015)

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Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump was ineligible for the Presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, following a trial, a verdict, and appeals.  The January 6th commission had numerous findings of fact that seemed damning to the former President.  The Special Counsel brought charges against him related to the fateful day.  But the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Colorado; the Justice Department is dropping their case; the January 6th commission has disbanded. Meanwhile there has been no ruling that Trump did not in fact violate Section 3.  Does it exist?  And if it does, what are the implications for Congress’ certification of the vote in early January 2025?  We return to this subject even as the nation seems to be leaving it behind.  Also - an early look at some of the background to the recess appointment article authored by Prof. Amar and others which will appear soon, and a celebration of a great man and a great historian.  CLE credit is available from podcast.njsba.com.

Kate and Melissa comb through the latest from the incoming Trump administration, including the subbing in of Pam Bondi for Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Then, they take a look at the areas of law that will be hit hardest during a second Trump term. Finally, all three hosts speak with Judge David Tatel, formerly of the DC Circuit, about his book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. 

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If you had forgotten the chaos of Trump 1.0, the frenzied first two weeks of transition to Trump 2.0 has surely been a stark reminder. A pair of random billionaires are claiming in advance that SCOTUS will back their extra-governmental plans for a slash and burn policy for federal agencies; accusations of sexual misconduct swirl around cabinet picks; nominations are being retracted and replaced, and while all of this happens we are waiting to see whether Republicans in the Senate will step into a role of moderation, or just roll over. This matters a lot with respect to what the federal judiciary is going to look like, how much scrutiny is applied to the most outlandish cabinet nominees, and the independence of the Justice Department. 

On this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who has spent years investigating the dark money plot to control the courts, and who knows from firsthand experience why the justice department is different from other agencies. 

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OA1090 - It's an ALL GOOD NEWS EPISODE! It exists, and there is plenty of it. Positive vibes only for today's dose of practical hope.

And right when you think it can't get any better, the Footnote Fetish returns! Matt has found yet another bizarre RFK Jr animal-related scandal, this one far from the headlines at the intersection of election and avian law. Also Thomas Takes the Bird Exam!

• 2024 Popular Vote Tracker, Cook Political Report

• Alvin Bragg’s letter to NY judge Juan Merchan opposing Trump’s motion to dismiss (11/19/24)

• “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant | International Criminal Court” (11/21/24)

• Judge Melissa Owens’s summary judgment decision in Johnson v Wyoming (11/18/24)

• “November Surprise! State Finally Releases RFK Jr.’s Falconry Records,” Kevin Underhill, Lowering the Bar (11/5/24)

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President-elect Trump has begun to announce his plans for his cabinet and other top appointments for January.  Unconventional is a kind word for some of them.  And suddenly, in a House where Republicans have a razor-thin majority, there is a resignation - months before it would be required.  Why?  There are conspiracy theorists for health care positions; admirers of Putin for intelligence posts; newscasters who have never managed anything for one of the largest organizations in the world.  The Constitution has something to say about some of these, and we dive in.  Suffice to say, the water is murky.  CLE credit is available for lawyers and judges from podcast.njsba.com.

OA1089 - Trump's Staff Infection, part 3 plus T3BE48!

In this installment of Fashwatch’s continuing review of Trump’s incoming legal team, we take a closer look at what we know about the top spots in his DOJ and some of the other most important lawyers in any Presidential administration: White House counsel, Solicitor General, and the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. 

1. “How a Corporate Law Firm Led a Political Revolution,” David Enrich, The New York Times (8/25/22) 

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OA1088 - Trump's Staff Infection Vol. 2

With special guest Lydia Smith! Matt explains why only lawyers can truly destroy the rule of law before Lydia reviews what Project 2025 has planned for the Department of Justice. We then consider Donald Trump’s intention to make his favorite Florida (Congress)man our next Attorney General without or without Senate approval. Who is America’s Worst Matt, and could this weird loser really be the angel of Trump’s retribution? 

1. Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025

2. “Is Matt Gaetz an ‘Accomplished Attorney’?” Louis Jacobsen, Politifact (11/15/24)

3. Nayib Bukele on X: "US Congressmen visit CECOT (Center for the Confinement of Terrorism)

4. “Matt Gaetz’s 2008 DUI arrest resurfaces after jab at Hunter Biden’s substance abuse. Here’s what happened,” Tampa Bay Times (11/15/24) 

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