

The Counsel
CAFE
Join Elie Honig as he unpacks the complex legal issues shaping our country. A former prosecutor and co-chief of the organized crime unit at the Southern District of New York, CNN senior legal analyst, and author, Honig brings sharp insight and clear perspective to the intersections of law, politics, and current events. New episodes every Friday. From CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 26, 2021 • 7min
Third Degree Sample: Prosecuting Sedition
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig is joined by Harvard Law student and former Trump administration speechwriter Eli Nachmany to discuss the conduct of former DC Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin and the potential for sedition charges against the Capitol insurrectionists. Plus, Elie tells stories from the legal trenches of his former office, the Southern District of New York.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students, exclusively for members of CAFE Insider.
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/prosecuting-sedition/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Noa Azulai, Jake Kaplan.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 24, 2021 • 10min
Prosecuting Hate Crimes
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig assesses the likelihood that hate crime charges will be brought against the shooter who killed eight people, including six Asian women, last week in Atlanta.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/prosecuting-hate-crimes/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producer: Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 22, 2021 • 13min
Merrick Garland’s First Test
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig breaks down the DOJ’s prosecution of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on January 6th.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/merrick-garlands-first-test/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producer: Sam Ozer-Staton.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 19, 2021 • 8min
Third Degree Sample: How To Strike a Juror
In this sample from the Third Degree podcast, Elie Honig and Alabama Law student Kyra Perkins discuss the technicalities of the jury selection process, including the “Batson challenge.”
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines.
Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students, exclusively for members of CAFE Insider. To sign up for CAFE Insider and gain access to the CAFE Insider podcast and exclusive notes from contributors (including Elie himself), head to cafe.com/insider.
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 17, 2021 • 13min
Can The Chauvin Jury Be Impartial?
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig discusses the latest in the trial of Derek Chauvin, including the impact of the historic $27 million settlement between the city of Minneapolis and George Floyd’s family. Elie also breaks down the makeup and demographics of the jury at this stage in the selection process.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/can-the-chauvin-jury-be-impartial/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producer: Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 2021 • 12min
Closing In On Trump
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig discusses the series of growing investigations into former President Donald Trump—from his tax returns to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/closing-in-on-trump/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan, Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 2021 • 7min
Third Degree Sample: The Juror
In this sample of the Third Degree podcast, Elie Honig and NYU Law student Safeena Mecklai discuss the news that a Minnesota judge has reinstated the third degree murder charge against police officer Derek Chauvin — and the impact that charging decision may have on the ultimate verdict.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines.
Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students, exclusively for members of CAFE Insider. To sign up for CAFE Insider and gain access to the CAFE Insider podcast and exclusive notes from contributors (including Elie himself), head to cafe.com/insider. For a limited time, you can join at half the annual membership price. Just enter the code: JUSTICE.
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan, Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 10, 2021 • 14min
Picking the Chauvin Jury
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig discusses the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minnesota police officer charged with killing George Floyd. As the jury selection process kicks off, Elie breaks down the challenges associated with finding a pool of impartial jurors.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/picking-the-chauvin-jury/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan, Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2021 • 13min
Did Cuomo Commit a Crime?
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig discusses the investigation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s alleged misrepresentation of the number of nursing home deaths due to COVID-19.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/did-cuomo-commit-a-crime/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan, Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 5, 2021 • 28min
The Manhattan DA vs. Trump
In this episode of Third Degree, Elie Honig is joined by Harvard Law student and former Trump administration speechwriter Eli Nachmany to discuss the Manhattan District Attorney’s growing investigation into former President Trump’s financial records, and how history will remember former Attorney General Bill Barr.
Join Elie every Monday and Wednesday on Third Degree for a discussion of the urgent legal news making the headlines. Third Degree takes on a bit of a different flavor on Fridays, when Elie speaks with a rotating slate of America’s most impressive law school students.
Elie’s analysis doesn’t end with Third Degree.Sign up to receive the CAFE Brief, a weekly newsletter featuring articles by Elie, a weekly roundup of politically charged legal news, and historical lookbacks that help inform our current political challenges: cafe.com/article/the-stay-tuned-newsletter/
Transcript, references and supplemental materials are available on the CAFE website: https://cafe.com/third-degree-podcast/the-manhattan-da-vs-trump/
Third Degree is produced by CAFE Studios.
Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer: Adam Waller; Technical Director: David Tatasciore; Audio and Music Producer: Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers: Sam Ozer-Staton, Jake Kaplan, Noa Azulai.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


