Opening Arguments

Voting rights attorney Jenessa Seymour dives into the critical Louisiana v. Callais case, revealing its potential to gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and enable racial gerrymandering. She explains how this could impact representation for minorities and discusses the significance of New York's John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act in combating these threats. Additionally, she highlights a troubling pattern in local electoral policies that disenfranchise Hispanic communities, while sharing insights on a Chicago cop's bizarre defense against traffic violations.

The hosts dive into Caitlyn Flanagan's defense of Bari Weiss taking a prominent role in CBS despite her controversial background. They analyze ethical concerns about Flanagan's ties to Weiss while questioning journalistic standards. The discussion shifts to Jonathan Turley's views on Antifa, challenging his definitions and the concept of it being a cohesive group. The episode also features a heated feud between Candace Owens and Josh Hammer, highlighting the culture war's financial motivations and the monetization of conflict.

Michelle Adams, a University of Michigan law professor and author of "The Containment," dives deep into the landmark case Milliken v. Bradley and its impact on school desegregation in Detroit. She explores how housing policies reinforced segregation, the white backlash against integration, and how legal strategies linked housing to education. Adams discusses the narrow interpretation of desegregation that arose from Milliken and its consequences—white flight and limited educational opportunities. Their conversation emphasizes the importance of civic engagement in shaping future legal landscapes.

OA1197 - The National Guard is being federalized and sent into cities that the President doesn’t like against the explicit will of state governors and local populations. Matt covers as much as we know from the legal developments around this ongoing national emergency, and Jenessa shares some good news which is already coming out of NY’s recent recently-enhanced equal protection amendment. Finally, in today’s footnote: how do you ticket a car from a moving violation when no one is driving it? NOTE: since the time of this recording, a federal judge has found that the Trump administration’s stated reasons for deploying federal troops in Chicago are “simply unreliable” and blocked the deployment of the National Guard. More next week on this vital story. “Department of Defense Security For the Protection of Homeland Security Functions,” The White House (June 7, 2025)  Affidavit of Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief of Operations Craig Dobson, filed 9/29/2025 Judge Immergut’s injunction in Trump v. Oregon dated 10/4/2025 9th Circuit’s order staying Judge Breyer’s injunction dated 6/19/2025 Memo from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dated 9/28/2025 ”For Trump Administration, Fighting Crime Takes a Backseat to Immigration Arrests,” The Marshall Project, Beth Schwarzapfel (10/4/2025) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!

Jake Tapper, a veteran journalist and CNN anchor, discusses his latest nonfiction legal thriller, Race Against Terror, which delves into a significant 2011 international terrorism case. He shares insights about the complexities of the U.S. Department of Justice's legal strategies and the relevance of due process in today’s climate. The conversation also touches on his controversial Biden book, media biases, and the challenges journalists face amid rising political polarization. Plus, Jake humorously reveals his strained relations with the surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Dive into the cultural firestorm ignited by the 1963 Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale, which famously limited school prayer. Discover how this seemingly simple ruling revealed deep-seated tensions between religion and state. Learn why even brief, nonsectarian prayers were deemed potentially coercive and how public outrage misinterpreted the decision as a ban on all prayer. Explore the evolving landscape of the Establishment Clause and its implications for modern religious expression in schools, along with the ongoing debates surrounding it.

Explore the ongoing government shutdown and its surprising effects, including how immigration courts remain open. Dive into the alarming choices of the Trump administration, from military actions against Venezuela to the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist group. Celebrate recent victories for voting rights and free speech, notably for non-citizen students. Also, discover how these troubling developments could signal a disturbing trend towards authoritarianism, all while enjoying a nod to the Wu-Tang Clan's legal escapades.

Join defense attorney Liz Skeen, who has over a decade of experience in criminal law, as she delves into the complexities of Miranda rights. She emphasizes the importance of not talking to police and shares effective suppression strategies. Discover how NYPD trains its officers on Miranda and the significant impact of waiving rights. Liz discusses recent legal cases and the nuances of invoking rights while providing practical advice for anyone who finds themselves in a police situation. Tune in for insights that could change your approach to police interactions!

Could Tylenol sue public figures for libel? The conversation reveals intriguing insights into sovereign immunity and defamation law. They weigh in on the FCC's pressure on Disney regarding free speech rights. Plus, a new fee could hit rural hospitals hard when hiring foreign doctors. In a personal twist, Janessa shares her journey to tackle a challenging bar exam in patent law, emphasizing the value of a STEM-legal background.

We watched the newly-released final episode of HBO’s The Case Against Adnan Syed, and we have questions.  Are the producers really trying to pin the murder of Hae Min Lee on a Black man with obvious mental health issues who was already cleared as a suspect--and did they really need to show the world a fully-nude photo of him to make that case? What is the story that they are trying to tell here, and just how far off is it from the truth? From the libelously deceptive cold open to the slyly deceptive summary of Syed’s post-Serial legal proceedings and beyond, Matt brings his post-conviction expertise to make the case against The Case Against Adnan Syed. FOOTNOTES SIO354: “Serial's Adnan Syed Conviction Reinstated--What Happened? (w/Matt Cameron) (4/4/2023) OA1067: “Adnan Syed Remains a Convicted Murderer” (9/9/2024) State’s Attorney Ivan Bates’s memorandum in support of his Motion to Withdraw the previously-filed Motion to Vacate Judgment 85-page Court of Appeals decision in Lee v. State reinstating Adnan Syed’s conviction (3/28/2023) State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s Sep 14, 2022 motion to vacate Adnan Syed’s conviction Judge Phinn’s September 19, 2022 order on motion to vacate Attorney General Brian Frosh’s statement re: SA Mosby’s motion to vacate Attorney General’s fiery response to Adnan Syed’s motion to disqualify AG’s office from representing the state of Maryland in this appeal More on the feud between the Attorney General and Baltimore City State’s Attorney over the Adnan Syed conviction: “Maryland AG questions integrity of process used to exonerate Adnan Syed,” Maryland Daily Record (10/25/2022)  Full transcription of prosecutor’s handwritten note which Mosby alleged constituted Brady evidence and more information in this Baltimore Banner story: “Was Adnan Syed Note Misinterpreted?” Baltimore Banner, (11/1/2022)  Appellant Young Lee’s brief in Lee v. State  Defendant Adnan Syed’s brief in Lee v. State 2019 Court of Appeals decision finding ineffective assistance of prior counsel in Adnan Syed’s case, but not enough prejudice to justify a new trial: State v. Syed :: 2019 :: Maryland Court of Appeals Decisions  Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!