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Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Legal AF by MeidasTouch

1,750 episodes — Page 35 of 35

Palin’s Runaway Jury and Trump is Up S#%@$’s creek without a Mazars

Welcome—Legal AF Midweek edition with your hosts Michael Popok and Karen Friedman Agnifilo. On today’s :40 minute pod, and in rapid-fire, edge of your seat, fashion will take on: (1) Sarah Palin’s 2-Time Loser Libel case against the New York Times, and what it means for the First Amendment now and in the future; and (2) the Trump Organization is now officially up sh@#$#@ ‘s creek without a Mazars, as its long-time accountant now says in a NYAG filing that 10 year’s worth of financials are “unreliable.” And finally, a new segment –Mailbag—where KFA and Popok answer our listeners/viewers’ legal/political questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 202244 min

Golden Toilets, Tawdry Maps, & the Civil War Rides again

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss: 1. SCOTUS’ continued assault on the Voting Rights Act through the shadow docket by allowing an Alabama anti-Black voter redistricting map to stand for the midterm elections. 2. Trump’s destruction of Presidential Records and his taking 15 boxes of top secret materials to Mar-a-Lago and the criminal statutes implicated. 3. New possible obstruction charges against Trump, and a review of the 16 (!) cases and prosecutions currently pending against him. 4. The Equal Rights Amendment has been ratified by 38 states, so why are the Republicans hell-bent on denying women equal rights by preventing it from being declared the 28th Amendment to the Constitution? 5. Representative Madison Cawthorn’s attempt to use a Civil War-era law to undermine the Constitution and the 14th Amendment, to allow him to run for reelection. 6. Congress’ bipartisan passing of a law to prevent “forced arbitration “for sexual harassment and discrimination claims. 7. The Sarah Palin defamation trial against the NY Times goes to closing argument and jury deliberation with the First Amendment on the line. And much more! Support the Show! Stamps --Stamps.com -- Go to https://www.stamps.com, click the microphone at the top of the page and enter "LegalAF" to get free postage and a free scale! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Blinkist -- Right now Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to https://Blinkist.com/LEGALAF to start your free 7 day trial and get 25% off of a Blinkist Premium membership. Hello Fresh -- Visit https://hellofresh.com/legalaf16 and use code "LegalAF16" for 16 free meals and 3 free gifts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 20221h 59m

Stolen Antiquities and the Prosecutors who Recover it: A look at the Manhattan DA’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit

LegalAF x MeidasTouch, the top-rated weekend global news podcast covering US law and politics anchored by Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok, has launched a special weekly Wednesday short-form edition providing a piercing but entertaining look at one or two topics ripped from today’s headlines, this one co-anchored by veteran prosecutor, policy analyst and defense counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo (“KFA”). On this :30 minute episode the anchors shine a light into a fascinating but little known corner of the law – illegal antiquities and art trafficking. Popok and KFA explore the rarefied underworld of the high-stakes antiquities trade, pulling in auction houses, dealers, museums and collectors. The anchors focus on the novel work of the world’s only prosecutor-led antiquities recovery unit, the Manhattan DA Office’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit that has recovered over 3000 items valued at over $200mm in just the last decade. Special Easter Egg: Learn how Kim Kardashian led to the seizure of a multimillion dollar Egyptian coffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 202237 min

Hate Crimes, Hateful Rhetoric, and Racial Bias in Hiring & Redistricting

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss: 1. A Federal Court’s rejection of convicted murderer Travis McMichael’s plea deal on federal hate crimes due to Ahmaud Arbery’s family objections, meaning he goes to trial this week facing another life sentence. 2. A black woman being convicted and sentenced to 6 years in prison for trying to vote before her probation was over. 3. NFL coach Brian Flores, one of only 2 NFL Black head coaches, filing a class action suit against the NFL and some of its teams because of its racially-segregated “Plantation”-like system. 4. The Fulton County (GA) District Attorney fighting off racist attacks on her credibility as she moves closer to having a Special Grand Jury gather the evidence she needs to indict Trump for criminal interference in the election process. 5. A Federal Court’s overturning a Texas law preventing state contractors from exercising their First Amendment rights concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 6. The Ghislaine Maxwell Federal Judge deciding whether to unseal the defense’s motion for new trial on the basis that “Juror 50” failed to disclose that he had been a victim of sex abuse in the jury selection process. 7. State Supreme Courts protecting voting rights in redistricting in ways Federal Courts and SCOTUS have refused, giving victories to Democratic voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania so far. 8. Updates to the Jan6 Committee’s work including 3 more key cooperators. 9. Pence’s too little too late admission that Trump was wrong about Pence having the power to overturn an election, and the GQP’s latest Orwellian attempts to refrain the Jan6 Insurrectionist and attempted violent coup, as a mere “legitimate political discourse” And much more. Support the Show! Paint Your Life -- Right now Paint Your Life has a limited time offer, get 20% off your painting and FREE shipping, when you text the word "LEGAL" to 64-000. X-Chair -- Go to https://XChairLEGALAF.com now, for $100 off your order! X-Chair has a thirty-day guarantee of complete comfort, and you can finance your purchase for as little as $30 a month. AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Smith.AI -- Work uninterrupted, run your business with less stress, and get more leads from your marketing efforts. Save $100 when you sign up using promo code "LegalAF" at https://www.smith.ai Buy Legal AF Merch: https://store.meidastouch.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 20221h 52m

Breyer & Beyond: Legacy, process and Biden’s SCOTUS pick

LegalAF x MeidasTouch, the top-rated weekend global news podcast covering US law and politics anchored by Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok, has launched a special weekly Wednesday short-form edition providing a piercing but entertaining look at one or two topics ripped from today’s headlines, this one co-anchored by veteran prosecutor, policy analyst and defense counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo (“KFA”). On this all “Supreme Court Pick” episode, KFA and Popok look at Breyer’s legacy and shoes to fill as a consensus-builder on the Court, an overview of the confirmation process and next steps, and a look at the top 3 on President Biden’s short list, including Judge J. Michelle Childs backed by both Democratic Senator Jim Clyburn and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (who is also on the Senate Judiciary Committee). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 202246 min

Breyer, Affirmative Action, Seditious Conspiracy Trials, & the Death Penalty

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok review: 1. The retirement of Stephen Breyer and President Biden’s short list for a new Supreme Court Justice to be confirmed in the next 45 days or so. 2. The Jan6 Committee and the DOJ going after the false “elector” certificate makers and their role in the “Big Lie.” 3. SCOTUS making new (and inhumane) law in the area of the Death Penalty. 4. The same week Biden has a Supreme Court pick, SCOTUS revisiting Affirmative Action in Higher Education. 5. The NY Attorney General firing back at Trump’s federal suit to have her removed as the lead investigator against him. 6. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the ironically named “Oath keepers” charged with Seditious Conspiracy being detained in jail until his trial in the summer, while other Oath keepers charged with Obstruction will be tried in April. 7. A Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court finding that its state’s “mail in voting without excuse” law based on a bipartisan basis in 2019 is violative of the Pennsylvania Constitution. 8. A 3-judge federal trial court rejecting Alabama’s latest attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and finding its “gerrymandered” redistricting map violative of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. 9. Delays to Sara Palin’s libel case against the New York Times scheduled to begin jury selection this week because she – wait for it—is unvaccinated and caught covid, which didn’t stop her from enjoying a nice Italian dinner in NY without a mask, against NY State law. 10. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) legal troubles following an FBI raid of his home likely related to his close relationship with the oil-oligarchy Azerbaijan. And much more. Reminder: Check out Legal AF's new mid-week show every Wednesday with hosts Michael Popok and new co-anchor veteran prosecutor, policy analyst and defense counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo (“KFA”). Watch the latest episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrVqX... Support the Show! Blinkist -- Right now Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to https://Blinkist.com/LEGALAF to start your free 7 day trial and get 25% off of a Blinkist Premium membership. Super Speciosa -- Super Speciosa is offering Legal AF listeners 20% off all of their amazing kratom products when you use promo code "LegalAF" at checkout. Head over to https://GetSuperLeaf.com/LegalAF to get started. Smith.AI -- Work uninterrupted, run your business with less stress, and get more leads from your marketing efforts. Save $100 when you sign up using promo code "LegalAF" at https://www.smith.ai AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. SHOW LESS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 20221h 57m

MasterClass LAF style—Kidnapping, entrapment, criminal cross and special grand juries

LegalAF x MeidasTouch, the top-rated weekend global news podcast covering US law and politics anchored by Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok, has launched a special weekly Wednesday short-form edition providing a piercing but entertaining look a few topics ripped from today’s headlines. The midweek pod is co-anchored by veteran prosecutor, policy analyst and defense counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo (“KFA”), and national trial attorney and strategist, Michael Popok (“Popok”). On this midweek episode, Popok and KFA tackle: (1) Last week’s SCOTUS decision in Hemphill v. New York making a criminal defendant’s cross-examination rights under the 6th Amendment’s “Confrontation Clause” more robust; (2) the plot to kidnap Michigan’s Governor Whitmer, the use of undercover agents and informants, and the entrapment defense; and (3) Fulton County, Georgia (Atlanta) DA Willis has a new and approved Special Grand Jury to assist her investigation of possible election fraud by Trump and others, and what it all means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 202253 min

A good week for Democracy: Trump losses at the hands of NYAG, Georgia DA, and SCOTUS

You come for the law and stay for the truth. Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss a very bad week for Trump and his minions: 1. Fulton County (GA) District Attorney seeking a special grand jury concerning Trump’s attempt to commit election fraud. 2. The New York Attorney General filing a 160 page petition with a New York court outlining all of the evidence she has about Trump’s loan and tax fraud, including almost 1 MILLION pages of documents. 3. SCOTUS in an 8-1 decision permitting the National Archive to turn over 700 pages of documents Trump wanted blocked to the Jan6 Special Committee. 4. SCOTUS refusing to accelerate any further legal challenges to Texas’ 6 week ban on abortion before it rules on the constitutional right in the summer, and Sotomayor’s dissent. 5. Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginny, and her support for right wing extremism including cases before the Supreme Court, and whether that requires his disqualification or recusal. 6. Possible prosecution of the people who participated in the “fake” and forged electoral certificates sent to Swing States and the National Archive, including Rudy Giuliani. 7. Speaking of Rudy, a federal special master has just released to the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of NY, 7000+ pages of texts and communications from his 18 devices grabbed in a dawn raid in April 2021. 8. The first “OathKeeper” indicted for seditions conspiracy has his pretrial detention hearing before a federal magistrate in Arizona, and his tweets get him in to trouble. 9. Ghislaine Maxwell may have another day in Court: Defense team files its motion for new trial based on improper conduct of one of the jurors in deliberation. And much more. Support the Show! Masterworks -- Join an exclusive community investing in blue-chip art at https://www.masterworks.art/legalaf today! Smith.AI -- Work uninterrupted, run your business with less stress, and get more leads from your marketing efforts. Save $100 when you sign up using promo code "LegalAF" at https://www.smith.ai AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 20221h 48m

Crime & Punishment: Criminal Justice through Progressive Prosecutors

LegalAF x MeidasTouch, the top-rated weekend global news podcast covering US law and politics anchored by Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok, has launched a special weekly Wednesday short-form edition providing a piercing but entertaining look at one or two topics ripped from today’s headlines, this one co-anchored by veteran prosecutor, policy analyst and defense counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo (“KFA”). On this inaugural episode, the anchors cover KFA’s “origin story” that brought her to the podcast, including over 20 years in the Manhattan DA’s office (the inspiration for every “Law and Order”), and then Popok and KFA take a hard look at the need for criminal justice reform led by progressive prosecutors around the country, and in KFA’s and Popok’s backyard, NYC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 202248 min

Seditious Conspirators, Trump Crimes & SCOTUS Vax Wack

You come for the law and stay for the truth. Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss: 1. DOJ’s grand jury indictment of 11 OathKeepers including its founder for Seditious Conspiracy with its 20 year maximum prison sentence. 2. SCOTUS’ split decision on President Biden’s vaccine mandates. 3. The Fulton County (Atlanta) Georgia prosecutors’ criminal case against Trump and why it might be the strongest of all the cases. 4. The progress of the civil cases brought by House members and the Capitol Police against Trump for conspiracy under the KKK Act. 5. Gaetz’ x-girlfriend (and potential co-conspirator) testifying in the grand jury against him in his criminal case. 6. Voters seeking to disqualify Rep. Madison Cawthorn under the 14th Amendment for his participation in the Jan6 “insurrection and rebellion” against our country. 7. The RNC’s new case against New York City and Mayor Adams for its new law allowing legal residents (but non-citizens) to vote in the City’s municipal elections. 8. Trump moving to dismiss Mary Trump’s fraud and fiduciary duty breach case against him. 9. “Pharma Boy” Martin Shkreli receiving a lifetime ban from participating in the pharmaceutical industry and a $64mm fine in a case brought by the FTC and NYAG among others. 10. An update in the motion for new trial and sentencing of G. Maxwell regarding her role in the Epstein scandal. And much more. Support the show! Blinkist -- Right now Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to https://Blinkist.com/LEGALAF to start your free 7 day trial and get 25% off of a Blinkist Premium membership. AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Hello Fresh -- Visit https://hellofresh.com/legalaf16 and use code "LegalAF16" for 16 free meals and 3 free gifts! Stamps.com -- Go to https://www.stamps.com, click the microphone at the top of the page and enter "LegalAF" to get free postage and a free scale! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 20221h 55m

Biden/Garland & Jan 6th, SCOTUS & Vax, Trump Kids Going Down

You come for the law and stay for the truth. Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss: 1. Attorney General Garland’s & President Biden’s Take On the Insurrectionists and Trump. 2. SCOTUS’s Right Wing Super Majority’s view of Biden’s Vax Mandates. 3. Chief Justice Roberts’ “State of the Judiciary” Annual Report. 4. NYAG’s Investigation As it Turns its Sights on Ivanka and Don Jr., as Trump’s Counterpunch against NYAG stalls. 5. Cyber Ninjas facing $50,000 per day in court fines for the Arizona Fraud-it. 6. Cuomo Cleared of Two Sets of Criminal Charges. 7. The Sentencing of Ahmaud Arbery’s Killers. And much more. Support the Show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Policy Genius -- Visit https://policygenius.com/legalaf right now and save up to 50% or more when you compare insurance quotes today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 20221h 32m

Maxwell Conviction, Truck Driver Sentence Reduction, Freedom of the Press, and More!

The law & politics do not take a break for the holidays, so neither does the LegalAF x MeidasTouch podcast. Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this first episode of 2022, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. Ghislaine Maxwell Sentencing and Broader Implications. 2. Colorado Governor Commutation of the Sentence Down to 10 Years for Truck Driver sentenced to 110 years for reckless homicide in highway pileup that killed 4 people. 3. 5th Circuit Taking Up Texas Abortion Ban Law—Again. 4.Oklahoma’s Efforts to Prevent National Guard from being Vaccinated is Rejected. 5. The NY Times and its appellate efforts against a trial judge’s order preventing reporting on Project Veritas as an unconstitutional violation of its First Amendment rights (i.e. “prior restraint”). 6.The Biden Administration ramping up of antitrust and other anticompetitive laws and directives in the shipping, meat, and fuel industries to address the highest inflation in 40 years. 7. Jan6 Committee Updates including the National Archive case before SCOTUS, & Minority Leader McCarthy receiving an “invite” to appear. And much more. Support the Show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2, 20221h 5m

Ho Ho Hold Them Accountable: Jan 6 Committee ready for Action, SCOTUS on Vaccines, Biden’s judicial appointments and more!

The law & politics do not take a break for the holidays, so neither does the LegalAF x MeidasTouch podcast. Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. SCOTUS and Vax Mandates Monday’s Oral Argument 2. TRUMP sues NY Attorney General 3. GUN MAKERS sue NY/NYAG to Stop New Public Nuisance Law 4. JAN6 Committee Sued 5. Jan6 Defendants Sentenced to Harsher Sentences 6. Michael Cohen Sues Bill Barr/Bureau of Prisons for Retaliation 7. BIDEN’S Federal Judges Scorecard; And so much more. Support the Show! Calibrate -- Your weight doesn’t reflect your willpower. Get back in control with Calibrate. Get $50 off the one year metabolic reset when you use promo code LEGALAF at https://JoinCalibrate.com BetterHelp -- Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. Fiverr -- Receive 10% off your first order by using our code LEGALAF at https://Fiverr.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 20211h 32m

Prison & Damages: Trump, Meadows, Sacklers, Jan6 Defendants, & Fox News All Had a Really Bad Week

You know what happened; now hear what happens next. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. DC Attorney General’s new civil suit under KKK Act against Insurrectionists like Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. 2. Biden winning with his OSHA Large Employer Vax/Testing Mandate upheld by the 6th Circuit. 3. Fox News failing to dismiss Dominion’s billion dollar defamation case in Delaware. 4. Trump losing in his efforts to prevent his personal tax returns from being turned over to House Ways & Means Committee. 5. A Jan6 insurrectionists sentenced to the harshest sentence yet for storming the Capitol. 6. Meadows found in Criminal Contempt of Congress, and how the other Jan6 planners are using various methods to delay justice including attempting to stop Verizon from turning over phone records. 7. Chauvin pleading guilty to federal civil rights charges. 8. The Sackler family failed efforts in Bankruptcy Court to be absolved of all current and future civil liability for the opioid addiction crisis from which they created their personal fortunes. 9. SCOTUS/Gorsuch sending the Texas Abortion Ban back to the right-wing 5th Circuit for further proceedings resulting in further delay to overturning the ban. 10. The sentencing process and the disparate impact on minorities. And so much more! Support the Show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. BetterHelp -- Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 20212h 6m

The Fight to Save the Republic & SCOTUS Caught in the Cross-Hairs

You know what happened; now hear what happens next. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. The US Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision regarding Texas’s abortion ban after 6 weeks (SB8) to allow abortion providers to sue but refusing to block the ban in the meantime, pitting Chief Justice Roberts against Justice Gorsuch. 2. The US Supreme Court’s oral argument on the Constitutional Separation of Church and State embodied in the First Amendment, and tax assistance for religious primary and secondary schools. 3. The DC Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling to permit the National Archive to produce Trump documents to the Jan6 Select Committee in a blow to Trump and others like Meadows, Bannon, Eastman and Clark. 4. Justice Robert’s consideration of an attempt to eliminate the TSA’s air travel mask mandate. 5. The SEC’s decision to turn up the heat on Trump’s failing SPAC and his social media platform for possible federal securities law violations. And so much more. Support the Show! Aura Frames -- Use code "LegalAF" at https://auraframes.com and take $30 off Aura's best selling digital picture frames! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 20211h 16m

Trump Judges, Federal Courts, And the Threat to Democracy

You know what happened; now hear what happens next. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. The US Supreme Court’s oral argument on whether there will continue to be a constitutionally-protected right for a woman to have an abortion in this country, or not. 2. The Jan6 Special Committee’s move toward criminal contempt against Trump insiders, Meadows, Eastman and Clark. 3. Mainstream media joining Bannon to argue under the First Amendment for the complete release of all materials related his criminal contempt prosecution, and the same for certain aspects of the Mueller Report. 4. A decision this week by a Texas Federal judge relying on the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to stop the enforcement of a new Texas law aimed at preventing large social media platforms from “deplatforming” (banning) people who have abhorrent views. 5. Trump-appointee Federal judges who have banned President Biden’s vaccine-mandate for front-line Medicare/Medicaid health care workers from going into effect 26 states. And so much more. Support the show! Aura Frames -- Aura digital photo frames offer the highest resolution display on the market. The auto‑dimming screen wakes each morning and goes to sleep at night. Your photos will always be the ideal brightness. There’s never been a better time to buy. Take advantage of Aura’s best deals of the year, with Black Friday/Cyber Monday pricing now through November 30. Visit https://auraframes.com now to get gifting. Use code LEGALAF to take $30 off Aura’s best selling digital picture frames Fiverr -- Receive 10% off your first order by using our code LEGALAF at https://Fiverr.com. Cubii -- Making Wellness Approachable for All Ages, Abilities, and Lifestyles. Click to Learn More! Stay Home & Get Fit While You Sit. Go to https://www.cubii.com/legalaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 20211h 32m

Special Edition: Reaction to oral argument in Supreme Court case seeking overturn of Roe v. Wade

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On this Special Abortion Rights Edition of the top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- MeidasTouch’s LegalAF anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, discuss today’s (Tuesday December 1, 2021) 2-hour, US Supreme Court oral argument for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, addressing the issue of whether a state can ban pre-viability abortions. The 9 justices wasted no time getting to the heart and heat of the matter: Does the Constitution and the current majority of the Justices support a woman’s right to choose and have bodily autonomy and integrity, or don’t they? Ben and Popok line up the current justice’s from Left (Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan) to Far Right (Roberts, Gorsuch, Barrett, Kavanaugh, Alito and Thomas), and predict how this case and the majority opinion shakes out by the Summer. Reminder and Programming Note: Watch a live recording of Legal AF pod each Saturday night at 7 pm ET on YouTube, followed by the audio pod dropping each Sunday morning. Click here to subscribe, follow + and review: https://pod.link/1580828595 Follow Legal AF by MeidasTouch on Twitter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 2, 202121 min

Justice Served: Arbery Murderers convicted, Charlottesville judgment, Trump Lawyers Sanctioned, & More!

You come for the law and stay for the truth. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. The Georgia jury verdict against the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery on felony and malice murder charges against all 3 defendants. 2. The prosecution and arrest of the FORMER prosecutor of the defendants in the Arbery murder trial for felony violation of her oath of office and obstruction based on her failure to arrest and prosecute. 3. The Virginia jury verdict against the white supremacists in Charlottesville who led the “Unite the Right” rally that led to the murder of a peaceful counter-protester and injury to scores of others. 4. The current DOJ’s settlement with the families of Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Florida) for the FBI’s failure to prevent the mass shooting that murdered 17 people that occurred on Trump’s watch. 5. The efforts by convicted and sentenced Jan6 insurrectionists to appeal their convictions and overturn their sentences. 6. The monetary sanctioning of attorneys who filed a meritless case against Facebook, Dominion Voting Systems, and 4 states in Colorado federal court to overturn the election. 7. The imaginary lawsuit prepared by the Pillow Guy seeking to overturn last year’s election that has no plaintiff, no attorneys and no chance of success. 8. New moves by Bannon concerning the public disclosure of documents in his federal prosecution for criminal contempt of Congress. And so much more! Support the Show! Calibrate -- Your weight doesn’t reflect your willpower. Get back in control with Calibrate. Get $50 off the one year metabolic reset when you use promo code LEGALAF at https://JoinCalibrate.com Aura Frames -- Aura digital photo frames offer the highest resolution display on the market. The auto‑dimming screen wakes each morning and goes to sleep at night. Your photos will always be the ideal brightness. There’s never been a better time to buy. Take advantage of Aura’s best deals of the year, with Black Friday/Cyber Monday pricing now through November 30. Visit https://auraframes.com now to get gifting. Use code LEGALAF to take $30 off Aura’s best selling digital picture frames Fiverr -- Receive 10% off your first order by using our code LEGALAF at https://Fiverr.com. Cubii -- Making Wellness Approachable for All Ages, Abilities, and Lifestyles. Click to Learn More! Stay Home & Get Fit While You Sit. Go to https://www.cubii.com/legalaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 20212h 4m

Justice on Trial: Rittenhouse Acquittal, Arbery Murder, Bannon Indictment, Alex Jones Default

You come for the law and stay for the truth. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s cases. On this episode, Ben and Popok analyze: 1. The Wisconsin Rittenhouse trial verdict, and a critique of the prosecutor’s side of the case, from the indictment through closing argument leading to the verdict of acquittal. 2. The Georgia trial against the killers of Ahmaud Arbery as it moves into closing argument and jury deliberation next week. 3. InfoWars’ Alex Jones’ latest defamation case loss against the Sandy Hook families and survivors. 4. The FBI’s raid of Boebert’s campaign manager’s home as part of the DOJ’s investigation into improper hacking of Mesa, Colorado’s election equipment resulting in confidential information being leaked to Q-anon. 5. The New York Times reporting against Project Veritas and a New York State court’s attempt at “prior restraint” to prevent the paper from exercising its First Amendment right to publish. 6. The Bannon indictment and next steps to watch for. 7. The Trump appeal to the DC Circuit regarding the National Archives documents and the assertion of executive privilege. 8. The DOJ’s indictment in New York of two Iranian hackers for attempting to interfere with and undermine US elections. And so much more! Support the show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Cubii -- Making Wellness Approachable for All Ages, Abilities, and Lifestyles. Click to Learn More! Stay Home & Get Fit While You Sit. Go to https://www.cubii.com/legalaf Adam & Eve -- Go check out https://AdamandEve.com today, select one item and get 50% off including FREE shipping when you enter offer code LEGALAF Aura Frames -- Aura digital photo frames offer the highest resolution display on the market. The auto‑dimming screen wakes each morning and goes to sleep at night. Your photos will always be the ideal brightness. There’s never been a better time to buy. Take advantage of Aura’s best deals of the year, with Black Friday/Cyber Monday pricing now through November 30. Visit auraframes.com now to get gifting. Use code LEGALAF to take $30 off Aura’s best selling digital picture frames Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 20211h 29m

Bannon, Rittenhouse & Trump, Oh My

You come for the law and stay for the truth. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s cases. On this record-setting episode, Ben and Popok take analyze and make predictions about: 1. The Rittenhouse Trial as it moves to conclusion and jury deliberation next week. 2. The Bannon Indictment and what to expect next. 3. The Jan6 Special Committee and new subpoenas and criminal contempt referrals to the DOJ. 4. Trump, the National Archives documents to the Jan6 Committee, and this week’s appeal to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. 5. SCOTUS, the Death Penalty and Religious Freedom. 6. The Charlottesville Civil Case against Nazis and White Supremacists who killed and maimed during the “Unite the Right” Rally 7. The Fifth Circuit’s ruling (again) against Biden/OSHA and the Large Business Vaccine Mandate. 8. The DOJ’s successful ransomware indictment this week and forfeiture of $6mm in ransom. And so much more! Support the show! BetterHelp -- Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Cubii -- Making Wellness Approachable for All Ages, Abilities, and Lifestyles. Click to Learn More! Stay Home & Get Fit While You Sit. Go to https://www.cubii.com/legalaf ! Adam & Eve -- Go check out https://AdamandEve.com today, select one item and get 50% off including FREE shipping when you enter offer code LEGALAF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 20212h 4m

Abortion, Second Amendment, Trump Prosecutions, & Rittenhouse

You come for the law, and stay for the truth. The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s cases. On this record-setting episode, Ben and Popok take on ten (10) (!!) developments this week : 1. Supreme Court Oral Argument and Likely Outcome of SB8 Texas Abortion Law Hearing and Power of Federal Court to Review Constitutionality of the Abortion Ban. 2. Supreme Court Oral Argument and Likely Outcome of “Concealed Weapon” as a Second Amendment Right. 3. DOJ’s new suit against Texas for Voting Rights Act violations for passing voter suppression laws (SB1). 4. Manhattan DA and Trump Prosecutions Update 5. NY Federal Prosecution of Giuliani Update 6. Trump’s attempts to shield Jan6 documents from public disclosure and likely outcome of this week’s Federal court injunction hearing 7. New civil defamation cases brought by Smartmatic and others against Trump, OANN, Newsmax and others in state and federal courts throughout the country. 8. Developments in the prosecution of Andrew Cuomo 9. This week’s sentencing of 2 Jan6 insurrectionists. 10. Rittenhouse Trial Update And so much more! Policy Genius -- Please visit https://Policygenius.com right now and compare insurance quotes today and support this show!!! Adam & Eve -- Go check out https://AdamandEve.com today, select one item and get 50% off including FREE shipping when you enter offer code LEGALAF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 20211h 47m

Law & Disorder: Rittenhouse, Cuomo, Trump & SB8

The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by MeidasTouch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok take on: 1. The Rittenhouse Wisconsin murder case pretrial rulings leading into Monday’s trial, along with the Charlottesville trial under the KKK Act of 1871, and the Georgia criminal trial for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. 2. The Supreme Court’s oral arguments on Monday regarding Texas’ Abortion Ban (SB8), and Second Amendment/concealed carry laws. 3. Former Governor Cuomo’s arrest warrant for the misdemeanor or “forcible touching” filed in Albany state court this week. 4. The DOJ, led by Attorney General Garland and Venita Gupta, Associate AG, and its historic $88mm settlement with the victims of Dylann Roof’s white supremacy-fueled massacre of 9 members of the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC because of the FBI’s failure to do a proper background check. 5. The DOJ’s refocus on corporate crime and prosecutions based on new policy announced by Deputy AG Lisa Monaco. 6. Trump’s possible violation of SEC laws related to his “Trump Truth Social” SPAC based on recent media reports, and his efforts to keep his IRS filed tax returns, and Jan6 records out of the hands of Congressional investigators. And so much more! Support our sponsors! Fiverr -- Receive 10% off your first order by using our code LEGALAF at Fiverr.com. AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Adam & Eve -- Go check out AdamandEve.com today, select one item and get 50% off including FREE shipping when you enter offer code LEGALAF Reminder and Programming Note: All 28 past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 20211h 30m

Bannon Contempt, Trump's Pump & Dump, Updates on SB8, and More!

The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok take on: 1. Trump’s “pump and dump” SPAC scheme to prop up his “Truth” social media company using innocent investors’ money. 2. The US Supreme Court’s decision to grant appellate review, but not to stay the Texas Abortion Ban on abortions after 6 weeks, while it considers the case at a November 1st hearing and what happens in December when SCOTUS hears the Mississippi “ban all abortions after 15 weeks” case. 3. The Criminal Contempt case against Steve Bannon for refusing to turn over documents to the Jan6 Select Committee about his interactions with Trump, the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers, Alex Jones and others leading up to Jan6, and what happens next. 4. Trump’s lawsuit to stop the Jan6 Select Committee from obtaining his documents and records. 5. New DOJ “Main Justice” lead prosecutors specializing in sex crimes and public corruption added to team against Matt Gaetz. 6. The federal conviction of Lev Parnas related to $200k of foreign money funneled to a Trump PAC. And so much more! Support the show! Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 20211h 29m

HOCUS-SCOTUS: Making your Rights Disappear

The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok take on: 1. The Fifth Circuit Refusing to Stay the Texas Abortion Ban and the DOJ’s decision this week to file an emergency appeal directly to the US Supremes. 2. Updates regarding the Supreme Court’s term and oral arguments on the Kentucky “second trimester” abortion ban, and the Boston Marathon Bomber’s conviction and death penalty sentencing being overturned. 3. A Bronx NY court ordering the deposition of Trump to occur in October in a 2015 case arising out of bouncers at Trump Tower injuring protestors who objected to then candidate Trump’s stance on immigration. 4. The January 6 Select Committee’s decision to seek criminal contempt against Bannon, and likely others including former Trump Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clarke for their failure to give sworn testimony before Congress, and the historic powers of Congress in the face of refusals to testify. And so much more Reminder and Programming Note: All 27 past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 20211h 33m

Fighting the Doomsday Docket: Texas, Scotus, Jan6, Gaetz, & More

The top-rated weekly US law and politics news analysis podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok take on: SCOTUS’ secretive “relist” and its impact on this term’s cases, including those involving reproductive rights and sexual and gender identity, and limits on a jury’s ability to use punitive damages to create proper awards to injured plaintiffs. All things “Jan6,” including the Senate Judiciary Committee’s report finding that Trump and certain DOJ officials “subverted justice” by attempting a coup to prevent turning over the reigns of power to President Biden, and the likelihood that the House Select Committee will make criminal referrals to the DOJ if Bannon, Meadows and others refuse to testify and produce documents. The Matt Goetz case including the current state of Joel Greenberg’s cooperation with the Feds. Judge Pitman’s temporary restraining order on Wednesday finding the Texas Abortion Ban (SB8) Unconstitutional followed by the 5th Circuit’s stay of that order on Friday. And so much more! Please visit https://Policygenius.com/LegalAF right now and compare insurance quotes today and support this show!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 20211h 21m

SCOTUS Frisson, RIGHTWING Loss of Reason, & POTUS Hunting Season

The top- rated weekly US law and politics podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, but entertaining look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok focus on the following: 1. InfoWars’ Alex Jones has a default judgment on liability entered against him for failing to provide any documents or proof to support his statements that the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre of 20 children and 6 adults was a “hoax”. 2. A Federal judge appointed by Trump finds that Jan6 insurrectionist sentencing is too harsh and wonders aloud why more BLM protestors weren’t punished harder. 3. The Jan6 Select Committee is ready to flex its muscle of congressional criminal contempt powers to arrest those witnesses like Bannon and insurrectionists who won’t testify. 4. The US Supreme Court opens its new term this Monday (the “First Monday of October”) that runs through April, and we examine the oral argument process, and “cases to watch” this term including about abortion rights, the Second Amendment, campaign finance and religious rights. 5. Updates, Updates, Updates, including this week’s injunction hearing between the DOJ and the State of Texas defeat SB8’s abortion ban/vigilante law, NYAG James and future prosecutions in the Trump Organization investigation, and SCOTUS addressing New York’s vaccine mandate for public school teachers as school reopens on Monday. Reminder and Programming Note: All 24 past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here: https://pod.link/1580828595 Support the show! Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 20211h 12m

Russian Illegal Donations, Trump Twitter Tantrum, Mary Trump makes Donald say “Uncle", and much more.

The top-rated weekly US law and politics podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s most compelling developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok focus on the following new developments: 1. Russian illegal cash funneled to the Trump re-election campaign through newly-indicted former Mitch McConnell & Rand Paul aide. 2. Trump opposing Twitter’s efforts to transfer his Florida federal lawsuit to San Francisco by arguing in part that Twitter is so addicting that he can’t be bound to its Terms of Service and venue clause. 3. Updates on the Fraud-It/CyberNinjas Arizona audit that led to Trump being declared the loser of Arizona for the 3rd time. 4. The first test suits filed (by two disbarred lawyers) against a Texas doctor providing abortion services to Texas women seeking the $10,000 bounty, and to challenge the constitutionality of SB8. 5. Trump’s “SLAPP” suit filed this week against Mary Trump and The New York Times because she provided the newspaper with Trump’s tax returns and the Times won a Pulitzer Prize for the reporting. Support the show! Go to https://BetterHelp.com/legalaf and try BetterHelp today with a 10% off discount your first month! Affordable, private online therapy with BetterHelp. Anytime, anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 20211h 9m

Hacks, Flacks & Quacks

The top-rated weekly law and politics podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by MeidasTouch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking yet entertaining look at the most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics in real-time. On this episode, Ben and Popok explore and explode this week’s political litigation developments: 1. Bombshell revelations about why Trump chose Rudy “I will say anything” Giuliani to be his lawyer when no legitimate lawyer would take his cases. 2. The troubling indictment for lying of democratic lawyer Michael Sussman by Trump’s special prosecutor looking into Russian interference for providing compelling evidence of Russian involvement, but allegedly not disclosing to the FBI that he also worked for the Clinton Campaign. 3. This week’s decision by a North Carolina 3-judge trial panel to overturn the state’s new Voter ID laws as racially-biased and violative of the State’s Equal Protection Clause. 4. The FBI’s bumbling investigation of Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh, the 4,5000 tips it received prior to his confirmation, and what it means for the future. 5. This week’s decision by an upstate NY federal judge to block New York’s front-line health worker vax mandate on First Amendment, religious grounds. 6. Key Developments in the USA v. the State of Texas case challenging the constitutionality of the abortion ban and now assigned to an Obama-appointee federal judge sitting in Austin, and a full hearing on the matter to be held by him in 2-weeks’ time. 7. A “friends of the court” brief just filed by the architect of the Texas Bounty Hunter/Handmaid’s Tale abortion ban, the state’s former solicitor general, seeking not only the overturn of Roe v. Wade, but also that women should go back to the Dark Ages of abstaining from sex altogether, and calling for the elimination of gay marriage and gay sex as a constitutional right. 8. And, updates, updates on: (a) E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit against Trump in Manhattan federal court; and (b) a Jan6 insurrectionist trying to walk away from a sweet-heart 8 month plea deal for breaking into the Senate Chamber by claiming his plea agreement was “forged.” Special Easter Eggs Alert: Popok receives NO yellow cards from Ben on this episode but does demand that Ben wear a LegalAF t-shirt on the next show. Reminder and Programming Note: All past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here on this channel. Follow Legal AF on Twitter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 20211h 49m

Ep 21DOJ Throttles Texas’ Abortion Ban, “Seditious Conspiracy,” Biden Vax Mandates, and More!

The top-rated weekly law and politics podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking yet entertaining look at the most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics. At the top of the podcast, Ben and Popok honor the victims and first responders and their families on the 20th Anniversary of September 11th. Then, Ben and Popok explore and explode this week’s political litigation developments: The DOJ bombshell/landmark suit of The United States of America v. the State of Texas, filed this week to find that the Texas abortion ban (SB8) “defiantly” violates: the US Constitution, a woman’s Constitutional-right to terminate her pregnancy prior to viability, and the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, Commerce Clause, and the Intergovernmental Immunity doctrine. Oath Keeper attorney and others possibly being charged by DOJ with Federal crime of “seditious conspiracy” concerning the January 6th attack on the Capitol. President Biden’s Vaccine Mandates for business and federal workers through OSHA, the 1905 SCOTUS precedent to support it, and the GQP predictable resistance to the new public health laws. Fulton County, Georgia’s District Attorney continued criminal investigation into Trump’s phone call on January 2nd to the Georgia Secretary of State to “find votes” and fraudulently overturn the election results, and possible crimes committed by Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Lindsey Graham. A Florida Federal judge finding that Governor DeSantis’ “anti-protest” law passed in response to the BLM movement, violates the Constitution’s First Amendment protecting free speech and the right to peaceably assembly, and harks back to Jim Crow days and the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. A federal civil suit filed against Prince Andrew under New York’s Child Victims Act brought by a plaintiff who alleges that as part of the Jeffrey Epstein web of depravity, she was raped by the Prince when she was a teenager, and a discussion of how her lawyers were finally able to serve him with the lawsuit in England. Special Easter Eggs Alert: Popok breaks out an egg timer to keep the show humming along, and we have our first sponsor! Please visit Policygenius.com right now and compare insurance quotes today! Reminder and Programming Note: All past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 20211h 21m

Ep 21Texas Goes FULL HANDMAID’S TALE, QAnon Shaman is Going to PRISON and More!

The top-rated weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, produced by Meidas Touch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking yet entertaining look at the most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics. On this week’s real-time, filled-to-the-brim episode, Ben and Popok explore and explode: The Texas Chainsaw Bounty Reproductive Rights Massacre, & SCOTUS’ abuse of the Shadow Docket. Rollback of Trump’s efforts to decimate the Clean Water Act The suit by the Sandy Hook Elementary school parents against Remington, and it’s efforts to cause the parents more pain in the discovery process McCarthy’s underhanded attacks on the credibility Jan6 select committee by threatening telecom companies, and whether his actions are a federal crime and an ethics violation. Update on DeSantis’ continued efforts to undermine student health by appealing the judge’s ruling finding his school mask ban illegal. President Biden’s efforts to assist the victims of 9-11 and their suit against Saudi Arabia by declassifying FBI files on the link between the Saudi government and the hijacker l-terrorists, And the usual collection of GQP Shamans, Charlatans Conspirators, and so much more. Special Easter Eggs Alert: Ben throws 2 more yellow cards at Popok! Reminder and Programming Note: All past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here on this channel. Follow Legal AF on Twitter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 5, 20211h 53m

Ep 20Trump SUED for Jan 6, Judge SLAPS DOWN DeSantis Mask Ban, Eviction Moratoriums & More

The top-rated weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, produced by MeidasTouch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking yet entertaining look at the most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics. On this week’s real-time, filled-to-the-brim episode, Ben and Popok explore and explode: 1. A Michigan Federal judge throwing the book at Trump attorneys’ Sydney Powell, Lin Wood and others for bad faith and meritless conduct in challenging Biden’s win, including possibly pulling their law licenses. 2. The House January 6th Special Committee issuing demands, and soon subpoenas, to investigate Trump, his cabinet, and members of congress, including whether Trump was mentally-unfit. 3. The FCC’s $5mm fine (and criminal charges) against notorious “robo-callers” and Trump conspiracy theorists who used 1200 robocalls to interfere with mail in voting. 4. A Florida judge’s ruling to overrule Gov. DeSantis’ efforts to block mask use in public schools. 5. SCOTUS’ 6-3 decision to invalidate the current CDC eviction moratorium as improper rule-making without Congressional action. 6. SCOTUS’ 6-3 decision to block President Biden’s efforts to end Trump’s “stay in Mexico” policy for asylum-seekers, as “arbitrary and capricious” and, 7. Rudy Giuliani associate Igor Fruman’s decision to change his “not guilty” plea to “guilty” in the New York federal prosecution case against him related his fraudulent conduct concerning Ukraine, and Trump, and what it means for the two pending related Giuliani prosecutions. Special Easter Eggs Alert: Ben throws a ‘yellow” card at Popok, but also admits that he sometimes dreams of LegalAF and Popok. Reminder and Programming Note: All past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidasTouch podcast can now be found here. Follow Legal AF on Twitter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 20211h 33m

Ep 19Trump Criminal Charges, Republican Maskholes, Cyber Ninjas and Racist Immigration Laws

The top-rated weekly law and politics podcast, LegalAF, produced by MeidasTouch and anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking, yet entertaining look at this week’s most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics. Ben and Popok lead off with a detailed update of the pending and future state criminal charges led by the Manhattan DA against Trump, his company executives and cronies, including those who received last-minute federal pardons by then President Trump. Next, the Analysis Friends look at the Arizona appellate court decision to compel the Cyber Ninjas to disclose all their files as public records concerning the Maricopa County “fraud-it”. Talking about bizarre election conduct, Ben and Popok shake their collective heads about Pillow Guy’s latest misadventure of hiding from the FBI the Mesa County (Colorado) Clerk who is on the lam for having allegedly disclosed to Q the passcodes to election equipment. Then, spanning the country on a whirlwind tour of this week’s legal developments about mandatory school mask litigation, Ben and Michael explore litigation around the death-rattle of Republican governors’ executive orders banning school masks in Texas, Arizona, and Florida, and Biden’s likely response to it all, while reserving a special shout out to the Kentucky Democratic Governor and all around thinking person, Andy Beshear and his sensible school mask policy that was just invalidated by a federal judge (appointed by Jimmy Carter no less). Ben and Popok conclude the episode with a close examination of this week’s 2 potentially game-changing immigration decisions: (1) a Nevada federal judge’s finding that a law on the federal books for more than 70 years making it a felony to reenter the country once deported, is both racist and unconstitutional under the 5th Amendment and (2) SCOTUS’ decision just today to decide on a fast-track whether Biden’s ending of Trump’s “stay in Mexico” while seeking asylum policy is legal. Special Easter Egg: Popok makes Ben get up really early to record, and hijinks ensue. Reminder and Programming Note: All past episodes of Legal AF originally featured on the MeidsTouch podcast can now be found here. Thank you for listening and remember to tell all your friends to subscribe to Legal AF by MeidasTouch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 20211h 24m

Ep 18Dominion, Drug Sentence Clemency, COVID Law, GQP Legal Losers, and More!

The top-ranked weekly law and politics podcast — Legal AF — produced by MeidasTouch and hosted by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is now on its own podcast channel, and brought its 17 prior episode archive along for the ride. On today’s episode, Ben and Popok use their special brand of hard-hitting analysis and genial straight-talk to explore Dominion Voting Systems recent courtroom successes in their billion dollar defamation cases against Trump, Trump Jr., Sidney ‘Kraken’ Powell, Giuliani, My Pillow Guy, and now the founder of Overstock.com, for perpetuating the Big Lie that an international cabal, combined with key federal agencies AND Chief Justice Roberts, used AI to help President Biden win the presidency. The hosts then update listeners on cases that have been followed since LAF’s inception, including the recent SCOTUS eviction ban cases, and how federal courts around the country have been handling mandatory vax and vax passport requirements. Next up, the “Analytic Friends” discuss the public policy implications of federal criminal justice and sentencing reform as POTUS considers using his Constitutional clemency powers to address disproportioned convictions and sentencing of recreational drug users. The episode ends with a discussion of whether federal prosecutors in DC are going too easy on January 6th insurrectionists, a question recently asked out loud by the Chief Judge of the DC federal court handling 500 such cases. Easter Egg Alert: Ben and Popok discuss the right-wing’s literal death grip on COVID to use it as a nonsensical “wedge issus” to win back national office. And New Logo + New Theme Song + New Podcast Channel may = New LAF Merch! Thank you for listening and remember to subscribe and leave a 5-star review! Follow Legal AF on Twitter here: @MTLegalAF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 20211h 19m

Ep 17The Sexual Misconduct Allegations against Gov. Cuomo

The leading weekly law and politics podcast -- LegalAF -- produced by MeidasTouch and hosted by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look at this week’s most compelling developments at the intersection of law and politics, aka Episode 17. The hosts first bring their healthy-brand of skepticism to the $10mm “wrongful death” suit to be filed by the family of January 6th insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt. Next, Ben and Popok bring the LAF listeners fully up to speed on the trials and tribulations of New York’s “Love Governor” Andrew Cuomo accused by 11 (!) former (and current) female employees of sexual misconduct. Then, the hosts explore SCOTUS’ recent attack on the CDC’s nationwide residential eviction ban, and the Garland DOJ’s intervention to oppose the Realtors’ efforts to overturn a limited CDC eviction moratorium based on rising Delta data. Talking about the Delta variant, Ben and Michael first examine the legality of Florida Governor DeSantis’ ban of vaccine passports and its impact on the cruise industry, and his ban on mandatory masks for school children even in the face of rising infection and death rates among children in his state. The Analysis Friends then drill down on Texas’ Governor Abbott’s attempts to interfere with the federal government’s “supreme” power to regulate immigration and transport (and detain) immigrants by claiming some feigned concern with the spread of COVID by immigrants, while simultaneously banning face masks and undermining vaccination in his state. Episode 17 ends with a sobering discussion about the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (“JASTA”) federal case filed this past week in New York by 115 “Gold Star” families against major global banks for allegedly profiting from terrorist organizations and governments banking with them, and thereby helping to fund attacks on Americans. Special Easter Egg and Programming Note: Ben gives Popok and the listeners the good news that “Legal AF” is leaving the “MeidasTouch Podcast” nest and moving to its own Medias-produced podcast channel starting with next Sunday’s episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 20211h 26m

Ep 16DeSantis Sinking the CDC Mandates for Cruise Ship Industry

The leading law and politics podcast — MeidasTouch’s Legal AF — is back and coming in hot with special guest attorney Sam Yebri (samforLA.com). On its Sweet 16 episode, MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok interview Sam, who’s running a #MeidasMighty-style, progressive, grassroots campaign to represent LA’s 5th District on its City Council. Sam, Ben and Popok discuss his campaign and approach to addressing and solving LA’s homeless crisis. After a brief interlude where Ben welcomes Popok back with open arms from his summer holiday, the hosts get back to their brand of hard-hitting analysis Legal AF listeners have come to expect. First up, Ben and Michael examine how various federal courts are addressing COVID-19 policies, from Florida’s sinking the CDC mandates for the cruise ship industry with the help of a flip-flopping 11th Circuit, to a Trump-appointee Indiana federal judge upholding a university’s decision to mandate vaccination for its students. Then, the hosts do a deep dive into Attorney General Merrick Garland’s recent decisions to: (a) deny Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks request to have the United States substitute in as the defendant in the case brought against him for inciting the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and (b) issue new DOJ policy supporting the First Amendment and preventing prosecutors from seizing journalists records except in extraordinary circumstances. Ben and Popok round out the episode with a look at yet another Former 45 courtroom loss. This week, the Second Circuit soundly rejected the Trumps’ attempt to force into private arbitration a class action suit brought against Former 45, Eric and Ivanka for endorsing a "multi-level marketing" "get rich quick scheme" run by ACN, allegedly causing tens of millions in losses. Ben and Popok scratch their heads over Trump et al.’s wacky decision to argue, in effect, that the Trumps were so close to ACN (and its alleged fraud scheme) that the Trumps should get the benefit of the arbitration agreement between ACN and its customers. Easter Egg Alert: Ben bans Popok from any future days off! Subscribe to the MeidasTouch Podcast for more episodes and remember to give the show a 5-star review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 20211h 12m

Ep 15The Gutting of the Voting Rights Act

On this very special 4th of July episode (No. 15) of Legal AF, MeidasTouch’s Sunday law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok examine Chief Justice Roberts continued assault on fairness in the election funding and voting process. First, Ben—podcasting from "outer space"—and a very terrestrial Popok explore the Supreme Court’s right-wing majority and Justice Alito’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and the 15th Amendment, in finding that Arizona’s new voter suppression laws making mail in voting harder, and disenfranchising accidental wrong precinct voting, are constitutional. Ben also observes that Alito’s "five factor" analysis to be used in future VRA cases addressing the time, method and means of voting, is not only "made up," but will be used to kill what’s left of the law the next time around. Popok gives Ben a “Pop” quiz on which chief justice from 200+ years ago set the course for how the Supreme Court operates today. Next, the LAF co-hosts dissect Chief Justice Roberts’ majority decision finding that California’s attempts to regulate charity fraud through disclosure of major donors is overbroad and violative of the First Amendment and its freedom of association clause, allowing even more dark money to flood into our electoral system. The co-hosts round out the Supreme Court review with a look at decisions this term that address social rather than political and electoral issues, including a decision to leave in place a lower court’s ruling that discriminating against transgender people by forcing them to not use the bathroom that aligns with their identity violates the 14th Amendment and Title IX. SCOTUS' inconsistent approach to social and religious issues this term is also discussed. Next up, a topic of the LAF law school students have been waiting for: Cosby and the 5th Amendment, where Ben and Michael respectfully disagree on what Cosby was promised by prosecutors before he sat for a civil deposition, and debate whether the 5th Amendment is more important than any one celebrity defendant, no matter his crimes. And of course, no LAF podcast would be complete without a hard look at NY’s indictment of the Trump Organization and its long-time CFO on 15 counts of tax fraud, the existence of a Trump “second set of books,” and what it may mean for the Former 45 and family in the near term. Easter Egg Alert: Back by popular demand, more Popok Paper Crumpling! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 20211h 24m

Ep 14SCOTUS' Antitrust Attack on the NCAA and Rudy Giuliani's Law License SUSPENDED

On Episode 14 of LegalAF (#LAF), MeidasTouch’s Sunday law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, joined by special guest and sports law commentator, litigator and all-around savant, Dan Lust, "tackle" (pun intended) SCOTUS' antitrust attack on the NCAA and its illegal price-fixing and restraint of trade, and why the NCAA should be very worried by Kavanaugh’s dissent more than the majority opinion. Continuing the sports theme, Ben and Popok “bounce” ideas around with @SportsLawLust about SCOTUS and the "off campus" First Amendment rights of students, including the former cheerleader plaintiff. The hosts also wonder aloud if Chief Justice Roberts is trying to "hold" the center and uphold fundamental democratic values. Talking about the First Amendment, Ben and Popok next use their AF powers to "school" Governor DeSantis about his new "viewpoint diversity" laws for colleges and universities and discuss whether they are constitutional. Next up, Ben tosses a "softball" to Michael in discussing just why New York took the extraordinary step to immediately suspending Rudy Giuliani's bar license for fraud and false statements until it can consider more permanent sanctions. Then, the expanded "Analytic Friends" take a "deep dive" into Popok’s bold prediction that the Trump Organization (and maybe more) will be indicted next week by the Manhattan DA’s office, and he is forced to remind everyone what AF really stands for. To round out the segment, the co-hosts talk through what a contract "morals clause" is, and how it has led to New York cancelling all of its contracts with the Trump Organization. "Switching gears," the #LAF co-hosts take a look at the DOJ's first lawsuit filed to protect voting rights, this time against Georgia arguing that its new voter integrity (= voting suppression) laws aimed at making absentee ballots harder to "cast" is a not so veiled unconstitutional attack on Black voters and violates the Voting Rights Act. The leading case of Burger King v. McDonald’s French Fries is also briefly discussed. Finally, Ben and Michael "grapple" with the Chauvin sentencing. Easter egg alert: Ben creates a new “Popok-ian” movement leading Dan to chuckle and wonder aloud about whether squirrels are bi-partisan. (Not kidding). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 20211h 37m

Ep 13Trump Under Investigation, Obamacare Saved, and the #RetireBreyer Movement

On a “Baker’s Dozen” Episode of LegalAF (#LAF), MeidasTouch’s Sunday law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, first explore the House Judiciary's decision to open an investigation into the Former’s misuse of subpoena power against the media, Apple, and Democratic leaders. Next up, the Legal AF analysts drill down on 3 new SCOTUS decisions: (1) 9-0, affecting LGBTQ+ foster parent rights, (2) 8-1, addressing child slavery lawsuits against Nestlé under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789 (ATS); and (3) a 7-2 decision crafted by Justice Breyer confirming the constitutionality of Obamacare once and for all. Speaking of Breyer, Ben and Michael give their views on the growing #RetireBreyer movement seeking to have him step down before the midterms to given Biden a guaranteed SCOTUS pick. Walrus-alert: Ben and Popok discuss the DOJ’s decision to end both the criminal and civil cases against former National Security Advisor John Bolton for publishing a memoir which the Former did not like. Easter egg alert: Popok slips in a Hamilton: The Musical reference. Rounding out the podcast, the Analysis Friends discuss Biden’s decision to protect transgender and gay students under Title IX from discrimination and retaliation in higher education in response to 20 states attempting to ban transgender students from competing in sport. And no #LAF pod would be complete without Ben and Popok discussing some gun-toting political candidate, in this case the white St. Louis Republican attorneys who brandished guns and AR-15s when peaceful #BLM protestors marched past their wealthy enclave, and the husband’s decision to now run for the US Senate. Finally, and for added fun, Ben, perhaps listening too intently to a “supersonic dog siren,” forgets momentarily just which legal podcast he is actually hosting, prompting Popok to ask if Ben’s law partner (and host of another legal podcast) is renting space in Ben’s head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 20211h 18m

Ep 12Sessions, Barr and Trump's Illegal Targeting of Journalists

On Episode 12 of LegalAF (#LAF), MeidasTouch’s Sunday law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, explore the Garland Department of Justice (DOJ) three-ways, first tackling the recent revelations that Sessions and Barr, doing former 45’s bidding, created an enemies list and subpoenaed not only journalists’ phone, text and email records, but also targeted some of the highest ranking members of the US Congress, like Rep. Adam Schiff. Then, Ben and Popok analyze the DOJ’s return to muscular enforcement of the Voting Rights Act to prevent voter intimidation and minority discrimination against the 14 states that have recently passed voter suppression laws under the guise of “election integrity.” To round out the DOJ segment, the co-hosts discuss why on occasion the current DOJ feels compelled to continue to support some positions taken in court by Former’s DOJ, like the one seeking the dismissal of a defamation case brought against him arising out of a sexual assault. Next up, the “Analysis Friends,” take a deep dive into all things SCOTUS as this term comes to an end, including the eyebrow-raising 9-0 decision to deny a path to citizenship for the almost 500K people in the United States here under Temporary Protected Status program. SCOTUS’s decision to hear two (2) separate cases based on the government’s use of the “state secrets” defense also leads Ben and Michael to handicap the odds of the Court using the cases to weaken the defense (unlikely). After a brief tutorial on crypto currency like Bitcoin and why it's loved by the criminal underworld, and the power of the federal government to seek asset forfeiture of bitcoins used in ransomware attacks, the podcast brings this action-packed episode to a roaring conclusion by discussing whether MeidasTouch should go after Fox for refusing to air its January 6th insurrection ad on television, Popok challenges MeidasTouch’s “PAC-hood,” and Ben fires back! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 20211h 36m

Ep 11California Judge OVERTURNS Assault Weapons Ban

On Episode 11 of LegalAF (#LAF), MeidasTouch’s Sunday law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, provide a sobering analysis of a California federal judge’s decision to overturn California’s 30-year old ban on assault weapons citing the overriding considerations of the Second Amendment (while comparing AR-15s to swiss army knives and Ford pickup trucks) and predict what the Supreme Court will likely do about it in a future term. Speaking of 30-year precedent going out the window, next the Legal Analysis Friends look at Coney Barrett’s first majority opinion scrapping the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act criminalizing most database breaches and why the composition of which justices joined together to make up the 6-3 majority is so bizarre. And on the topic of here today, possibly gone tomorrow, the Legal AF duo discuss the likely decision this week by SCOTUS to revisit next term (and possibly overturn) the use of affirmative action in higher education to create diverse student bodies. Next up, Ben and Popok take a hard look at former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and why his recent statements made at the Q-Anon convention (?!?) calling for the violent overthrow of the US government is not only a federal crime, but should lead to his court-martial and loss of his military pension to boot. No #LAF episode would be complete without a look at Former 45’s current legal troubles, this time his being sued along with Don Jr., Rudy and Rep. Mo Brooks by members of Congress, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, for violation of the KKK Act for inciting the January 6th insurrection. Ben and Michael also don’t pull any punches and share their jaundiced view of Trump’s efforts to argue that he enjoys “absolute immunity” from a civil suit since “it happened” while he was President. While they're at it, the #LAF hosts scratch their collective heads as to why on earth Rep. Mo Brooks would try to dodge the process server trying to serve him with the suit, as if that’s a good thing to do. To round out this hard-hitting, action-packed episode, Ben and Michael discuss if Matt Gaetz will also be hit with obstruction of justice charges for interfering with the federal investigation into his having sex with minors, and whether before he assumed the post, Postmaster General DeJoy committed federal election law crimes by illegally funneling money through his then employees to political candidates. And in a special “crossover” segment, the MeidasTouch Brothers visit #LegalAF and interview Matthew Modine running for the president of the labor union representing over 160,000 actors, artists, influencers, models and other media professionals, along with his running mate Joely Fisher, running for secretary treasurer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 20211h 45m

Ep 10The Scales of Justice (?) Move Slowly

On Episode 10 of LegalAF (#LAF), MeidasTouch’s Sunday morning law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, examine why in Ben’s world the “scales of justice” (?) move so slowly (inside joke alert) while discussing the looming criminal indictment of the Trump Organization, Trump and his family by a New York state special grand jury based on Trump tax records obtained through a divided, 5-4 Supreme Court ruling. While Ben and Michael are at it, they discuss in detail the special qualities of the grand jury process in the American legal system. Of course, no #LAF podcast would be complete without a deep dive into Rudy Giuliani and his 18 cellphones and laptops about to be closely reviewed by a special master to be appointed by a federal judge to determine if any of the materials are protected by the attorney-client privilege from disclosure to the prosecutors investigating him for his role in the firing of the US Ukrainian ambassador. The “Legal Analysis Friends” next discuss former Ambassador Sondland’s attempts to have former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Federal government pay the $1.8 million in legal fees he racked up testifying to the House Intelligence Committee that Trump illegally withheld millions of dollars in US aid to Ukraine in order to force them to open an investigation into Joe Biden’s son Hunter during the Presidential election campaign, that later led to Trump firing the Ambassador. Hooded Justice and Velvet Hammer then turn their attention back to, where else, Florida, and explain why Governor DeSantis has the First Amendment and its protections exactly backward with his new law prohibiting social media companies, like Twitter, from banning (i.e. deplatforming) users for bad behavior like Trump. Ben then takes the #LAF listeners through the law of Presidential pardons leading to the SDNY prosecutors and judge having no choice but to drop Steve Bannon’s criminal prosecution arising out of his fraudulent “build the wall” charity. Finally, and ending on a “politics makes strange bedfellows” note, Ben and Popok discuss why the current Department of Justice is arguing in federal court that that even though Trump’s forcibly removing protestors from Lafayette Park to allow him to have a “clean” photo op on his way to a nearby church holding an (upside down) bible was a bad thing, a court should not interfere with decisions by the Executive Branch around how to provide security and protection to a sitting US president. Easter egg alert: Ben drops a little “Federalist Papers” knowledge on Popok, and Popok reminds Ben that scales of justice don’t move forward and back, wheels do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 20211h 23m

Ep 9Matt Gaetz Pal Joel Greenberg INDICTED –– Is Gaetz Next?

On Episode 9 of Legal AF (#LAF), MeidasTouch's end-of-the week law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, examine the looming indictment of the Trump Organization by the joint prosecutor task force led by the NY AG and the Manhattan DA. Ben and Michael then reopen #LAF University Law School, and teach a mini-course on criminal statutes of limitation and how that may speed up the Trump indictment, unless a tolling agreement is entered into. The "Legal Analysis Friends" next take on the possibility that Florida Governor DeSantis will attempt to prevent the extradition of Trump back to New York, should he be indicted and what a Federal judge would say about that. Speaking of Florida and bizarre events, Legal AF takes a deep dive into the federal conviction and plea deal and cooperation of former Seminole County (FL) tax assessor and Congressman Matt Gaetz's main "bro," Joel Greenberg, and what it means for the likely indictment of Gaetz. Easter Egg alert: Ben and Popok explain why Greenberg was a "queen for a day" and it's not what you may think. Next up, the co-hosts discuss Sidney Powell and her misuse of fundraising money to pay for her personal legal defense against the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. A LegalAF episode would not be complete without Ben getting special delight out of "Cyber Ninjas" and their inept "fraud-it" in Arizona, that is now leading to the State considering, ironically, throwing the 400 voting machines they examined because of possible corruption of the equipment by Cyber Ninjas. Finally, and in somber tones, Ben and Michael examine SCOTUS’s decision to revisit Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose under the guise of examining a Mississippi federal judge's decision to stay an anti-pro-choice law banning all abortions after 15 weeks. It is an ominous sign that a Republican majority court (6-3) is now doing a full-frontal assault on what had been a constitutionally-protected right of privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 20211h 19m

Ep 8Trump Illegally Squatting at Mar-a-Lago, Hooded Justice & the Velvet Hammer!

On this week’s episode of Legal AF (#8), MeidasTouch’s weekly law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, examine Tuesday’s ruling by a Texas Federal Bankruptcy Court judge that the NRA made a “bad faith” bankruptcy filing and could not reorganize just to escape the NY Attorney General’s criminal investigation. As an added bonus, Ben and Michael discuss the flaws in the NRA’s trial lawyers’ decision to allow its client to be filleted during a 11-day trial proving just how corrupt the NRA and its leadership is, while strengthening the future criminal case brought by the NY AG. Next up, Ben a/k/a “Hooded Justice” and Michael “Velvet Hammer” Popok, take on the legality (and weirdness) of Trump using Mar-a-Lago as his personal home by arguing that he is an “employee” of the club, like the guy who cuts the shrubs or mows the grass. Speaking of insanity, the “Analysis Friends” examine whether this year’s “twinkie” defense —“Foxmania” — will allow a Capitol insurrectionist to avoid jail time (spoiler alert—the answer is “no”). The podcast then turns serious with an analysis of the wrongful death suit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, the former Air Force veteran turned Q-Anon terrorist who was shot by Capitol Police before she could lead her angry lynch mob into the House Chamber to kill members of Congress. The hosts then have a brief discussion of possible ways for Congress to limit the jurisdiction of SCOTUS to prevent it from overturning pro-democracy voting rights legislation, without upending the 3 co-equal branches of government. Finally, and in a speed round, Ben and Popok give the Legal AF university “students” what they crave—a tutorial on civil procedure, our state and federal court system, the equitable and legal power of the courts, and the differences between torts, breach of contract, and crimes. - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 20211h 8m

Ep 7Rudy Giuliani RAIDED by the Feds!

On Episode 7 of Legal AF, MeidasTouch’s weekly law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, first drill down on the “dawn raid” and search warrant on former Trump consigliere, Rudy Giuliani based on “probable cause” that the former “America’s Mayor” committed a federal crime related to the Trump Administration’s dealings with Ukraine. And for added fun, Ben and Michael discuss who is leading in the “Fredo” award race – Don Jr. or Andrew Giuliani, while commenting on the rogues' gallery of convicted, soon to be convicted and/or trying to be convicted allies of the Former 45 all attempting to witness tamper. Next up, the “Analysis Friends” tackle the aftermath of the Chauvin conviction in two ways. First, they examine the attack on one of the 12 jurors for posting photos to social media showing that he supported #BLM on his way to a march celebrating MLK in DC, and discuss whether this could give rise to a successful appeal by Chauvin. Then Ben and Michael take a hard look at the DOJ’s decision to not only criminally prosecute Chauvin and the other 3 cops involved for civil rights violations under the 4th Amendment, but to also investigate the entire Minneapolis police department. Ben and Michael then update on the Cyber Ninja/Q-anon “ballot recount” farce playing out in Arizona under Trump’s guidance. And last but not the least crazy, “Miami” Michael walks Ben through the Miami private school whose socialite and DeSantis-supporting owners took almost $1 million in federal bailout funds and then thought it would be ok to violate every one of its teacher’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights by firing them if they decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 20211h 15m

Ep 6Stare Decisis Under Attack and the Arizona FRAUDIT

On Episode 6 of Legal AF, MeidasTouch’s weekly law and politics podcast, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, analyze key decisions this “Supreme Court Season” and take apart SCOTUS’ 6-3 Republican majority and its unrelenting attack on judicial precedent (Stare Decisis) to legislate from the bench and change the law as we know it in the areas of abortion, the Second Amendment (NY State Rifle Association v. Corlett), and criminal sentencing for minors (Jones v. Mississippi). Speaking of SCOTUS, Ben and Michael also take a hard look at Justice “I am Not the Notorious ACB” Amy Coney Barrett and examine why she has refused to recuse (disqualify) herself from a series of recent cases involving her family and PACs that paid a million bucks to confirm her nomination (the Americans for Prosperity case), and how SCOTUS is on the verge of allowing unlimited and anonymous corporate dark money to pour into US elections. The Analytical Friends (is that what AF stands for?) then move into the #LegalWTF segment as they look at various state legislation that seeks to overturn fundamental US Constitutional rights. First up, Oklahoma gives immunity to drivers who maim or kill protestors with their cars, while criminalizing peaceful protests in the streets, and then for good measure virtually bans all abortions despite a woman’s US Constitutionally-protected right to choose. Not to be outdone, Arizona is allowing a made up QAnon conspiracy theorists called “Cyber Ninjas” to gain access to their voters’ sacred presidential election ballots to perform some sort of bizarre and illegitimate “audit” not to overturn the election, but to allow the Arizona Republicans to continue their charade at taxpayers' expense that the election was “stolen.” And of course, Florida Man is heard from, this time it's the governor, who is about to sign a law that likely violates the US Constitution’s Commerce Clause by preventing social media companies from banning political candidates from their platforms or face fines of up to $100k a day. Easter egg alert: Ben considers permanently changing the name of the podcast to LegalWTF, and not only does fan-favorite “financial dominatrixes” make an appearance, but so does cos-play! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 20211h 22m

Ep 5Derek Chauvin CONVICTED for the Murder of George Floyd

On Episode 5 of Legal AF, MeidasTouch’s weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, analyze the jury’s verdict to convict Chauvin on all 3 counts for the murder of George Floyd, and with special guest criminal defense lawyer Alexandra Kazarian, discuss Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines and predict the length of Chauvin’s sentence. Next up, the “Analysis Friends” take a deep dive into Liberty University’s suit against Jerry Falwell, Jr. to claw back the $10 million it paid him because he failed to disclose that he, his wife, and a Miami Beach pool attendant (you can’t make this stuff up), were having a threesome. Returning to the world of criminals, the Legal AF dynamic duo (and with apologies to the Sopranos) tackle the recent inadvertent disclosure by the Justice Department that it had reached its first plea deal with an “Oathkeeper” who attacked the Capitol on January 6th, who in return for turning in his friends and cohorts, won an all-expense paid trip to 3 years in jail and the witness protection program. To round out the episode, Ben and Michael learn to “count to 5” and take a hard look at SCOTUS’s 2010 Citizens United decision allowing for unlimited corporate and PAC money to flood our election system under the First Amendment, and whether there are 5 votes on the current Court willing to allow donations to be made in secret in the new Koch Brothers-backed suit, Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Rodriguez. Special “easter egg” alert: Ben uses the word “sperm” in the context of our high-brow Supreme Court analysis and Michael takes the bait! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 20211h 4m

Ep 4The NRA's Bizarre Efforts to Declare Bankruptcy

On Episode 4 of our new weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and commentator, Michael Popok, tackle the NRA’s bizarre efforts to secretly use the Bankruptcy Code to escape liability in New York and re-incorporate in Texas and discuss whether their business model and fundraising smacks of "financial domination." Next up, the conservative members of SCOTUS and especially Justice Gorsuch are leading efforts to thwart Biden’s agenda by stripping administrative agencies such as the EPA and the Department of Transportation from rule-making ability under the little-known “nondelegation” doctrine. Then, the Analytical Friends analyze the civil rights violation that occurred when Lt. Caron Narario, a Black Army officer, was peppered sprayed and almost worse during a routine traffic stop in Virginia. Ben and Michael then take a look at the recent “January 6 Insurrection” federal lawsuit brought by the NAACP and at least 10 members of Congress who feared for their life against Trump, Giuliani, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, for claims under the KKK Act of 1867 for conspiracy to violate the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment. Then, in a new “speed round” segment, Meiselas and Popok take listener’s questions on topics ranging from data breach lawsuits and the proliferation of ransomware computer attacks, to possible class actions against Trump for his deadly mishandling of the COVID pandemic and his role in the attack on the Capitol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 20211h 0m

Ep 3SCOTUS Season, Historic Candidates and Pernicious Politicians

On Episode 3 of our new weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and commentator, Michael Popok, interview two historic candidates, Lucy Lang, candidate to replace Cyrus Vance, and be the first woman to ever lead the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in its 220 year history, and Hydee Feldstein Soto, who is running to be the LA City Attorney, the chief municipal legal office, and its first woman to hold that office in its more than 150 year history. Then, Ben and Michael, applying their “Analytic Friends” superpowers, tackle the current US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) term and recent oral arguments and decisions, including giving our followers what they crave: more analysis of due process and personal jurisdiction(!) by taking a look at Ford losing its efforts to only be sued in its backyard and avoid being sued in the states where its cars injure people. Next up, Ben and Popok try to read the tea leaves of SCOTUS’s recent “hot bench” concerning the antitrust case against the NCAA and its refusal to pay athletes for their work, and whether SCOTUS will expand warrantless searches of homes under the 4th Amendment by creating a new “community caretaker” exception. Finally, they take on the ongoing “Water-Gaetz “ saga with Matt Gaetz being investigated for sex trafficking crimes, and the recent successful prosecution of former Trump HUD official (and Eric Trump wedding planner), Lynne Patton for violating the Hatch Act’s prohibition against “pernicious political activity” by civil servants, for video recording NYC public housing residents without telling them that the clips would be used at the RNC’s presidential convention to promote Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 8, 20211h 17m

Ep 2Unleashing the Kraken and the Prosecution of Trump

On Episode 2 of our new weekly law and politics podcast, Legal AF, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and commentator, Michael Popok, take a deep dive into Trump lawyer and “Big Lie” shill Sidney Powell’s efforts to dismiss Dominion Voting Systems' new federal defamation case against her, including her eye-popping “defense” that none of her statements of voter fraud against Dominion were true, and that no reasonable person could believe they were “facts”. Next up, a discussion of MyPillow’s Mike Lindell’s hiring of Alan Dershowitz (we guess Rudy was tied up) to bring a defamation countersuit against Dominion, which could lead Dominion to one day owning My Pillow. Later, Ben and Michael explore possible future prosecutions of Trump and his family for sedition for advocating the violent overthrow of the Government, and the “pay to play” scandal surrounding Trump’s pardon frenzy in his waning days, including a link between Florida’s Aleph Institute, the Kirshner family, and the pardons granted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 20211h 5m

Ep 1The Origins of Legal AF

On the kick-off episode of Legal AF, hosts MT founder and civil rights lawyer Ben Meiselas and legal wiz Michael Popok, discuss the “origin story” of their legal and trial work together, including First Amendment and social media cases for MeidasTouch involving Fox News and Kelly Loeffler, Republicans (the GQP) using “cancel culture” to silence critics and attack the free press, and the legality of “blue” state efforts to suppress minority voting under the Voting Rights Act. Later, Ben and Michael take on the ethics of Big Law firms hired to shill for Trump, including McGuireWoods’ secret work to root out anti-Trump staff at Voice of America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 202158 min