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Project 2025 has quickly become the most consequential—and controversial—blueprint for American governance in recent history. Conceived by the Heritage Foundation and launched with a sprawling 927-page policy manual in April 2023, Project 2025's core goal is to reshape the entire federal government according to staunch conservative priorities. It is, as Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts puts it, an effort to “dismantle the administrative state and restore presidential control over the executive branch.”Yet behind those words lies an ambitious checklist for the next presidential administration, presuming a Republican—most likely Donald Trump—takes office. Project 2025 is not just a collection of ideas. It is a detailed playbook, complete with executive orders, departmental reorganization timetables, and a so-called 180-day playbook, designed for rapid execution on “Day One.”At the heart of Project 2025 is an unprecedented push to centralize power in the Oval Office. The plan relies on the controversial unitary executive theory, which argues all executive branch employees should be directly answerable to the president. Kevin Roberts has been explicit: “All federal employees should answer to the president.” According to the project manual, entire agencies such as the Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Trade Commission would lose their current independence and fall under direct White House control.One of the most sweeping reforms revolves around personnel. The blueprint resurrects the idea of “Schedule F”—a Trump-era category that would allow the president to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as political appointees, instantly stripping them of protections from partisan firing. The National Federation of Federal Employees warns this would “give the president and his loyalists full control of the executive branch for personal and political gain,” hollowing out civil service checks that have traditionally protected against corruption and patronage.Concrete examples illustrate the scale of the changes envisioned. In foreign policy, the State Department chapter recommends that, before January 20, all leadership be dismissed and replaced with ideologically aligned “acting” appointees who bypass Senate confirmation entirely. Kiron Skinner, the former policy planning chief who wrote this section, has called for removing staff she considers too left-leaning, despite admitting she could not name a single time employees substantively obstructed White House policy.The playbook doesn't stop there. Project 2025 proposes slashing federal workforce numbers through forced attrition, with the White House directing agency heads to lay off or consolidate thousands of positions and eliminate entire offices deemed non-essential. For example, agencies like USAID and the CFPB are earmarked for dissolution, their functions either axed or merged into departments more closely monitored by the executive.Critics from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union highlight how Project 2025 seeks to erode key civil liberties across a range of issues—abortion, LGBTQ rights, free speech, and the environment. The ACLU describes the initiative as “a roadmap for how to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals.” Meanwhile, labor unions such as AFGE and NTEU have mounted lawsuits to block the executive orders targeting civil service protections, warning of the dangers of introducing broad political loyalty tests into government hiring and firing.Supporters claim these moves would eliminate bureaucratic inertia and bring swift, accountable leadership to Washington. Yet, legal scholars and former officials have called Project 2025 authoritarian, warning it undermines separation of powers and blurs the lines between partisanship and governance.With the November 2024 presidential election looming, Project 2025's fate comes down to political winds and court rulings. The Heritage Foundation and its partners have prepared a rapid-fire battery of executive orders, ready for signature if they get their candidate in office. Milestones to watch include ongoing legal challenges, Congressional resistance, and, above all, the outcome of the national vote.The scope and ambition of Project 2025 are nothing short of historic, representing both a culmination of decades-long conservative advocacy and an inflection point in debates over the very structure of American democracy. Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Jessica and Spencer cover the biggest headlines: Rebeca Andrade's new documentary, Jordan Chiles joining Dancing With the Stars, update on Chow's coach arrest, and a chat with fan favorite, Nola "Angst Queen" Matthews.  Watch GymCastic Live with AA World Champion, MORGAN HURD Watch the preview. Get replay tickets here Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:16 Headlines: Andrade documentary, Jordan Chiles on DWTS 07:23 Gymternet news: SafeSport & coaching updates 10:45 Paris World Cup preview & Headstand game 12:45 Morgan Hurd live show replay announcement 13:00 Nola Matthews Interview – artistry, UCLA, pets, travel stories 29:00 Skills talk & beam mount wishlist 45:24 Brazilian Championships Recap – Flavia Saraiva, Julia Soares, Gabriela Barbosa 56:30 Team Brazil Worlds selection discussion 59:19 Andrade sabbatical & rehab updates 1:03:08 Mixed men's & women's format at Brazilian Nationals 1:05:36 Brazil's Worlds team strategy 1:09:19 More Gymternet News – Worlds tickets 1:13:16 Dream gym features (viewing areas, plants, ninja course)  1:17:10 Athlete wellbeing studies & abuse impacts  1:18:48 NCAA News: Southern Utah to Pac-12  1:20:17 Canadian sports abuse report & new book “Historic” by Emma Webb  1:21:06 Coaching updates, Alice Kinsella baby, Maggie Nichols engagement  1:22:41 Closing: Paris World Cup preview & BTS reminder NOLA MATTHEWS INTERVIEW Nola Matthews, the queen of angsty Y2K emo artistry, is on the show today to talk about her unmatched performance quality on floor, her beautiful bars, and Taylor Swift's engagement, the only engagement to ever matter BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Andrade's taking a chill pill, and Barbosa is having a baby. Who is competing at this meet? FLAVIA IS BACK ALERT: watch her 13.933 on beam  Sophia Weisburg won the all-around with a 51.231 and Caio Souza won the MAG all-around with a 80.950 Where do scores from these Championships rank internationally heading into Worlds? Should MAG and WAG gymnasts compete simultaneously in the meet AND on the same apparatus? Post-meet interview snippets What did Andrade and Barbosa say about their off-time training? GYMTERNET NEWS The Sports Illustrated Games roster. Pacific Reign Gymnastics is moving to a new big ass two-story facility! Jessica pontificates about how they should design it. A new Swedish study shows abuse impacts elite gymnasts well after retirement, identifying 54 negative consequences affecting athletes later in life Southern Utah will migrate over to the PAC-12 starting in the 2026-2027 season Jordan Chiles has been announced for Dancing With the Stars After weeks of intensive care, Lorenzo Bonicelli was transferred to a spinal unit A preliminary report from Canada's Federal Commission found the sports system is 'broken' and suffers from widespread abuse Who are the new coaches in town? Jade Carey joined Oregon State's coaching staff as a student coach Emma Malabuyo joins UCLA as a graduate assistant coach Tickets are finallllyyy on sale for 2025 Jakarta Worlds! Buy one here Alice Kinsella had a baby! UP NEXT: Behind The Scenes: Live Q&A podcast every Friday at noon Pacific/8 GMT LATEST EPISODES 2012 Olympics Gymnastics Team Final Rewind  Behind The Scenes: Back from New Orleans Championships Russia is Back  Behind The Scenes: Pre-Holiday Rage Behind The Scenes: The Go Light Behind The Scenes: Team Indoctrination GET MORE:   Play our new game, Headstand, to test all your gymnerd knowledge Club members can watch Vanessa Atler's live show by logging in to her live show page, it will appear below. Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes and extended interviews like this one with Katya Zamolodchikova Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded, participate in watch-alongs with Spencer, access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats and SHORTS available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  RESOURCES The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review. Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation  GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links. Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions RESISTANCE  Submitted by our listeners. ACTION Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) State your name and zip code or district Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) Wait for answer Ask for action items –  tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of…etc.) ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes ACLU Mobile Justice App Allows you to record encounters with public officials while streaming to your closest contacts and your local ACLU; REPORT any abuse by authorities to the ACLU and its networks. LAWSUITS Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions (tracking list by topic) ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project STAY INFORMED Suggested podcasts:  Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, Your Rights on trains and buses video

In this powerful episode, we expose how decades of Democrat-driven policies, lawsuits, and judicial negligence have created the perfect storm of violence, homelessness, and untreated mental illness now spilling into America's streets. The murder of Irina Zerutska by DeCarlos Brown Jr. is not an isolated tragedy—it's the predictable result of a system designed to let dangerous people walk free. Brown's own mother begged the courts to commit him after repeated violent outbursts, including assaults on his own sister. His public defender even raised competency concerns and requested a forensic evaluation. Yet, thanks to activist judges and Democrat policies that make involuntary commitment nearly impossible, he was released time and again—until someone paid with their life. We trace the root of this failure back to the ACLU lawsuit that gutted the 30-day hold standard, once a critical safeguard that gave doctors time to stabilize schizophrenics with medication before releasing them. Without it, thousands now wander the streets untreated, violent, and paranoid—fueling the surge in homelessness and random attacks. Families have no recourse, police are forced to deal with impossible situations, and citizens pay the price in blood. Meanwhile, politicians double down. In New York, the proposed “solution” is to replace cops with unarmed mental health workers in subways plagued by rapes, stabbings, and murders. It's insanity dressed up as compassion—and it will only lead to more body bags. We also uncover how Democrats and their allies in federal law enforcement routinely cover up the ideological motivations of violent criminals when those motives reflect poorly on the left. From hidden 911 calls to buried manifestos, the pattern is clear: protect the party at all costs, even if it means lying to the American people.

This Day in Legal History: A. Lincoln Admitted to BarOn September 9, 1836, Abraham Lincoln was licensed to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court, setting in motion a legal and political career that would ultimately reshape American history. At the time, Lincoln was a 27-year-old former store clerk and self-taught frontier intellectual, with no formal legal education. Instead, like many aspiring attorneys of the era, Lincoln "read law" by apprenticing under established lawyers and studying foundational legal texts such as Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings. His relentless self-education and growing reputation for honesty earned him the nickname “Honest Abe,” long before he entered the national spotlight.Shortly after being admitted to the bar, Lincoln moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he set up a law practice. His first lawsuit came less than a month later, on October 5, 1836, marking the beginning of a legal career that would span over two decades. Lincoln took on a wide variety of cases—ranging from debt collection and land disputes to criminal defense and railroad litigation—and traveled extensively on the Illinois Eighth Judicial Circuit.His courtroom demeanor was marked by clarity, logic, and moral conviction, attributes that would later define his presidency. Practicing law not only gave Lincoln financial stability but also honed the rhetorical and analytical skills that would serve him in legislative debates and national addresses. His legal work with the Illinois Central Railroad and other corporate clients exposed him to the country's economic transformation, deepening his understanding of commerce, labor, and the law's role in shaping society.Lincoln's rise from rural obscurity to respected attorney mirrored the American ideal of self-made success, and his legal background profoundly shaped his political philosophy. It was as a lawyer and legislator that he began to articulate his opposition to slavery's expansion, using constitutional and moral arguments that would later guide his presidency and the Union's legal stance during the Civil War.His legal reasoning and insistence on the rule of law would ultimately be central to the Emancipation Proclamation, his wartime governance, and the framework for reconstructing the nation. The law gave Lincoln the tools to interpret and preserve the Constitution, even amid its greatest crisis.Lincoln's admission to the bar on this day in 1836 was not just a personal milestone—it was a foundational step toward the presidency and toward a redefinition of American liberty and union that would endure for generations.Events ripple in time like waves on a pond, and Lincoln's admission to the bar in 1836 is one such stone cast into history. Had he not secured that license—had he not taught himself law from borrowed books and legal treatises—it is likely he never would have risen to national prominence or attained the presidency. Without Lincoln's leadership in 1860, the United States may well have fractured permanently into separate nations, altering the course of the Civil War and leaving a divided continent in its wake. That division would have profoundly reshaped global affairs in the 20th century. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the fact that there was a United States powerful and unified enough to confront the Nazi war machine in 1941 traces, in part, to a frontier shop clerk's grit, discipline, and determination to study Blackstone's Commentaries by candlelight.A Florida state appeals judge who sided with Donald Trump in a high-profile defamation case against the Pulitzer Prize Board has been confirmed to the federal bench. On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted 50–43 along party lines to approve Judge Ed Artau's nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Artau is now the sixth Trump judicial nominee to be confirmed during the president's second term.Artau joined a panel earlier this year that allowed Trump's lawsuit to proceed after the Pulitzer Board declined to rescind a 2018 award given to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election. In a concurring opinion, Artau criticized the reporting as “now-debunked” and echoed calls to revisit New York Times v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court precedent that has long protected journalists from most defamation claims by public figures.The timing of Artau's nomination has drawn scrutiny from Senate Democrats, who argue it raises ethical concerns. Artau reportedly began conversations about a possible federal appointment just days after Trump's 2024 victory and interviewed with the White House shortly after issuing his opinion in the Pulitzer case. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the confirmation a “blatant” example of quid pro quo, while others questioned Artau's impartiality.In response, Artau defended his conduct during his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, stating that ambition for higher office alone doesn't disqualify a judge from ruling on politically sensitive cases and that he holds no personal bias requiring recusal.Florida judge who ruled for Trump in Pulitzer case confirmed to federal bench | ReutersAfter 21 years, one of legal academia's most influential blogs is shutting down. The TaxProf Blog, launched in 2004 by Pepperdine Law Dean Paul Caron, will cease publication by the end of September following the closure of its longtime host platform, Typepad. Caron said he isn't interested in rebuilding the site on a new platform, though he hopes to preserve the blog's extensive archive of nearly 56,000 posts.Initially focused on tax law, the blog evolved into a central hub for news and commentary on law schools, covering accreditation, rankings, faculty hiring, admissions trends, and more. It maintained its relevance even as other law professor blogs declined in the wake of Twitter's rise. Caron's regular posts made the site a must-read in the legal education world, often mixing in personal reflections and occasional commentary on religion.The closure also casts uncertainty over the broader Law Professor Blog Network, which includes around 60 niche academic blogs also hosted on Typepad. At least one, ImmigrationProf Blog, has already begun looking for a new publishing home.Reactions across the legal academy reflected the impact of the blog's departure. One law school dean likened it to daily sports reporting for legal education—a constant, trusted source of updates and debate.Groundbreaking law blog calls it quits after 21 years | ReutersThe U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in a contentious immigration case, allowing federal agents to resume aggressive raids in Southern California. The Court granted a request from the Justice Department to lift a lower court order that had restricted immigration stops based on race, language, or occupation—factors critics argue are being used to disproportionately target Latino communities. The ruling, delivered in a brief, unsigned order with no explanation, permits the raids to continue while a broader legal challenge proceeds.The case stems from a July order by U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong, who found that the administration's actions likely violated the Fourth Amendment by enabling racially discriminatory stops without reasonable suspicion. Her injunction applied across much of Southern California, but is now paused by the Supreme Court's decision.Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by the Court's other two liberals, issued a sharp dissent, warning that the decision effectively declares all Latinos "fair game to be seized at any time," regardless of citizenship. She described the raids as racially motivated and unconstitutional.California Governor Gavin Newsom and civil rights groups echoed those concerns. Newsom accused the Court of legitimizing racial profiling and called Trump's enforcement actions a form of "racial terror." The ACLU, representing plaintiffs in the case, including U.S. citizens, denounced the raids as part of a broader “racist deportation scheme.”The Trump administration, meanwhile, hailed the decision as a major legal victory. Attorney General Pam Bondi framed it as a rejection of “judicial micromanagement,” and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing separately, argued that while ethnicity alone cannot justify a stop, it may be used in combination with other factors.This ruling adds to a series of recent Supreme Court decisions backing Trump's immigration agenda, including policies that limit asylum protections and revoke humanitarian legal statuses. In Los Angeles, the raids and the use of military personnel in response to protests have escalated tensions between the federal government and local authorities.US Supreme Court backs Trump on aggressive immigration raids | ReutersA federal appeals court has upheld an $83.3 million jury verdict against Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, rejecting his claims of presidential immunity. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the damages appropriate given the severity and persistence of Trump's conduct, which it called “remarkably high” in terms of reprehensibility. The ruling noted that Trump's attacks on Carroll grew more extreme as the trial neared, contributing to reputational and emotional harm.The lawsuit stemmed from Trump's repeated public denials of Carroll's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. In 2019, Trump claimed Carroll was “not my type” and said she fabricated the story to sell books—comments he echoed again in 2022, prompting a second defamation suit. A jury in 2023 had already found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in an earlier case, awarding Carroll $5 million. That verdict was also upheld.Trump's legal team argued that his 2019 comments were made in his official capacity as president and should be shielded by presidential immunity. The court disagreed, citing a lack of legal basis to extend immunity in this context. Trump also objected to limits placed on his testimony during trial, but the appeals court upheld the trial judge's rulings as appropriate.The $83.3 million award includes $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. Carroll's legal team expressed hope that the appeals process would soon conclude. Trump, meanwhile, framed the ruling as part of what he calls “Liberal Lawfare” amid multiple ongoing legal battles.Trump fails to overturn E. Jean Carroll's $83 million verdict | ReutersMy column for Bloomberg this week takes aim at the so-called "Taylor Swift Tax" in Rhode Island—an annual surtax on non-primary residences valued over $1 million. While the headline-grabbing nickname guarantees media coverage, the underlying policy is flawed, both economically and politically.Rhode Island isn't alone—Montana, Cape Cod, and Los Angeles have all attempted to capture revenue from wealthy property owners through targeted taxes on high-end real estate. But these narrowly tailored levies often distort markets, suppress transactions, and encourage avoidance rather than compliance. LA's mansion tax, for example, dramatically underperformed because property owners simply didn't sell.The appeal of taxing second homes is clear: they're luxury assets often owned by out-of-staters with little political influence. But that lack of local connection also makes them an unreliable revenue base. It's relatively easy to sell, reclassify, or relocate a vacation property, particularly for the affluent. And when policies hinge on fuzzy concepts like "primary residence," they invite loopholes and enforcement challenges—especially when properties are held by LLCs or trusts.Rhode Island's new tax could drive potential buyers to nearby Connecticut, undermining its own housing market and revenue goals. If states want to tax wealth effectively, they must resist headline-chasing and instead build durable, scalable policies: regular reassessments, vacancy levies, and infrastructure-based cost recovery. These methods avoid the pitfalls of ambiguous residency tests and create more predictable revenue streams.And because discretionary wealth is mobile, real solutions will require cooperation—harmonized assessments, multistate compacts, and shared reporting. But more fundamentally, states looking for progressive revenue should aim higher—toward income and wealth taxes—rather than tinkering at the margins with weekend homes.Rhode Island Should Shake Off ‘Taylor Swift Tax' on Second Homes This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Donald Trump is once again leaning into strongman tactics, sharing a social media meme over the weekend that threatened to “wage war” on Chicago. The post, part of his broader crackdown rhetoric on Democratic-led cities, is mobilizing communities to fight back. In this episode, we speak with Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr., a Chicago-based community organizer, activist, and son of the Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton and Aislinn Pulley, co-executive director of the Chicago Torture Justice Center.  We also speak with Kevin Fee, legal director of the ACLU Illinois. — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post What's Happening in Chicago? w/ Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., Aislinn Pulley and ACLU's Kevin Fee appeared first on KPFA.

Project 2025 began with a clandestine meeting of political strategists and conservative activists in the spring of 2022, their goal clear and unsettling: to engineer a dramatic transformation of American governance. By April 2023, this ambition took written form—a sprawling, 900-page policy blueprint released by the Heritage Foundation and dubbed Mandate for Leadership. Its stated purpose was simple: destroy the so-called “Administrative State” and concentrate presidential power like never before.Supporters of Project 2025 call it a necessary overhaul, arguing that “an unaccountable and biased bureaucracy” has long obstructed the will of the people. The plan's central premise is to place the entire federal executive branch, including agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI, under direct White House control. As Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation president, declared, “All federal employees should answer to the president.” The project's architects are explicit—they want to rid agencies of perceived ideological opponents, filling key roles with loyalists on “Day One.” They envision the president hiring scores of political appointees with no expiration date, using what's known as Schedule F. Under this system, career civil servants could be transferred into politically appointed positions, stripping away their traditional legal protections against arbitrary removal or political interference.Kiron Skinner, who authored the State Department section of Project 2025, was blunt about her intentions: remove all senior staff and bring in conservatives ready to serve the administration's agenda. When interviewer Peter Bergen pressed her in June 2024 to provide examples of bureaucratic resistance, she came up empty handed. Despite this, the plan moves forward.Concrete proposals are sweeping. Project 2025 prescribes eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the United States Agency for International Development outright. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, wasted no time, dissolving entire agencies, laying off tens of thousands, and initiating a government-wide return-to-office mandate. These personnel moves layered chaos atop the rollback of existing policy, leaving many agency missions in limbo.In criminal justice, Project 2025's recommendations are transformative and controversial. The agenda calls for the Department of Justice to charge or remove local prosecutors who, in their view, fail to sufficiently prosecute crimes like low-level marijuana possession or shoplifting. This would dismantle the tradition of local prosecutorial discretion, potentially pressuring DAs elected on reform platforms to abandon their priorities for fear of federal retribution. The plan also aims to expand federal law enforcement into local jurisdictions deemed “soft” on crime. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, these changes would shift the balance of power away from local communities and toward a politically driven federal apparatus.Project 2025 extends well beyond law enforcement. Its architects target environmental regulations, labor rights, health policies, and civil liberties. Detractors such as the ACLU warn that this initiative represents “a dystopian view of America,” threatening civil rights, reproductive freedoms, and hard-won democratic norms. The Center for Progressive Reform describes the project as “an authoritarian blueprint” likely to weaken the very institutions meant to protect public health, the environment, and equitable governance.Yet, proponents remain undeterred. They envision a streamlined government, claiming it will be more effective and responsive, a nod to longstanding conservative desires to reduce bureaucracy and entrench executive authority. Critics, however, see dangers in the centralization of power, the erosion of checks and balances, and the removal of expert administrators in favor of partisan loyalists.As the next presidential transition approaches, all eyes turn to the practical impact of Project 2025's prescriptions. Lawsuits and public pushback are already in motion, with labor unions and advocacy groups scrambling to block or mitigate the plan's most far-reaching aspects. Whether this ambitious blueprint will upend American governance or falter in the face of legal and institutional resistance remains uncertain.Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more in-depth reporting on the forces shaping the nation's future.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

The American Civil Liberties Union files a motion for an en banc re-hearing of Judge Boasberg's criminal contempt opinion after a three-judge panel stayed his ruling.Attorney General Pam Bondi continues her assault on the Department of Justice by sidelining career attorneys causing every member of the Sanctuary Cities Working Group to resign.The DC US Attorney's office fails to return indictments from federal grand juries as another judge lambasts federal prosecutors.CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Tulsi Gabbard clash over her disclosure of an undercover officer's identity.Plus listener questions…Do you have questions for the pod?   Follow AG Substack|MuellershewroteBlueSky|@muellershewroteAndrew McCabe isn't on social media, but you can buy his book The ThreatThe Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and TrumpWe would like to know more about our listeners. Please participate in this brief surveyListener Survey and CommentsThis Show is Available Ad-Free And Early For Patreon and Supercast Supporters at the Justice Enforcers level and above:https://dailybeans.supercast.techOrhttps://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr when you subscribe on Apple Podcastshttps://apple.co/3YNpW3P

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 8, 2025Pro-Voter Groups Respond to State of Louisiana's Equal Protection Clause Defense in October's Consequential U.S. Supreme Court CaseWe reported that the State of Louisiana shifted its argument in Louisiana vs. Callais, and now claims the protections of Voting Rights Act of 1965 Section 2, are unconstitutional and no longer needed.  In their brief, pro-voter groups point out Louisiana's maps have already been found to discriminate, so shifting arguments won't help them.   Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:Louisiana Illuminator - How we got here: Louisiana's redistricting case puts the Voting Rights Act on trial American Democracy Minute - Louisiana's Racial Gerrymandering Defense to SCOTUS Switches from ‘It was for Partisan Reasons' to ‘The VRA is Unconstitutional'U.S. Supreme Court - Brief by ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Election Law Clinic of Harvard Law SchoolU.S. Supreme Court - Supplemental Brief by the State of Louisiana  NAACP Legal Defense Fund - The Fight for Fair Maps in Louisiana and the Long Road to the Supreme CourtGroups Taking Action:ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under LawRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #EqualProtectionClause #Louisiana #RacialDiscrimination #GOP #FairMaps  #SCOTUS 

0:30 You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. We start today's episode by breaking down the ACLU's attempt to dismiss its own transgender sports case from the US Supreme Court. Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know RFK Jr. Faces tough questioning on Capitol Hill. Washington, D.C. sues to stop the deployment of the National Guard, despite falling crime rates. The DOJ opens an investigation into fired Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud. 12:30 Ad Break 13:30 President Trump makes controversial moves to restrict gun purchases for individuals struggling with gender dysphoria and severe mental health challenges. We address the irony of the left’s narrative and the data surrounding mental illness, gender dysphoria, and gun ownership. American Mamas, Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson, join us to discuss what parents should do when educators cross the line. We ask the American Mamas about the shocking story out of Florida where a teacher called a student a "Nazi-phile" in front of his classmates and tried to give him a certficate for "Most Likely to Become a Dictator" — all because of his conversative values. If you have a question for our American Mamas go to americangroundradio.com/mamas and click the Ask the Mamas button! 23:00 Even CNN’s own data guru admits the Democratic Party may be at its weakest point in modern history, as Republicans surge in voter registration across key battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Is the “blue wall” crumbling for good? We Dig Deep into a new American Enterprise Institute study showing the U.S. population could shrink for the first time in history. We explore how immigration enforcement, economics, and cultural narratives about family and children are driving these demographic shifts—and what it means for America’s future. 32:30 Ad Break 33:30 Nigel Farage, a member of parliament in Britain and founder of the Reform Party was asked to Washington to talk about threats against free speech. He testified in Congress earlier this week, and his testimony was a Bright Spot. Farage's warning against cancel culture and controlled speech are no exaggeration. Irish comedian, Graham Linehan was arrested in Britain this week for "hate speech" against the transgender community. 40:30 We finish off with with Vladimir Putin's invitation to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that will make you say, "Whoa!" Will Zelensky accept the invitation to visit Moscow? Then a lighter story: a Long Island man’s class ring, lost in 1969, is miraculously found and returned more than half a century later. Links: RFK Jr. faces fiery questions amid CDC exodus and other Senate hearing takeaways D.C. Files Suit To End Trump’s National Guard Deployment DOJ investigating Fed governor Lisa Cook: Reports Trump Single-Handedly Reversing U.S. Immigration Trends, Data Shows. Watch: Nigel Farage testifies before House on European tech laws, censorshipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Corbin Barthold (TechFreedom) discusses why Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton is wrong, how it muddies First Amendment law, and how it is already causing wider harm.Topics include:FSC v. Paxton: a result-oriented rulingA credulous courtPoRn iS sCArYAshcroft v. ACLU is sitting right there!tEcH Is ScARyRIP First Amendment 101The porn-to-social media litigation pipeline States cite FSC v. Paxton 1,000 timesLinks:Tech Policy Podcast 373: Porn and the First Amendment

David Zuckerman talks with Lia Ernst, legal director for the Vermont ACLU. We will discuss the work that the Vermont ACLU is doing to uphold the principles of the Constitution with respect to Vermonters' civil liberties. Next, he speaks with Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (P/D) to discuss her recent trip to Ukraine. What she saw on the ground and her meetings with various groups that are involved politically. We will also cover some of the history and present-day realities that you may not hear about in the mainstream media.  This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 09/04/2025.

Project 2025 is not just another policy blueprint; it is a sweeping, meticulously detailed playbook designed to overhaul how the federal government operates, reshape the civil service, and realign American governance along sharply conservative lines. Crafted by the Heritage Foundation with contributions from over 100 coalition partners and released in April 2023, the 927-page document, titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” outlines concrete steps a newly elected Republican president could take starting from day one in office.Proponents of Project 2025 describe it as a plan to “destroy the Administrative State,” targeting what they argue is an unaccountable bureaucracy captured by liberal interests. Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation put it bluntly: “All federal employees should answer to the president.” The vision centralizes control of the entire executive branch, grounding itself in an expansive interpretation of the unitary executive theory. According to the project's documentation, independence for agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, and others would be eliminated. Leadership at these institutions would be swept clean and staffed by presidential loyalists, many of whom could be installed in “acting” roles that bypass Senate confirmation.A key mechanism enabling this transformation is Schedule F, a controversial classification devised to move large numbers of nonpartisan civil servants into at-will positions. Without traditional civil service protections, these employees could be easily removed and replaced with political appointees. Heritage Foundation writers stress that this is essential to secure rapid, loyal implementation of the president's agenda. Critics, however, warn that the move exposes federal government positions to unchecked political influence and undermines the longstanding principle of impartial public service.Listeners may recognize some of these ambitions from earlier efforts under President Trump. This time, Project 2025 comes armed with a detailed 180-day playbook and ready-to-sign executive orders designed to implement change with unprecedented speed. As reported by Government Executive, the plan's first phase has already resulted in the abrupt dissolution of agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Board and USAID, accompanied by mass firings spanning across more than two dozen agencies. Challengers, including federal employee unions like the NTEU, have launched lawsuits, arguing these actions violate long-standing legal protections for government workers.Project 2025 reaches well beyond administrative restructuring. In criminal justice, for example, the document spells out proposals directing the Department of Justice to directly intervene in cases where local prosecutors are viewed as too lenient—potentially removing them from office. The Brennan Center points out that such measures could limit prosecutorial discretion and pressure local officials to abandon reform agendas, particularly in drug or low-level offenses.In the education sphere, the blueprint calls for significant expansion of voucher programs, the empowerment of charter schools, and even the closure of public schools deemed noncompliant with conservative values. Curriculum “censorship” is highlighted as a tool to ensure ideological conformity, and efforts to diminish the role of public education are explicitly connected to broader goals of limiting federal influence at the state and local levels.Reproductive rights are a prominent battleground as well. The project supports creating a national registry to track abortions and calls for nationwide restrictions that leverage statutes like the Comstock Act and reverse FDA approvals of abortion medication.Expert commentary ranges widely on the likely impacts of these reforms. Advocates assert Project 2025 will bring accountability and restore order, claiming decades of bureaucratic drift must be corrected by strong executive leadership. Detractors warn of an “authoritarian presidency,” as noted by the Brennan Center and the ACLU, pointing to risks for democratic norms, the separation of powers, and civil liberties.As the nation watches, key milestones approach. Should a Republican administration prevail in the next election, listeners can expect swift, far-reaching executive actions, many of which are already being tested on a smaller scale in various states. The months ahead promise critical court battles, legislative showdowns, and profound debates about the future of American government.Thank you for tuning in to today's narrative exploration of Project 2025. Join us again next week for more in-depth analysis and vital updates on the changing landscape of American policy and governance.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

2012 Women's Olympic Team Final Rewind

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Stupid, shortsighted, “shocking,” and more can be used to describe why a group of conservative legislators today voted with Democrats to ruin SB10 – the bill that lowers the voter approval election trigger from 3.5% to 2.5% for local property tax increases.Also, if Burrows is for the ban on taxpayer funded lobbying, as he has long claimed, why is he allowing RINO Ken King to kill it yet again?Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Oil and gas rig count actually went up Friday.Is Plano ISD giving direct school support to anti-Israel demonstrations? Attorney General Paxton is investigating.From the legal stack: It appears there is interest at the 5th Circuit to reconsider Texas' state arrest law for illegal aliens. A rehearing has been ordered. Federal judge blocks Texas ESG investment advice disclosure law. The Trump appointed judge is incompetent if he cannot understand who the law protects. It clearly protects investors. All you need know about the ACLU in Texas: ACLU of Texas Seeks Legal Challenge to Texas' ‘Parental Bill of Rights. I have a good question for the ACLU lawyer on this story. Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

This Day in Legal History: George Wallace Calls out the Alabama National GuardOn September 2, 1963, Alabama Governor George Wallace once again attempted to defy federal court orders mandating school integration, this time at Tuskegee High School. Just months after his infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” to block Black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama, Wallace ordered the Alabama National Guard to surround Tuskegee High in an effort to prevent the enrollment of thirteen Black students. The integration was ordered by a federal court in Lee v. Macon County Board of Education, a pivotal case that would eventually lead to sweeping desegregation across Alabama's public school system.Wallace's use of the state Guard was a direct challenge to federal authority and part of his broader campaign to maintain segregation under the banner of “states' rights.” In response, President John F. Kennedy swiftly invoked his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief and federalized the Alabama National Guard. Once under federal control, the troops were ordered to stand down and return to their barracks, removing the immediate threat of military-enforced segregation.The confrontation at Tuskegee High marked another flashpoint in the broader struggle between federal civil rights enforcement and Southern resistance. Wallace's actions highlighted the lengths to which segregationist officials would go to preserve Jim Crow, even in the face of binding federal court orders. The federal response signaled a growing willingness by the Kennedy administration to use executive power to enforce civil rights rulings on the ground. The Lee v. Macon litigation would go on to become one of the most significant desegregation cases in the post-Brown era, eventually placing all Alabama schools under court supervision. This incident at Tuskegee underscored both the volatility of the era and the legal system's central role in dismantling systemic segregation.Legal technology companies are facing increasing pressure to distinguish themselves from general-purpose AI models like ChatGPT and Claude, which continue to improve in accuracy, usability, and affordability. A recent MIT report highlighted a corporate lawyer who preferred using ChatGPT over a $50,000 specialized contract analysis tool, underlining the dilemma: why pay more for tools that may not perform better? While legal tech startups have attracted about $2.2 billion in investment since 2024—80% of it going to AI-focused ventures—they risk being outpaced unless they can offer superior user experience and domain-specific functionality.Specialized tools often rely on the same large foundation models that power general AI, making differentiation more difficult. However, legal tech firms argue their value lies not in the raw language models but in how they tailor those tools for legal workflows. For example, IP CoPilot identifies patentable ideas—a complex task not easily replicated by general AI. Some legal AI systems, such as Harvey (used by DLA Piper), have gained traction among attorneys, though many still favor ChatGPT.Studies comparing general and legal-specific tools show mixed results: while general models sometimes outperform on clarity or accuracy, niche tools often prove more valuable in daily legal work. Legal tech companies aim to stay ahead by integrating ethical compliance, user-centered design, and security into their offerings. Unlike general models, they can be customized to reflect a law firm's risk appetite or case strategy. Some legal AI tools also incorporate retrieval-augmented generation or are trained solely on legal data, increasing their relevance and precision.Legal Tech Battles to Set Itself Apart From General AI ModelsAs Congress returns from its August recess on September 2, lawmakers face an urgent deadline to fund the government before the current funding expires on September 30. Among the contentious issues is the fate of the IRS budget. House Republicans are pushing to cut $2.8 billion from the agency, particularly targeting funding for tax compliance and blocking resources for the IRS's Direct File tool, which allows free online tax filing. Democrats, meanwhile, are opposing the cuts, citing recent staff layoffs and the need to rebuild the agency's capacity. A temporary funding measure could delay decisions but would disrupt preparations for the next tax season.The Senate has yet to offer a formal counterproposal but has a history of softening House spending cuts, thanks in part to the chamber's 60-vote legislative threshold. Democrats are expected to advocate for continued funding, especially for auditing high-income taxpayers and improving customer service. IRS employees and their union are calling on Congress to fully fund the agency to strengthen enforcement and reduce the deficit.Complicating matters further, several leadership vacancies emerged over the summer, including the IRS chief and a top Treasury post. Nominations are moving slowly, with some being blocked by political disputes, such as over clean energy tax credits. At the same time, Republicans are already considering another tax bill, possibly to amend or expand provisions from the July tax law signed by President Trump. This includes industry-backed changes like increased deductions for pass-through entities and revisiting limits on gambling loss deductions. Expiring tax credits—such as ACA health insurance subsidies—could also trigger legislative action, particularly as midterm elections approach.IRS Funding on Tap as Congress Returns From Summer RecessU.S. District Judge Jia Cobb halted two Trump administration policies that sought to expand fast-track deportations across the country. These policies, enacted in January, allowed immigration authorities to deport non-citizens found anywhere in the U.S. without a court hearing if they couldn't prove two years of continuous residence. Traditionally, expedited removal applied only to migrants caught near the border shortly after entry, but the expansion would have affected millions more already living within the country.Judge Cobb ruled that this broadened approach violated the Fifth Amendment's due process protections, emphasizing that people who had settled in the U.S. had a stronger liberty interest in remaining and were entitled to more than a rushed removal process. She criticized the government for not adapting procedural safeguards for this larger and more established group of immigrants, calling the existing process “skimpy” and likely to result in wrongful deportations.The Department of Homeland Security defended the policy, claiming Trump had legal authority to enforce deportations. However, Cobb refused to delay her ruling pending appeal, effectively stopping the expanded deportation plan immediately. The lawsuit was brought by Make the Road New York, represented by the ACLU. Earlier in the month, Cobb had also blocked another Trump deportation policy targeting immigrants paroled into the U.S. under Biden's humanitarian programs.US judge halts Trump effort to expand fast-track deportations | ReutersA divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that most of President Trump's tariffs are illegal, significantly weakening a cornerstone of his second-term economic policy. The 7–4 decision found that Trump had overstepped his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he used to justify new tariffs in April and February. The court emphasized that IEEPA does not grant the president explicit authority to impose taxes or tariffs, only to regulate or restrict imports during national emergencies.The ruling does not affect tariffs issued under other laws, such as those on steel and aluminum. However, it casts serious doubt on Trump's broader use of tariffs as leverage in foreign policy and trade negotiations. The decision stems from lawsuits brought by small businesses and Democratic-led states arguing that only Congress has the constitutional authority to impose tariffs, and that any delegation of this power must be narrowly defined.The appeals court allowed the tariffs to remain in effect until October 14 to give the administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump criticized the decision as partisan but predicted a reversal. Experts believe the administration was anticipating the ruling and may try to shift its legal strategy. This case now sets the stage for a major Supreme Court confrontation, especially as Trump also challenges the Federal Reserve's independence.Most Trump tariffs are not legal, US appeals court rules | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

When platforms profit over people, communities pay the price. In the latest episode of Latinas from the Block to the Boardroom, Theresa E. Gonzales speaks with Nora Benavidez, a Civil Rights and Free Speech Latina attorney fighting for free expression and tech accountability. While Big Tech spends $61.5M on lobbying to avoid this accountability, Nora is using civil rights law to fight back and won her groundbreaking PEN America v. Trump victory to exposing the "Big Tech Backslide" that eliminated 17 safety policies right before the 2024 election. She is the ONLY LATINA proving that strategic legal action that can challenge even the most powerful tech giants. Nora shares how she went from law school—where no one looked like her—to the ACLU and now Free Press, shaping policy around misinformation and civil rights. Her Big Tech Backslide report exposes how companies like Meta, X, and YouTube rolled back critical trust and safety policies despite public promises. Finally, we dive into Section 230, the law that shields platforms from liability while still enabling harm, yet we are still protected by this from our 1st Amendment rights.  She is a contributing writer for Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, CNN, and Tech Policy Press. Her expertise and commentary is regularly featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, CNN, NBC, Fox News, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. Join us on Latinas from the Block to the Boardroom as we  amplify Latine and community voices, through their stories of perseverance, and having the courage to believe in your pursuit of your dream. Let's take control of our narratives, discuss pathways to higher education, empower community with technology, to inspire future generations. Host & Executive Producer Theresa E. Gonzales discusses everything from the our representation in tech industry, healthy communities, change makers of non-profits, education and small business journeys, through intergenerational conversations with unapologetic banter tochange the status quo. Check out and listen to more episodes: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3zvQq2y Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4e8wNwM Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eMOBxE YouTube: https://bit.ly/Latinasb2b Support Latinas B2B by checking out our merch: https://www.latinasb2b.com/shop-latin... Connect with us: Website: www.latinasb2b.com YouTube @Latinasb2b Instagram: @Latinasb2b LinkedIn: @latinasb2bmarketing Facebook: @Latinasb2b.marketing Join newsletter: www.latinasb2b.com Podcast production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez. To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com.

A man that helped Austin police takedown an armed man is speaking out about the experience, the ACLU is suing the state of Texas over its new law prohibiting DEI programs in public schools and hundreds of people marched through downtown Austin over the weekend to protest the Trump administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Project 2025 is not just a policy blueprint—it's a movement aiming to remake American governance from the ground up. Growing out of the Heritage Foundation's nearly 1,000-page Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025 lays out detailed steps to reshape the federal government in ways that, in its authors' words, will “destroy the Administrative State.” Supporters see it as a plan to bring an unaccountable bureaucracy under control, while critics warn it risks undermining the checks and balances at the heart of American democracy.At the heart of Project 2025 is an ambitious assertion of presidential control over the federal government. The proposal rests on the controversial unitary executive theory—a vision that would give the president direct authority over agencies traditionally considered independent. According to Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, “All federal employees should answer to the president.” That's not an abstract idea; the plan explicitly calls for replacing civil service protections with the so-called Schedule F scheme, permitting mass firings and replacing thousands of current staffers with political loyalists who can be hired—and fired—at will. The stated aim is to ensure government personnel are “aligned with the president's vision,” a move that legal experts like those at the ACLU say could erode the rule of law and the traditional separation of church and state.One of the most consequential aspects of Project 2025 is its Day One playbook—hundreds of executive orders prepared for immediate signature by a new Republican president. These directives aren't vague. The plan recommends, for example, eliminating entire agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It also outlines how to dismiss all Department of State leadership before the next inauguration, replacing them with interim officials who are “ideologically vetted,” bypassing Senate confirmation. Kiron Skinner, who contributed to the State Department chapter, told journalist Peter Bergen this summer, “Most State Department employees are too left-wing and must be replaced by those loyal to the president,” though she could not name concrete examples of alleged obstruction.The intended changes go far beyond personnel shuffles. Project 2025 includes proposals for increasing executive control over policy on education, health, and the environment—often with the goal of terminating or rolling back regulations deemed “woke” or outside a conservative agenda. For example, its environmental proposals would gut major climate initiatives and environmental protections, while social policy sections support rolling back abortion rights and LGBTQ protections. Heritage Foundation materials state that these moves are needed to “put the people back in charge,” but organizations like the Center for Progressive Reform warn that such changes could devastate protections for workers, the public's health, and marginalized communities.Concrete steps are already underway. Since January, under the new Department of Government Efficiency, agencies have announced mass layoffs and office closures, with an eye toward shrinking government to its “essential functions.” According to data cited by Government Executive, more than 280,000 federal workers and contractors are facing layoffs or job uncertainty across 27 federal agencies. Office buildings are being consolidated, and a strict return-to-office mandate is being enforced to reduce federal infrastructure, often in a haphazard fashion.Project 2025's vision is not universally accepted even within conservative circles, but its scale and urgency have jolted both supporters and opponents. Critics, from policy experts to civil liberties advocates, argue that replacing career professionals with political operatives risks turning agencies into arms of the executive, threatening not just efficiency but the stability of American institutions. Yet, for its authors, this is precisely the point—a bold, sweeping course correction.Looking forward, the coming months will see critical decision points as Congress, the courts, and public opinion respond to the push to enact Project 2025. Both sides are mobilizing, as legal battles and heated public debates loom. As American governance stands on the cusp of profound change, Project 2025 offers both a rallying cry and a warning—one that demands attention from every corner of the nation.Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ 100 years after the famous Scopes "Monkey" Trial, the battle over the separation of church and state in American public life is as heated as ever. Brad is joined by Dan Mach, director of the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, to discuss the enduring legacy of the Scopes trial and its modern-day echoes in courtrooms and classrooms across the country. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project 2025 has emerged as one of the most ambitious and controversial blueprints for American governance in recent memory. Initiated by the Heritage Foundation and backed by a coalition of over 100 conservative organizations, the project's stated mission is to radically restructure the federal government and centralize executive power, promising what supporters call a return to accountability and efficiency. Critics, meanwhile, warn of its sweeping threats to democratic norms, federal checks and balances, and the livelihoods of millions.Unveiled in the form of a 900-page manifesto titled “Mandate for Leadership,” Project 2025 provides granular directions, agency by agency, for an incoming administration determined to overhaul how Washington operates. According to the Heritage Foundation, the “heart of the project” is dismantling what they label as an unaccountable bureaucracy that has “drifted too far from the people's will.” Kevin Roberts, Heritage's president, bluntly declared, “All federal employees should answer to the president.” This vision is animated by an expansive concept known as the unitary executive theory, essentially arguing that the president should have direct control over all executive branch agencies, shedding their current independence.For listeners wondering about concrete changes, consider the plan for the Department of State. Project 2025 advocates for the wholesale removal of agency leadership officials before Inauguration Day, replacing them with individuals hand-picked for strict ideological alignment. Kiron Skinner, who penned the State Department chapter, envisioned a department led exclusively by loyalists, aiming to “remove those not aligned with the president's priorities.” This move is designed not just to hasten the implementation of foreign policy goals, but to prevent bureaucratic resistance—a key grievance among the plan's authors.Just as striking is Project 2025's approach to the federal workforce. Its architects call for the resurrection and expansion of “Schedule F,” a controversial employment status for federal employees. Schedule F would classify hundreds of thousands—if not more—career civil servants as political appointees, stripping them of longstanding job protections. The stated goal is a government “purged of entrenched opposition” so that “key decisions reflect the president's will on day one.” Critics like the National Federation of Federal Employees describe this as a “scheme to purge career professionals,” warning it would turn public administration into a partisan machine vulnerable to corruption.The plan doesn't stop at restructuring government jobs. Project 2025 lays out a 180-day playbook, which includes ready-to-sign executive orders to immediately strip environmental regulations, curb civil rights protections, and overhaul social welfare programs. According to the Center for Progressive Reform, executive actions under this strategy have already targeted the rollback of climate rules, weakened worker safety standards, and eliminated agencies altogether. The swift elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Board and US Agency for International Development, as documented by Government Executive, was meant to signal a new era of “government efficiency” but resulted in “widespread layoffs and institutional chaos.”Project 2025's policy ambitions also extend to social issues. In its blueprint, it calls for curtailing access to abortion, undoing LGBTQ protections, and limiting federal action on racial equity. The ACLU describes these proposals as “an unprecedented rollback of civil rights and liberties,” comparing their scope to a rewriting of American society's basic fabric.Proponents lay claim to a mandate from voters frustrated by government gridlock and what they see as bureaucratic overreach. Opponents counter that this is not reform but a consolidation of power. Legal experts from across the spectrum worry that such an agenda could collapse the traditional American barrier between politics and administration, risking both the appearance and the reality of authoritarian rule.Several milestones now lie ahead. With ongoing lawsuits from labor unions and scrutiny by watchdog groups, the coming months promise court battles and congressional hearings over Project 2025's legality and impact. Congressional Republicans and administration officials are preparing for rapid implementation, while a coalition of civil rights organizations and some lawmakers are vowing organized resistance.The stakes for American governance have rarely been higher. Whether Project 2025 becomes a historical footnote or a defining blueprint for the future will depend on political will, legal battles, and the choices made in the next critical year.Thanks for tuning in to this week's deep dive. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

In this impassioned episode, Michael Savage reacts after a deranged transgender gunman slaughtered two children and injured at least 17 others at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. He critically examines the roles of parents, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and the media, calling for drastic actions including arrests and policy changes. He attributes a series of recent violent events to the radical left and accuses liberal figures and entities like the ACLU and George Soros of fostering societal unrest. Savage laments the collapse of American values and safety for children nationwide.

We know the First Amendment protects hate speech. But has it always done so? And how have civil rights groups responded when their members are the target of hate speech? University of Iowa Law Professor Samantha Barbas is the author of a new law review article, “How American Civil Rights Groups Defeated Hate Speech Laws.” Timestamps:  00:00 Intro 04:04 “The Birth of a Nation” movie controversy 12:44 Henry Ford's anti-Semitic “Dearborn Independent” 22:41 American Jewish Committee's “quarantining” solution 28:41 ACLU's Eleanor Holmes Norton defending a racist in court 33:42 Racist Senate candidate J.B. Stoner 37:28 Neo-Nazis and Skokie 47:20 Why are college students afraid of saying “the wrong thing?” 52:31 Barbas' favorite free speech literature 53:15 Barbas' free speech hero Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-civil-rights-hate-speech-and-first-amendment.  Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org. Show notes: Morris Ernst, free speech renegade (Barbas' previous So to Speak appearance, July 29, 2021) Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) via FIRE  

8/28/25: Bill & Buz Fishwrap. ACLU of MA Ex Dir Carol Rose on militarization of DC law enforcement and SCOTUS- approved cuts. Fran Volkmann & Carol Edelstein, authors of "Herself to the End." Jon Anz w/ Ruth Griggs, President of Northampton Jazz Festival.

8/28/25: Bill & Buz Fishwrap. ACLU of MA Ex Dir Carol Rose on militarization of DC law enforcement and SCOTUS- approved cuts. Fran Volkmann & Carol Edelstein, authors of "Herself to the End." Jon Anz w/ Ruth Griggs, President of Northampton Jazz Festival.

8/28/25: Bill & Buz Fishwrap. ACLU of MA Ex Dir Carol Rose on militarization of DC law enforcement and SCOTUS- approved cuts. Fran Volkmann & Carol Edelstein, authors of "Herself to the End." John Anz w/ Ruth Griggs, President of Northampton Jazz Festival.

8/28/25: Bill & Buz Fishwrap. ACLU of MA Ex Dir Carol Rose on militarization of DC law enforcement and SCOTUS- approved cuts. Fran Volkmann & Carol Edelstein, authors of "Herself to the End." Jon Anz w/ Ruth Griggs, President of Northampton Jazz Festival.

Project 2025 is reshaping the conversation about the role and reach of the federal government in ways that feel both sweeping and personal. Born from the Heritage Foundation's “Mandate for Leadership,” this 900-plus-page policy blueprint divides nearly every federal agency and department into zones of targeted reform, all aimed at what its architects call “destroying the administrative state.” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts summed up the mood behind it simply, declaring that “every federal employee should answer to the president.” That principle, experts say, guides the project's plans to consolidate power at the top and move swiftly on a series of executive moves from day one.The scale of intended change is hard to overstate. Project 2025 outlines an operational playbook for the first 180 days of a new Republican administration. Its centerpiece is Schedule F—a government job classification that would allow the new president to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as at-will political appointees. That means federal workers, who traditionally hold their positions regardless of party, could be replaced without cause by loyalists. Kiron Skinner, who authored the State Department chapter, suggested clearing out senior career officials before January 20 and quickly installing appointees who share the president's views, bypassing regular Senate confirmation requirements. Skinner argues such moves are necessary to ensure ideological alignment, though when pressed by CNN's Peter Bergen, she couldn't cite a specific past obstruction by career diplomats.Concrete actions have followed rhetoric. When President Trump took office on January 20, he and Elon Musk's newly minted Department of Government Efficiency hit the ground running. According to Government Executive and other outlets, entire agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID were targeted for elimination through “legally questionable means,” with the stated goal of cutting $1 trillion in spending. Executive orders soon followed, including one mandating that federal agencies may only hire one worker for every four who leave, and requiring return-to-office mandates for a federal workforce that had grown accustomed to remote work during the pandemic.Faced with the threat of losing job protections, over a quarter-million federal workers and contractors were facing layoffs by spring 2025, with forty-seven years of collective bargaining law challenged as unions raced to court. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald put it bluntly, calling it “an attack on the law, and on public service.” Opposition isn't limited to labor groups. The ACLU has charged that Project 2025 is a “roadmap to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals,” warning that the proposals could undermine legal norms, civil rights, and protections for marginalized groups. Legal scholars from both political parties have raised flags about weakening the separation of powers, endangering environmental and public health safeguards, and risking consolidated, unchecked executive authority.Proponents are equally resolute. They argue that Project 2025 is a necessary corrective to what they view as a bloated, left-leaning bureaucracy unaccountable to the people. Heritage Foundation materials frame the federal government as too large, too costly, and resistant to the priorities of conservative Americans. They cite the sheer scale—over 2.4 million civilian federal employees—and the proliferation of agencies as drivers for dramatic consolidation and workforce reductions.Specific policy proposals go beyond personnel. The project seeks to reset environmental rules, roll back climate policies, and overhaul protections related to health, education, and civil rights. Critics, including groups like the Center for Progressive Reform, warn that these policies will lead to significant negative effects for ordinary Americans—from loss of workplace and environmental protections to sharp changes in immigration enforcement and reproductive rights.As the summer of 2025 progresses, listeners should watch several key milestones. Court cases brought by federal employee unions and advocacy groups could set vital precedents for the separation of powers. Agency heads are evaluating which departments could be merged or eliminated entirely in accordance with new directives. Congress, too, will play an uncertain but pivotal role as many Project 2025 reforms require new legislation or appropriations. Meanwhile, a country already polarized by election-year tensions is bracing for the long-term consequences of this radical experiment in federal power.Thank you for tuning in to this week's deep dive into Project 2025's ambitions and realities. Be sure to come back next week for more crucial stories shaping the nation.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

This week Angelina Melnikova is set to make her return to the international elite scene after four years; Australian gymnastics prison release program is alive and well; plus upcoming meet information and plenty of dumpster fire news. GymCastic LIVE SHOW Featuring: World AA Champion, Morgan Hurd.  Watch teaser here and get replay tickets here HEADLINES Angelina Melnikova, Tokyo Olympic Champion and 2021 World All-Around Champion, is making her international return at the Paris World Cup after four years Sean Gardner, a coach formerly at Chow's Gymnastics, has been arrested on charges of possession of child pornography. Chow's Letter; whistleblower profile Australian Gymnastics Jail is back: the Australian program is not using all of its allotted spots for the mens or womens teams at Worlds Rebeca Andrade will miss 2025 Worlds to take a physical and mental rest GYMTERNET NEWS The "30 miles is NOT neutral" proposal: college coaches vs. Utah gymnastics History note: a follow-up from Behind the Scenes, the first perfect 10 in gymnastics was in 1924 Not done yet! Jade Carey was hired as the student assistant coach at Oregon State Never say never: Simone Biles spoke at a conference in Australia and when asked about her prospects for LA 2028 she said "never say never" John Carney, former coach at Cal, is now the assistant coach at Denver ICYMI U.S. Championships will be in Phoenix, Arizona next year and apparently nobody has any concerns about the heat? Dumpster Fire News The trial of a man accused of killing Kara Welsh, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast, has been pushed back to June 2026 Adam Richard Jacobs, a former gymnastics coach at USA Gymnastics World in Utah, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for child exploitation crimes Kaya Kazuma (Japan) announced on Twitter that he ruptured his Achilles Meet News Junior Pan Am Games The United States won gold at Junior Pan Ams and Charleigh Bullock won the all-around title Debate: is it ever acceptable to keep an injured athlete on a team? Rhythmic Worlds in Brazil An awkward moment as the wrong national anthem was played for Germany's Darja Varfolomeev Rin Keys (USA) becomes the first U.S. Rhythmic Gymnast to medal at the World Championships! History maker! Anaïs Ossonon becomes the first-ever gymnast to represent the Ivory Coast at a Rhythmic World Championships World Games Defying gravity: Tofig Aliyev of Azerbaijan competed the first ever triple-triple in competition! Artistry check: artistic gymnastics needs to take notes from acro. Watch the British men's World Games acro performance Mini-Commission: Are college gymnasts allowed to represent their universities in elite gymnastics settings? Thank you to World Champion level Club Gym Nerd member Stacey Tovino (law professor at the University of Oklahoma!) Club Gym Nerd members help us pay our bills and in return get thank you goodies from us in return. See details at gymcastic.com under the "Join Club" tab. How do elite gymnasts choose to represent their club vs university? How can a university-employed coach coach at a non-college meet? Elite Check-in: Who is the Best Gymnast in the World? 2025 Edition Anna Kalmykova leads the all-around leaderboard with a 57.365 in the all-around, but we have some questions Hezly Rivera's 56.400 on day two of U.S. Nationals is not far behind Kalmykova. Leanne Wong's 56.100 is also competitive Kaylia Nemour scored a 56.032 back in March. She has scored as high as 15.100 on bars and 14.650 on beam this year. If she can bring back her Yurchenko double-full, could she challenge for gold? While Manila Esposito may not have the highest all-around score this year, all four of her events pass the eye test UPCOMING COMPETITIONS September 13-14: Paris World Cup September 26-28: Szombathely World Cup September 29-Oct 2: US Women's Selection Camp RELATED: Photo Galleries from 2025 U.S. Championships Day One Women's U.S. Championships 2025 Podium Training Report: 2025 U.S. Championships 2025 U.S. Championships Preview Episode UP NEXT: Behind The Scenes: Live Q&A podcast every Friday at noon Pacific/7 GMT GET MORE PODCASTS:   Club members can watch Vanessa Atler's live show by logging in to her live show page, it will appear below. Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes and extended interviews like this one with Katya Zamolodchikova Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded, participate in watch-alongs with Spencer, access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  RESOURCES The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review. Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation  GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links. Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions RESISTANCE  Submitted by our listeners. ACTION Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) State your name and zip code or district Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) Wait for answer Ask for action items -  tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of...etc.) ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes ACLU Mobile Justice App Allows you to record encounters with public officials while streaming to your closest contacts and your local ACLU; REPORT any abuse by authorities to the ACLU and its networks. LAWSUITS Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project STAY INFORMED Suggested podcasts:  Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, Your Rights on trains and buses video  

U.S. President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops onto the streets of Washington, D.C., saying it's necessary to tackle crime. Now he's warning Chicago could be next. His critics say it's unconstitutional and a power grab move that creates a militarized environment without solving the root causes of crime. Martin Austermuhle, a journalist with The 51st, a local Washington, D.C. news outlet, talks about what life is like in the capital with National Guard troops on the ground. Then Illinois Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García and Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois weigh in on Trump's threats to send the National Guard into Chicago.

In this episode of the Bill Press Pod, Bill speaks with David Cole, the George Mitchell Professor in Law and Public Policy at Georgetown University and Legal Affairs Correspondent for The Nation Magazine. They discuss the weaponization of the Justice Department under Donald Trump's administration, highlighting recent actions taken against Trump's critics like John Bolton. Cole elaborates on how these actions represent a misuse of power and undermine the rule of law. Cole also talks about the broader implications for civil society, mentioning how Trump has leveraged federal funding to coerce universities, law firms, and media organizations into compliance. They explore the lack of checks and balances from both Congress and the Supreme Court, and Cole provides insight into how civil society and legal organizations can push back against these abuses of power.Today Bill highlights the work of the American Civil Liberties Union. Where our guest used to be the Legal Director for many years. More information at ACLU.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

00:08 — Stephanie Kramer is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center. 00:33 — Amy Belsher is director of Immigrants' Rights Litigation at the New York Civil Liberties Union and worked on the case of Mata Velasquez who was taken by ICE during its new practice of stationing agents outside of immigration courts. 00:45 —  Abigail Kunkler is an EPIC Law Fellow focusing on surveillance oversight. Sergio Alcubilla is the Director of Community Engagement at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi. The post Data Shows US Immigrant Population Declining First Time in 50 Years; Lawsuit to End ICE Arrests at Mandated Court Hearings; Plus, How ICE Tracked Wire Transfers to Spy on Immigrants appeared first on KPFA.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Senator Capito backs use of the National Guard to patrol the DC streets--ACLU challenges AG McCuskey's efforts to consolidate vaccination lawsuits--A high profile Morgantown murder trial to start today--In Sports: The 2025 class of the WVU Sports HOF is announced and it's game week for high school and college teams in WV 

Societies are grappling with how to help keep children safe while navigating online spaces, including through legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the US. In this episode, Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), joins host Janelle Wrigley to talk about KOSA and America's First Amendment. Jenna and Janelle explore why free speech principles are so important in the "new town square" of the internet, and discuss the benefits and risks that young people face online. Jenna explains the ACLU's concerns with KOSA's duty of care and potential over-censorship, and advocates for alternatives centered on privacy, user controls, and digital literacy.

Can humor help us make sense of unprecedented threats to our civil liberties? Join us this week for a special episode of At Liberty, recorded live at SeriesFest in Denver, where Kamau and moderator Mo Fry Pasic explore Kamau's signature style of sociopolitical comedy, how something can be funny without being true, and why laughter means we're paying attention. You can hear Mo in conversation with a different comedian each week on their podcast, Worse Than You with Mo Fry Pasic. And you can keep up with SeriesFest year-round at seriesfest.com. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.

The ACLU of Nevada is suing the DMV for failing to disclose a potential collaboration with federal immigration officers. It's the latest development regarding President Trump's immigration crackdown.

Headlines for August 20, 2025; Occupied D.C.? Six GOP States Send National Guard to Washington as Outcry Grows over Trump Power Grab; For-Profit Presidency: New Yorker Mag Reveals Trump Family’s Frenzy to Cash In on the White House; “Unprecedented and Not Normal”: ACLU Sues over Legal Black Hole at “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE Jail

Headlines for August 20, 2025; Occupied D.C.? Six GOP States Send National Guard to Washington as Outcry Grows over Trump Power Grab; For-Profit Presidency: New Yorker Mag Reveals Trump Family’s Frenzy to Cash In on the White House; “Unprecedented and Not Normal”: ACLU Sues over Legal Black Hole at “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE Jail

En Jalisco asesinan a Ernesto Barajas, vocalista del grupo Enigma Norteño.Julio César Chávez Jr. es ingresado a penal de máxima seguridad en México.Maestros visitan a estudiante detenido por ICE y denuncian pésimas condiciones.Se pintará el muro fronterizo de negro para dificultar los cruces.Esperan con cautela a la próxima reunión de Putin, Zelensky y Trump.Graves daños por las lluvias torrenciales e inundaciones en vecindarios latinos en Chicago.ACLU demanda a la policía de Warren por presunto abuso policial en Michigan.Joven estudiante detenido enfrenta un futuro incierto.Juez desestima parte de  la demanda sobre "alcatraz de los Caimanes".En Colombia tribunal ordena la libertad del expresidente Álvaro Uribe.Escucha de lunes a viernes el ‘Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna' con Elián Zidán    

In 1954, Marilyn Sheppard was found murdered in her Bay Village, Ohio home. Her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard, claimed an intruder was responsible, but the case quickly became a media sensation and one of the most controversial trials in U.S. history. We cover the murder, the investigation, the trial that captivated the nation, the Supreme Court appeal, and the decades of new evidence that continue to spark debate over Sam Sheppard's guilt or innocence.   Thank you to this week's sponsors! Maximize your look with minimal effort. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/MOMS for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.   Save 25% on your first month of subscription by going to dosedaily.co/MOMS or entering MOMS at checkout.  We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/MOMS. This deal is not available on their regular website.   Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/moms.  Check-out bonus episodes up on Spotify and Apple podcast now! Get new episodes a day early and ad free, plus chat episodes, at Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast .    To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/MomsandMysteriesATrueCrimePodcast.    Listen and subscribe to Melissa's other podcast, Criminality!! It's the podcast for those who love reality TV, true crime, and want to hear all the juicy stories where the two genres intersect. Subscribe and listen here: www.pod.link/criminality    Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more.    Sources: Dr. Sam Sheppard https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161579403/?match=1&terms=Sam%20Sheppard July 5, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161579430/ July 5, 1954 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/chronology.html (Timeline) Marilyn Reese Sheppard (1923-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061161401/?match=1&terms=Sam%20Sheppard July 5, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061161847/?terms=Sam%20Sheppard July 5, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161579673/ - July 6, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161579693/ July 6, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161580320/?terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 8, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161580329/?terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 8, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061163143/ July 8, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061152937/?match=1&terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 23, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161580677/?terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 9, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161580670/?terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 9, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161580688/?terms=%22Dr.%20Samuel%20Sheppard%22 July 9, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161581456/?match=1&terms=Susan%20Hayes July 13, 1954 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061167105/?match=1&terms=Susan%20Hayes July 13, 1954 SHEPPARD MURDER CASE | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History  Sheppard v. Maxwell | 384 U.S. 333 (1966) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center  James Neff's book “The Wrong Man: The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case” (Random House, 2001) ACLU of Ohio. (n.d.). Case Summary: Sheppard v. Maxwell. Sheppard v. Maxwell 384 U.S. 333 (1966) - ACLU of Ohio  Sam Sheppard, the inspiration for “The Fugitive,” dies | April 6, 1970 | HISTORY https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161457250/?match=1&terms=Susan%20Hayes Dec 1, 1954 Sam Sheppard | EBSCO Research  https://www.newspapers.com/image/960535986/?match=1&terms=Sam%20Sheppard July 19, 1964 https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetailpre1989.aspx?caseid=300 Dr. Sam's Last Days The Trials of Dr. Sam Sheppard: A Chronology https://www.newspapers.com/image/1097959212/?match=1&terms=The%20Sheppard%20murder%20case%20at%2070%3A%20Terry%20Gilbert July 2024 Dr. Sam Sheppard's Body Exhumed in Bid to Clear Name in Murder - Los Angeles Times Sept. 18, 1997 https://web.archive.org/web/20220306173150/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/05/us/dna-test-absolves-sam-sheppard-of-murder-lawyer-says.html March 5, 1998 Body of Marilyn Sheppard exhumed - UPI Archives Oct. 5, 1999 https://www.famous-trials.com/sam-sheppard/2-sheppard The Dr. Sam Sheppard Trial. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7078505068087048302&q=State+v.+Sheppard,+135+N.E.2d+340,+342+(Ohio+1956)&hl=en&as_sdt=2006#r[1] NOVA Online | Killer's Trail | Chronology of a Murder (5) Prejudicial Publicity in Criminal Trials: Bringing Sheppard v. Maxwell Into the Nineties | Office of Justice Programs His father's wrongful conviction became a Hollywood hit. Decades later, Sam Sheppard is learning how to be himself. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0791985/?ref_=nmbio_ov_bk The Marilyn Sheppard Murder of 1954: An Analysis of Evidence.

The ACLU of Wisconsin recently released a report detailing how local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities and is paid for that cooperation.

Travel stories from New Orleans, things you didn't see on the stream and which national champions have never won an event title. Check out a little video teaser of what happened at the Morgan Hurd Live Show. REPLAY tickets here This is our weekly live Q&A podcast. We start every week at noon Pacific/ 8 GMT. Club Members login to reveal the full bonus podcast. Here's how to ask questions live. Can't make it live? Add BTS to your favorite podcast player (instructions here). Not a member? Join here. We have a weekly Behind The Scenes live Q&A podcast and post-meet live exclusives all year long. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members who supporting our work year around.  RELATED: Photo Galleries from 2025 U.S. Championships 2025 U.S. Championships Recap Day One Women's U.S. Championships 2025 Podium Training Report: 2025 U.S. Championships 2025 U.S. Championships Preview Episode BONUS CONTENT  Club members can watch Vanessa Atler's live show by logging in to her live show page, it will appear below. Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded, participate in watch-alongs with Spencer, access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  RESOURCES The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review. Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links. Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions RESISTANCE  Take Action ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment Donate or volunteer for organizations suing the administration for illegal actions Lawsuit tracker by subject: ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project Stay Informed: 6 Tools for Tracking the Trump Administration's Attacks on Civil Liberties Podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, ACLU: Your Rights 

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, we cover DC's surprising new cooperation with Trump's immigration crackdown, major developments in detention facilities across multiple states, cartel drones at the border, Harvard's patent problem, nuclear energy breakthroughs, rising AI power demands, and a surge in U.S. military recruitment. From crime crackdowns to cutting-edge energy projects, today's brief packs in the key headlines you need to know heading into the weekend. DC Partners with Trump on Immigration Enforcement: Washington DC's police chief announces the city will now cooperate with ICE on arresting illegal immigrants, a sharp reversal from its sanctuary city stance. Trump allies celebrate the move as a model for nationwide enforcement, while debate continues over alleged manipulation of DC's crime statistics. Homeless Encampment Removal in DC: Heavy equipment is clearing dozens of tent sites under overpasses and in parks. Officials offer shelter and mental health services to displaced individuals, but critics warn the homeless population may simply relocate to nearby states. New Immigration Detention Facilities in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana: Governor Ron DeSantis unveils “Deportation Depot” in Florida, Texas prepares Fort Bliss to house 5,000 illegal immigrants, and Louisiana opens space in its state prison for 500 detainees alongside violent offenders — drawing sharp criticism from the ACLU. Cartel Drone Operations at the Border: DHS reports nearly 30,000 cartel-operated drone sightings in just six months, many flying at night to drop contraband or surveil U.S. defenses. Officials warn these drones could eventually target law enforcement or civilians. Trump Targets Harvard's Lucrative Patents: The administration demands a full accounting of Harvard patents and licenses developed with federal funds, citing a 1980 law requiring public benefit and U.S.-based manufacturing. The university has yet to respond. Small Modular Reactor Program Fast-Tracked: The Department of Energy selects 11 companies to build new nuclear plants within a year to meet surging energy demands, particularly from AI data centers. One Wyoming facility is projected to use more electricity than all homes in the state combined. U.S. Military Recruitment Surges Under Trump: All branches are ahead of schedule on enlistment goals, prompting the Army to add 10 new basic training units. Defense officials credit better pay, targeted support programs, and renewed interest under the current administration. Listener Question - Two Years of The Wright Report: Bryan reflects on memorable listener stories, from health breakthroughs and autism research to workplace insights and investment wins sparked by podcast coverage. He also previews an upcoming AI tool for searching past transcripts. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: DC immigration enforcement, Trump crime crackdown, homeless encampment removal DC, Florida Deportation Depot, Fort Bliss migrant detention, Louisiana state prison detainees, cartel drones Mexico border, Harvard federal patent law, small modular reactors SMR, AI data center energy use, U.S. military recruitment surge, Wright Report two year anniversary

The most impressive gymnastics, stories, highlights and controversies of the 2025 U.S. Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. GymCastic LIVE featuring: MORGAN HURD get your replay tickets here Women's Highlights from USA Championships Hezly Rivera is your new 2025 USA national all-around champion! Who are our event champions? Vault: Wong with highest score in the world Bars: Rivera and Blakely Beam: Rivera Floor: Rivera Our favorite moments from the meet: Leanne Wong said "you're not leaving me off the Worlds team," and pulled a stuck Cheng for night two Joscelyn Roberson whipped out a massive 6.5 D-score floor routine with a full-twisting double layout for her third pass! Men's Highlights from USA Championships Question: Was this the right Worlds team pick? What about Frederick Richard? We debate How Patty Hoops 15.7'd himself a plane ticket to Jakarta We need to talk about Jackson Harrison's growth in the past year Fan favorites Charlie Larson and Jackson Harrison talk about the new men's transition (read that as dance) rules on men's floor. Kameron Nelson has not one, but TWO triple-backs on floor! Fred Richard and his new uniform: yay or nay? Are there too many triple-backs? GYMTERNET NEWS Li Li Leung is stepping down as president & CEO of USA Gymnastics. Read her exit interview here 2025 U.S. Championships – Women's Senior Results Rank No. Athlete Gym Prelim Final Combined 1 219 Hezly Rivera WOGA 55.600 56.400 112.000 2 217 Leanne Wong U of Florida 55.100 56.100 111.200 3 215 Joscelyn Roberson U of Arkansas 55.400 54.200 109.600 4 207 Ashlee Sullivan Metroplex 53.700 54.250 107.950 5 210 Simone Rose Pacific Reign 53.450 54.450 107.900 6 209 Jayla Hang Pacific Reign 52.250 55.400 107.650 7 214 Gabrielle Hardie Twin City Twisters 53.750 53.100 106.850 8 220 Dulcy Caylor World Champions 53.800 52.900 106.700 9 224 Tiana Sumanasekera World Champions 53.100 52.850 105.950 10 218 Claire Pease WOGA 51.600 53.950 105.550 11 206 Alicia Zhou Love Gym 51.950 52.800 104.750 12 204 Izzy Stassi Gym X‑Treme 53.300 50.750 104.050 13 211 Harlow Buddendeck RGA 52.000 52.000 104.000 14 201 Nola Matthews Airborne 52.150 51.750 103.900 15 223 Brooke Pierson World Champions 52.450 51.000 103.450 16 222 Reese Esponda World Champions 51.350 51.900 103.250 17 212 Ally Damelio San Mateo 50.450 52.150 102.600 18 221 Jordis Eichman World Champions 51.250 51.050 102.300 19 203 Annalisa Milton GAGE 51.300 50.600 101.900 20 208 Catherine Guy Pacific Reign 50.550 50.050 100.600 2025 Senior Women's National Team Skye Blakely — Frisco, Texas/University of Florida Dulcy Caylor — Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre Jayla Hang — Bellevue, Wash./Pacific Reign Gymnastics Gabrielle Hardie — Sioux Falls, S.D./Twin City Twisters Claire Pease — Sunnyvale, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics Hezly Rivera — Oradell, N.J./WOGA Gymnastics Joscelyn Roberson — Texarkana, Texas/University of Arkansas Simone Rose — Sammamish, Wash./Pacific Reign Gymnastics Ashlee Sullivan — Richardson, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics Tiana Sumanasekera — Pleasanton, Calif./World Champions Centre Leanne Wong — Overland Park, Kan./University of Florida 2025 Men's World Team October 19-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia Taylor Burkhart — Arvada, Colo./Stanford University^ Brandon Dang — San Jose, Calif./University of Illinois Asher Hong — Tomball, Texas/Stanford University Patrick Hoopes — Lehi, Utah/U.S. Air Force Academy Brody Malone — Aragon, Ga./EVO Gymnastics Kameron Nelson — Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University Donnell Whittenburg — Baltimore, Md./EVO Gymnastics 2025 Senior Men's National Team Fuzzy Benas — Richmond, Texas/University of Oklahoma Taylor Burkhart — Arvada, Colo./Stanford University Crew Bold — Delray Beach, Fla./University of Michigan Brandon Dang — San Jose, Calif./University of Illinois Asher Hong — Tomball, Texas/Stanford University Patrick Hoopes — Lehi, Utah/U.S. Air Force Academy Jun Iwai — Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics Josh Karnes — Erie, Pa./Penn State University Riley Loos — El Dorado Hills, Calif./ Stanford University Brody Malone — Aragon, Ga./EVO Gymnastics Kameron Nelson — Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University Dante Reive — West Point, N.Y./United States Military Academy Frederick Richard — Stoughton, Mass./University of Michigan Donnell Whittenburg — Baltimore, Md./EVO Gymnastics Colt Walker — Austin, Texas/Stanford University UPCOMING COMPETITIONS August 19-22: Junior Pan Am Games US: Lavi Crain, Charleigh Bullock, Kylie Smith, Addie VanGrinsven September 13-14: Paris World Cup  September 26-28: Szombathely World Cup September 29-October 2: US Women's Selection Camp RELATED: Photo Galleries from 2025 U.S. Championships Day One Women's U.S. Championships 2025 Podium Training Report: 2025 U.S. Championships 2025 U.S. Championships Preview Episode UP NEXT: Behind The Scenes: Live Q&A podcast every Friday at noon Pacific/7 GMT GET MORE PODCASTS:   Club members can watch Vanessa Atler's live show by logging in to her live show page, it will appear below. Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes and extended interviews like this one with Katya Zamolodchikova Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded, participate in watch-alongs with Spencer, access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  RESOURCES The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review. Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation  GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links. Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions RESISTANCE  Submitted by you. Take Action ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment Donate or volunteer for organizations suing the administration for illegal actions Lawsuit tracker by subject: ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project Stay Informed: 6 Tools for Tracking the Trump Administration's Attacks on Civil Liberties Podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, ACLU: Your Rights   

Grace and Alvina welcome special guest Padma Venkatraman, author and oceanographer, to talk about a recent bill that she helped pass in Rhode Island to protect librarians, teachers, authors, and publishers from book banning. For the Fortune Cookie segment they all talk about their favorite ice cream flavors! Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/  

What does it mean to advocate for taxpayer rights in an increasingly polarized political landscape? Can alliances between the left and right yield real reform in tax policy?In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Pete Sepp, President of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). Pete discusses:How NTU, founded in 1969, is a nonpartisan organization focused on simpler, fairer, lower taxes, less wasteful spending, and taxpayer rights.NTU's mission to fill gaps in the tax policy advocacy space, working on issues that other organizations ignore or overlook.Why NTU identified IRS reform as a key issue — and how they view it as a human rights concern, not just a policy issue.How NTU built a diverse coalition — including organizations like the ACLU and La Raza — to push for taxpayer rights reforms.NTU's creation of the Taxpayer Defense Center to pursue public interest litigation in precedent-setting tax cases.How the NTU Foundation's “Tax Basics” provides factual, accessible answers to common taxpayer questions.The internal practices that earned NTU a spot on Washingtonian's “Best Places to Work” list, including entrepreneurship and low internal politics.Pete's philosophy that association CEOs must focus on the “Four M's” — Money, Money, Money, and Money — to lead effectively.His success in working across ideological lines by reading opposing viewpoints, reaching out, and finding common ground.References:NTU WebsiteWhich States are Best for Remote Workers? 2025 Remote Obligations and Mobility (ROAM) Index - Foundation - National Taxpayers Unionhttps://www.ntu.org/foundation/project/taxpayer-defense-centerInside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Major Tax Provisions and Their Impact - Foundation - National Taxpayers Unionhttps://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/ntuf-launches-cross-ideological-coalition-to-advise-on-irs-80-billion-budget-boost18 Great Places to Work in the DC Area

Headlines for August 12, 2025; Trump’s Takeover: ACLU on Federalizing D.C. Police & Deploying 800 National Guard; “Slide Towards Fascism”: Khalil Gibran Muhammad on Racist Roots of Trump D.C. Takeover; Trump’s New Secret Directive OKs Military Action in Latin America Under Guise of Drug War; Israel Has “Deliberate Strategy” of Killing Palestinian Journalists Like Anas al-Sharif: U.N. Expert

No Other Land (2024) is the Oscar-winning documentary that shows the brutal destruction of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank. Recorded between 2019 to 2023, the film tells the story of Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist, who has been protesting the Israeli army's destruction of homes and eviction of villagers. Adra is assisted by Yuval Abraham, a Jewish Israeli journalist. (They are also two of the film's four directors). To Adra and other Palestinians, the Israeli army is destroying their homeland. The Israeli army, however, maintains that the inhabitants are on land that the military needs for live-fire military training and that the evictions have been duly authorized by Israeli courts. The situation turns violent—Adra's cousin is shot by Israeli soldiers in the days after the Oct 7 attacks—and Adra himself is endangered by his efforts to record the evictions and protests. The film provides a penetrating look not only at a Palestinian community in the West Bank but also at the plight of those being forced off their land--with literally nowhere else to go. [Editor's Note: Since the recording of this episode, Odeh Hathalin, a Palestinian activist and contributor to the film, was shot and killed in a village in Masafer Yatta by an Israeli settler.]Timestamps:0:00     Introduction3:42      Masafar Yatta and the Occupied West Bank7:43      The legal apparatus of illegal occupation13:14    The “Gazafication” of the West Bank20:08   The meaning of “No Other Land”23:21    Israel and the international community31:24    The crackdown on free speech in the United States and in Israel34:41    A complex story of an Israeli-Palestinian friendship41:18     The power of images43:07    Growing Israeli indifference to Gaza and the West Bank after Oct. 748:30    The film's reception in Israel 49:53    Law-based criticism of Israel and antisemitism Further reading:Bartov, Omer, “I'm a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It,” New York Times (July 15, 2025)Beinart, Peter, Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning (2025)Caplan, Neil, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories (2010)Hajjar, Lisa, “International Humanitarian Law and ‘Wars on Terror': A Comparative Analysis of Israeli and American Doctrines and Policies,” 36 Journal of Palestine Studies 36 (Autumn 2006)Kaufman, Anthony, "No Other Distribution: How Film Industry Economics and Politics Are Suppressing Docs Sympathetic to Palestine and Critical of Israel," Int'l Documentary Ass'n (Jan 15, 2025)Khalidi, Rashid, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 (2020)Lukenville, Mackenzie, “The Only Path Forward: ‘No Other Land,'” Int'l Documentary Ass'n (Dec. 5, 2024)Sfard, Michael, Occupation from Within: A Journey to the Roots of the Constitutional Coup (2025)Law on Film is created and produced by Jonathan Hafetz. Jonathan is a professor at Seton Hall Law School. He has written many books and articles about the law. He has litigated important cases to protect civil liberties and human rights while working at the ACLU and other organizations. Jonathan is a huge film buff and has been watching, studying, and talking about movies for as long as he can remember. For more information about Jonathan, here's a link to his bio: https://law.shu.edu/profiles/hafetzjo.htmlYou can contact him at jonathanhafetz@gmail.comYou can follow him on X (Twitter) @jonathanhafetz You can follow the podcast on X (Twitter) @LawOnFilmYou can follow the podcast on Instagram @lawonfilmpodcast

This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial, a Tennessee case where science and religion squared off in court — and the whole country tuned in. This week, the ACLU's Daniel Mach joins Kamau to discuss the landmark trial, how it shaped our contemporary understanding of religious freedom in the United States, and what the Constitution actually says about the separation between church and state. One note is that this episode was recorded just before a court ruled that an Arkansas law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools is unconstitutional. This is a victory for religious freedom. It is also a reminder that this freedom is increasingly under threat. To learn more about this case and others like it, visit aclu.org Daniel Mach is the director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. Our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell. This episode was executive produced by Jessica Herman Weitz for the ACLU, and W. Kamau Bell, Kelly Rafferty, PhD, and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD for Who Knows Best Productions. It was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA. At Liberty is edited and produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get.

Eric Newman speaks with director Sam Feder and producer Amy Scholder about their new documentary Heightened Scrutiny. The film follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio's journey to the Supreme Court in United States v. Skrmetti, which sought to overturn Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Alongside Strangio's work on the case, interviews with journalists, activists, and others reveal how media coverage of trans issues by publications including the New York Times have fueled legislative attacks against trans people as well as a burgeoning anti-trans cultural turn fed by disinformation. Feder and Scholder's documentary offers a sobering look at the current assault on trans rights.

Del sits down with ICAN's lead attorney Aaron Siri to break down a pivotal legal win in West Virginia, where an ICAN supported lawsuit has secured a preliminary injunction allowing students to attend school with religious vaccine exemptions. They expose how the AAP, ACLU, and state education board are fighting parental rights—and why this fight is far from over. Aaron delivers a sobering reminder: rights are never won, only defended. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-highwire-with-del-bigtree--3620606/support.