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SPEAKER 1
Donald Trump had some major losses this week in court. He lost before the United States Supreme Court in a five to four decision where Donald Trump was trying to block his criminal sentencing. In the Manhattan criminal case where he was convicted on 34 felony counts, the sentencing did indeed go forward, meaning Donald Trump is an adjudicated felon.
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I want to talk about that, Trump's other losses as he appealed to the Supreme Court to try to block the sentencing. But when we talk about the United States Supreme Court ruling, we should talk about this five to four dynamic. You know, Justice John Roberts said, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett ruled against Donald Trump.
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Are we seeing a new alignment of certain right-wing justices who will be joining with the liberal justices and forming a new majority for some cases where Donald Trump will try to engage in constitutional excesses. We will break that down. We'll talk about the Supreme Court oral argument in the TikTok case. Not good for TikTok at all.

Legal AF Ad-Free: 1/11/25

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The latest episode of Legal AF is now available ad-free exclusively for Meidas+ Substack subscribers. If you are able to support ad-free episodes like this, please consider joining as a paid subscriber today!

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On this episode of the Legal AF Podcast, Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok break down the latest legal and political news, including the Supreme Court’s surprising 5-4 decision on Trump’s sentencing and how it will impact future cases, the bizarre twists at Trump’s NY sentencing hearing, the likelihood of the Mar-a-Lago special counsel report ever going public, and whether Rudy Giuliani could finally face jail time for contempt of court. Tune in for these stories and more as Ben and Popok deliver their signature analysis at the intersection of law and politics.

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User's avatar
Peter's avatar

I appreciate everything you guys do for We the People 🇺🇸🇵🇷🫰🏽😊

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Thomas Potgieter's avatar

From South Africa 🇿🇦 Elon Musk gives the democratically elected government and country a vey bad name ! Shame on you Musk !

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Cynthia Pruitt's avatar

Deport Elon muck

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Barbara Gierzak's avatar

The GOP doesn't follow the rule of law, as they profess. Case in point: FELON Donald J. Trump.

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Laura Crabtree's avatar

I wish they'd just do something with Giuliani already this is ridiculous that people with money get to postpone postpone over and over and don't get consequences like people without money yet but you know the court system is backed up and I think it more has to do with where he's located then the money issue although money does have a lot to do with it I also believe that and there are other things that should have been done quite a while ago with all of this and these women should have interest backed on to all this from all the time they've waited they should be paid interest and in any way that is possible if that means he goes to jail and pays while he's in prison so be it

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Linda Morway's avatar

Everyone please contribute to the fire destruction in California.

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Linda's avatar

Great discussion. Other Presidents never talked to Justices or the DOJ because they respected the independence of those parts of Government.

Trump continues to defy norms and any semblance of following Democracy by his behavior.

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Dan R's avatar

Ben, et al:

There is strength in numbers. We can attain more critical visibility if MTN associates, along with all the other pundits, huddled to implore their readers to inundate the White House, Congress and others with phone calls, texts, and emails. I know this is ‘crazy’ but we must do something!! Sitting on our hands instead of standing up to fight is a big mistake! I’d wear out my finger in these last few days in the attempt to Stop Trump.

What is the alternative?

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Bonnie B's avatar

Very well said! We must take action now.

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Dan R's avatar

We have six days to make something like this go viral! Your suggestions, help, input, action is imperative. Edit as desired then send to 10+ like-minded and ask them to pass along to 10+

_ _ _ _

VIRAL REPOST VIRAL REPOST

Trump’s swearing-in would be Illegal because:

* Colorado Courts rule Trump is absolutely an INSURRECTIONIST

* US Constitution strictly bars any insurrectionist from serving in office

* Trump is legally judged to be an INSURRECTIONIST, is therefore barred from office. Period!

* SCOTUS is NOT a higher authority than our Constitution, they gaslight!

* US Constitution is absolutely the ultimate authority and denies Trump office, Period!

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J Sullivan's avatar

He remains disqualified.

He remains an insurrectionist.

He cannot be sworn in.

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EM's avatar

Unfortunately, he remains alive.

And the Dems are in thrall to their own sense of decency (Dick Durbin; Chuck Schumer; ) and their idiotic sense that we're all in this mess together.

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

Cannon should be fired!

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Y.B.TheTeacher's avatar

I hope she will be impeached or replaced this year.

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

I think felons in prisons should file a class action law suit for inequitable sentences.

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Fox.or.Ox's avatar

Yes. For unequal justice under the law and unlawful discrimination.

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Thomas Garrett's avatar

TRUMP hits the trifecta and has SCOTUS in his pocket. A project 2025 cabinet is a royal flush

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Mary Ann Michael's avatar

Thank you for your information! Really appreciated! And prayers for all affected in California. You are in our hearts.

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Y.B.TheTeacher's avatar

I hope NATO speaks up on the (alleged) election fraud they found out committed by the convicted felon and his accomplices before inauguration day, to stop him from becoming president. If hell breaks lose, let it because this evil man and his maga are destroying the country and they need to be stopped. I also hope they'll soon find the (alleged) arsonists and lock all of them up for life. These people are so evil that they'll do anything for money to please their cult leader.

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Judith McDanniel's avatar

Is there an update on Brett being evacuated ? PRAYING FOR ALL !!

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Judith Borg's avatar

I thought he has a gag order why is he stil doing the things like going after the supreme Court knows can he be arrested

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JoAnn Becht's avatar

There has to be accountability . Stop with all the delay delay which is Trump’S MO

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Judith Borg's avatar

What is he is going to take our Medicare what can you do to save us

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Susan Klemetsen's avatar

We will ALWAYS beat DJT! We have the TRUTH on our side & honest, forthright people. At the end of the day, we can look at ourselves in the mirror. Trump voters are more likely to die younger. The causes of death are increased rates of disease & ill health with increased rates of alcoholism, drug overdoses and suicides. Trump counties have fewer people working and less people with college degrees.

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MOBILIZER's avatar

I posted this elsewhere on Substack today, but I'm gonna repost it here:

"There must be widespread cynicism about our Federal, state and local legal systems. Being indicted? Meh. Convicted. Briefly significant. Claims that prosecutions are politically motivated? Believed, even though there may be no credible evidence of any particular political interference or generalized corruption in the legal system (and if the defendant has a political career of sufficient standing - sorry, George Santos! - then political motivation is the default conclusion.) Add to that you have tRump continually beating up on the system and avoiding consequences.

FuxNews gets hit with a massive damage settlement and is soon to get hit with a bigger one (Smartmatic). It just cruises on with its credulous audience firmly in place.

How do we get out of this disrespect for the law?"

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Jodi Cavanaugh's avatar

Just Subscribed to Legal AF

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Maurice Larsen's avatar

There is a simple and very effective way to get the felon's direct interest. Boycott the inauguration and click on a good movie. After all it is Martin Luther Day.

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S. Rose Smith-Hayes's avatar

Donald Trump took those files with or without the help of his assistants who are in the case with him. How can the case be dismissed instead of postponing it until he is out of the Whitehouse. He is guilty of unlawfully taking classified documents and showing them to others and possibly selling some of them. This is just going to be dropped??????forever??????

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

Keep us up to date on your family’s safety ❤️

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Bob G Burlison's avatar

Focused. Exactly, Ben.

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Judith Borg's avatar

Thanks for your help we just have to keep fighting for his picks in government that is no good for all of us in America keep fighting

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Theodore Chu's avatar

Do you follow Heather Cox Richardson? If not you should.

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Joan Fregapane's avatar

She’s amazing.

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Judith Borg's avatar

They should make him feed the homeless 😭 and his friend down in lower Manhattan

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Joe Casey's avatar

I Just Don't Understand ?? Why People Of Higher Education And Wealth !! Are Not Held To The Same Standards Of The Criminal Code And Sentencing !!! As The Rest Of Common Lower Status People !!!? Especially When They Of All People Should Know Better !!? It Seems To Me !! That This Should Be A Very American Concept !!? Don't Do The Crime !! If You Can't Do The Time !! Or Pay The Price !!? Maybe Going Back To Tar & Feathers !!? And Run Them Out Of The Country !! ? No Immigration Needed !!? 🤔

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

Such a man child

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Renee Lee Greco's avatar

Elon is suppressing your account on X

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Susan Klemetsen's avatar

Move to Bluesky. There is a movement for liberals to leave X at noon on Trump's inauguration day.

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Joe Casey's avatar

I Thought I Had Deleted It Long ago !!..? However It's Like Bad People It NEVER Goes Away !!? 🤔🤔

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Joe Casey's avatar

It's A Dead Account Anyway !!?

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Zizzy's avatar

Can you check out the comment made by Dana Bash (CNN) that Judge Cannon was IN CHARGE of BOTH DJT’s cases (classified docs & the Jan 6th) and now she has granted the OK to publish vol.1 !! I am gobsmacked!!! You guys - Ben and Popok - need to get this out there. (CNN published on YTube at 18:50 UK time). This is absolutely unbelievable 🤬🤬🤬🤬

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Joan Fregapane's avatar

Dana Bash is wrong, although she’s right that Cannon issued her opinion as if Cannon WERE somehow able to make decisions on both these volumes and their release. Technically, she didn’t even have jurisdiction over the documents case, the Court of Appeals solely has jurisdiction over the documents case at this point.

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JSM's avatar

Glad he is officially now an adjudicated felon. That is how he should be sworn in: AF-POTUS.

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Linda Morway's avatar

So awfully disappointed

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DougStobaugh's avatar

News extremely important in politics. The Targeted Justice Team has filed two class action lawsuits against government officials involved in narcissism and targeting US citizens throughout the United States of America and other countries and their are thousands of victims and other allegations involved in the two class action lawsuits. I'm currently dealing with v2k mental mind control manipulation gaslighting and exploiting my rights to privacy and community narcissistic gang stalking and US Military airforce weapons from the sky electromagnetic radiation microwaves direct energy attacks hopefully this important information gets addressed as soon as possible this all started with the Obama administration appointed eleven board members behind the terrorist T.I program to provide protection against terrorism in the United States of America but instead narcissistic abusive toxic evil lying jealous greedy narcissistic criminals and one thousand four hundred and forty privately owned companies are also involved in narcissism and targeting US citizen empaths this is absolutely also spiritual warfare between narcissists targeting empaths this is absolutely true it's going on in United States of America and other countries our country has approximately four thousand five hundred and eleven satellites more than any other countries at approximately one million dollars a per satellite and these narcissists are mentally communicating along with surveillance networking together like a loyal cult organization of narcissistic pure evil criminal Nazis. This is exactly what the targeted justice team has labeled this T.I program problem and 200 hundred professional psychologists labeled or former president Donald Trump a grandios malignant narcissist and unfit to be our presidential leader and narcissism is the downfall of the US military its a proven fact that's been posted on the internet and I don't understand why our US military and government officials can targete our own US citizens I'm just one of thousands of victims being targeted right now and touched and weaponized and victimized. Political power and control over honesty. God-bless.

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

💙💙💙💙💙💙🇺🇸

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Nigel Perels's avatar

Useful stuff, thank you.

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Connie Tamasco's avatar

Great video. You both are 👍 great.

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Fox.or.Ox's avatar

I appreciate your reporting very much, but something keeps bothering me. Why is DOJ allowed to make a law that a sitting president cannot be tried for a crime? After all, it is Congress' job to make the laws.

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Joan Fregapane's avatar

Michael Popok is so right about the Alito/Trump phone call. Neither one of them has any scruples about the appearance of impropriety. The sheer audacity and arrogance of having that obviously underhanded phone call immediately before a major court case involving Trump is shocking even if not (ultimately) surprising. They are both narcissists in (unfortunately) high positions and feel no need to even pretend to have any sense of ethics or integrity.

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Patricia 007's avatar

PLEASE HELP REP SWALWELL🙏

The American people vs 45

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Patricia 007's avatar

PLEASE HELP REP SWALWELL🙏

The American people vs 45

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Cynthia Pruitt's avatar

Love the excellent reporting. T is a useless pos. They're starting to gather immigrants in Bakersfield California. I hate how he is putting Californians in jail. I think we're heading to a total breakdown of rights 🙃 GO to hell Trump and all his cohorts Hitler . Fire 🔥 him

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Judith Borg's avatar

Thanks I just want to say what will he do when they shut down McDonald's and all the chicken places what will he eat know can you pitcher him eating salad no because there will be no salad he will be like us no food don't get sick there is know help

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Lynette Mason's avatar

This was a good discussion. Thank you!

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S. Rose Smith-Hayes's avatar

Will the case against Donald Trump be dismissed forever??? He took those files with or without the help of his assistants. He is guilty of taking classified documents, showing them to others and possibly selling or trading them. This should be continued until he leaves the Whitehouse.

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Cheryl Almquist's avatar

Talking between the lines

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User's avatar
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Jan 12
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Claudia  Gibson's avatar

The thumb of a Cabal is keeping all efforts Down

Going back to last summer

& the Biden blackout!

The Left is so afraid of Seeming aggressive, They just keep bringing knives to the gunfight.

We Need New Strategy -

We have the right message &

It drives the FRW crazy!

But the bulk of the people want what we’re working towards & they get the direct Benefits.

The Murdochs & Musk should be Deported for #Treason & Nationalize FOX

Close & shutter it! Full Stop!

The Country will settle back down

Just like the small town where they first tried their bullshit out! They wrote all about their experience.

All of it just Sickens me!✌🏽

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Renee Goodman's avatar

Claudia, I agree with everything you say! We definitely need a new Judicial System that works on everyone, which will never happen with the Medically Delusional Monster DJT when he gets into the WH! He should have been impeached and thrown out of office before!

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0:44
Are we seeing a new alignment of certain right-wing justices who will be joining with the liberal justices and forming a new majority for some cases where Donald Trump will try to engage in constitutional excesses. We will break that down. We'll talk about the Supreme Court oral argument in the TikTok case. Not good for TikTok at all.