The latest episode of Legal AF is now available ad-free exclusively for Meidas+ Substack subscribers. To support ad-free episodes like this, please consider joining as a paid subscriber today!
In this must-watch update, hosts Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok delve into the intersection of law and politics, covering key topics including how Democrats successfully passed the continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown and what it means for their ability to counter Trump and the MAGA-controlled House. They also discuss whether Justice Merchan will sentence Trump for his 34 felony convictions in 2025, the possibility of President Biden declaring the Equal Rights Amendment as a Constitutional amendment, and set the record straight about commentary regarding the use of the 14th Amendment to deny Trump the presidency. With insights on these issues and more, this episode is packed with critical analysis and expert commentary!
I really can’t see how a convicted felon can be president. It blows my mind how it ever was allowed for him to run…
Scotus gave trump the ability to run for president for one reason, corruption rules the court thanks to McTurtle, and Drumpf.
The court has too many pathetic
ass-kissers.
I’m wondering if Justice Roberts is related to Kevin Roberts, of the Heritage Foundation, and Project 2025 fame.
Watched your interview with President Biden. What a remarkable man with integrity and a commendable political history. It makes me furious that Trump will come in to office and try to take credit for the success of Biden’s administration. We must call him out when he does.
It will be infuriating because Trump and the Republicans will take credit for Biden's successes and the MSM will go along with the farce. Hopefully, now with the rise of MeidasTouch and other podcasters and Substackers, we can seriously challenge this lie.
I’m
Hoping lightning strikes and poof he’s gone along w Mr Zillionaire from South Africa.
Musk will appropriate anything that appeals to him… much worse than trumps dimwitted soeeches
I really enjoy your work, and I'm sorry I can't afford a yearly subscription. I'm in my late 80's, and on Social Security and Teacher Retirement. But I'll keep on reading your columns every day. I wish you a blessed holiday season.
Same here...I listen whenever we can.
I only have a small Social Security income, yet I get inundated with requests to join. I can't afford it!
Agreed, Jean B. I was thinking about the same thing, you bet me to it. We've fallen so far from the rule of laws this country was founded on, and dreading this next administration. Thank You,Ben and the MeidasTouch Network for sharing this podcast today, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
The accordion hands are his tell.
hahahahhahahahhaha
tell for what? serious question. that he is lying? but he is always doing that.
Yes. Accordian Hands=Trump is Lying. Also...tell your friends.
I am hoping that Judge Merchan goes with option A. Sentence and then stay the sentence until he is officially out of office. Get it on the record and into the history books.
I honestly don't think that he will live through these next four years if he doesn't get impeached or have the 25th ammendment enacted before then. I feel like Vance is a Trojan Horse and there's going to be a hostile takeover. That's my gut talking and my gut is usually never wrong.
i'm seeing how sentencing won't be likely but I hope i'm wrong!
I hope you're wrong too. Merchan needs to consider what his legacy will look like in history books too. At least, I hope that he is thinking about that.
Agreed!!!! It’s like you got this far, don’t stop!! Haha sigh
No one trump’s selected will invoke the 25th.
I’d like to see him lying in state as RBG did. All his Magats would come, possibly showing some dignity. Most likely tho, we’d be inundated with accusations and conspiracies.
Vance would do whatever his daddy Peter Thiel told him to. And if, god forbid, anything happened to him,
Maga Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, would be next in line. Mikey hears voices in his head that he believes is god talking to him.
No good choices. We’ll just have to watch trump make a fool of himself, then fight like hell to make him not seek a 3rd term.
What kinda upsets me Is that the Dems didn't do any aggressive messaging. like to consistently put out to the public of all the accomplishments of the Biden/Harris admin. for one. Also I didn't understand how _rump was permitted to run in the 1st place & why did it seem like there was no push back about it. Mostly though, why didn't P.Biden start Months ago to do as much as he could to protect a lot of his work & the Constitution+the Laws.etc of the US. JMO
What “kinda upsets” you, totally pisses me off.
The R districts that gained advantage from what President Biden got passed, immediately started
taking credit for it after they vetoed the bill.
Pathetically the D’s were mute.
IMHO , we need some new leadership, with Fire.
I love the Biden interview, great job by Ben. I follow you as a free subscriber because I only live on my Social Security and half of it goes to my rent. Thank you.
Thanks, I’m pretty internet illiterate. Very limited knowledge with “platforms “.
I also live on soc Sec. I signed up with Patron bc MTN told me to, without telling me it came with another cost. I’ve tried to delete it, but with no luck. My son told me the 35$ goes directly to them so you can talk to them. I don’t want that bc I’m an introvert, its taken me years to speak to people I worked with daily.
I enjoy the weekly show that we can comment on, and I’d hate to delete that one, bc it’s fun. I just can’t afford 60$. This is a complete bummer. I’ve never used Patron. Never will.
I don’t know what patron is?
I think she’s referring to Patreon, another online platform.
Did you get the reply? I just sent that stated I have very little knowledge about platforms?
I think Patron is like ABC and Midas is like WNOK. Legal AF is like KNOW. Both abc affiliates.
I think!!
We need sound legal minds now more than ever as we enter this incoming Felon administration. DEMOCRATS need to stay fed up!!!!
Michael, Thank you for taking on the Article V issue, and the ERA. I can not wait. Best regards.
I hope that all of us who love our country that we have the courage to wait as these Republicans burn themselves up because I do trust that what goes around comes around.
Meidas Touch host and law professor Ben Meiselas is one of my favorite legal analysts on YouTube along with Glen Kirshner. Today I listened to Ben offer his analysis of the unanimous decision of the US Supreme court on the Colorado attempt to keep Trump off their state ballot. Ben interprets that decision to mean that congress needs to pass a law saying what section 3 of the 14thamendment says, for section three to be enforcable.
Hold on Ben... I get that you think the US Supreme Court got it wrong in their response to the Colorado suit (which was about whether or not Trump's name had to be on the state ballot, NOT whether our not Trump could be sworn in). And I get that your intent here was to attempt to explain the court ruling even though you disagree with it. However, I take some issue with your explanation. My understanding of that ruling is that it applied to Colorado (states) keeping Trump off the ballot there, and that their ruling did not really or completely address the issue of whether or not Trump was disqualified from being sworn in. My take is that they said that IF congress wanted the 3rd section of the 14th amendment to be ENFORCEABLE BY STATES, Congress would need to pass legislation allowing for this. But I do not see where this allows Trump to be sworn in as President on January 20th. Most constitutional scholars (like Lawrence Tribe & Harry Litman) reviewed the decision and still say the 3rd section IS still clearly self-executing the same as the minimum age requirement is self executing. Any legislation that might be proposed to enforce section 3 would be therefore be redundant legislation, so it is unnecessary and THAT is where the Supreme Court confuses the issue. If one presumes the constitution to be a legal document then the 3rd section definitely prevents Trump from being sworn in and it therefore stands to reason that any justice who does swear him in would be violating this clause and therefore be in violation of the law.
I do agree with you, Ben that it is looking like Trump will be sworn in regardless of all this. So my next question would be, what will we who trust the Constitution and the law be able to do to defend both if Trump IS sworn in? I suppose the next step would need to be filing articles of impeachment against Trump for being an illegitimate president in violation of the 14thamendment. I would also support impeachment proceedings against the Justice who swore Trump into office.
14th amendment is clear. How is Trump President-elect?
WRT- Supreme Court Decision re: Fourteenth Amendment. I understood that the Supreme Court only said Colorado could not remove the “Felon” from the ballot. I did not understand that the Supreme Court agreed that “Felon” did NOT incite an insurrection. AND IF “we the people” don’t agree with the Supreme Court’s decision about the fourteenth amendment then I understand our only last recourse is to request our Representatives in Congress to hear from us that we don’t want an insurrectionist to take the office of the Presidency!! And hear from me- they will!!
Yeah Jean B., this country has really dipped upside down. Now it’s basically whoever has the most money can buy the presidency, and these kinds of people will not handle power in a responsible way. Rather they will flaunt their money and power all the time, not knowing they’re allowing outside opponents to get reads on them and look into not only how to counter them, but also be able to manipulate them.
Thank you so much for your show is every where the word is out that you’re giving us the power to watch your show and hear and learn the truth. If you want normal people speaking out the truth everyone should know your show is where they can find it!!!
I AGREE - GREAT INTERVIEW with Biden!!👌😁However, with all due respect— as I understand it, there were not enough efforts to do due diligence of a re-count or any “election hygiene”. Of course, the time for re-count request has passed. There have been reports of people’s votes not being counted. People voted but received no confirmation that their vote was counted, as an example. We know there were bomb threats (originating from Russian sources) directed at voting centers. We don’t know what effect that had on voting. We KNOW there were voter rolls “scrubbed” prior to the election. We know there were people who had voted in prior elections who were NOT allowed to vote in this November’s Presidential elections. Addresses and or residences were called into question but not resolved in time for these “regular voters” to have their votes counted. There were numbers of ballots that had only a vote for President but no “down ballot” votes in what appeared to be irregular numbers. How do we really KNOW what effect these had when there was no re-count. We are NOT January 6th, election deniers who will violently storm the capital but why couldn’t we have a more careful look at some of the irregularities. There were also accounts of possible voting machine breaches. Again, no careful review or oversight requested.
Relax ! Let The Pro Hackers And The Code Breaker's Do Their Work !! It What They Live For !!? Trump Will Already Go Down In History ! If Those Guys Find Proof Positive Evidence !? It Will Go Down In History Too ! And I'm Sure Elon Had Something To Do With It Also And Possibly Many Others !!? Sometimes The Wheels Of Justice Grind Slowly !!
YES re ERA! WHY hasn't that happened?
That's EXACTLY what I did: emailed the interview to about 20 people (they all thanked me) & asked that they share it as well: with fellow Dems, Independents & even republicans......anyone within their circles.
💪💪💪👍👍👍👍 Ben ! You Nailed Trump On Head !! It's What I've Been Saying About Him For Year's !! 80's - 90's Ben ! Mike ! Happy Holidays To The You And Your's And Nothing But Blessings For Your Families !! ❣️❣️🙏🙏🙏 We're Lucky To Have You Guys !!!
I would love to see Jeffries as speaker. He is a grown up!!!
Ben, I have been thinking on what you said about the 14th and 15th Amendment. It talked about not only the PRESIDENT, BUT all elected official, (including members of Congress) can be effected if they were involved in an an insurrection of democracy. What about the Republican that were involved, the election deniers and propergandaists? Could they be held accountable for their actions and be challenged out of office?
Ben and Michael,
We appreciate your legal analysis in this video. It was extremely informative. It is a disappointment that the majority of the future cabinet candidates for the incoming administration are individuals who are inexperienced and unqualified for important roles in the WH. These individuals will IMPACT every citizen in the US and through out the world!!
We can't comprehend how the future President of the US can work for the government (WH) without being vetted !!
🤔🤔🤔🤔 Trump is a CONVICTED FELON, a PATHOLOGICAL LYING FRAUD, a LUNATIC and not TRUSTWORTHY!!!!
We are glad you guys created this NECESSARY platform, so that our
Democracy remains strong!!!
It seems that the Democrats are finally listening to you guys !!! We are glad you guys bring us the latest news. Happy Holidays to everyone @ MTN,LAF and the MeidasTouch Mighty!!☺️☺️☺️🎄🎄
Mirna and Steve😎😎
I will Fight very hard for Democracy by Supporting MTM and tell my DLCC Meeting AGAIN about how important it is to get Professional, intelligent understanding of what is happening and what they need to do to save Democracy! I am a precinct Democratic delegate for the 21st district in Novi, Michigan.
Way to stick with it. We will succeed
The policy about Chinese investment that Musk didn’t want was stripped from the CR that passed. Why are you saying it’s still in the bill?
I'm quite sure our so-called supreme court would vote that the Constitution doesn't disqualify Trump. There may be a different result if Congress takes action.
I hope he's finally imprisoned. Not only has he been pandered to and gotten away with plenty, but right now we need protection from him and his dangerous appointees. He's made it clear that his focus is revenge/retribution and has disdain for the Constitution.
The amendment is self executing. And even says that each house of Congress needs to vote 2/3 to OVER TURN the automatic disqualification
As I read the 14th amendment, article 3, an identified insurrectionist is "disabled" from holding office by default. Only a 2/3 vote of both chambers of Congress can "remove the disability." It is predicated on an acknowledged insurrectionist, perhaps convicted in a court of law. It is not the task of Congress to declare the person in question to be an insurrectionist, but rather, only a 2/3 vote of Congress can restore the insurrectionist's eligibility for office.
Thank you for telling us the truth. You have saved my sanity. ❤️
When orange loses, America wins.
You two are revealing how President-elect Dumb-bell-thin-skin shall hit a mountain of resistance without their parachute, air bags, or seat belts going 500 miles an hour with MAGA maggots. All due to their inability, or to have learnt how to govern honest American politics.
I blame the Dems for not moving fast enough & stopping Trump from running! U can’t go by all the rules while the corrupt shameful republicans commit crime after crime! The conservative justices put in by Trump were planted there for the express purpose of taking women’s rights away from them & to allow him to get away with murder (causing the death of a capital policeman & maming others who can no longer work as capital policemen.) They r a bunch of criminals who do not give a damn about the American people or doing their jobs appropriately. Their personal opinions about abortion have no place in decisions regarding what is best for woman in this country! Every conservative justice in the Supreme Court has acted & behaved deplorably & should be disbarred & thrown into jail for the rest of their disgusting lives - all for endangering the lives of the majority of the Amwrican people!
usa is so tangled-up!with the law!only the lawyers making heaps of cash,at demise of taxpayers!!congress,maga and republicans have FORGOTTEN WHO they serve!voters of usa!!this used to be african nations,in this position!!a criminal in control of whitehouse,shame on usa!!
Inverted totalitarianism and plutocracy fuse but we will fight it.
Thank you for the outstanding job that you and your co-heroes are doing! You are indispensable, truly, and I want to send you all wishes for a happy holiday and a safe and healthy New Year.
That is great news for ordinary people world wide 🙏
I don’t disagree that Kamala’s messaging could be better. All of us can always improve. HOWEVER, I do believe there were more nefarious things going on - foreign interference in Social Media messaging, gobs of money being poured into the rival’s campaign. Kamala DID have great messaging or she would not have attracted the crowd sizes she did!!!!
Since supremacy has convinced poor white-skinned people that you are nobody unless you are white...what would be the legal ramifications if everyone put white on any application? Supremacy wants Medicare for everybody but only for white-skinned people. In my experience in life, more white-skinned people do drugs than any other race of people.
Rtump knew after Michael Cohen was sentenced to jail Rtump knew he was next [or I should say his lawyers knew] That's why he pushed SCOTUS for full total immunity! BUT Rtump and his lawyers were not smart enough to remember this wasn't an "official" business and the crime happened before her took office in 2016! I laughed my but off when we got the Judge shut down Rtumps appeal. It made my year!
Meidas - PLEASE correct your records. I pay $10.68 every month for "Patreon Membership," yet get NO BENEFITS. Please CONTACT ME re this. THANK YOU!
The whole Panama this is about shipping lanes for Musk, and tax evasion for Trump. Read Jeff Tiedrichs post today.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jefftiedrich/p/oh-look-elderly-golfer-is-a-geopolitical?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=222kx2
Musk did get his way
It was as a con to get what he really wanted, per Heather Cox Richardson.
"As Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) explained, Musk is building big factories in China and wants to build an AI data center there, even though it could endanger U.S. security. McGovern charged that Musk’s complaints about the spending in the bill were cover for his determination to tank the provision that would limit his ability to move technology and business to China. And, he noted, it worked. The outbound investment provision was stripped out of the bill before it passed." - Heather Cox Richardson, 12/22/24
is it possible to get less emails from you..i do not want to unsubscribe, but i am getting alot of updates from you
Gilibrand is a great advocate for female rights. I pray President Biden gets Nat. Archives to publically declare ERA state votes passed the ERA with Virginia's approval as you explained by Executive Order. But, can't Executive Orders just be erased after Trump takes over? Anyway-No time limit on Amendments, no backsies makes the deadline of 1982 un-Constitutional. Let the court battles BEGIN! I was there in 1972 and all the times Congress refused to put the ERA Amendment 'out' again for ratification. As a female, I'm tired of being less than males my whole life. I think, in a way, SCOTUS is making me realize that our US Congress is broken. Trump was impeached twice-once on the 1/6/2021 insurrection when Congress could have rid us of Trump TWICE. Since trump was never declared an insurrectionist, US Constitution does not say a felon cannot run, I think Colorado taking Trump of the ballot would be unConstituional. What if George Washington, Abe Lincoln was taken off the ballots in some states for their elections? WE need new Amendments/Laws by Congress and the People. Gun control is in Congress's hands, as is abortion, as is insurrectionists serving in public office, as are pardons for 1/6/2021 participants, as are the ethical responsibilities to an Oath of Office and breach punishments, as is abuse of freedom of speech in Congress in spreading lies, as is immunity for official acts etc.... WE do not elect SCOTUS or the federal life-time judges. They should not be in charge of all these consequences for our lives, freedoms, safety. Precedents can be undone so easily by SCOTUS. Laws, enforcement, Congress, our Federal employees are our only power, our voice. Congress is at fault. Voters are at fault. Citizens United decision is at fault. Money, power, connections are the anathema of patriotic, honest representation of We the People. Sorry to ramble but you give thought provoking material and I was Provoted. Thanks.
Once again, THANK YOU to Ben & Michael Popok for keeping us sane. So much noise from the MSM makes it hard to see what's really going on. MTN is my lifeline (along with a precious few exceptional voices on MSNBC).
Does anybody even entertain the possibility that he could drop before 2028? Or is he the 'Energizer Bunny" that just keeps going, and going? I'm a few months older than him and I'm extremely aware that I could just buy the farm before 2028. P.S. He'll never spend a day in a suit that matches his skin...y'know orange. Too bad, it would satisfy our collective schadenfreude.
The way I remember last years unanimous SC decision, it required a majority(50+) in each chamber, not two thirds which would be more than impeachment requires. And Congress actually has done that already in the second impeachment trial (even 57? senators voted yes), just not enough for impeachment. But I know that DC intentionally forgot all about that.
And at this point, it would probably makes things worse to disqualify Trump. Imagine a president Vance. And who replaces a vice-president elect?
The only news I watch is meidastouch. From the bottom of my heart ❤️, thank you!
This is why I watch the show. Legal issues and the Constitution are complex. Your team takes that complexity and breaks it down in a clear and concise way.
Thank you.
I have just joined Meidas Touch+ and I am delighted to join. I have been listening free for a long time
The law can sometimes seem unfair. Thank you MTN. Laws do change however, due to social change. We all need to stick together to improve our lives.
If Deadbeat Donnie hadn't associated himself with Roy Cohen and behaved in the most aggregious manner towards the court and its officers he might have gotten the defense he wanted. But just like everything else he touches his shot at beating the indictments died.
The fact that meidas mighty got the interview with Biden, showed we are the mighty est!!! Thank you to all of you and our great president 💙
I love being on board as MeidasTouch continues creating itself for our benefit ! You give me good energy to go into tomorrow with a big smile and finally a renewed hope for our country to live through the coming change in the Executive Branch.
Beautiful info to sleep on!
Exactly and thank you!
💙💙💙💙💙💙need to put term limits on the Supreme Courts justices
Trump does not negotiates, he simply demands!
I unsubscribed from Midas touch several weeks ago. So why are you sending me emails now. I've never received emails from you before.
That the ERA hasn’t passed long ago shows ya states that women should never consider moving to, especially moms with girls.
We are already called Wo-Men, and
Fe-Males.
Equal rights seems like a no brainer.
States Rights only seem to matter to Scotus when it enables their demands.
You are making the world a better place. I have been with you through some years now. I am always amazed at your humility sooo opposite from T-rump. Thanks for just being you.
SMILES! ALL SMILES FOR HEADLINES LIKE THIS ONE
How did you go from the ERA to the 14th ammendant without giving ways to pass the ERA 😢
I'm not a free subscriber, can someone get back to me with my correct status