The Intersection with Michael Popok Full Episode - 6/17/2025

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting look in “real time” at this week’s most important developments.  On this “one year anniversary” episode, Ben and Popok discuss and analyze: The Jan. 6 Select Committee’s court filing finding a good faith basis to believe that Trump was a co-conspirator in an effort to defraud the US Government. The DOJ obtaining its first guilty plea for seditious conspiracy. The first Jan. 6 insurrectionist criminal trial, US v. Guy Reffitt. Tucker Carlson’s racist comments about the next Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. SCOTUS’ oral argument to decide whether Congress can delegate to administrative agencies to allow them to regulate big business, and in the area of environmental protection. Federal judges in Florida and Texas undermining Biden’s role as Commander in Chief to deploy troops consistent with the federal vaccine mandate. A North Carolina federal judge finding that Madison Cawthorn can run for re-election because a 150-year statute drafted for Confederates overrides the United States Constitution about future insurrectionists. SCOTUS reinstating the death sentence for one of the Boston Marathon Bombers under 6th Amendment grounds, while Breyer comments on whether the death penalty is Cruel and Unusual Punishment under the 8th Amendment. DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS: AG1 by Athletic Greens: AthleticGreens.com/LegalAF LightStream: LightStream.com/LegalAF Policygenius: Policygenius.com/LegalAF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Maalis 20221h 42min

Welcome—Legal AF Midweek edition with your hosts Michael Popok and Karen Friedman Agnifilo. On today’s :40 minute pod, Popok & KFA do a deep dive concerning the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the likelihood of a Putin war crimes prosecution for targeting civilians, and the US Supreme Court’s decision to decide in October whether a straight web designer has the First Amendment right to be a bigot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Maalis 202244min

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting look in “real time” at this week’s most important developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss and analyze: 1. President Biden’s selection of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (KBJ) as the next US Supreme Court Justice to replace Breyer and her path to confirmation. 2. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s loss of his two lead Trump prosecutors, the appointment of a new prosecutor, the role of Governor Hochul and what it all means. 3. Oklahoma’s proposed 30-day abortion ban and what it also means for Texas women. 4. The conviction on federal race discrimination charges of the other police officers who contributed to the murder of George Floyd by Chauvin. 5. The conviction of Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers on federal hate crime charges. 6. The Woman’s Soccer Team reaching a landmark settlement with the United States Soccer Federation to address years of gender inequity in pay and working conditions. 7. A State judge in Memphis reverses course and orders a new trial for Pam Moses who was convicted and sentenced to 6 years in prison for trying to vote while still on probation. And much more. Support the Show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. Calibrate -- Your weight doesn’t reflect your willpower. Get back in control with Calibrate. Get $50 off the one year metabolic reset when you use promo code LEGALAF at https://JoinCalibrate.com ExpressVPN -- Protect your online activity TODAY with the VPN rated #1 by Business Insider. Visit https://ExpressVPN.com/LegalAF and you can get an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 Helmi 20221h 41min

On the :40 minute, midweek edition of LegalAF, the top rated legal and political news analysis podcast, Popok and KFA explore the Manhattan DA’s investigation and prosecution of Anna Sorokin aka Anna Delvey (the “Soho Scammer”), she of Netflix’s “Inventing Ana” fame. Then, in the Mailbag segment, the anchors examine: (a) Florida’s proposed “don’t say gay” bill as an amendment to that state’s “Parent Bill of Rights” law and what this SCOTUS may do about it; (b) Palin’s libel case and its implications for a suit by Hillary against Fox News; and (d) Kyle Rittenhouse’s new “foundation” to provide litigation funding for defamation suits against the media and Democratic celebrities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Helmi 202251min

Anchored by MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok, the top-rated news analysis podcast LegalAF x MeidasTouch is back for another hard-hitting, thought-provoking look in “real time” at this week’s developments. On this episode, Ben and Popok discuss and analyze: 1. A very bad week for all things Trump: A. Loses motion to dismiss Jan6 civil conspiracy claim. B. Trump, Jr. and Ivanka ordered to testify in New York Attorney General civil investigation into financial fraud. C. Trump Organization added to inauguration fraud case and Former CFO ordered to testify. D. Long-time accounting firm bails out and declares all Trump Organization financial statements “unreliable” 2. The Special Prosecutor’s recent filing concerning Trump and Russia, and whether it alleges that Hillary intercepted Trump’s communications. 3. The decision by the judge in the Sara Palin libel trial against the NY Times to take the issue out of the jury’s hands and finds that no “actual malice” proven as a matter of law. 4. Stuart Rhodes’ request to be released from pretrial detention and spend his time at his family’s house instead. 5. Remington entering into the first ever settlement by a gun manufacturer and victims in the Sandy Hook massacre. 6. Brian Flores amending his suit against the NFL and several teams alleging retaliation when he didn’t get a head coaching job he interviewed for, and the NFL’s choice of counsel to defend it in the suit. 7. President Biden’s decision-making process for picking his first SCOTUS justice to replace Breyer. And much more. Support the Show! AG1 by Athletic Greens -- Athletic Greens is going to give you an immune supporting FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase if you visit https://athleticgreens.com/legalaf today. X-Chair -- Go to https://XChairLEGALAF.com now, for $100 off your order! X-Chair has a thirty-day guarantee of complete comfort, and you can finance your purchase for as little as $30 a month. Masterworks -- Join an exclusive community investing in blue-chip art at https://www.masterworks.art/legalaf today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Helmi 20221h 24min

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

17 Helmi 202244min

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

13 Helmi 20221h 59min

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

10 Helmi 202237min