MeidasTouch Full Podcast - 9/30/25

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

4 Jul 20211h 23min

Let's get right into it. Today we're dissecting the criminal charges brought against the Trump Organization and its Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg. From there, we shift gears and discuss Kevin McCarthy's latest statements threatening to strip GOP members of their committee assignments if they accept an offer from Nancy Pelosi to serve on the January 6 commission. Next, the brothers round out the conversation by mocking Tucker Carlson and his shameless claim that the NSA is "spying" on him.  The conversation later shifts as the brothers have a very special guest, Manny Oliver. Oliver is the father of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland shooting. He and his wife Patricia are the founders of Change the Ref, an organization that uses urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to empower young activists and expose the effects of the mass shooting pandemic in our country. Manny and Change the Ref recently produced a powerful viral video called Lost Class in which they duped David Keene, former president of the NRA and gun rights advocate John Lott into giving a commencement speech in Las Vegas in front of 3,044 empty chairs, representing students who would not make it to graduation this year due to gun violence. Please be sure to tune in every Tuesday & Friday for NEW episodes of The MeidasTouch Podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Jul 20211h 13min

On today’s episode, the brothers sit down with retired FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, NBC News National Security Contributor & author of the book The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau's Code of Excellence, Frank Figliuzzi! During the conversation Frank discusses how Fox “News” is basically just Russian propaganda, Trump’s pathetic re-run rally in Ohio and the tangible threats Americans face with respect to another potential insurrection. Frank goes on to discuss the latest on Matt Gaetz, as well as why the right wing media continuously tries to undermine our law enforcement & military. The episode is rounded out by the brothers discussing the latest on the Bill Barr / Trump break-up saga and how Trump’s own family members are now distancing themselves from the former President. Yikes! Be sure to tune in every Tuesday & Friday for NEW episodes of The MeidasTouch Podcast’and if you have a moment today please rate this episode 5-stars and leave us a comment! Get your official Meidas Merch at store.meidastouch.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 Jun 20211h 11min

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

27 Jun 20211h 36min

On today’s episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the brothers sit down with Joe Trippi, a veteran Democratic political consultant who ran both Howard Dean’s presidential campaign and Doug Jones’ 2017 upset Senate win in Alabama. During the interview, Trippi dissects the power of true grassroots movements and what it takes to break through the clutter in 2021. Trippi holds no punches as he talks about how too many political consultants do a disservice to the cause by relying too heavily on outdated political messaging methods.. The brothers round out the podcast discussing the latest on Rudy Giuliani no longer being allowed to practice law in New York, the latest with the infrastructure deal and the opening of a January 6th select committee to investigate the insurrection. Please make sure to rate & review this podcast and as always - thank YOU for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Jun 20211h 16min

On today's episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the brothers sit down with activist, feminist, author and host of The Weekly List podcast, Amy Siskind. During the interview, Amy discusses her journey from Wall Street Executive to one of the most renowned activists in politics today. We discuss a myriad of topics from GOP voter suppression bills, to how we can hold our own accountable without sounding defeatist and dissect the role of activism in the post-Trump era. Amy also takes us through her experiences covering the Trump presidency and how frightened she truly was for democracy. The brothers then discuss some big Biden wins, our special Father's Day tribute video that made headlines across the world and of course the recent news about Trump suggesting that we should put COVID-positive Americans in Guantanamo Bay (seriously). Make sure you tune in every Tuesday & Friday for NEW episodes of the podcast and if you have a moment today please be sure to rate and review this episode! Thank you! Get your new Meidas Merch only at store.meidastouch.com! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Jun 20211h 16min

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

20 Jun 20211h 18min

On today’s very special episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the brothers sit down with actor, producer, designer and renowned activist, Alyssa Milano!  During the interview, Alyssa provides an update on the status of her potential congressional run and why her would-be opponent’s office has already pegged her as a radical liberal (spoiler alert - it’s because she supports basic democratic principles such as healthcare). The conversation deepens as the team discusses the divide in America today and real tangible solutions for how Democrats can combat the fascist republican party. The brothers go on to discuss President Joe Biden’s historic meeting with Putin, why the GQP roots for Russia, the latest on the Arizona “fraudit” and much, much more. Please remember to rate and subscribe this podcast and as always and thank you for listening! Remember to get your official pro-democracy MeidasTouch merch at store.meidastouch.com! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meidastouch/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Jun 20211h 10min