XXceedingly Persuasive

Kyle Rittenhouse killed two & wounded another with an AR-15 style gun he brought to a protest over the killing of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse’s acquittal has raised questions about self defense claims by armed aggressors, judicial bias, and unequal outcomes in the criminal justice system.

In the 3rd installment on free speech, we examine first amendment struggles with new media. Social media-- unchecked, internet speech on private platforms where, often, nobody is held liable-- is the obvious, pressing example. BUT it's still Halloween-adjacent, so we're taking a lighter look at the War of the Worlds radio broadcast in 1938, too.

Hate speech & beyond! This is Free Speech Part 2 from our video-originating miniseries. This time, we hit some of the categories of speech with limited protection and tricky definitions-- in a lot of them (like hate speech), legality can depend heavily on the speaker's intention.

To watch this as the good lord intended (via video), including extra cat content, check out mkzjoybrennan.com!

Welcome to our side-series on the constitutional amendments! We're skipping over the articles for now and starting with one of the five rights in the First Amendment-- free speech. More specifically, the guarantee that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the right to free speech," which is a little different than what some folks assume the clause guarantees.

To watch this as the good lord intended (via video), including extra cat content, go to mkzjoybrennan.com!

This Pride Month also marks 40 years since the first AIDS diagnoses: On the one hand, the LGBTQ+ community has come so far; on the other, the US Supreme Court has just ruled against same-sex couples’ freedom to adopt from religious organizations. We discuss progress, corporatized pride, and re-work last year’s interview with John Ascher, who lost his partner Stewart Joy to AIDS in 1988. John tells us about the stigma and heartbreak, the Reagan Administration’s failure to act, and public health response in an epidemic.

We're talking decarbonization with environmental lawyer Rich Kassel, who's worked with the EPA, the UN, and the NRDC (to name a few) to craft and reform global climate policy. Rich gives a few examples of decarbonization methods & policies that are feasible and efficient enough to make a significant difference fast (rather than waiting 'til 2040). He also says that after working in this field for 30 years, he's never felt more optimistic. So, hey, that's a refreshing thing to hear these days!

CONTENT WARNINGS: Abuse, gun violence and death.

After breaking down Phil Spector's history and the death of Lana Clarkson in the last episode, we're joined again by No Dogs In Space's Carolina Hidalgo to talk about the trial and the evidence in favor of (and against) conviction.

In our detour into trials & social-grappling-with music producers, we’re visiting the recently departed Phil Spector. With some added musical & cultural insight from Carolina Hidalgo, we talk about the late producer, his mistrial and second trial, and how public opinion and evidentiary omissions influenced his murder conviction. Part 1 of 2!

We're joining forces with Natalie, Holden, and Jackie from the Page 7: Pop History podcast to talk about the ongoing legal battle between Kesha and producer Dr. Luke. Almost since Kesha became a pop star, she has been contractually obligated to work with her alleged abuser, Dr. Luke. The multiple trials over sexual assault, defamation, and when and how Kesha can make music have been ongoing for years, and a final decision is still pending.

For more about Kesha's history and career, check out Page 7: Pop History's Kesha Part 1 on Spotify!

Forced motherhood in Venezuela has become one of many unintended consequences of the Maduro regime, and of the international sanctions designed to oppose Maduro. The combo of Maduro's domestic policy and the Trump administration's foreign policy has made access to abortion, reproductive healthcare, birth control, and even condoms nearly impossible in Venezuela. We discuss the best international responses to dangerous domestic policies elsewhere.