Civil Discourse

Stories Behind the Name: Janet Reno

Aughie and Nia explore the storied career of the first female United States Attorney General, Janet Reno.

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What is in the Poop?

Aughie and Nia discuss the strange cases of government investigating evidence of drug use or illness in municipal wastewater systems.

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Eff Your License Plate

Nia and Aughie start the new season with a salty discussion of what can legally appear on your license plate. This episode is in response to a case working its way through the Virginia legal system (and then possibly the Supreme Court), Whateley v. Lackey.

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SoS 2026: Wrap Up and Look Forward

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SoS 2026: Geofencing, Monsanto, and Haircuts

Aughie and Nia finish this year's big Supreme Court rulings with three cases: Chatrie v United States, Monsanto Company v Durnell, and Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety. Chatrie centered on the use of geofencing warrants under the 4th Amendment. Monsanto argued that only the EPA could label its products cancer-causing, which the EPA has declined to do. Landor centered on immunity of guards to be individually sued for violating a prisoner's religious rights.

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SoS 2026: Birthrights and Firing People

Aughie and Nia discuss the Supreme Court opinions in Trump V Barbara, Trump v. Cook, and Trump V Slaughter. In Trump v Barbara, the justices were asked to decide whether Trump's Executive Order banning birthright citizenship was legal. In Trump v Cook, the Court decided whether Trump was allowed to fire a Federal Reserve Board Governor. In the final case of this episode, the Justices addressed whether Trump could fire a Federal Trade Commissioner.

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SoS 2026: Ballots, Election Money, and Transgender Athletes

Aughie and Nia discuss the Supreme Court decisions in Watson v RNC, National Republican Senatorial Committee v Federal Election Commission and West Virginia v BJP combined with Little v Hecox. In the first case, the Justices were asked to define "elections" in terms of mail in voting ballot acceptance. In the second, they addressed the national political parties coordinating spending with candidates. In the final two cases, combined into one decision, the Justices wrestled with questions surrounding allowing transgender female athletes to compete on women's teams.

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SoS 2026: Guns, Drugs, and Locations

Nia and Aughie discuss the decisions in Wolford v Lopez, U.S. v Hemani, and Abouammo v United States. The first case related to state gun bans, the second to the right of habitual drug users to own a gun, and the third applied to cases being filed outside the jurisdiction in which they occurred.

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SoS 2026: Immigration, Refuge, and Corporate Liability

Aughie and Nia discuss the opinions in Noes v Al Otro Lado, Mullin v Doe, and Cisco Systems v Doe. The first case allows the federal government to stop immigrants before arriving on American soil to ask for asylum. The second case allows the government to cancel Temporary Protection Status visas. The third case does not allow Cisco to be sued because the Chinese government used its software to locate and torture Chinese dissidents.

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SoS 2026: Attacks on SCOTUS

Aughie and Nia discuss recent attacks, verbal and physical, on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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SoS 2026: Streisand Effect

While waiting for more opinions from the SCOTUS, Aughie and Nia talk about the Streisand Effect in politics.

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SoS 2026: Batson Challenges

Aughie and Nia explore the importance of Batson challenges in jury trials.

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SoS 2026: Disposition of Justices' Papers

Aughie explains what happens to the personal papers of the Supreme Court Justices after they retire or pass away.

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SoS 2026: Louisiana v Callais

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In the News: Mifepristone Stay

In the News, Nia and Aughie discuss the stay of a lower court's decision by the Supreme Court affecting the mail ordering of the drug Mifepristone.

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In the News: Redistricting Followup

In the News, Aughie and Nia follow up on the post election results of the redistricting question in Virginia.

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SCOTUS Hears Birthright Citizenship EO

Aughie and Nia explore the arguments before the US Supreme Court regarding President Trump's Birthright Citizenship Executive Order.

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Stories Behind the Names: Eliot Ness

Aughie and Nia discuss the life and work of the leader of the Untouchables, Eliot Ness.

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Afroman Case AKA Cooley v Foreman

Aughie and Nia report on the case facts and outcome of the Ohio case Cooley v Foreman (AKA Afroman).

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Stories Behind the Names: Elizabeth Dole

Nia and Aughie explore the interesting life and service of Senator Elizabeth Dole.

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