Civil Discourse

Stories Behind the Names Elliot Richardson

Nia and Aughie study the life and career of Elliot Richardson, one of only two people in U.S. history to hold four different Cabinet level positions.

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Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County

Aughie and Nia discuss the oral arguments between Suncor Energy and the County Commissioners of Boulder in the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Aughie explains the potential ramifications of the win/loss of each side.

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Stories Behind the Names: Ed Meese

Aughie and Nia recount the career and exploits of Edwin Meese, former Attorney General of the United States.

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Constitutional Clauses: Emoluments

Aughie and Nia discuss the Emoluments clauses. There are two emoluments clauses in the U.S. Constitution. The foreign emoluments clause is found in Article 1, Section 9, clause 8. The domestic emoluments clause is in Article 2, Section 1, clause 7.

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Stories Behind the Names Condoleeza Rice

Aughie and Nia investigate the life and career of Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.

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Constitutional Clauses: Ex Post Facto

Aughie and Nia investigate the life and career of Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.

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Stories Behind the Names: Benedict Arnold

Aughie and Nia talk about the life of Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary War Hero turned traitor.

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Constitutional Clauses The Speech or Debate Clause

Nia and Aughie discuss the Speech or Debate Clause in Article 1, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution.

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Constitutional Clauses: The Recess Appointment Clause

Aughie and Nia discuss the Recess Appointment Clause, in Article 2, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution.

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Stories Behind the Names Alberto Gonzales

Aughie and Nia explore the career of Alberto Gonzales, the first Hispanic American to serve as U.S. Attorney General.

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Moonshine Madness

Nia and Aughie look at competing District Court rulings regarding the Constitutionality of the Congressional ban on home brewing of alcoholic beverages.

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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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