About this episode
The leading law and politics podcast — MeidasTouch’s Legal AF — is back and coming in hot with special guest attorney Sam Yebri (samforLA.com). On its Sweet 16 episode, MT founder and civil rights lawyer, Ben Meiselas and national trial lawyer and strategist, Michael Popok interview Sam, who’s running a #MeidasMighty-style, progressive, grassroots campaign to represent LA’s 5th District on its City Council. Sam, Ben and Popok discuss his campaign and approach to addressing and solving LA’s homeless crisis. After a brief interlude where Ben welcomes Popok back with open arms from his summer holiday, the hosts get back to their brand of hard-hitting analysis Legal AF listeners have come to expect. First up, Ben and Michael examine how various federal courts are addressing COVID-19 policies, from Florida’s sinking the CDC mandates for the cruise ship industry with the help of a flip-flopping 11th Circuit, to a Trump-appointee Indiana federal judge upholding a university’s decision to mandate vaccination for its students. Then, the hosts do a deep dive into Attorney General Merrick Garland’s recent decisions to: (a) deny Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks request to have the United States substitute in as the defendant in the case brought against him for inciting the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and (b) issue new DOJ policy supporting the First Amendment and preventing prosecutors from seizing journalists records except in extraordinary circumstances. Ben and Popok round out the episode with a look at yet another Former 45 courtroom loss. This week, the Second Circuit soundly rejected the Trumps’ attempt to force into private arbitration a class action suit brought against Former 45, Eric and Ivanka for endorsing a "multi-level marketing" "get rich quick scheme" run by ACN, allegedly causing tens of millions in losses. Ben and Popok scratch their heads over Trump et al.’s wacky decision to argue, in effect, that the Trumps were so close to ACN (and its alleged fraud scheme) that the Trumps should get the benefit of the arbitration agreement between ACN and its customers. Easter Egg Alert: Ben bans Popok from any future days off! Subscribe to the MeidasTouch Podcast for more episodes and remember to give the show a 5-star review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices