

S12, Ep2: The Trial Begins
Jun 10, 2025
Tensions run high in North Dakota as jury selection for the trial unfolds. Jurors with biases linked to the fossil fuel industry surprisingly make the cut. The aggressive tactics of corporations against activists reveal a disturbing trend of silencing dissent. The struggle for Indigenous rights takes center stage, spotlighting the impact of corporate law firms on family protections. As legal battles rage on, media freedom is under threat, raising critical questions about justice, ethics, and First Amendment rights.
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Biased Jury Selection Revealed
- Jury selection revealed overt bias favoring the pipeline company despite obvious conflicts.
- Seven of eleven jurors had ties to fossil fuel industries yet remained eligible.
Paid Protester Myth Tactic
- The "paid protester" narrative is a long-standing tactic to discredit grassroots movements.
- Energy Transfer pushed this narrative early, echoing strategies used against past labor and protest movements.
Jury Questioning Masks Bias
- Questioning jurors about following the law may hide their true biases.
- Lawyers use indirect questioning to prevent jurors from honestly revealing prejudices.