The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Judges Without Judgment?
May 11, 2024
auto_awesome
Legal expert John Yoo discusses Trump's trials, Biden's judgment, and parallels between 1968 and today. The conversation covers Biden's arm shipment controversy, support for Israel, election predictions, escalating protests on campuses, and political satire.
Biden's historical decision on halting arms shipments to Israel prompts debates on foreign policy consequences.
Analysis of Stormy Daniels' testimony in Trump's trials highlights media coverage impacting public image.
Rising college protests showcase varied university responses while emphasizing the clash between free speech and legal restrictions.
Deep dives
Texas Graduation Events and Academic Politics
Amid discussions on graduation ceremonies, a shift to academic politics is noted at different universities. Concerns range from protests at Berkeley Law with interruptions during graduation to educational shifts towards anti-racism and linguistic social justice curriculum. The contrasts between events at various institutions, including held convocations, showcase divergent university experiences.
Biden's Foreign Policy Decisions and Israel's Arm Shipments
President Biden's announcement to halt certain arms shipments to Israel if it enters Rafa prompts analysis of potential consequences. The move related to Israel's actions in Rafa, the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza, triggers debates and comparisons to historical foreign policy decisions. Speculation arises on whether Biden's strategy aligns with a two-state solution or aims at domestic political gains.
Political Trials: Stormy Daniels Testimony and Trump's Campaign
The legal proceedings involving Stormy Daniels' testimony during Trump's trials are discussed against the backdrop of his public appearances. Despite the focus on Trump's courtroom presence and scandalous allegations, the controversy seems to fuel his popularity and campaign momentum. The trial's media coverage and implications on Trump's image highlight public reactions and perceptions amidst ongoing legal battles.
The Court's Speech Interference Ruling and Trump's Free Speech Defense
The courts allow speech outside the courtroom to interfere with trials, as seen in the discussion about Trump's case. While judges restrict speech to prevent intimidation, the need for political speech like Trump's to be protected is emphasized. The possibility of the Supreme Court reversing a gag order on Trump to defend free speech rights is considered, highlighting the clash between legal restrictions and political speech.
College Protests and Response Strategies
College protests spreading and escalating are compared, mentioning different reactions among universities. University of Florida's approach of enforcing policies and arrests is praised for tackling protests effectively. The involvement of outside groups and professional protesters in fueling demonstrations is noted, with some professors engaging in controversial actions during protests. The dynamics of campus unrest and potential clashes with law enforcement are highlighted as a concerning trend.
John Yoo hosts this week's episode from exile in Austin, Texas, where he humors Steve and Lucretia's the extra-legal views on the Trump trials and tribulations in a Manhattan courtroom, and speculate how Trump's "Letter from the Rikers Island Jail" would read (though it will be more likely in the form of Tweets or TruthSocial posts). Have we discovered a trial judge who seems to have no judgment at all.
Certainly we have a president without judgment, and we begin with pondering the question of just when it was that Bernie Sanders became president, because it is impossible to see how a Sanders administration would differ from everything the Biden administration has done. Steve notes a recent American Conservative article that picks up on parts of the Hur report on Biden. While everybody focused on the parts of the report that dealt with Biden's senility, other parts of the report show that Biden has actually had terrible judgment for his entire political career.
Finally, we look at Steve's City-Journal article on the parallels between 1968 and today, and wonder how it is possible for so many of our "leaders" in high education to have so little good judgment or common sense about what ought to be done. (Lucretia recommends pepper-bullets, which sound like some kind of high-velocity jalapenos.)
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode