Lawyers and legal experts discuss the ongoing legal developments surrounding the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, including newly unsealed grand jury report recommending criminal charges against 21 additional individuals. They also analyze the implications of the 14th Amendment argument for Trump's eligibility and explore the standard of proof required in the case against him for insurrection. The podcast also addresses how Trump and his associates may have violated the Hatch Act and highlights the denial of Mark Meadows' motion to remove his case to federal court.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' attempt to transfer his election interference case to federal court was rejected, setting a precedent for other defendants seeking federal court removal.
A newly unsealed grand jury report in Georgia recommended criminal charges for several notable individuals, including Senators Lindsey Graham, Kelly Loeffler, and David Perdue, but these individuals were not ultimately indicted.
Georgia District Attorney Fawni Willis criticized Congressman Jim Jordan for attempting to interfere with the prosecution of Donald Trump and others, calling it an effort to bully and intimidate the prosecutors.
Deep dives
Devastating earthquake hits Morocco, killing over 1,000
At least 1,037 people are confirmed dead following a rare 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco. The earthquake hit the province of Al-Haus and caused severe damage in the villages and city of Marrakesh. Rescue efforts are ongoing to reach remote areas and find survivors. This is the strongest earthquake in the region in over 100 years, and the buildings in some areas were not prepared for such a magnitude. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue work continues.
Judge denies Mark Meadows' motion to remove case to federal court
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' attempt to transfer his election interference case to federal court was rejected by a judge. Meadows argued that his actions were performed as a federal official, but the judge found that his actions primarily stemmed from political activities. This ruling is significant as it sets a precedent for other defendants seeking to remove their cases to federal court. Meadows has filed notice to appeal the decision.
Unsealed grand jury report reveals recommended indictments
A newly unsealed grand jury report in Georgia revealed that a special grand jury recommended 21 additional individuals face criminal charges in the case related to the 2020 election interference. Some notable names recommended for indictment include Senators Lindsey Graham, Kelly Loeffler, and David Perdue, as well as Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn. However, it's important to note that the district attorney did not ultimately indict these individuals, and ongoing investigations and considerations such as admissible evidence and burden of proof play a role in charging decisions.
Prosecution challenges by Jim Jordan face backlash
Georgia District Attorney Fawni Willis rebuked Congressman Jim Jordan for attempting to interfere with her prosecution of Donald Trump and others involved in the election interference case. Jordan had requested the turnover of documents related to the case, claiming congressional oversight authority. Willis responded that such oversight infringed upon Georgia's sovereignty and lacked basic understanding of legal principles. The attempt to discredit the prosecution is seen as an effort to bully and intimidate the prosecutors involved.
Book banning in America reaches a 21-year high
Book banning in America has surged to a 21-year high, with hundreds of books targeted and removed from school libraries. One Iowa County school district, Mason City, used an artificial intelligence tool called Chat GPT to determine which books to remove from the shelves. The district compiled a list of commonly challenged books and scanned them using the AI tool, focusing on descriptions of sexual content. However, the tool's lack of context resulted in many classic books, including works by Tony Morrison and Maya Angelou, being wrongly identified as containing explicit material. Despite facing criticism, the district argued that it needed to comply with the state's vague and sweeping law that bans books with sex acts, with exceptions made for religious texts. This case highlights the dangers of using AI tools in book censorship decisions.
Controversy over use of artificial intelligence in book banning
In an Iowa school district, the Mason City Community School District, controversy arose when the district turned to artificial intelligence tool Chat GPT to determine which books to ban from school libraries. The district used Chat GPT to scan a list of commonly challenged books for descriptions of sex acts, resulting in the banning of several classic works by authors like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. The AI tool's lack of context and reliance on linguistic prompts proved problematic, as many books were wrongly flagged as containing explicit content. This case raises concerns about the use of AI in book censorship decisions, emphasizing the importance of human curation and the potential for unintended consequences when relying solely on technological solutions.
Ali Velshi is joined by NBC News’ Matt Bradley, Senior Legal Affairs Reporter at Politico Josh Gerstein, Professor of Law at Emory University Fred Smith, Jr., President and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Noah Bookbinder, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele, MSNBC Legal Analyst Lisa Rubin, Legal Fellow and Courts Correspondent at Lawfare Anna Bower, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law Emeritus at Emory University Morgan Cloud, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Senior Reporter at NBC News Brandy Zadrozny
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