Minimum Competence

Jan 31 2025 507 ep. 8 mins 3

Minimum Competence Podcast artwork

The idea is that this podcast can accompany you on your commute home and will render you minimally competent on the major legal news stories of the day. The transcript is available in the form of a newsletter at www.minimumcomp.com.

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Legal News for Fri 1/31 - Fox Rothschild Blocks Deepseek, A Court Ruling Allowing Handgun Sales to those under 21, Trump FCC Telecom Rollback and DEI Lawsuit at Chicago Bally's

Jan 31 2025 20 mins

This Day in Legal History: 13th Amendment PassedOn January 31, 1865, the U.S. Congress passed the 13th Amendment, formally abolishing slavery in the United States. The amendment declared that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to the

Legal News for Thurs 1/30 - Trump Forced to Reverse Ill-conceived Federal Aid Freeze, Firings at the EEOC and NLRB Challenged

Jan 30 2025 6 mins

This Day in Legal History: Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the ConstitutionOn January 30, several U.S. states recognize Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, honoring the Japanese American civil rights activist who fought against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Korematsu was arrested in 1942 for refusing to comply with Execu

Legal News for Weds 1/29 - Trump Gunks up the Gears of Government, Menendez's Sentencing, DOJ Firings and Reassignments and State Digital Advertising Taxes

Jan 29 2025 8 mins

This Day in Legal History: Sweden Bans AerosolsOn January 29, 1978, Sweden made history by becoming the first nation to ban aerosol sprays, citing concerns over their harmful impact on the ozone layer. The decision was driven by mounting scientific evidence that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), commonly used as propellants in aerosol cans, contributed to ozone depletion. At the time, in

Legal News for Tues 1/28 - Transgender Inmate Sues Over Discriminatory Trump Executive Order, Novo Nordisk Caps Insulin Prices and Trump's Hiring Freeze Hits Law Students

Jan 28 2025 5 mins

This Day in Legal History: Harlan F. Stone Appears Before Senate Judiciary CommitteeOn January 28, 1925, Harlan Fiske Stone became the first U.S. Supreme Court nominee to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. This marked a significant turning point in the judicial confirmation process, as prior nominees were not required to appear in person. Stone, a former Attorney Genera

Legal News for Mon 1/27 - Musk's $1m Giveaway 'Not a Lottery,' Indian Media Copyright Battle with OpenAI, PFAS in Cosmetics and Cadwalader Crushed 2024

Jan 27 2025 7 mins

This Day in Legal History: Paris Peace AccordsOn January 27, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, formally ending direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. The agreement, brokered after years of intense negotiations, was signed by representatives from the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam. The

Legal News for Friday 1/24 - Trump's Birthright Citizenship Abomination Blocked, SCOTUS Green Lights CTA and Trump's "Crypto Reforms"

Jan 24 2025 12 mins

This Day in Legal History: Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co.On January 24, 1916, the United States Supreme Court issued a pivotal decision in Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. This case arose after Frank Brushaber, a shareholder of Union Pacific Railroad, filed suit against the company to challenge the federal income tax imposed on its earnings. Brushaber argued that th

Legal News for Thurs 1/23 - Trump's Energy Emergency Order, Cornell's Lawsuit Over Wi-Fi 5 and 6, Bob Menendez Loses Bid for New Trial and the Need for Sales Tax Simplification

Jan 23 2025 6 mins

This Day in Legal History: Poll Tax AbolishedOn January 23, 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights and voting equality. This amendment abolished the use of poll taxes in federal elections, a practice that had long been used to disenfranchise low-income and minority voters, particularly African

Legal News for Weds 1/22 - Lawsuits Challenge Trumps Bogus Birthright Citizenship Order, His Meaningless TikTok Ban Delay, His Rollback of DEI Rules and Religious Affiliation Tax Exemptions

Jan 22 2025 9 mins

This Day in Legal History: Cuba Suspended from OASOn January 22, 1962, the Organization of American States (OAS) took the historic step of suspending Cuba from its membership. This decision followed the Cuban Revolution, which saw Fidel Castro's government align itself with communist ideologies and the Soviet Union, marking a stark departure from the democratic and anti-communist p

Legal News for Tues 1/21 - Trump Creates DOGE and Immediately gets Sued, Biden Pardons and James McHenry as Acting AG

Jan 21 2025 5 mins

This Day in Legal History: King Louis XVI ExecutedOn January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris after being convicted of treason during the French Revolution. His trial was conducted by the National Convention, a revolutionary body tasked with dismantling the monarchy and establishing a republic. Accused of conspiring against the French people an

Legal News for Fri 1/17 - 500 Episodes! Bondi Invested in Truth Social, Democratic AGs Poised to Fight Trump, Judge Newman Saga Continues and TikTok Ban on Hold?

Jan 17 2025 16 mins

This Day in Legal History: Gary Gilmore ExecutedOn January 17, 1977, Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad in Utah, becoming the first person to be put to death in the United States after a 10-year pause in capital punishment. This execution followed the Supreme Court's landmark 1976 decision in Gregg v. Georgia, which reinstated the death penalty under revised statutes that ad