Legally Insane - The Law is Funny

Latest Episodes:

What to do About Morals Clauses in the Age of Cancel Culture – Ep 86 Jun 21, 2019

Show notes

Cancel culture upon us, it seems that every time an actor, or high profile person makes a mistake, the public wants to end their career. That's why today were touching on Morals Clauses. Morals Clauses are provisions within the instruments of a contract, which curtail certain behavior of individuals. I.e. if a Nike sponsored athlete screws up, Nike has to right to revoke their sponsorship or payments to that person. Today you'll learn why high profile people might start pushing back on these clauses.

Highlights:

Universal Studios wrote the first known morals clause, for actors
Babe Ruth's indulgences
In the 19040's and 50's morals clauses found their way into politics
The Hollywood 10
Loews v. Cole
Dimitri Marick's coke problem
Nike Kept Kobe, Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger's contracts
Reverse Moral's Clauses
Enron Stadium – Houston Astro's debacle

The Takeaway – Celebrities and Athletes need to think long and hard whether they need to push back on morals clauses, so their contract doesn't get voided by some mistake they made in their past, that society digs up on them.

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9572735/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

The Central Park Five - Was Trump The Cause of Their Jailing – Ep 85 Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

The Central Park jogger case was a criminal case based on the assault and rape of Trisha Meili, a white woman who was jogging in the park the night of April 19th, 1989. Four African American teenagers and one Hispanic teenager that were in the park that night were accused of the crime. The prosecution based their case on the alleged coerced testimony of the teenage boys. The 5 boys were convicted and received sentences ranging from 5-15 years. During the trial Donald Trump wrote and article calling for the death penalty, for criminals who commit these types of crimes. Today Matt and Tony are going to be breaking down the case and analyzing Trump's influence on the effect of the outcome of the case.

Highlights:

The alleged coerced testimonies by the teens
Lead pipes and plumbers gear
The teens were held without food and bathroom breaks
Conformational bias
Spinning the story to fit a variety of narratives

The Takeaway – The evidence was not strong enough to convict these kids.

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9370845/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

Red Flag Laws - Maybe We Can Do Something About Gun Violence – Ep 84 Jun 07, 2019

Show notes

Today the guys are re-touching on Gun Control. While it might not seem like anything is being done to protect people from irresponsible gun users, there have actually been several policies put in place in the last couple years, by State Governments. The main talking point for today is "Red Flag Laws", which are gun violence prevention laws that permit police or family members to petition a state court to order a temporary removal of a fire arm from a person who may present a danger to themselves or others.

Highlights:

Red Flag Laws
The problem is gun rhymes with fun
One averted suicide for every 10-11 gun removals/seizures
85% of registered voters supported Red Flag Laws
NRA ghost writing articles opposing gun control laws
2nd amendment sanctuary cities
Australia gun buy back/ban

The Takeaway – It may not seem like things are happening on the gun control front, but they are. It's a slow moving process with many passionate opinions on all sides of the argument

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9370845/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

Is Barr the Worst Attorney General Ever - Or Are they All Cronies? – Ep 83 May 31, 2019

Show notes

Today we learn that most Presidents' appoint their pals for their cabinet and other high-powered positions. Matt and Tony also discuss Mueller, how William Barr is on par with other awful attorney generals, the comparison between entertainment and politics and Matt tells a story about his connection to Trump.

Highlights:

Not the Attorney General's job to exonerate
They're all cronies
Bobby Kennedy appointment, because, why not?
Regan's best friend and personal lawyer
Covering up things for the President

The Takeaway – Cronyism always wins

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9370845/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

Is Bill De Blasio Pulling a Prank? - Examining 2020 Contender – Pretenders – Ep 82 May 23, 2019

Show notes

Today's discussion is all about Bill De Blasio. Bill is current mayor of NYC and has announced his 2020 Presidential bid. De Blasio has always had the reputation of being a little bit of a simpleton. He's done a lot of questionable things and had a lot of questionable ideas as mayor of New York. Matt and Tony are going to dig into his past on today's episode and discuss some of his mostly worst moments as mayor, while touching on a few of the good things he's campaigned for.

Highlights:

In a poll, only 5% of New Yorkers favored De Blasio for President in 2020
The infamous Cuban honeymoon
Accidentally killing the groundhog on groundhog day
Fork and knifing pizza
Free preschool for the kids of NYC residents
Bedtime Bill
Championing a $15 minimum wage
Loving the Boston Red Sox

The Takeaway – Though not the worst candidate, it's unlikely that De Blasio will win the democratic bid.

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9370845/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

The World's Oldest Profession - Should Prostitution Be Legal? – Ep 81 May 16, 2019

Show notes

Prostitution, the oldest profession in the world is the topic of today's show. Matt and Tony are going to be discussing it's origins, the laws surrounding it both past and present, it's financial impact, the health and safety of prostitutes and some hilarious other tidbits that most people probably don't know, about turning tricks.

Highlights:

The ancient Greeks and Romans mandated that prostitutes wear specific clothing and pay large taxes
Incels
In old France, prostitution profits were shared with French Universities
In NYC in the early 1900's there were 200 active brothels and 75% of the cities male population had Venereal Disease
The origins of the terms "Hooker" and "Red Light District"
Comstock Law and The May Act
10 of 17 counties in Nevada have legal prostitution
John's School
Paying for sex is a 16 billion dollar industry

The Takeaway – Most prostitution laws were put into effect because of the huge amount of STD's that were being transmitted; it wasn't necessarily based on the moral implications of paying for sex.

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link:

https://improv.com/hollywood/event/legally+insane/9370845/

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

Facebook Trying to Avoid Liability - Are they Publisher or a Platform Under the Law - Episode 80 May 11, 2019

Show notes

Tony and Matt are back from touring and coming in hot. This week they explore whether Facebook, twitter and the various other social media juggernauts are controlling our flow of information without taking any responsibility or liability for it. We go all the way back to the beginning of the internet and discuss the old Prodigy case, remember them. The courts agreed that even though they were a platform they could take down obscene content to protect from the late 90s rash of pedofiles sneaking into chat rooms! Congress passed Section 230 of the Communications Decency act to allow for this type of oversight but it seems Zuckerberg, Dorsey and co. have decided to overreach and ban anyone who disagrees with them. For once Tony and Matt find themselves in agreement with Donnie Jr. and co who feel that Facebook is trying to have it both ways. If you're a platform, you generally must remain content neutral. If you're a publisher, you can take ownership over who gets to speak on your site, but you open yourself up to all kinds of liability that Congress shielded platforms from. Facebook is trying to have it both ways but it seems like the public and Congress is fed up. We're eager to see how this plays out in the courts and in the legislature. As always come to a show, next one is June 6th at the Hollywood Improv. Follow us @toekneesam @mattritter1 @legallynsanepod. Matt Ritter 917-576-0049 Website Youtube

The Monica Lewinsky Case - 20 Years Later - Impeachment Doesn't Look So Bad Now – Ep 79 Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

With the word Impeachment constantly popping up in today's news, the guys decide to dive into Bill Clinton's Impeachment and his sexual acts with the then White House Intern, Monica Lewinsky. In this episode they'll be examining how the media spun the whole story to make 22 year old Monica Lewinsky look like the predator instead of the victim.

Highlights:

Impeachment, on the minds of a lot of Americans
Framing the case to make Monica Lewinsky look bad
Obstruction of justice and Perjury
Linda Trip secretly recorded Monica Lewinsky
The meaning of is IS
The Drudge Report

The Takeaway – Monica Lewinsky got a bad shake. In American's haste to take sides, we need to try and start looking at things objectively and listen to both sides of a story.

Hollywood Improv Ticket Link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/legally-insane-hollywood-improv-the-labtickets/9370815?pl=hollyimprov&REFID=hollywoodWP&_ga=2.130221071.1041003832.1554834989-791494887.1553536445

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

2020 Contenders - Andrew Yang Wants to Pay You $1000...For your Vote – Ep 78 Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Andrew Yang is the topic of today's discussion. Andrew is an American Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. He's one of the 16 Democratic candidates that are gunning for a shot at the White House. He's a bit of an obscure candidate, whose on a mission to end circumcision in the US and get the federal government to pay you a 1k a month salary, just because. He's pro free Medicare for all Americans and wants to use his tech background to slow down the automated economy.

Highlights:

1k a month, universal basic income
Am automated economy
Human-centered capitalism
Creating more jobs through tech
Regulating social media through an Ombudsman
Anti Circumcision

The Takeaway – If you're angry about not being circumcised and you want the government to pay you 1k a month, then Andrew Yang is your guy.

Twitter:

@mattritter1

@toekneesam

Website:

www.cascademedia.com

Feeling Out A Joe Biden Presidency – Ep 77 Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

Matt and Tony are feeling out a Joe Biden Presidency today. Joe seems to be a well-liked guy, who could have a shot at winning the Democratic Presidential Bid. But, today Matt and Tony are going to be poking some fun at "touchy Joe" and pull up some past stories about him getting a little busy with his hands. They also discuss his family life, voting record and some of the other questionable things he's done in his past.

Highlights: