The Civic Flame

26: The Kerner Commission: Still America's Roadmap to Justice

What was the Kerner Commission Report, and why is it one of the most fundamental Congressional Reports in US history? Walk back to 1968 with us in this audience-requested episode about the report that changed the course of one of the most influential elections in US history and told the American public that we were moving towards two societies: one White and one Black.  DR FUN SPONGE CHANGES TO MOTHER OF DEMOCRACY  1968: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER WHAT WAS THE KERNER COMMISSION? THE GREAT SOCIETY LOSES TO VIETNAM  A CONGRESSIONAL REPORT BECOMES A BESTSELLER! KERNER SHOWED US HOW TO AVOID POLICE VIOLENCE AND URBAN UNREST THE LONGER WE WAIT TO ADDRESS INJUSTICE, THE MORE COSTLY  IT WILL BE

25: Content Warning: Mother of Democracy

This week, we launch a new sub-series: Mother of Democracy that combines my work in women's health with my civics work. Trigger alert: we talk about rape, cults, and femicide, so this one is not family friendly.  MAJOR CONTENT WARNING  THE EPSTEIN CLASS  JUST GIVE ME SUPER POWERS OR CRIMINAL IMMUNITY  GISELE PELICOT AND RAPIST HUSBANDS KEEP BEING HORRIFIED, STOP BEING SURPRISED  THE RAPE ACADEMY  FEMICIDE AND VIOLENT MISOGYNY: IT’S NOT EXTREMISM, IT’S SUPER COMMON  UNLESS YOU’RE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THIS, YOU’RE NOT A GOOD MAN  FEMICIDE  MEN HATE WOMEN FOR EXISTING. WOMEN HATE MEN FOR KILLING US.  MISOGYNY AND DEMOCRACY ARE NOT COMPATIBLE  NEXT WEEK: KOREA AND THE 4 B MOVEMENT

24: 14th Amendment and Load-Bearing Clauses

In our season finale of the Civic Flame, we look at a truly load-bearing amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment includes birthright citizenship, due process, privileges and immunities, equal protection, and more! We go through the five sections of this game-changer and talk about how the Fourteenth Amendment fundamentally altered US citizenship and why todays' legal civil war is trying to attack it. Let's go! 00:00:55 The Fourteenth Amendment is a big deal 00:01:35 Section 1 of the 14th Amendment and Birthright Citizenship   00:04:00 Birthright Citizenship and US v Wong Kim Ark 00:06:22 Privileges and Immunities were supposed to be a big deal 00:09:22 Due Process and Equal Protection are for persons not just citizens 00:12:00 The 14th Amendment and the Doctrine of Selective Incorporation 00:14:00 Right to an attorney and civil Gideon  00:14:12 Section 2 of the 14th Amendment and representation 00:16:40 Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and the Insurrection Clause 00:19:33 We’re in a legal civil war 00:21:00 Section 4 of the 14th Amendment and refusal to pay the confederate traitors 00:24:50 Section 5 of the 14th Amendment and reaffirming Legislative Supremacy 00:26:00 Season one finale! 00:23:00 Thank you!

23: Let's get Constitutionally Radical: The Ninth and Tenth Amendments

In this episode, we take a look at the 9th and 10th Amendment and talk about why most people are not reading the Constitution as radically as they should. We get all of the rights, that's just the purpose of federalism. Want to be a Constitutional radical, too? Let's go! 00:00:30 I’m a Constitutional Radical 00:00:52 The Bill of Rights was not a complete list 00:02:00 The Anti-Federalists and Federalists both wanted a government of limited powers 00:02:47 What does the Ninth Amendment say? 00:03:41 The Ninth Amendment deserves its time to shine! 00:05:04 What does the Tenth Amendment say? 00:05:35 Texans and the US Flag Code and when Vermont was its own country  00:06:56 The Constitutional Revolution of 1937 alters federalism for the New Deal 00:08:01 Next time, we’ll start the 14th Amendment! 00:08:30 Thank you

22: No Lawyer Jokes! Talking about the Sixth and Seventh Amendments

This week, we talk about the vital role of lawyers in our criminal and civil justice systems through the Sixth and Seventh Amendments. We try not to make lawyer jokes (and fail). If you've ever wondered what is the difference between criminal and civil law: this one is for you.  00:00:30 The Bill of Rights and Lawyers: Amendment 6 and 7 00:01:05 I try not to make lawyer jokes  00:01: 39 Lawyers were “ambulance chasers” because they protected you from insurance companies 00:02:26 Clarence Darrow and the Cook County Jail Speech 00:03:00 What does the Sixth Amendment Say 00:03:30 How are criminal and civil law different? 00:04:30 The burden of proof is different, and that matters 00:05:01 The government can’t keep secrets from you about the allegations against you 00:05:42 Changes of venue tick people off see Enron and Rodney King Jury trials  are a part of social justice through the criminal justice system. Messing with them undermines the system. 00:06:18 Most cases never go to trial 00:07:42 Public Defenders and Gideon v Wainwright  00:09:25 Gideon says lawyers are not a luxury, they are mandatory  00:10:27 What does the Seventh Amendment say?  00:11:40 What is Civil Gideon? 00:12:04 Next week the 9th and 10th Amendments! 00:12:30 Thank you!