Shows / Minimum Competence
Minimum Competence
Minimum Competence is your daily companion for legal news, designed to bring you up to speed on the day’s major legal stories during your commute home. Each episode is short, clear, and informative—just enough to make you minimally competent on the key developments in law, policy, and regulation. Whether you’re a lawyer, law student, journalist, or just legal-curious, you’ll get a smart summary without the fluff. A full transcript of each episode is available via the companion newsletter at…
Episodes
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 2/5 - Fulton County Election Record Battle, Jones Day Suit, Abbot's Deadly Glucose Monitor Recall and DOJ "Jump Teams"
This Day in Legal History: FDR’s Court Packing Plan On February 5, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 2/4 - Would-be Trump Assassin Sentencing, Senate Scrutinizes Netflix Warner Bros Deal, DOJ Appeal in Google Antitrust Search Battle
This Day in Legal History: Blockburger On February 4, 1932, the United States Supreme Court decided Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932), a case…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 2/3 - Offshore Wind Drama Continues, DOJ Probes Pretti Murder, VW/Audi Tariff-caused Retreat from US and CA's Stalled Mileage Tax Reform
This Day in Legal History: Fifteenth Amendment Ratified On February 3, 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, marking a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 2/2 - TOSTracker Launches, FTC Warnings on DEI, ICE Warrantless Home Entries and Don Lemon Arrested
This Day in Legal History: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, officially ending the Mexican-American…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 1/30 - Court Blocks Ending of TPS for Venezuelans, Mass Exodus of Lawyers from Fed Gov, MA Law to Block Out-of-state Nat Guard Deployments
This Day in Legal History: Hitler Appointed Chancellor On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, a moment that marked the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 1/29 - Review of Alex Pretti Murder, Looming Judiciary Shutdown, Google $135m Settlement and a Teacher's Failed First Amendment Appeal
This Day in Legal History: “Axis of Evil” On January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush delivered his first State of the Union address after the September 11…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 1/28 - States Move to Allow Lawsuits Against ICE Agents, Blocked Pro-Dem Voting Map in VA and $4k/hr Billing Rates at Susman Godfrey
This Day in Legal History: Monkey Selfie On January 28, 2016, a federal judge in California dismissed a highly publicized copyright lawsuit that sought to…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 1/27 - Judge Weighs MN Immigration Crackdown Pause, Blocked Deportation Push in Boston and NY Shaky No-New-Tax Budget
This Day in Legal History: Paris Peace Accords On January 27, 1973, the United States signed the Paris Peace Accords, effectively marking the end of U.S…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 1/26 - Alex Pretti Was Murdered, Shutdown Fight Ensues, Youth Addiction Trial Against Tech and SCOTUS Narrow Path in Cook Fed Gov Case
This Day in Legal History: Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill On January 26, 1922, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, a landmark but…
Minimum CompetenceFirst Episode: LSAT Logic Applied
We launched something new — and it’s for anyone tired of hearing sloppy arguments pass unchallenged. LSAT Logic Applied is a new short-form podcast hosted by…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 1/23 - Trump Sues JPMorgan for Debanking Him, Jack Smith's Testimony, and Judge Questions WH Ballroom
This Day in Legal History: League of Nations Meets On January 23, 1920, the League of Nations held its first official meeting, marking a major experiment in…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 1/22 - ICE Protest Rulings in MN, SCOTUS Skeptical of Trump's Ability to Fire Fed Gov, New Immigration Attacks in Maine and Tariffs for Greenland Lunacy
This Day in Legal History: Roe v. Wade On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, fundamentally…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 1/21 - Trump Power Grab at Fed Heads to SCOTUS, J&J Talc Ruling, DOJ Shakeup and a Kalshi Crackdown in MA
This Day in Legal History: Nixon Aides Convicted On January 21, 1975, three of Richard Nixon’s closest aides—H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and former…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 1/20 - Hawaii Gun Case at SCOTUS, Judge Restarts Offshore Wind, FL Limits ABA Oversight and IRS Partnership Audits Move to States?
This Day in Legal History: Marbury v. Madison On January 20, 1803, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Marbury v. Madison, a case that began as a minor dispute over…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 1/16 - Dominion Offshore Wind Battle, Protections for Pro-Palestine Academics, CA Voter Data Suit Tossed and Why You Can't Sue ICE Agents
This Day in Legal History: 18th Amendment to the US Constitution On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 1/14 - Trump's War on Wind Power Continues, DOJ Race-relations Agency Reversal (?), Tesla's Racism Case Mediation and Minnesota Prosecutors Resign
This Day in Legal History: Williams v. Florida On January 15, 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Williams v. Florida, a significant case interpreting the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 1/14 - SCOTUS Rulings Watch, Trump Tariff Power Fight, Transgender Sports Bans, Elite College Antitrust Claim and Trump BBC Lawsuit
This Day in Legal History: Wong Kim Ark On January 14, 1898, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its landmark decision in United States v. Wong Kim…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 1/13 - Uber Sexual Assault Trial, SCOTUS Transgender Sports Cases Loom, Citi Fraud Setback and the NASCAR Tax Break
This Day in Legal History: Judge Robert W. Archbald Impeached On January 13, 1913, Judge Robert W. Archbald of the U.S. Commerce Court was convicted by the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 1/12 - Trump Migrant Parole Rollback Stymied, Indonesia Bans Grok, Treasury Braces for Tariff Refunds and Powell Served with Subpoena
This Day in Legal History: Hattie Wyatt Caraway Elected to Senate On January 12, 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 1/9 - Tariffs at SCOTUS, Aaron Judge Trademark Win, Death Penalty Fight and a DOJ Anti-Fraud Role
This Day in Legal History: Schenck v. United States On January 9, 1919, the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in Schenck v. United States, a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 1/8 - Politics and the DOJ, UK Scrutinizes Grok Because the US Never Will, and Ford's $100m Fraud Claim Against Attorneys
This Day in Legal History: George Washington Delivers First State of the Union Address On January 8, 1790, President George Washington delivered the first…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 1/7 - Maduro Immunity Fight, Reiner Murder Case, Meta Section 230 and Major Class Action Appeals in 26
This Day in Legal History: Nixon’s Plumbers On January 7, 1972, President Richard Nixon announced the formation of a special unit within the White House to…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 1/6 - Barry Pollack Represents Maduro, Conservative NLRB Shift, Wisconsin Judge Resigns and Hawaii's Cruise Inclusive Lodging Tax
This Day in Legal History: January 6 Insurrection On January 6, 2021, a significant and unprecedented legal and constitutional crisis unfolded in the United…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 1/5 - Maduro, Trump Judicial Appointment Slowdown, Law School Loan Limits in 2026 and the Year of Copyright AI Battles
This Day in Legal History: Federal Court Strikes Down “Balanced Treatment” Law in Arkansas On January 5, 1982, a federal district court in Arkansas issued a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 12/30 - NIH Grant Second Look, CFPB in Life Support, Circuit Split Over NLRB Constitutional Questions and Year-End Tax Column Wrap
This Day in Legal History: Fundamental Laws of 1906 On December 30, 1905, Tsar Nicholas II signed the “Fundamental Laws of 1906,” marking a pivotal moment in…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 12/29 - CA Drops Rail Lawsuit, Tom Bodett Turns Out the Light on Motel 6, FBI in MN, NY Social Media Warning Law
This Day in Legal History: Wounded Knee On December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry Regiment surrounded a Lakota Sioux encampment near Wounded Knee Creek…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 12/23 - CFPB Funding Fights, Trump DEI Crackdown Hits Limits, Mercedes $120m Settlement and IRS VDP Reform
This Day in Legal History: Federal Reserve Act On December 23, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law, creating the Federal…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 12/22 - 2026 Immigration Crackdowns Coming, Federal Judge Blocks HUD Changes, Skadden Arps as Trump's $100m Lap Dog
This Day in Legal History: Bernhard Goetz On this day in legal history, December 22, 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot and wounded four young Black men—Troy Canty…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 12/19 - Trump Takes Aim at Green Card Lottery, ICE Blocking Judge Convicted, Epstein File Drama and No Tax on Car Loans is Bogus
This Day in Legal History: Entrapment as Defense On December 19, 1932, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Sorrells v. United States, a case that reshaped how…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 12/18 - Courts Block Trump CFPB Firings, Doctors Sue RFK Jr. HHS Over Vaccines, DC Guard Deployment Remains and Trump Ballroom Moves Forward
This Day in Legal History: Trump Impeached On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump, marking the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 12/17 - A Judge Revisits Trump's Deportation Policy, Judge Thapar's Xenophobia as "Constitutional Theory," and a $500m Avatar Suit
This Day in Legal History: Project Blue Book Ends On this day in legal history, December 17, 1969, the U.S. Air Force officially terminated Project Blue Book…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 12/16 - No Tax on Overtime is Bogus, Trump's $10b Lawsuit, Law School Enrollment Way Up, Ball Room Court Fight and SNAP Deadline Ruling
This Day in Legal History: West Coast Hotel On December 16, 1936, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, a case that…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 12/15 - Judge on Trial over ICE Obstruction, CA Suing Trump Admin Over Trucker Language Rules, Setback for DOJ in Comey Case and $40m Verdict in J&J Trial
This Day in Legal History: Bill of Rights Ratified On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was officially ratified, marking a foundational moment in American…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 12/12 - Trump Law Firm FOIA Lawsuit, Blocked ICE Detention for Abrego Garcia, Trump Loses on FEMA, and Threatens States on AI Regulations
This Day in Legal History: Bush v. Gore On December 12, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Bush v. Gore, effectively ending the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 12/11 - Judge on Trial Over ICE Obstruction, Trump Wants His Face on Park Passes, No Tax On Social Security is a Lie and new AI Homicide Litigation
This Day in Legal History: Madoff Arrested On December 11, 2008, Bernard L. Madoff was arrested by federal agents and charged with securities fraud, marking…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 12/10 - Endangered Species in More Danger, Death Row Intellectual Disability Case, Jack Smith New Gig and DOJ Charges in Russian Cyberattacks
This Day in Legal History: Gregory v. Chicago On this day in legal history, December 10, 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Gregory v. City…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 12/9 - JD Campaign Finance at SCOTUS, Kalshi, DOJ vs. Transgender Kids and TX Sales Tax Policy Mess
This Day in Legal History: SCOTUS Intervenes in 2000 Presidential Election On this day in legal history, December 9, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 12/8 - SCOTUS Showdown Over Trump Firing Power, Legal Twist in the Comey Case, SCOTUS Declines to Take up Book Ban Battle
This Day in Legal History: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr’s Kid Sworn in as Justice On December 8, 1902, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was sworn in as an Associate…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 12/5 - Trump DC Troop Deployment Endures, SCOTUSBlog Goldstein Fights to Sell Home, Grand Jury Win for Letitia James and $300M in fees in Anthropic Case
This Day in Legal History: 21st Amendment Ratified On December 5, 1933, the United States ratified the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution, officially…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 12/4 - DEI Federal Worker Lawsuit, SEC Enforcement Collapses, and More Racist Green Card Freezes
This Day in Legal History: Skidmore On December 4, 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Skidmore v. Swift & Co., a case interpreting the Fair…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 12/3 - Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding Block, Purge of NYC Immigration Judges, DC Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
This Day in Legal History: Morgan v. Virginia On December 3, 1946, the NAACP filed the pivotal case Morgan v. Virginia, challenging state-enforced segregation…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 12/2 - Trump USA Womp Womp, HSBC Bets on Generative AI, Gentile Commuted for Ponzi scheme and the End of the Penny as Sales Tax Problem
This Day in Legal History: John Brown Assassinated On December 2, 1859, abolitionist John Brown was executed by hanging in Charles Town, Virginia (now West…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 12/1 - SCOTUS Cox Copyright Showdown, Trump Targets Afghans, AI in the Legal System and Pretrial Hearings for Luigi
This Day in Legal History: Rosa Parks Arrested On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to surrender her seat to a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 11/25 - Misconduct Claim Tossed, Indictments Deemed Invalid, and a Restatement Denied for Worker Fired Owing to Charlie Kirk Posts
This Day in Legal History: Free Speech at the Movies On this day in legal history, November 25, 1915, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 11/24 - Trump vs. AP, Meta Hiding Harm Data, Mandatory NDAs for Education Dept Reorg, and UCLA NIL Tax Shelter
This Day in Legal History: Lee Harvey Oswald Shot On November 24, 1963, two days after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the nation watched in shock…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 11/21 - Google Fights to Save Ad Empire, States Target Algo Pricing, Shaken Baby Syndrome Ruling in NJ and Excessive FBAR Penalties
This Day in Legal History: Mississippi Burning On November 21, 1964, a federal grand jury convened in Meridian, Mississippi, and indicted 19 men in connection…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 11/20 - 5th Circuit Senior Judge Tensions, EEOC Subpoena to UPenn, Kraken IPO and $1b Loan from USGOV for Three Mile Island
This Day in Legal History: Ratification of the Bill of Rights by New Jersey On November 20, 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 11/19 - Comey Wants Charges Dismissed, Cravath Hands out Bonuses, Selig Crypto Hearing and Trump Falls Short on Defamation Suit Against CNN
This Day in Legal History: Gettysburg Address On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal news for Tues 11/18 - SCOTUS Reviews Asylum Limits, Tesla Beats Racial Bias Action, Major BigLaw Merger and OpenAI Pushes for AI Tax Subsidies
This Day in Legal History: Statute of Marlborough On November 18, 1267, the Statute of Marlborough was enacted during the reign of King Henry III of England…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 11/17 - More Tylenol-Autism Lawsuits, a DOJ SCOTUS Lawyer Joins Boutique Firm, Apple Faces $634m Patent Infringement Decision
This Day in Legal History: US Capitol Opens On November 17, 1800, the United States Congress convened for the first time in the new Capitol building in…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 11/14 - Tylenol in TX, Sierra Leone Legal Fees, Private Equity Big Law, and Trump Admin Sues CA Over Redistricting
This Day in Legal History: Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon On this day in legal history, November 14, 1922, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Pennsylvania…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 11/13 - Trump Named in Epstein Emails, Apple Says EU Fee Cuts Didn't Help Consumers and Google Sues Phishers
This Day in Legal History: Happy Brandeis Day On November 13, 1856, Louis Brandeis was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He would go on to become one of the most…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 11/12 - SCOTUS Snap Ruling, Former CFPB Alums Launch Lawsuits, NCAA "Volunteer" Coach Settlement, and MX Flawed VAT Fraud Solution
This Day in Legal History: Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 On November 12, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 into…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 11/11 - SCOTUS Declines Kim Davis' Appeal, Reagan Judge Quits Over Trump, Changes to How Judicial Nominees are Announced
This Day in Legal History: Armistice Day On November 11, 1918, World War I came to an end with the signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 11/10 - Trump Pardons all the Criminal Cronies, Democrats Retreat from Shutdown, SNAP Funding Litigation and a Surge in Law Firm Demand
This Day in Legal History: Social Security Amendments On November 10, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Social Security Amendments of 1983, a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 11/7 - Ruling Forthcoming on Trump's Portland Incursion, Sandwich-thrower Acquitted, Court Order to Fully Fund SNAP by Friday
This Day in Legal History: 2000 Presidential Election On November 7, 2000, the United States held a presidential election that would evolve into one of the…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 11/6 - SCOTUS Weighs Trump Tariff Powers Under IEEPA, Tung to 9th Circuit, CA Republicans Sue over Prop 50
This Day in Legal History: John Jay First SCOTUS On November 6, 1789, John Jay was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States, marking a…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 11/5 - SCOTUS Weighs Trump Tariff Power, 1st Circuit Appointee Confirmed, SBF Appeal Chugs Forward and Google Settles with Epic Games
This Day in Legal History: Saddam Hussein Sentenced to Death On November 5, 2006, Saddam Hussein, the former President of Iraq, was sentenced to death by…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 11/4 - SBF Appeal, Getty Loses to Stability AI, PA Rushes Regulations for "Skill Games" to Avoid Higher Tax
This Day in Legal History: Massachusetts Institutes Death Penalty for Heresy On November 4, 1646, the Massachusetts General Court enacted a law that imposed…
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 11/3 - A Solo at SCOTUS, FBI Infighting over Patel Jetsetting, Court Order Forcing Trump Admin to Fund SNAP
This Day in Legal History: Elk v. Wilkins On November 3, 1884, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Elk v. Wilkins, ruling that Native Americans were not…