The Bench Press

Robert DeNault and Jess Coleman
  • 4.6 (10)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Two young lawyers, Robert DeNault and Jess Coleman, take you inside the major developments in law and politics, and analyze what it means for the American legal system, our constitutional framework and the future of our democracy.

  1. 05/03/2024

    Trump v. US: Is the President Immune from Criminal Prosecution?

    Bobby, Jess and Ryan discuss the Supreme Court's oral arguments in Trump v. United States, where the Court will decide whether President Trump is immune from certain criminal charges brought in connection with the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. How will the justices rule? Is the public overreacting? All that and more.

    59 min

  2. 04/15/2024

    MAGA’s Abortion Play: Make America 1864 Again

    Bobby and guest host Ryan discuss the Arizona Supreme Court enforcing an 1864 abortion law and why MAGA and Trump are responsible. Then a rundown of recent Trump trials details (the start of the first criminal trial, questions about Trump’s bond, and Judge Cannon’s reckless rulings).

    1h 14m

  3. 03/21/2024

    Is a TikTok Ban Legal?

    Bobby and Jess are joined by guest host Ryan Wildsmith (don't worry, not another lawyer)! Why is Congress banning TikTok? Is it a good idea? And is it even allowed under the First Amendment?

    41 min

  4. 02/28/2024

    Everything Everywhere All at Once

    What will the Supreme Court do with former President Trump's immunity claim? Is Judge Cannon intentionally slow-walking the classified documents case? Did Fani Willis blow her opportunity to hold Trump accountable for election interference? How in the world is Trump going to pay the half billion dollars he owes to New York State? With the collision course between Donald Trump and U.S. courts hitting yet another gear, Bobby and Jess take you through every criminal and civil case facing the former President, and try to make sense of where we're headed and why it matters for our legal system and the looming presidential race.

    1h 11m

  5. 01/03/2024

    2024: Trump's Fate Back at SCOTUS

    Happy New Year! We are back with a preview of the year ahead for the courts, our politics, and the trajectory of democracy, and of course that means a slew of hugely impactful Trump-related cases headed for the Supreme Court. How will SCOTUS rule on the efforts to disqualify Trump from running under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment? Will SCOTUS interfere with Trump's criminal trial in DC? All that and more on this week's episode of The Bench Press.

    1h 3m

  6. 10/31/2023

    The Kraken Got Krakened

    Four defendants in the Georgia election interference criminal case plead guilty. What does it say about the trajectory of Fani Willis' case, as well as the other criminal cases pending against Former President Donald Trump. And the House Republicans (finally) elect a Speaker. Who the heck is Congressman Mike Johnson, and what does his election to the Speaker's chair say about the modern Republican Party?

    56 min

  7. 10/12/2023

    Israel at War: A Sane Discussion

    Following Hamas' brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, the discourse in the United States has been anything but productive. Bobby and Jess discuss their own reactions, and what it all says about our political culture and the modern media environment. Also, a discussion of the simultaneous political crisis in the United States created by the Republicans' abject failure to run the House of Representatives.

    39 min

  8. 10/03/2023

    Can Trump Pardon Himself?

    Can a president pardon him or herself? It's question that has puzzled legal minds for decades, but has never been settled, or even directly addressed by a federal judge. With President Trump facing two federal indictments, and teasing the possibility that he would use the pardon power to insulate himself from criminal liability if elected president, the question has reentered the public sphere with a vengeance. But what does the law actually say? What are the arguments for and against allowing self pardons? And what does the debate say about how political leaders should approach this delicate moment in history? Jess and Bobby discuss all of these questions and more with Brian Kalt, a leading constitutional scholar and professor of law at Michigan State University.

    41 min
See All (23)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Two young lawyers, Robert DeNault and Jess Coleman, take you inside the major developments in law and politics, and analyze what it means for the American legal system, our constitutional framework and the future of our democracy.

Information

  • Creator
    Robert DeNault and Jess Coleman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The Bench Press Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Bench Press