Tag: CARES Act

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OA408: What Happens When The CARES Act Expires Tomorrow?

Today’s episode takes a deep dive into the Republican proposal to extend the CARES Act, which is (of course) called the HEALS Act. It’s a Republican proposal, so you know it’s probably terrible, but… how bad is it? (Bad.) Listen and find out!

Remember that our LIVE Q&A is THIS SATURDAY, 8/1, at 7:30 pm Eastern / 4:30 pm Pacific!

We begin, however, with some good news! The D.C. Circuit has granted en banc review and vacated the prior panel opinion in the Michael Flynn case. That means our amicus brief is (potentially) back in business, baby!

From there, we take down Trump’s idiotic distract-o-Tweet of the day involving postponing the 2020 Election. No. He can’t do this. It won’t happen. Trump’s a monster, but no.

Then it’s time for a deep dive on the CARES Act, which includes some mystery provisions we’ve outsourced to you, our listeners!

After all that, it’s time for #T3BE, this one a (straightforward?) question about permissible witness testimony. Remember that you too can play along by sharing this episode on social media using #T3BE.

Patreon Bonuses

Lots of goodies, including the Q&A Questions thread and Andrew’s “100 Seconds” talk to the UK Skeptics in the Pub!

Appearances

Andrew pops in again for an interview on The Daily Beans. And if you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, event, or in front of your group (virtually!), please drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. We broke down why Trump can’t cancel the election in detail in Episode 370.
  2. You can click here to read the McConnell HEALS Act proposal; here for the Rubio/Collins proposal we discussed on a second round of PPP loans; and here for the academic research led by Raj Chetty that PPP loans don’t work.

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-Remember to check out our YouTube Channel  for Opening Arguments: The Briefs and other specials!

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!



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OA383: Trump’s Taxes & The CARES Act (Or: Why Your Vote Matters)

Today’s episode checks back in with the status of the consolidated cases pending before the Supreme Court regarding Trump’s tax returns. As it turns out, this overlaps pretty strongly with the show’s “B” segment about the potential for abuse in the CARES Act.

We begin with a colossal “Andrew Was Wrong” — in which Andrew optimistically predicted we’d see Trump’s tax returns in 2019. That… turned out not to be the case. So what are the odds that we’ll see Trump’s taxes before the November elections? Listen and find out!

After that, it’s time for another semi-deep-dive, and this time we’re checking back in with the just-passed CARES Act as Andrew talks about a provision we missed the first time around that has the potential to… well, you’ll just have to listen and find out!

Then, it’s time for the answer to #T3BE 176 involving burning a copy of the IRS Code. Is it illegal? If so, why?

Patreon Bonuses

If you missed our live Q&A, you can check out the audio here!

Appearances

Andrew was just a guest on Episode 121 of the Skepticrat, talking about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program and other crazy legal stories in the news. And if you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, event, or in front of your group, please drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. Click here to read the letter sent by Liz Warren & other Democratic Senators to Deutsche Bank.
  2. Our comprehensive overview of the CARES Act was in Episode 372, and you can read the final CARES Act here.
  3. The Sunshine Act is 5 U.S.C. § 552b.

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-Remember to check out our YouTube Channel  for Opening Arguments: The Briefs and other specials!

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!



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OA382: Bernie Sanders Was Right! (The DNC & Payday Lenders)

Today’s episode takes two deep dives — first, into New York’s cancellation of its Democratic Presidential Primary, and second, into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and efforts by scumbag payday lenders to take your tax dollars despite being parasites.

We begin with a thorough examination of the DNC’s Delegate Selection Rules and the Call For Convention Rules and figure out whether Bernie Sanders can get to 25% — and why that matters. Learn why Andrew Yang’s lawsuit omits what Andrew thinks is the best argument — Rule 11.C — and exactly how it comes into play in terms of the candidates’ delegate count. We end with some optimism and a bold prediction by Andrew about the Biden campaign!

After that, it’s time for a deep dive into a provision of the CARES Act that we didn’t cover back in Episode 372, namely, the Paycheck Protection Program. How does it operate? And how are payday lenders operating on two fronts to try and take advantage of it? Listen and find out!

Then, it’s time for an all-new #T3BE about a libertarian tax protestor who sets fire to the Internal Revenue Code inside a government building. (We can’t make this stuff up.)

Patreon Bonuses

Our next LIVE Q&A is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at 8 pm Eastern / 5 pm Pacific, and you can post and vote on which questions you want to see answered! And don’t forget that we’ve released Law’d Awful Movies #39, Class Action, starring Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and featuring guest performer Matt Donnelly of the Ice Cream Social podcast!

Appearances

Andrew was just a guest on Episode 121 of the Skepticrat, talking about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program and other crazy legal stories in the news. And if you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, event, or in front of your group, please drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. Click here to read Andrew Yang’s lawsuit against the DNC; here for the Delegate Selection Rules; and here for the Call For Convention Rules.
  2. This is the April 17, 2020 AP article suggesting that Biden may let Sanders keep his statewide delegates.
  3. Latest news regarding payday lenders: this April 29, 2020 New York Times article suggesting the fix was in at Trump’s CFPB, and former CFPB member Jonathan Lanning’s blockbuster 17-page email documenting the corruption.
  4. Here’s the list of SBA Section 7(a) lenders, and this is the relevant regulation, 13 CFR § 120.110(b).

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-Remember to check out our YouTube Channel  for Opening Arguments: The Briefs and other specials!

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!



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Transcript of OA377: Trump’s Pyramid Schemes and Arbitration (feat. AG!)

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 377!  I’m Thomas Smith, that’s Andrew Torrez.  How’re you doing, Andrew?

Andrew:         I am fantastic, Thomas, and I sincerely mean that!  Comnin’ off of a great interview with Andrew Seidel last week, we’ve got AG from Mueller She Wrote this week, I couldn’t be happier!

Thomas:         Not only that, we’ve got a rare two-guest show because Andrew, of course, is going to be back with us for the thrilling conclusion of T3BE, but also as you mentioned, AG from Mueller She Wrote is on for the main segment, so wow, how fun!  You know, we’re trying to keep our – we’re all quarantined but we’re keeping our interactions up!

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Transcript of OA372: The CARES Act, COVID-19, and Your $1,200 Check

Listen to the episode and read the show notes

Topics of Discussion:

[Show Intro]

Thomas:         Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 372!  I’m Thomas Smith, that’s Andrew Torrez.  How’re you doing, Andrew?

Andrew:         Well I am doing coronavirus-infested fantastic, Thomas, how are you?

Thomas:         Yeah, I mean we were all very concerned that you were infected with said coronavirus, are you feeling … better?  Recovering?

Andrew:         I honestly think that it was sort of a combination of crappy seasonal cold and then that first day it went from like 35 to 75 here and I think the pollen went nuts.  So in any event, I have been feeling lousy for about a week but following the protocols and I am on the upswing.

Continue reading “Transcript of OA372: The CARES Act, COVID-19, and Your $1,200 Check”
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OA377: Trump’s Pyramid Schemes and Arbitration (feat. AG!)

Today’s episode features one of our most-requested return guests, AG of the Mueller She Wrote and Daily Beans podcasts. AG joins us for “Below the Radar,” stories that you might have missed while your eyes glazed over during the 11th consecutive coronavirus press conference.

We begin, however, with a nice grab-bag of Andrew Was Rights (and Wrongs, sadly) from the Carolinas to Illinois to the CARES Act to the sad and perhaps inevitable ascension of 37-year-old Federalist Society hack Justin Walker, Andrew Was… Something.

After that it’s time to welcome on AG to discuss a recent ruling requiring the Trump crime syndicate in both their individual and corporate capacities to actually litigate claims rather than shunt them off into arbitration. Andrew and AG break down the significance of last week’s ruling, which may have flown… Under The Radar (TM).

Then, it’s time for the answer to #T3BE 173 involving an auto accident, contributory negligence, and one of our favorite lawyers. Did Thomas and Andrew get it right? Listen and find out!

Patreon Bonuses

We just did an amazing SIO crossover with an Australian lawyer on the Cardinal Pell decision, and don’t forget you can also participate in the Transformers coloring book challenge! And, if you missed it, don’t forget to listen to the audio from March’s LIVE Q&A and Andrew’s Lecture, “We’re All Gonna Die!” and the accompanying slides! PHEW!

Appearances

Andrew was just a guest host on the Talk Heathen live call-in show, so you can see how he handles religious apologists. If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, event, or in front of your group, please drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. We broke down the CARES Act in Episode 372, and you can check out the final “no offset” provision here, on p. 154.
  2. For more on Justin Walker, check out his debate with Andrew on Episode 224 and our breakdown of his lack of qualifications to serve on the federal bench in Episode 289.

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-Remember to check out our YouTube Channel  for Opening Arguments: The Briefs and other specials!

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!



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OA372: The CARES Act, COVID-19, and Your $1,200 Check

Today’s episode breaks down the three main provisions of the just-passed CARES Act in terms of (1) additional unemployment benefits, (2) tax relief in the form of advance $1,200 “rebate” checks to taxpayers, and (3) the $500 billion “slush fund” for corporate giveaways. While there’s more in this 880-page monstrosity, we break down the key parts for you!

We begin, however, with some good news about the impending retirement of Ohio Rep., Trump-supporting lunatic, and soon-to-be-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Does this violate the Ineligibility Clause of the Constitution? YOU BETCHA. Is it #ClearAsKushner? YEP! And this time, does it matter? YES IT DOES!

After that it’s time for a full breakdown of the main components of the CARES Act, including how much money you’ll be getting and when, what the costs are, and what the provisions are that can come into play to prevent all of this from winding up in Jared Kushner’s pocket. You won’t want to miss it!

After all that, it’s time for a quick segment on IRS Form W-7, which allows you to pay your taxes if you’re a nonresident alien.

Patreon Bonuses

There’s so much right now! If you’re a Patron, you can submit your questions for next Tuesday’s LIVE Q&A scheduled for 3/31 at 8 pm Eastern / 5 pm Pacific, and you can also enjoy Andrew’s Lecture, “We’re All Gonna Die!” and the accompanying slides!

Appearances

Andrew was just a guest on the Daily Beans Podcast, talking President Leahy. If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, event, or in front of your group, please drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.

Show Notes & Links

  1. On the Ineligibility Clause: check out Schlesinger v. Reservists Committee to Stop the War, 418 U.S. 208 (1974) (restricting taxpayer and citizen standing) and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority et al. v. Citizens For The Abatement Of Aircraft Noise, Inc., et al., 501 U.S. 252 (1991) (invalidating Congressional action pursuant to the Ineligiblity Clause).
  2. You can read the final CARES ACT for yourself, all 880 pages of it!
  3. Please do fill out IRS Form W-7 if it applies to you.

-Support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/law

-Follow us on Twitter:  @Openargs

-Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openargs/, and don’t forget the OA Facebook Community!

-For show-related questions, check out the Opening Arguments Wiki, which now has its own Twitter feed!  @oawiki

-Remember to check out our YouTube Channel  for Opening Arguments: The Briefs and other specials!

-And finally, remember that you can email us at openarguments@gmail.com!



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