Sidebar by Courthouse News
Sidebar by Courthouse News tackles the stories you need to know from the legal world. Join reporters Hillel Aaron, Kirk McDaniel, Amanda Pampuro and Kelsey Reichmann as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond and break down all the developments that had them talking.
Episodes
54 episodes since 2021
Election Undercard 2024
Zombie voters. Sham elections. Voter fraud.In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, election lawsuits are flooding courts across the U.S., with the timing of some geared more toward grabbing headlines than achieving le...
September 10, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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40:59
The Paxton Parable
Known for his unwavering conservative stance, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's career has been marked by significant legal battles, including a protracted securities fraud case and intense impeachment proceedings that left an indelible mark ...
August 20, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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52:36
Glass Palaces
All aboard, fair listeners, as we take you on a summer tour of the fascinating world of courthouse architecture and how it shapes our justice system.Can courthouse design impact justice?You’ve joined us right in the middle of Amer...
June 25, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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39:37
Shopping for the Perfect Court
In the past few years, there’s been an explosion of nationwide injunctions coming from single-judge divisions in the federal court system. These judges were handpicked by the people filing these lawsuits.You may have heard of one: U.S. D...
June 04, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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34:22
Real Lawsuits of 'Real Housewives'
Receipts. Proof. Timeline. Screenshots. What fuels the flames of drama in episodes of Bravo’s hugely successful “Real Housewives” franchise can also come into play off the screen when current and former reality stars duke it out in...
May 07, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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28:37
Copyright Conundrum
Would you believe us if we told you copyright law is the biggest regulation on free speech in the United States? When you exercise your First Amendment right to paint a picture or write the next great American novel, your speech be...
April 16, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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34:12
Bitter Pill: Pregnancy and Personhood in a Post-Dobbs America
The landscape of abortion rights in America is unrecognizable in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.Join us for our fourth episode this season as we navigate this tumultuous ...
March 26, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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33:57
Mean Tweets
Editor’s note: This episode is not family friendly due to some colorful language.A long-running feud between eviction lawyers Dennis Block and Danny Bramzon cumulated into a Twitter parody account and a libel lawsuit that made it all the...
March 05, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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32:08
Breaking News: SCOTUS Ends Trump Ballot Challenges
Surprise, listeners! We’re coming to you, almost live, with a special breaking news mini episode on the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to keep former President Donald Trump on Colorado’s ballot.Our very own Amanda Pampuro and Kelsey ...
March 04, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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17:59
Love Is a Lie
Look around, dear listener. Everything is heart-shaped and pink. People are getting ready for a special night with their special someone. In our second episode this season, we take you through the dark alleyways of onlin...
February 13, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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36:13
The Case of the Internet Sleuth
Welcome to season four of Sidebar! We're kicking off our first episode of 2024 by traversing the digital terrain of internet sleuths, those armchair detectives whose keyboards are the new magnifying glasses.Everyone has a hobby. Somethi...
January 23, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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35:33
Sidebar Season Four - Official Trailer
Season four of Sidebar, a podcast from Courthouse News, kicks off just around the corner. Join our hosts and reporters as they take you around the nation to break down lawsuits, the law and how they impact you and the life you live. Follow us o...
January 09, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 0
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1:01
Big Bold Beautiful 2023 Recap
Welcome to our end-of-the-year gala episode of Sidebar.It's hard to divvy out awards for the most important or interesting cases of 2023 when former President Donald Trump has dominated so many of them. This was the year Trump took over ...
December 05, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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33:47
Reading, Writing, Religion
No institution in American life has a far-reaching and outsized role in communities quite like the public school system.Take a seat, Sidebar listeners, as we dive into the heart of public education and its role in our democracy for our p...
November 14, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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31:33
I Put a Spell on You
Happy Halloween, all you goblins and ghouls. Prepare yourselves for a real spooky season treat as we traverse the gloomy annals of witch trials. Join us for our 12th episode this season as we dispel myths and shine a light on how and why these ...
October 31, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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24:05
SCOTUS v. America
Another year, another five-alarm fire burning before the U.S. Supreme Court.Kelsey Reichmann, Courthouse News’ Supreme Court reporter and the newest addition to the Sidebar team, joined just in time for this year's preview of the court'...
October 03, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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50:06
Sour Grapes
The love story between Hollywood megastars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was destined for public fascination from the start as they merged family, philanthropy and a rather unexpected shared passion — wine. So, when they split in 2016, no one sa...
September 12, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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22:36
Don't Call Me (Maybe)
Welcome back, listeners, from what we hope was a calm, relaxing break. If it was anything like ours, just when you cozied up with a summer read, you were likely jarred back to reality by a pesky robocall asking about your auto warr...
August 22, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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31:23
Give Me a Beat!
Ed Sheeran and reggaeton might have more in common than you know: the artist and the genre have been the subject of battles over whether you can copyright a groove or a rhythm. In our last episode before summer break, we unravel th...
June 27, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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28:16
Greater Idaho Dreamin'
Should state borders change to create political havens? Come along as we take a road trip through the world of secession as we look at the urban-rural divide and how it shapes these movements.Our first stop in our seventh episode this se...
June 06, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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32:05
For a Fistful of Dollars
Imagine stashing your hard-earned savings in a safety deposit box, only to find out the FBI has raided the place and your money is gone thanks to the controversial practice of civil forfeiture, which allows law enforcement to seize people's ass...
May 09, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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25:55
No Laughing Matter
A note: this episode contains language that might make you or your nana blush. Pull up a chair as we bring you into the comedy club and beyond. Laughter may be the best medicine, but how does it hold up in court? Over the decades, c...
April 18, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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32:02
Sober Sundays
Blue laws. They are quirky and annoying outdated restrictions on activities to ensure Sunday is a day of rest and worship. Some go beyond dictating when you can or cannot get a drink, and sometimes they leave you scratching your head wondering,...
March 28, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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30:09
The Legal Jungle of Exotic Pets
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 60 million American households have pets. That is a ton of good boys and girls out there. But have you ever stopped and wondered about the laws that define pet ownership? Are there specific pets that ...
March 07, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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33:03