Message Samples using Villain Sandwich

Audience: likely Democrats in MI-10

Script 1: Healthcare should be affordable and accessible to every Michigander. MAGA Republicans voted to make the super-rich even richer while our health insurance premiums doubled. Fight back! Register at Votizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will stand for working families, not billionaires.

Script 2: Healthcare should be affordable and accessible to every Michigander. MAGA Republicans slashed Medicaid to give more money to the 1%, putting coverage at risk for 750,000 Michiganders including kids and seniors! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will stand for us, not billionaires.

Script 3: We all deserve basic food and healthcare. MAGA Republicans gave $4 trillion in tax breaks to the super-rich while slashing Medicaid and food benefits for Michigan families. Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will help everyday people.

Script 4: Everyday items like gas, clothes or laundry detergent shouldn't break the bank. Trump promised to lower prices but everything's more expensive. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will actually work to bring our costs down.

Script 5: Trump promised to deport violent criminals. But his ICE goons are ripping honest, hard-working people from their families and murdering US citizens. You can stop this! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will defend our rights and stand up for innocent people.

Script 6: Trump promised to put America first. But he's bombing Iran while at home we're struggling to pay for gas, groceries and rent. You can stop this! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Christina Hines who will put working families first.

Audience: Likely Democrats in CO-03

Script 1: Healthcare should be affordable and accessible to every Coloradan. MAGA Republicans voted to make the super-rich even richer while our health insurance premiums doubled. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Dwayne Romero who stands for working families, not billionaires.

Script 2: All Coloradans need nearby healthcare. But MAGA Republicans voted to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich while slashing Medicaid, putting nine CO hospitals at risk of closing. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrat Dwayne Romero who will fight for working families, not billionaires.

Audience: Likely Democrats in NY-04

Script 1: We all deserve affordable food and healthcare, yet Republicans voted to cut Medicaid and SNAP to give more money to billionaires. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and vote for Democrat Laura Gillen. She will fight for US, not the 1%.

Script 2: Trump and Republicans promised to deport violent criminals. But ICE goons are ripping honest people from their families, detaining kids and killing US citizens. You can stop this! Register at Voterizer.org and vote for Democrat Laura Gillen. She will protect our rights and stand up for innocent people.

Script 3: Trump and Republicans promised to bring prices down. Now everything costs more and they want us to pay for his ballroom while we struggle to buy groceries and rent! Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and vote for Democrat Laura Gillen. She will fight to make life affordable for working Long Islanders.

Script 4: Trump and Republicans promised to bring prices down and keep the US out of foreign wars. Now we're at war with Iran and gas prices are through the roof. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and vote for Democrat Laura Gillen. She will put Long Island families first.

For reference, in political messaging circles, Anat Shenker-Osorio's "villain-victim-hero" framework is often informally called a villain sandwich and typically follows this pattern:

 These scripts are crafted by the wonderful Field Team 6 [https://fieldteam6.org/], who says:

"...We plug every topic into the research-backed 3Vs formula that comes from messaging guru Anat Shenker-Osorio in which you:

• State a shared Value: Most Americans agree abortion should be safe and legal. 
• Name a Villain who is an obstacle to this value: Republicans want to ban abortion nationwide. 
• State a call to action that includes a Vision for the future: You can stop this! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrats who will protect our freedom to choose.

This creates a "villain sandwich" that has been proven to be the most effective form of political messaging that we know of."

Comment: 

Value → Villain → Vision (plus call to action) 

 Example:

• Value: Abortion should be safe and legal. 
• Villain: Republicans want to ban abortion nationwide. 
• Vision/Action: Register and elect Democrats to protect freedom to choose.

That corresponds closely to the broader political communications framework often associated with Anat Shenker-Osorio, where messages are built around shared values, a clear antagonist causing or threatening harm, and a positive collective action that resolves the problem.

 

October 2026 Free CLE.

October 1:

* 50 Scary Things That Buyers Do Which Cause Issues On Loans Before Closing. By CES.

* Ethics and the Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Legal Profession. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

*  Artificial Intelligence in the Energy Sector. By LexisNexis.

* Trends to Watch in Antitrust Law. By LexisNexis.

* Do’s and Don’ts: Disciplining for Controversial Social Media Posts. By Cozen O'Connor.

October 6:

* Moneyball for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* 2026 Annual Update - No Fault. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Labor Law. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* The Court We Need: What's Really Wrong with the Supreme Court—and How and Why We Should Fix It. By Widener University Law School.

October 7:

* Law Firm Cybersecurity Best Practices. By ALPS.

* The Psychology of Persuasion in Negotiation. By Alta Pro Lawyers Risk Purchasing Group.

* When AI Causes a Loss: Where Does the Risk Go? Emerging Liability, Coverage & Risk-Transfer Challenges in an AI-Driven World. By Cozen O'Connor.

October 8:

* AI Hallucinations, Confidentiality, and Compliance: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know. By Clio.

* 2026 Annual Update - Medical Malpractice. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Product Liability. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* Researching Experts and Judges. By LexisNexis.

* Seeing Isn’t Believing: Litigating in the Age of Deepfakes. By LexisNexis.

October 13:

* Hot Times at the High Court: Suncor v. Boulder County and the Future of Climate Litigation. By Case Western Reserve School of Law.

* 2026 Annual Update - Damages. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Evidence. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* The Use of Modern Technology in Business Interruption Claims. By Cozen O'Connor.

October 14:

* Social Media – Discovery, Ethics, Evidence & Sanctions. By Veritext.

October 15:

* Neutral or Not?: Representing and Protecting Your Fiduciary Client at Mediation. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

* 2026 Annual Update - Municipal Liability. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* AI in Action: How to Draft with GenAI. By LexisNexis.

* Power Prompting: Mastering Prompting Techniques for Legal Professionals. By LexisNexis.

* California AI Horizon: What’s Next for In-House Counsel? By Cozen O'Connor.

* A Mediator's View: Best Practices "Dos and Don'ts". By Washington State Bar Association.

October 20:

* 2026 Annual Update - Insurance Law. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Disclosure. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 21:

* The Next Frontier Is Here: Making AI Work For You. By Attorney Protective.

* Competence, Confidentiality, and Code: The Attorney's Ethical Duties in the Age of AI. By LEAP Legal Software.

* Confidentiality, Ethics and Practical Pitfalls of Informal Communications in Legal Practice. By Perrin.

* Trust But Verify: Generative AI and the Lawyer's Unchanged Ethical Duties Online. By Washington County Law Library.

October 22:

* Affordable Care Act Retrenchment. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

* Cyber Law and Cybersecurity Insurance 101. By LexisNexis.

* Opposing Expert Testimony: Preparing Before and Analyzing After. By Pete Fowler Construction

* Artificial Intelligence in Employment: Emerging Laws and Compliance Requirements. By LexisNexis. Services.

* 2026 Annual Update - Ethics. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* Legislative History and Intent: Finding the Documents to Help Understand the Law. By Alameda County Law Library.

October 26:

* A New Model for Advancing Public Safety: Promoting Stability and Accountability Through our Courts and Community Interventions. By Fordham Law School.

October 27:

* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* Litigation Analytics for General Counsel & Corporate Legal. By LexisNexis.

* Perfecting Without Perfectionism: How to Strive for Excellence Without Stressing Out Over Unattainable Ideals. By Minnesota State Law Library.

* Tribal Court Protection Orders. By Washington State Bar Association.

October 28:

* Legal and Ethical Issues of Medical AI. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

October 29:

* HIPAA - Understanding Enforcement, Penalties & Research Strategies. By LexisNexis.

* Research & Drafting Techniques For Corporate Law. By LexisNexis.

* So, You Want to Do Pro Bono - 2026. By Washington State Bar Association.

November 2026 Free CLE.

November 2: AI Governance 2.0 For In-House Counsel: Building Resilience Through Red Teaming and Incident Response. By In-House Connect.

November 4:

* No Lien Left Behind: Identifying and Navigating ERISA Liens. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

November 5:

* The New Appraisal Forms Which Begin In November, 2026. By CES.

* AI Boot Camp for Trial Lawyers - Part 2: AI-Powered Deposition Preparation. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* From Intake to Insight: Early Case Assessment, Ethics, and Strategic. By LexisNexis.

* Power Prompting: Mastering Prompting Techniques for Legal Professionals. By LexisNexis.

* What is a ‘Serious’ Genetic Condition and Why It Ethically Matters? with Dr. Vardit Ravitsky. By Case Western Reserve School of Law.

November 11:

* The Information Power and Its Discontents. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

November 12:

* Beyond the Bargain: Smarter Strategies for Successful Negotiations. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

* AI in Action: How to Draft with GenAI. By LexisNexis.

* Navigating Ethical Waters in Modern Legal Practice: The Use of Open Web and Generative AI for Legal Research. By LexisNexis.

November 17:

* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

November 18:

* Dealing With Difficulties During Negotiation. By Alta Pro Lawyers Risk Purchasing Group.

* AI Prompt Playbook: Sharpening AI Queries for Secure, Strategic and Strong Legal Research. By Veritext.

November 19:

* Allocation of Responsibility for Construction Defects. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

* A Handy Primer on Drafting and Updating Employee Handbooks. By LexisNexis.

* Finance Law Fundamentals. By LexisNexis.

* Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar. By Cleveland State University Law.

November 23:

* The ROI of AI: Ethics, Economics & Everyday Practice. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 2026 Free CLE.

December 3:

* War on DEI: The New Frontlines of Employment Law, Reverse Discrimination, and Other Workplace Trends. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

*  Real Estate Agent Safety. By CES.

* AI Boot Camp for Trial Lawyers - Part 3: AI for Trial, Motions, Research & Settlement. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* AI in Action: How to Draft with GenAI. By LexisNexis. 

* Technology and the Legal Practitioner: Ethical Concerns & Best Practices. By LexisNexis.

December 8:

* Moneyball for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

December 9:

* Settle Down: Ethics in Mediation. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 10:

* Rewriting the Reflex: Practical Tools for Bias-Aware Legal Practice. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

* Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: Ethical Concerns and Best Practices. By LexisNexis.

* Power Prompting: Mastering Prompting Techniques for Legal Professionals. By LexisNexis.

December 16:

* Raising the Bar: Building Stellar Litigators Through Mentorship and Culture. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 17:

* Value Engineering Driven Construction Contract and Defect Claims. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

January 2027 Free CLE.

January 28:

* 8th Annual Emergency Medical Services and Policy Symposium. By Widener University Law School.

January 21:

* Critical Airspace: Challenges in High-Stakes Aviation Disputes. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

On-Demand Free CLE.

Bloomberg:

* “Illegal DEI” Under the Executive Orders — What We Know Now and What's Ahead.

* Orders in the Court — Executive Authority and Litigation in 2026 

* The Ethics of Generative AI — What Law Firms & Legal Departments Need to Know [ethics credit]

Clifford Law Office:

* High Performance Without Burnout: Practical Well-Being Strategies for Lawyers  

Lawpay:

* Becoming American: A Practical Guide to Naturalization and Citizenship Law 

* Resilience Training: Enhancing Performance, Strengthening Relationships, and Elevating Your Practice & Life

LEAP Legal Software:

* Love It or List It: Real Estate Valuations and Appraisals for Attorneys

Peter Fowler Construction Services:

* Terminating a Construction Project Before Completion: Do’s, Don’ts, Claims & Litigation

The Knowledge Group:

* Conjoint Analysis in Litigation.

(I'm adding to this "On-Demand" list gradually. LMK if there's any particular topic, speaker or provider you'd like added. - REW)

Debunking Speech and Debate Clause attack

The Speech and Debate Clause does not give senators a free pass to commit crimes. It protects legislative acts, not legislators themselves.

A senator cannot be questioned or prosecuted for protected legislative activity such as speeches on the Senate floor, voting, or committee work. But that protection does not extend to conduct outside the legislative process. The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that criminal investigations may proceed so long as they do not intrude into protected legislative acts. Gravel v. United States is one of the key cases establishing that distinction.

So if there is suspicion that a sitting senator committed bribery, tax fraud, obstruction of justice, or even the crime of sedition, the Speech and Debate Clause is not a constitutional shield against investigation.

What it prevents is using the senator's protected legislative work itself as the basis for questioning or prosecution. It does not prevent law enforcement from investigating evidence of criminal conduct that falls outside the legislative sphere. In short, the Constitution protects Congress from intimidation by the other branches of government. It does not immunize members of Congress from criminal law, including investigation of alleged sedition.

"Makers v. Takers" Debunked - with special note on immigrants

To the argument:
 
"If a socialist society is going to work as intended, then mathematically you need more makers than takers to sustain society. If you have open borders and allow unfettered immigration. Then you invite more takers than makers. Point is you might be able to pull off a socialist society, but you have to have tightly controlled closed borders. So which is it that you want?" 

 I replied:

The problem with this argument is that it starts with something that sounds mathematical but actually isn't.

You do not need more "makers" than "takers." You need enough total economic output to support total consumption. One farmer can feed hundreds of people. One engineer can create software used by millions. One worker with modern machinery can produce what dozens once did. Productivity matters, not some simplistic head count.

By this logic, every child, retiree, student, disabled person, stay at home parent, and temporarily unemployed worker is a "taker." Yet societies somehow stagger onward despite the shocking burden of kindergarteners.

The second flaw is assuming immigrants automatically belong in the taker category. That's not mathematics. That's an assumption. An immigrant doctor, nurse, electrician, carpenter, entrepreneur, or software developer is obviously a producer. Whether immigration is a net benefit or cost depends on employment, skills, age, and integration, not on the fact that someone crossed a border.

Also, social democracies do not live or die based on whether borders are open or closed. They succeed or fail based on productivity, employment, demographics, tax revenue, and economic growth. Immigration can create challenges, but it can also help address worker shortages and aging populations.

So the question isn't "Do you want a welfare state or immigration?" The question is "Are the people entering the country contributing more than they consume?" Some do. Some don't. Just like the people already here.

The whole "makers versus takers" framework is less economics and more comic book writing. Real economies are full of people moving back and forth between those categories throughout their lives. We start out as takers, spend decades as makers, and hopefully retire before some guy on Facebook decides Grandma is a parasite because she stopped coding software at 78.

On Rumors That Katie Wilson Rents A One-Bedromm

Oh gather round, ye lords of lawn and cement, Who measure civic worth by mortgage spent. For how could any renter dare to steer A city where the condos scrape the pier?

How could one lead without a modern kitchen, Four beds, five baths, and which in The back has a sauna, in the front a garage, Plus a den and a craft room for découpage?

What horror… what collapse of social order… Leaders who don’t leap wealth’s tall border! A one‑bed flat? A century‑old abode? How could they grasp the sacred homeowner code:

That only those with million‑dollar homes Can hear the city’s true enlightened tones. For renters, as we know, are far too poor To understand what “Seattle life” is for.

Nothing shakes the classist soul quite so As proof you don’t need a mortgage to know How cities breathe, how people try, How to live with no hope to buy.

So tremble, nobles! Tremble at the sight: A leader who doesn’t own her home outright.

Oh, the horror. A renter. In charge. A renter. Who understands.

Imagine.

 Dear Friends and Colleagues, As we head into September and everyone settles back into their post‑summer routines, I’m glad to share this month’s lineup of Free CLE Webinars. They’re ready for you to explore, use, and pass along to your networks. Every listing is free to attend, though credit approval varies by jurisdiction. If your state isn’t listed, you may still be able to self‑apply depending on local rules.

If you spot a new program I should add, I’d love to hear about it. The calendar is a living resource, updated throughout the month at http://4freeCLE.blogspot.com.

Here’s to a strong start to fall and another month of accessible learning.

September 2026 Free CLE

September 3:

* Performing Effective Securities Law Research. By LexisNexis.

* FHA vs. Conventional loans. Which is better?. By CES.

* FDA Medical Device and Commercialization Strategies for Health Care Innovators. By Cozen O'Connor.

September 8:

* Mastering MS Word and AI: From Good Draft to Great Document. By Clio.

September 9:

* Crossing the Finish Lien: Medicare After Final Demand. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

September 10:
* AI in Action: How to Draft with GenAI. By LexisNexis.

* Research Skills for Litigators. By LexisNexis.

* Managing AI-Generated Filings in the Bankruptcy Court. By Washington State Bar Association.

* Winning Payor Contracting Strategies for Providers. By Cozen O'Connor.

* Engineering Expert Reports or Testimony for Impact Claims. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

* AI Boot Camp for Trial Lawyers - Part 1: AI Fundamentals for Trial Lawyers. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

September 15:

* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* How Many Losses? Navigating Occurrence and Deductible Issues in Property Claims. By LexisNexis.

* Real or Fake? AI Use & Misuse: What Can Courts Trust?. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* The Gruntled Lawyer's Survival Guide: Stay Sane, Stay Licensed. By Washington State Bar Association.

September 16:

* Agentic AI for the Legal Field: What it Can Do, Whether to Trust it, and What the Rules Already Require of You. By Veritext.

* Minnesota's Recent Trust & Estate Law Updates Online. By Washington County Law Library.

September 17:

* Releases Made Easy! Settlement-Ready Language for Structures, MSAs & Trusts. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* Research Skills for IP Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* Social Media in the Workplace: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?. By LexisNexis.

* Ensuring Equal Justice for Self-Represented Persons. By Washington State Bar Association.

September 22:

* Trust Me, Your Auditor Won’t: IOLA Ethics And The Changing Landscape. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* What’s New? A Health Law Conversation with Commissioner Kuderer. By Washington State Bar Association.

September 23:

* Consumer AI vs. Fiduciary AI in the Practice of Law. By Alta Pro Lawyers Risk Purchasing Group.

* Proceed With Caution: Effective Risk Management Strategies to Avoid a Claim. By Attorney Protective.

* Love It or List It: Real Estate Valuations and Appraisals for Attorneys. By LEAP.

* Rideshare Litigation After the Bellwethers. By Perrin.

September 24:
* Risk Transfer in Construction Defect Habitability Claims. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

* Developing and Protecting Your IP to Create Business Value. By Cozen O'Connor.

* The Human Firewall: Turning Your Biggest Cyber Risk Into Your Strongest Defense. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* Power Prompting: Mastering Prompting Techniques for Legal Professionals. By LexisNexis.

* HIPAA – Understanding Enforcement, Penalties & Research Strategies. By LexisNexis.

September 28:

* Across the Evergreen State: Tips for Navigating Remote Litigation. By Washington State Bar Association.

September 29:

* Overview of Filing a Petition for Leave to Appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. By Public Interest Law Initiative.

* Proving Unique Damages. By Cozen O'Connor.

September 30:

* The High Stakes of Gambling Litigation: Overview of Lawsuits Against Online Sportsbooks and Prediction Market Sites. By Perrin.

* What Every Legal Professional Should Know About Domestic Violence Law in Ohio. By OurFamilyWizard.

October 2026 Free CLE.

October 1:

* 50 Scary Things That Buyers Do Which Cause Issues On Loans Before Closing. By CES.

* Ethics and the Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Legal Profession. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

October 6:

* Moneyball for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* 2026 Annual Update - No Fault. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Labor Law. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 8:

* AI Hallucinations, Confidentiality, and Compliance: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know. By Clio.

* 2026 Annual Update - Medical Malpractice. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Product Liability. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 13:

* 2026 Annual Update - Disclosure. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Evidence. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 14:

* Social Media – Discovery, Ethics, Evidence & Sanctions. By Veritext.

October 15:

* Neutral or Not?: Representing and Protecting Your Fiduciary Client at Mediation. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

* 2026 Annual Update - Municipal Liability. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Municipal Liability. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 20:

* 2026 Annual Update - Insurance Law. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

* 2026 Annual Update - Damages. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 22:

* Affordable Care Act Retrenchment. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

* Opposing Expert Testimony: Preparing Before and Analyzing After. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

* 2026 Annual Update - Ethics. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

October 27:

* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* Litigation Analytics for General Counsel & Corporate Legal. By LexisNexis.

* Perfecting Without Perfectionism: How to Strive for Excellence Without Stressing Out Over Unattainable Ideals. By Minnesota State Law Library.

October 28:

* Legal and Ethical Issues of Medical AI. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

November 2026 Free CLE.

November 5:

* The New Appraisal Forms Which Begin In November, 2026. By CES.

* AI Boot Camp for Trial Lawyers - Part 2: AI-Powered Deposition Preparation. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

November 11:

* The Information Power and Its Discontents. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

November 12:

* Beyond the Bargain: Smarter Strategies for Successful Negotiations. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

November 17:

* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

November 18:

* AI Prompt Playbook: Sharpening AI Queries for Secure, Strategic and Strong Legal Research. By Veritext.

November 19:

* Allocation of Responsibility for Construction Defects. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

November 23:

* The ROI of AI: Ethics, Economics & Everyday Practice. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 2026 Free CLE.

December 3:

* War on DEI: The New Frontlines of Employment Law, Reverse Discrimination, and Other Workplace Trends. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

*  Real Estate Agent Safety. By CES.

* AI Boot Camp for Trial Lawyers - Part 3: AI for Trial, Motions, Research & Settlement. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 8:

* Moneyball for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.

December 9:

* Settle Down: Ethics in Mediation. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

December 10:

* Rewriting the Reflex: Practical Tools for Bias-Aware Legal Practice. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

December 17:

* Value Engineering Driven Construction Contract and Defect Claims. By Pete Fowler Construction Services.

On-Demand Free CLE.

Bloomberg:

* “Illegal DEI” Under the Executive Orders — What We Know Now and What's Ahead.

* Orders in the Court — Executive Authority and Litigation in 2026 

* The Ethics of Generative AI — What Law Firms & Legal Departments Need to Know [ethics credit]

Clifford Law Office:

* High Performance Without Burnout: Practical Well-Being Strategies for Lawyers  

Lawpay:

* Becoming American: A Practical Guide to Naturalization and Citizenship Law 

The Knowledge Group:

* Conjoint Analysis in Litigation.

(I'm adding to this "On-Demand" list gradually. LMK if there's any particular topic, speaker or provided you'd like added!)

Navy Renames Aircraft Carriers!

BREAKING NEWS: The Navy announced today it is renaming all 13 of its aircraft carriers after Donald Trump:

• USS Angry Toddler
• USS Bone Spurs
• USS Combover
• USS Creepy Donold
• USS Draft Dodger
• USS Epstein Files
• USS Golf Cheat
• USS Kid Diddler
• USS Orange Makeup
• USS Smelly Bastard
• USS Tax Cheat
• USS Waddler
• USS Weak And Stupid
  
  
  ---
  Reference: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6044226-navy-doris-miller-trump-aircraft-carrier/ 

August 24: Tools To Increase Voter Turnout, hosted by 34th Dems and Field Team 6

On Monday August 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM Pacific, the 34th District Democrats partnering with Field Team 6 invite you to a Zoom session on real, practical steps to increase voter turnout across our nation.

You’ll get solid numbers on how time and effort put into voter registration now, months before an election, has shown measurable results. We all want our contributions in time and money used effectively!

We’ll cover how to join or organize local postcarding efforts to help likely allies become registered voters. We will connect you with existing postcarding groups and provide resources if you'd like to start one of your own.

You’ll also learn how to participate in text based voter registration outreach from home. This is not "begging for money" texting; You’re not asking for anything! Instead, you’re offering help to people who want to register but haven’t gotten around to it yet. It’s simple, friendly, and the statistics provided show it's effective.

You’ll learn how voterizer.org helps anyone register in any state, no matter where they live. It’s a simple tool that removes confusion and makes the registration process straightforward and accessible through a QR code.

And there’s more. You’ll walk away not just with information, but with concrete actions you can take immediately to help preserve and promote democratic participation. No prior experience needed - just curiosity, goodwill, and maybe a beverage.

Register now:

https://tinyurl.com/34dem20260824

Debunk: Steaming the Ford Class

Retrofitting a Ford-class aircraft carrier to use steam catapults and hydraulic plane elevators - as Trump wants - would be an engineering freak show because the ship was never designed to support those systems. The Ford class was built around electromagnetic catapults and advanced weapons elevators, and those choices shape the entire internal architecture. Steam catapults need massive boilers, long steam plumbing runs, reservoirs, and venting systems. None of that infrastructure exists on a Ford-class ship. Installing it would mean tearing open major sections of the hull, rerouting power systems, and redesigning structural supports that were never meant to carry the weight or vibration of steam machinery.

Hydraulic elevators pose the same problem. They require large fluid tanks, pumps, and extensive piping networks. The Ford class uses electromagnetic elevators, which rely on completely different power, control, and structural pathways. The ship simply does not have the space, the load-bearing design, or the internal routing to support hydraulic systems. Converting to them would require ripping out decks, bulkheads, and machinery spaces and replacing them with older technology that the ship was never engineered to accommodate.

In short, the Ford class is built around modern systems, and trying to retrofit older ones would be a full-scale reconstruction project. You would spend more time undoing the original design than installing the new one.

It would be like taking an F35, removing the jet turbine, and bolting in a 1940s piston engine. Technically possible in the same way that technically you could teach a cat to drive a bus. You would have to rebuild everything around it, nothing would work right, and the end result would be loud, dangerous, and deeply confused.

Debunk: Peterson vs. Chesterton

Working for the Peterson "Academy", Smug Bishop Barron wrote:
It's assumed that leaving the faith is the daring move and staying is the safe one. Chesterton found the opposite—that orthodoxy was the reckless thing, a chariot thundering through the ages, swerving past heresy after heresy and staying upright by an inch. Nobody presented it to you that way. It's a shame. 100+ full-length courses in Scripture, philosophy, and the Great Books. Dare to be reckless at Peterson Academy.

That made me snicker, so I replied:

People keep sharing that Peterson Academy promo line built around a Chesterton quote, the one claiming that “leaving the faith is assumed to be daring, but staying is actually the reckless move.” It’s rhetorically clever, but the argument falls apart once you look at what Chesterton actually meant.

 Chesterton’s “chariot of orthodoxy” metaphor isn’t about rebellion or daring. It’s about the precariousness of maintaining doctrinal balance. He describes orthodoxy as a narrow path that avoids extremes, not a daredevil stunt. Peterson Academy reframes this as “orthodoxy = punk rock,” which simply isn’t what Chesterton was saying.

 The promo also relies on a false dichotomy. It assumes that leaving faith is culturally rewarded and staying is culturally punished. But in the U.S., especially in Peterson’s audience, staying in faith is often socially reinforced, while leaving can be stigmatized. There isn’t one cultural narrative here, and the ad pretends there is.

 The real sleight‑of‑hand is that it tries to rebrand conformity as rebellion. Peterson Academy markets a very traditional worldview as if it were edgy, countercultural, and dangerous. But the worldview they’re selling is historically dominant, institutionally supported, and culturally familiar. Calling it “reckless” is branding, not philosophy.

 Chesterton’s prose gives the ad emotional force, but the logic doesn’t hold. The argument structure is basically: Chesterton said orthodoxy is precarious → precarious means daring → therefore taking our classes is daring. It’s a category error. Chesterton’s theological metaphor doesn’t justify a marketing slogan.

 And the line “Nobody presented it to you that way” is just a persuasion trick — implying you’ve been deprived of a truth only they can reveal. Chesterton has been taught, quoted, and celebrated for over a century. The idea that this framing is some hidden insight is simply false.

 In short: orthodoxy isn’t “reckless” in the sense the ad claims. The Peterson Academy pitch misuses Chesterton, reframes a conventional worldview as countercultural, and relies on a false dichotomy about what is “safe” or “brave.”

 Clever marketing, but not coherent philosophy.

Then someone replies:

      you should read the Bait of Satan by John Bevere

Setting me up to reply:

Ah, the classic move: I write a detailed analysis of rhetorical framing, and you counter with “read The Bait of Satan.” Very on‑brand for the universe, which loves to toss in plot twists just to see if anyone is paying attention.

 I’ll put it this way: my critique was about how Peterson Academy repackages conformity as rebellion by misusing Chesterton. Pointing me to a book about spiritual offense doesn’t really address any of that. It’s a bit like responding to a discussion of logical fallacies by recommending a cookbook. Interesting, possibly tasty, but not actually relevant.

If you want to talk about Chesterton, rhetoric, or how marketing turns orthodoxy into cosplay rebellion, I’m here for it.

If the goal is simply to redirect the conversation into a different reality tunnel, I’ll politely decline the detour.

But I do appreciate the enthusiasm.

---

Then the ad came out again with space for new replies, so ok ....

Ah yes, the ol’ “orthodoxy is the REAL daredevil” routine .... Chesterton revving the theological Harley and popping wheelies through history.

Cute story, but let’s not pretend the rest of us were handed a brochure titled "Join the Church: Warning, Extreme Stunts Ahead!!!"

Leaving a faith is not automatically “safe,” and staying in one is not automatically “reckless.”

People make both choices for all kinds of reasons ... intellectual, emotional, cultural, personal ... none of which require a chariot license or a helmet.

Chesterton was making a metaphor, not issuing a physics report. You know this.

If orthodoxy is a chariot “swerving past heresies,” most folks weren’t standing on the sidelines thinking, “Wow, that looks dangerous ... better cling to the seatbelt of tradition.”

Sometimes staying is the comfortable path.

Sometimes leaving is the risky one.

Sometimes both are complicated.

Real life is messier than a Victorian mic‑drop.

But hey ..... if someone wants to imagine themselves clinging to the hood of a theological drag racer, I’m not here to ruin your The Fast & The Faithful fantasy.

Debunk: Species-Jumping Scepticism

Someone wrote:
I contracted COVID very early on before there was a vaccine and paid close attention to the 'experts' for guidance. I called multiple hotlines to offer myself for monitoring in case my antibodies could be helpful (crickets). The experts didn't know what they didn't know and should have said that. The impact it had on me is distrust, not because of Trump, not because of MAGA but because people we we trusted outright lied. Did you really believe on day one that a bat had sex with a pangolin in the same place a lab was located?

I replied:

I have to start by asking, very gently, whether the bat‑and‑pangolin sex line was meant as a joke (in which case haha good one!), or whether no one ever explained to you how species‑jumping actually works. It is a perfect illustration of how confusing science communication can be - especially when sex is a possibility.

In reality, species‑jumping does not require animal romance. A very plausible pathway is simply two animals sharing the same food source. For example, bats often chew fruit and drop it, and pangolins or other small mammals may scavenge the same fruit. Bat saliva or droppings (tasty tasty bat droppings!) on the fruit can expose the second animal to the virus.

That is one common route, but there are others: shared roosting areas, contaminated surfaces, predators eating prey, or repeated contact in the same environment. It is ordinary ecology, not a wildlife soap opera.

 Viruses are very good at species‑jumping because it helps them spread. It is not "on purpose" - they are not conscious like you and me, but the versions that happen to mutate in a way that infects a new species get to reproduce more. Over time, the successful ones become the dominant ones. It is evolution doing what evolution does.

 So no, no bat needs to date a pangolin. They just need to chew the same fruit. Nature handles the rest, and it does not even ask for a first date!

Debunking Pederson For Fun And Profit

 Right now I'm getting a plague of Jordan Pederson ads for his "Academy" - really just a video channel, not any better for learning than a curated youtube channel, but much more expense.
In these ads he and his minions make various silly claims. Let me collect debunkings as an exercise.
---

CLAIM:

"You are the salt of the earth." You've heard it a thousand times. You think it means a decent, dependable sort of person. It means something far stranger—and far more demanding.
Rome paid its soldiers in salt. That's where the word salary comes from: men marched years for a mineral you now scatter without thinking. It earned that price by doing two jobs at once. Salt keeps meat from rotting. And salt makes food worth eating. Your body can't survive without it, but nobody ever craved it for survival. They craved it because bland food is a kind of slow death too.
One sermon. Eight lectures. Every line. Now at Peterson Academy.

MY COMMENT
This ad is a PERFECT example of Jordan Peterson's style: he speaks with assurance about something he knows nothing about.

The Latin word "salarium" does not mean “payment in salt.” It originally referred to money given to soldiers so they could buy salt, or more broadly, an allowance for necessities.

It’s like calling your paycheck a “payment in mortgage” because you use part of it to pay your mortgage.

Over time, salarium just meant salary or money.

Not a Roman Costco membership.

Anyone who spends a minute thinking about Pederson's theory has a good laugh. Salt is bulky. When you go to the vegetable stand, do you carry around a teaspoon to measure it out with? When are the chests of salt found by explorers in ancient tombs?

Rome paid soldiers in coin, because coin is portable, countable, taxable and does not dissolve in the rain like Jordan Pederson when confronted with a fact. ----------- NOTE: I could have gone on about the incoherence of Jesus saying "You are the means of paying for an army" but ...another time.

-------------------------------------

CLAIM:

Nietzsche saw it coming. The death of meaning. The rise of the herd. The slow seduction of comfort. In Nietzsche: Further Down the Rabbit Hole, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson spends ten hours inside Beyond Good and Evil, and shows you the way back out. Now available on Peterson Academy.

MY COMMENT

Nietzsche did warn about the “herd,” but he wasn’t predicting the rise of people who buy ten‑hour personality‑brand lectures. He was critiquing moral conformity, not forecasting a future where every crisis comes with a merch link.

This ad works because it follows the classic Peterson formula:

* Invoke a famous thinker.

* Declare that thinker foresaw our current DOOM!!!

* Announce that Peterson alone has spelunked deep enough into the text to retrieve the secret meaning.

* Offer to guide you “back out,” as though Beyond Good and Evil is a minotaur’s labyrinth and not… a book.

It’s not Nietzsche.

It’s Nietzsche‑themed self‑help cosplay.

Debunking a Fauci hating letter

I’ve seen this letter floating around, so here’s a fact‑check with a little humor to keep things human.

A lot happened during the pandemic, and memory is… well, like a mask left in your jeans pocket after a wash cycle: a little warped.

1. “You told us we could wear a bandanna.”

Early 2020 guidance was based on the best available evidence at that moment. COVID was new, data was limited, and cloth coverings were recommended because they reduced droplets. As more evidence came in, guidance changed. That’s not conspiracy ... that’s literally how science works. Early pandemic PPE was basically “use anything short of a medieval helmet.” Nobody was thrilled about it.

2. “Wear a mask when entering a restaurant but take it off while eating.”

This wasn’t a Fauci invention. It was a CDC guideline based on reducing exposure while people were moving around indoors. You can’t eat through a mask unless you’re a woodchipper. Masks don’t work like vending machine flaps. You can’t shove a cheeseburger through them.

3. “You told us to stay 6 feet apart.”

The 6‑foot rule came from decades of respiratory virus research. It wasn’t perfect, but it reduced transmission before we had vaccines or antivirals. Grocery stores made one‑way aisles because humans panic‑swerve like shopping carts with one bad wheel.

4. “My kids suffered.”

This part is real and deserves compassion. Pandemic disruptions harmed many families. But those decisions were made by state governments, school districts, and local health departments, not one individual. Fauci didn’t personally close your kid’s school like a supervillain with a giant lever. 5. “You took our freedom of speech.” No U.S. government agency banned speech. Social media companies moderated posts under their own policies ... sometimes clumsily, sometimes inconsistently .... but that’s not the same as government censorship. Humor version: If Fauci had the power to silence millions of Americans, Twitter would have been much quieter.

6. “You spread fear.”

News outlets absolutely amplified fear. But Fauci’s actual job was to communicate risk during a global emergency. If your house is on fire, the firefighter yelling “Get out!” isn’t fearmongering; he’s doing his job.

7. “The toxic shot gave my mom blood clots.”

I’m really sorry your mom had complications; that’s frightening. But large studies show COVID infection causes far more blood clots than the vaccines. Vaccines reduce clot risk overall by preventing severe infection. COVID is basically the world’s worst party guest: it breaks things, steals your snacks, and leaves blood clots behind.

8. “All the ferrets died in mRNA research.”

This claim has been repeatedly debunked. There were ferret studies, but they didn’t show mass death from mRNA vaccines. This myth started from misread data and internet telephone. If every ferret died in mRNA trials, the internet would have held a candlelight vigil. Ferret people are intense.

9. “China and the UN came after me through Team Halo.”

Team Halo is a volunteer science‑communication project run by the UN Verified Initiative and Vaccine Confidence Project. It’s not China. It’s not a secret task force. It’s basically nerds with webcams trying to explain immunology. If the UN had a covert squad called “Team Halo,” they’d at least give them cooler outfits.

10. “Spike protein antibody tests prevent turbo cancer.”

There is no scientific evidence that spike protein antibody levels predict cancer, heart attacks, strokes, or anything similar. This is not supported by oncology, cardiology, immunology, or epidemiology. If “turbo cancer” were real, Mario Kart would have sponsored the research. Final Thought:

The pandemic was traumatic.

People lost loved ones, jobs, stability, and trust.

But blaming one man for every global, state, local, and institutional decision is like blaming the weatherman for the hurricane.

We can process the pain without rewriting the facts.