Topic: Slander

Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, characterizing their reporting on his alleged intoxication as "pure fantasy." The lawsuit specifically disputes claims regarding the use of breaching equipment to enter his room. A brief educational aside clarifies the legal distinction between slander (spoken defamation) and libel (written or published defamation).

The hosts discuss the terminology of "free speech" versus "freedom of speech," concluding that simply using the word "speech" is more accurate under the First Amendment. They reference legal scholar Jonathan Turley's views on the protection of all speech, regardless of its content.

A guide on the differences between libel (written) and slander (spoken) highlights the legal risks of defamation on social media. The distinction between private and public figures is crucial, as public figures face a higher burden of proof when seeking damages for reputational harm.

The hosts discuss the importance of avoiding libel and slander in independent media, referencing lessons learned from tech pioneer Adam Osborne. They emphasize that calling someone a "crook" without a conviction is a legal risk, whereas public figures have a higher threshold for proving defamation. The conversation underscores the "grind" of maintaining a show while navigating legal boundaries.

Advertising executive Donny Deutsch proposed a new political branding strategy on Morning Joe, suggesting Democrats refer to the president as "Criminal Trump." The segment critiques Deutsch's failure to use alliteration and discusses the potential legal liabilities regarding slander and libel when calling a public figure a criminal without a conviction.

Aleksej Gubarev, a Russian tech executive based in Texas, is suing BuzzFeed for slander after being named as a "scammer" and "spammer" in the Christopher Steele dossier. BuzzFeed has since redacted his name from the published document, but the lawsuit continues in Miami. The hosts also note a media "filter" where reporters seem to struggle with gendered language like "right-hand man."

Nancy Pelosi referred to Steve Bannon as a "white supremacist" during a press briefing regarding his appointment to the National Security Council. This leads to a discussion on the legal difficulty of suing for slander when the targets are public figures. The use of the term "douchebag" is also analyzed as a safer rhetorical alternative in legal terms.

Al Jazeera America announced it is shutting down, citing slumping oil prices in Qatar as the primary reason. However, reports suggest the network was facing a massive slander lawsuit from athletes like Peyton Manning after accusing them of using HGH. The closure allows the network to "get out of town" and avoid the legal and financial fallout of the allegations.

The UK government proposes jailing "internet trolls" for up to two years, with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling vowing to take a stand against the "cyber mob." The hosts discuss the legal implications of defining "troll" as a criminal category, suggesting it opens the door for lucrative defamation and slander lawsuits in the British court system.

The BBC broadcasts a report warning UK citizens that retweeting accusations of pedophilia can lead to libel lawsuits. The hosts argue this is a coordinated effort to protect politicians in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. They clarify the legal differences between libel and slander while mocking the "internet protocol" tracking threats.

The hosts discuss the vulnerability of ad-supported media to boycotts and the influence of young media buyers. They contrast this with the No Agenda "Value for Value" model, which allows for controversial topics without the risk of advertiser interference.

The term "douchebag" is analyzed as a modern aggressive epithet that gained popularity through media figures like John Stewart. Because the term refers to a hygiene device, it is often viewed as legally safe from libel or slander charges. The discussion touches on how various derogatory terms evolve in public discourse.