Episode description

After an intro in which Jesse impresses Katie deeply with a brilliant, cutting-edge character he has clearly put a lot of time into developing, the hosts discuss a hellish few days in Kenosha, Wisconsin: first, the police shooting of Jacob Blake, and then Kyle Rittenhouse's killing of two protesters. Doesn't there have to be a better way for police to resolve altercations like the one that ensued with Blake? And will the unrest in Kenosha increase the chances Donald Trump is elected (Katie's view), or is there not yet much evidence to suggest it will (Jesse's)? Plus: You will never guess whether or not the hosts think mainstream outlets are doing a good job covering all this.

Show notes/Links:

The New York Times: Jacob Blake Was Shackled in Hospital Bed After Police Shot Him -  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/us/jacob-blake-shackles-assault.html (lots of details about the overall context)

The New York Post: This is why Jacob Blake had a warrant out for his arrest -  https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/this-is-why-jacob-blake-had-a-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/ 

NYT: Tracking the Suspect in the Fatal Kenosha Shootings -  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/us/kyle-rittenhouse-kenosha-shooting-video.html 

CNN: Kenosha shooting suspect faces more homicide charges -  https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/us/kenosha-wisconsin-shooting-suspect/index.html 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Wisconsin's open-carry laws, self defense and more in Kenosha protest shootings -  https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2020/08/26/wisconsin-open-carry-law-kyle-rittenhouse-legally-have-gun-kenosha-protest-shooting-17-year-old/3444231001/ (though see following links as well)

PolitiFact: Did Kyle Rittenhouse break the law by carrying an assault-style rifle in Kenosha? -  https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/aug/28/facebook-posts/did-kyle-rittenhouse-break-law-carrying-assault-st/ (note this from the end, indicating ambiguity: "Whether Rittenhouse violated Wisconsin law by possessing a firearm underage is the subject of ongoing litigation.") 

On the question of whether the misdemeanor doesn't apply here, the action seems to be in this bit from the Wisconsin state code: "This section applies only to a person under 18 years of age who possesses or is armed with a rifle or a shotgun if the person is in violation of s. 941.28 or is not in compliance with ss. 29.304 and 29.593." The argument is that those other conditions don't apply, Rittenhouse wasn't in violation, but we'll get a clear answer on this when he is or isn't convicted. 

Simple Justice: Prickett: Update on Kenosha -  https://blog.simplejustice.us/2020/08/28/prickett-update-on-kenosha/ (legal analysis of both the Blake and Rittenhouse cases)