In this episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland confront a troubling throughline connecting professional discipline, prosecutorial discretion, and the rapid erosion of constitutional norms.
Eric recounts a chilling professional reality: an SC Bar disciplinary investigation triggered by harsh—but truthful—excise of free speech, while far more serious attorney misconduct across South Carolina goes untouched. From there, the discussion ...
In this episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland confront a troubling throughline connecting professional discipline, prosecutorial discretion, and the rapid erosion of constitutional norms.
Eric recounts a chilling professional reality: an SC Bar disciplinary investigation triggered by harsh—but truthful—excise of free speech, while far more serious attorney misconduct across South Carolina goes untouched. From there, the discussion turns to newly filed deposition testimony, and the hosts break down how witness narratives can subtly “evolve” under pressure.
The final segment widens the lens to the streets of Minnesota, as the team grapples with the fatal shooting of American Nurse Alex Pretti and the alarming normalization of armed federal agents operating without transparency, judicial warrants, or visible identification.
At its core, this episode asks a sobering question: What happens when the systems designed to protect justice instead punish those who challenge abuse? The answer... is why journalism, courts, and public scrutiny matter now more than ever.
☕ Cups Up! ⚖️
Episode References
Lawyer & Judicial Discipline Overview from SC ODC ⚖️
Explainer: Immigration Removal Proceedings and Expanded Mandatory Detention in the U.S. - National Immigration Forum, July 28, 2025 📰
“In Battle for Evidence, Minnesota Sues Feds Over Fatal Border Patrol Shooting” - Wall Street Journal, Updated Jan 25, 2026 📰
Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️
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*The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys.
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