Ep. 187: Cat Lawyer: It’s Complicated

Time briefly stood still this week as the Internet became transfixed by the plight of Texas attorney Rod Ponton, whose face was trapped behind an expressive and panicked cat filter during a court hearing on Zoom. Mere hours later, the light-hearted mishap turned into a parable of contemporary online celebrity as allegations of serious prosecutorial misconduct surfaced against Ponton. This week’s show breaks down the video, its weighty aftermath, and the nature of fleeting digital fame. Also this week: Whole Foods prevails in a discrimination suit over its discipling of workers for wearing Black Lives Matter face masks, an insurer is accused of colluding to block COVID-19 business loss coverage, and advocacy groups sue an L.A. judge for requiring in-person hearings amid the pandemic.