Brief Recess: A Legal Podcast with Michael Foote & Mélissa Malebranche

The Mount Rushmore of D.C. Chaos: Trump, Bondi, Noem, Patel

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss AirBnB complaints, Trump's insane weekend spawning calls from across the aisle to invoke the 25th Amendment, Kristi Noem's husband, Pam Bondi's firing, hacking Kash Patel, and a deep dive into a viral attempted murder trial between a husband and wife in Hawaii that plays out like a season of The White Lotus.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Episode Links:

https://www.girasoltexas.org/donate.html
https://www.girasolnola.org/donate

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Afroman Teaches Us How to Eat Lemon Pound Cake & Win in Court (w. Afroman)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss nuns doing podcasts, a record number of republicans retiring before midterms, Americans loving their gasoline, AI fruit soap opera sex, and interview Afroman to hear all the spicy details about getting sued by the police for defamation, winning in court, and his viral hit song: Lemon Pound Cake.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Epstein Files: Down the Rabbit Hole (w. Dr. Leslie Dobson)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss soup, trans-racialism, ICE agents at airports, Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette season getting canceled, that time Michael cried on the floor of Mélissa's office, and interview clinical forensic psychologist, Dr. Leslie Dobson, digging for the truth behind conspiracy theories related to Jeffrey Epstein's death, autopsy report, and other DOJ file dumps.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:
https://www.justice.gov/epstein
https://drlesliedobson.com/
https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/
https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/
https://timtebowfoundation.org/stories/tim-tebow-supports-bipartisan-renewed-hope-act-2026
https://drlesliedobson.com/the-friend-cleanse-book/

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From Runway to Reality Check: The ANTM Exposé (w. Cycle 2 winner Yoanna Margaret)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss cleaning lady cam girls, Fiona the hippo, Punch the monkey, trending kid's toy NeeDoh, and interview America's Next Top Model Cycle 2 winner, Yoanna Margaret, who reveals her truth and reflects on her experience with the show.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:
Yoanna Margaret IG @yomania
Yoanna Margaret TikTok @yomania02

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Kid Rock, RFK Jr. and the Tony Soprano of PORN (w. Boomer Banks)

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss a wild RFK Jr. and Kid Rock workout video, Kristi Noem's demise, how planking foreshadowed the collapse of society, and interview adult film star and DJ, Boomer Banks, about race, addiction, and the porn industry.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technical Difficulties on Death Row (w. Corinna Barrett Lain)

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss Mélissa's opinions on Heated Rivalry, trans-racialism and identity politics sudoku, and an in-depth interview with law professor and author, Corinna Barrett Lain, about the many technical difficulties involved with performing lethal injections on death row inmates.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:

iibayarea.org
https://www.lrcl.org/

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Nazi-Looted Art FOUND in a Property Listing (w. Kira from The Art Revival)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss that time Michael was a witness to a stabbing in Times Square, Nazi-looted artwork found in a property listing, whether female-only spaces are discriminatory, and interview Kira from The Art Revival.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:

https://theartrevival.com

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Diva! Conspiracy Girlies! (w. Karen Kilgariff + Martha Kelly)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Karen discuss conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein, TMZ, Savannah Guthrie, and Kurt Cobain, along with viral moments from the Pam Bondi hearing, and an interview with Martha Kelly from Euphoria and Fallout.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motion To De-Fur (w. PETA’s Ashley Byrne)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show, the Clinton's heading to Congress, getting older (and that's ok), and interview Ashley Byrne from PETA.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:

cgrs.uclawsf.edu/
www.handsontwincities.org
www.doinggoodtogether.org/
https://iimn.org/
www.projectfine.org/
www.youthlinkmn.org/our-story/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/nyregion/dog-lawyer.html
https://www.peta.org/donate/ways-to-support-peta/gifts-of-property/donate-fur/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don Lemon on ICE and the Latest Epstein File Drop

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss nuns teaching sex-ed, Groundhog Day conspiracies, Kristi Noem, Don Lemon, ICE, and the latest Epstein File drop.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:

https://www.acluohio.org/press-releases/aclu-ohio-releases-legal-memo-rights-immigrant-students-ohio-schools/

https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Legal-Defense-Fund/Legal-Issues/Navigating-ICE-Presence-in-School-and-Healthcare-Facilities

https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/protecting-children-schools-against-immigration-enforcement#item-4913

https://linktr.ee/michael_foote

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Midwest Nice, Leave the ICE

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss the Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis, whistleblower reports on a leaked ICE memo, plastic surgery, and astronaut arrests.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links from this episode:

https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/immigration-dashboard

https://www.peta.org/donate/ways-to-support-peta/gifts-of-property/donate-fur/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If I Murder My Family Can I Still Get My Inheritance?

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss their weird melatonin dreams, deportation flights, Trump calling for the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis, and all the ways to prepare a Last Will and Testament.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Could All Be Renee Good (w. Yuhua Hamasaki)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa discuss the Renee Good shooting in Minneapolis, a viral video of a delivery driver avoiding ICE, Mariah Carey, and an interview with former Ru Paul's Drag Race contestant, Yuhua Hamasaki.

Links:
acaciacenter.org
acaciacenter.org/defendkids
immigrantdefenseproject.org/know-your-rights-with-ice
piecesbar.com

@yuhuahamasaki on Instagram

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conversion Therapy Might Be Back

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk about a Getty Art Museum curator’s conspiracy to receive stolen goods, Trans rights, the controversial Chiles v. Salazar, and (ugh) J.K. Rowling.

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ICYMI: Michael Was on The Knife

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 08:01:00 +0000

Michael joins Hannah & Patia from The Knife to discuss the murder trial of Bricen Rivers. In July of 2024, 22-year-old Lauren Johansen was found dead in the trunk of her own car. Her ex-boyfriend, Bricen Rivers, is now charged with capital murder. Lauren’s father is fighting to change the system that ignored the warning signs and allowed Rivers to be released on bail. We speak about the case and how the criminal justice system failed to protect Lauren.

Episode originally aired on The Knife on November 20, 2025.

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ICYMI: We Were on My Favorite Murder

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk to Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder about everything from the state of immigration in America, to the superiority of boxed mac and cheese.

Episode originally aired on My Favorite Murder on November 6, 2025.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demon Twink Off with NYC Councilman Erik Bottcher

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa debate real vs. fake Christmas trees, discuss the headlines on mass shootings and the Epstein files, and interview NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher about his current run for Congress and the burning issues facing New Yorkers.

This episode discusses sensitive topics. If you, or someone you know, are a victim of sexual abuse please call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.

Links:
www.handsoffnyc.com
www.erikbottcher.com
gmhc.org
ryanwhite.hrsa.gov
linktr.ee/michael_foote

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walter Masterson and MAGA Trolling 101

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa recap their Thanksgiving break, offer advice on different methods to be an ally for those threatened by ICE, and interview Walter Masterson about his satirical videos and political pranks.

This episode discusses sensitive topics. If you, or someone you know, are a victim of sexual abuse please call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.

Links & References:
https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/immigration-dashboard
https://linktr.ee/michael_foote
https://immigrationjustice.us/
https://www.climatedefiance.org/
https://waltermasterson.com/
https://www.safepassage.org/
https://www.instagram.com/communityselfdefensecoalition/?hl=en
https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World’s Deadliest Water Park (w. Seth Porges)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk about political violence, paths to citizenship for DACA folks and interview director Seth Porges (Class Action Park) about Mélissa’s favorite dangerous waterpark.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gay Panic Defense is Ridiculous

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk about landmark case People v. Jonathan Schmitz, how Enron ruined Mélissa’s legal career and if you can leave all of your money to your pet in your will.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Survive the Skinny Girl Apocalypse (w. Anna Snapp)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk about weight and race discrimination at work, and interview body positivity activist Anna Snapp.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ICE Abuses and Accountability… Finally (w. Congressman Robert Garcia)

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:01:00 +0000

Michael and Mélissa talk about the Diddy trial, special immigration juvenile status and interview Congressman Robert Garcia.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Brief Recess: A Legal Podcast with Michael Foote & Mélissa Malebranche

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:32:46 +0000

The American legal system. Blindfolded, overworked and still running on fax machines. Hosted by attorney Michael Foote and his best friend, writer Mélissa Malebranche, Brief Recess breaks down all the legal happenings of the week. From wild courtroom moments to breaking Supreme Court decisions, Michael and Mélissa are your trusted advisors in all things legal.

Brief Recess is a new weekly podcast from Exactly Right Media. Premieres Thursday, November 13. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts.

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.