Today is inauguration day, and Donald Trump is officially our president. But that doesn’t mean that everyone is on board–Trump remains divisive on many issues, including climate change. Now that it’s official that 2016 was the warmest year on record, hopefully Trump and company will start listening to the scientists on this one. Read on for the last rants of the week!

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Today’s the Day…

Today is the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Almost 1 million people are there to witness the transfer of power and there have already been clashes between protesters and supporters. Last night police had to use pepper spray to keep protesters at bay as they filled up the area outside the National Press Club, where the pre-inaugural ball, nicknamed the “DeploraBall,” took place. There were at least four fights between protesters and guests attending the ball and people threw water bottles and debris.

Powerful Movement for Black Lives has kept this #inauguration access checkpoint shut down for hours. pic.twitter.com/7FvsAu3u9u

— #DisruptJ20 (@DisruptJ20) January 20, 2017

Trump spent the night in the Blair House, located across the street from the White House, and went to church in the morning for a short prayer service. The inaugural program started at 11 a.m. At 3 p.m. the inauguration parade will begin, which is expected to last for about 90 minutes, making it the shortest one on record. Overall, the affair may end up being notably low key. Trump has had a hard time finding artists to perform at the ceremony itself, and Trump’s team has aimed to keep the prices of inaugural ball tickets low so that they’re accessible to working class people.

It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2017

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: January 20, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Hillary Is Disappointed, and So Are We

Last night Hillary Clinton spoke publicly for the first time since losing the election to Donald Trump. She has stayed out of the public eye since last Tuesday but speaking at a Children’s Defense Fund event in Washington, she said “I know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. I am, too–more than I can ever express.”

Just watched Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Children’s Defense Fund’s awards ceremony. Oh America. You made a monumental mistake.

— kc wildmoon (@wildmoon) November 17, 2016

“There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do was just to curl up with a good book or our dogs, and never leave the house again,” she said. We feel the same, Hillz.

via GIPHY

But she ended on a positive note, saying that America is still the greatest country in the world, and: “This is still the place where anyone can beat the odds. It’s up to each and every one of us to keep working to make America better and stronger and fairer.”

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: November 17, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Roadside Killers Arrested In North Charleston

Like a plot from a thriller movie, two teens are being charged for murdering a man who helped them get their car out of a ditch. Major WTF. 17-year-old Deon Frasier and 19-year-old Michael Dupree-Taylor were arrested Monday night on murder charges as well as one count of possession of a weapon.

The victim had stopped to help the two boys pull their Dodge Durango out of a ditch in North Charleston, South Carolina. After the car was retrieved, the boys robbed and shot the man before driving off. Not cool, bro.

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: August 17, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

A woman named Titi Pierce from Warner Robins, Georgia, is suing Warner Brothers over a segment Ellen DeGeneres did on her popular daytime talkshow. Pierce is a Robins Air Force Base engineer and a real-estate agent. On her February 22 show, DeGeneres showed footage of one of Pierce’s real estate signs and mispronounced her name as “titty Pierce.” As a result of the mocking, Pierce has allegedly received threats and harassment, and filed a lawsuit in District Court on Thursday.

Pierce’s name is actually pronounced “tee-tee” and is originally a Nigerian name meaning “flower.” However, DeGeneres made a series of breast-related jokes about Pierce’s name in a segment about funny signs. DeGeneres also contrasted Pierce’s real estate sign with another sign advertising the “Nipple Convalescent Home,” stating: Titty Pierce, sounds like she might have spent some time in that nipple home, I don’t know.”

The segment was broadcast in February, and then shown again on a rerun in April. It was also posted to the show’s Facebook page.

Pierce’s lawsuit claims that DeGeneres’s show showed her phone number when the sign was displayed (although it was blurred out on the version that was posted to Facebook.) As a result of the show, Pierce claims to have received a number of harassing and mocking phone calls. In response her office posted on Facebook:

Loving that our own Titi Pierce of CBRF (Coldwell Banker Robbins & Free) was on the Ellen DeGeneres show, but wish it was because they knew how fabulous and classy Titi is and not to poke fun. We love you Titi and are proud to have you in the CBRF Family.

Pierce’s lawsuit alleges that DeGeneres “defamed her, invaded her privacy and intentionally inflicted distress.” Pierce is asking for damages, and is aiming to keep the segment from airing again.

Check out the clip in question below (although note that the number has been now blurred out):

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Warner Brothers Sued After Ellen DeGeneres Mocks Woman’s Name appeared first on Law Street.