Afleveringen
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This week on The Oath and The Office, co-hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang welcome renowned historian and Lincoln scholar Michael Vorenberg. Best known for his groundbreaking book Final Freedom, which was part of the inspiration for Steven Spielbergâs acclaimed film Lincoln, Vorenberg now challenges the conventional wisdom about when the Civil War truly ended. His latest book, Lincolnâs Peace, argues compellingly that the war didn't conclude neatly at Appomattox in April 1865, but persisted into Andrew Johnson's presidencyâshaping American democracy in ways we're still grappling with today.Corey, John, and Michael explore unsettling parallels between Civil War-era disinformation campaigns and the fractured information environment of today, especially around January 6 and ongoing threats to democracy. Vorenberg also offers critical insights into Lincoln's controversial constitutional decisions, including the suspension of habeas corpus, and whether they set troubling precedents for presidential power in modern America.But first, Corey and John break down this weekâs critical legal headlines:
A federal judge blocks Trump's retaliatory sanctions against law firm WilmerHale.The Supreme Court's troubling debate about ending nationwide injunctions amid arguments on birthright citizenship.A court temporarily halts the Trump administrationâs ban on foreign students at Harvard.Subscribe, rate us, and join us each week as we navigate the evolving constitutional crises shaping Americaâs future. -
NYU Law Professor and renowned constitutional expert Melissa Murray joins Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang on The Oath and The Office for a vital discussion on abortion rights, the Supreme Court, and the health of democracy. Melissa exposes the dangerous myths behind the Supreme Courtâs claim that the Dobbs decision simply returns abortion to the states. She warns about the potential for a nationwide abortion ban. Offering powerful insight, she argues persuasively why democracy and the 14th Amendment demand robust protection for reproductive rights. Melissa also shares optimism about the profound constitutional promises that remainâeven amidst the current threats. But first, Corey and John unpack recent disturbing attacks on democratic norms:
Politicized Justice: Recent criminal charges against a sitting member of Congress raise urgent questions about the weaponization of justice.Venezuelan Deportations: The Supreme Court has temporarily halted controversial mass deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, highlighting serious concerns about due process and executive overreach.Silencing Dissent via Tax Policy: A troubling House bill threatens nonprofits and universities critical of the administration, stripping nonprofit status and imposing punitive endowment taxes designed to stifle opposition.Join Corey, John, and Melissa Murray as they deliver essential constitutional analysis and fearless commentary on threats facing American democracy today. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Co-host Corey Brettschneider celebrates winning the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Awardâbut there's no time to rest. He and John Fugelsang tackle the urgent threats facing American democracy.
Judge Hannah Duganâs Bombshell Indictment:
An unprecedented indictment of a sitting judge sparks a crisis of judicial integrity.
Robertsâ Hollow Warning:
Chief Justice Roberts warns the rule of law is "endangered," but Corey and John expose why Robertsâ criticism of Trump is too little, too late, given his own controversial record on presidential immunity.
The Habeas Corpus Crisis:
Can a president suspend habeas corpus? The hosts unpack the chilling scenario where Congress supports such a constitutional breach, outlining a potential showdown over fundamental rights.
Qatar, Trump, and the Emoluments Clause Scandal:
Corey and John reveal how a lavish foreign gift to Trump represents exactly the type of dangerous influence Americaâs founders warned againstâfrom Washingtonâs time to ours.
Birthright Citizenship at Stake:
The hosts preview a critical Supreme Court case examining the 14th Amendmentâs guarantee of birthright citizenship, highlighting whatâs at stake for Americaâs identity.
With sharp wit and incisive analysis, this episode delivers a fearless exploration of constitutional crises and the ongoing fight to preserve American democracy. Subscribe now for your weekly dose of insight on the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the battle against authoritarian threats. -
Law professor Leah Litman (University of Michigan) â co-host of Strict Scrutiny â joins co-hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang on The Oath and The Office for an urgent, witty deep-dive into the chaos at the heart of American law and democracy. Litman discusses her new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, shredding the myth of a neutral Court. Litman compares todayâs conservative-dominated Supreme Court to Patrick Bateman in American Psycho â outwardly polished but fueled by disturbing impulses. With principled passion and humor, she unpacks the so-called âKensurrectionâ and reflects on the toxic legacy of Citizens United. Itâs a candid conversation that exposes the Courtâs bad vibes and asks: Who will uphold our Constitution when those entrusted to protect it go lawless? But first, Corey and John break down this weekâs legal news highlights:
Trumpâs Oath Controversy â Former President Donald Trump makes a jaw-dropping assertion that the presidential oath might not obligate him to uphold the Constitution â even though those 35 words clearly bind him to âpreserve, protect, and defendâ it.Executive Order Smackdown â A federal court pushes back on Trumpâs latest executive order aimed at punishing his political opponents (and their law firms), ruling that even a president canât weaponize the law to settle scores.DOGE Under Fire â A flurry of over 30 lawsuits challenges the constitutionality of Trumpâs new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), raising alarm bells over separation of powers. Can Elon Musk really run roughshod over the administrative state without Senate confirmation?Justice Jackson Claps Back â In a rare move, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issues a public rebuke of Trumpâs attacks on the judiciary â an unprecedented show of internal judicial solidarity against political intimidation.Mixing sharp wit with serious constitutional insight, this episode delivers hard-hitting analysis with heart. Itâs a fearless, principled discussion that balances outrage and optimismâguaranteed to resonate with Strict Scrutiny fans and anyone worried about democracyâs future. Subscribe to The Oath and The Office on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for your weekly guide to law, power, and the fight to defend the Constitution. -
In this essential episode of The Oath and The Office, hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang dissect Trump’s first 100 days, highlighting dangerous executive orders that threaten constitutional democracy. They examine two alarming categories: orders so clearly unconstitutional that courts may swiftly block them, and subtler actions rooted in the “unitary executive theory” paving the road toward autocracy. Despite this grim landscape, Trump’s poll numbers reveal a weakening presidency—are historical democratic norms finally rallying public resistance? Corey and John also provide a deep investigative look into the Supreme Court’s temporary halt on Trump’s controversial deportations to El Salvador, exposing the flawed, punitive point system used against vulnerable migrants. Plus, they delve into the troubling arrest of a Wisconsin judge, drawing powerful historical parallels to the state’s legacy of judicial resistance against slavery. Ending with optimism, they cover a federal judge’s ruling protecting Voice of America from Trump’s political interference, underscoring the ongoing fight for judicial independence and free press.
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Legal journalist Dahlia Lithwick joins The Oath and The Office to explore why Trumpâs second presidency is even more dangerous than the firstâand how courageous lawyers, many of them women, are once again stepping up to defend the rule of law. Drawing on her bestselling book Lady Justice, Lithwick shares powerful stories of resistance, from the travel ban to Charlottesville to the fight for reproductive rights.But first, Corey and John break down this weekâs legal flashpoints:
SCOTUS Shadow Docket: The Supreme Court quietly halts deportations to Venezuela in an emergency rulingâwhat does this signal about immigration and executive power?Contempt Showdown on Hold: Judge Boasberg planned contempt proceedings after Trump defied a federal court order, but an appeals court has paused themâfor now. Could criminal charges still be in play?NYT v. Sullivan Revisited: Sarah Palinâs libel case reignites debate over press freedom and the future of New York Times v. Sullivan.Papal Politics: Pope Francis is increasingly at odds with the far-right as he champions democracy, justice, and global dignity.This episode is a call to courage in the face of rising authoritarianismâand a powerful reminder that the law can be a tool of resistance. Subscribe to The Oath and The Office on Apple or Spotify for your weekly guide to law, power, and democracy. -
This week on The Oath and The Office, Trump openly defies a Supreme Court order to return a non-citizen to El Salvadorâthen calls it a âwin.â Stephen Miller gloats. El Salvadorâs president joins in mocking the rule of law. Is this the tipping point of a slow-motion coup?
Then we turn to Harvard, where the Trump movementâs push for âviewpoint diversityâ is really a cover for ideological quotasâand Chris Rufo admits itâs all about destroying elite institutions. We unpack how this connects to attempts to defund universities under the Civil Rights Act.
Finally, we pull back: What makes Trump different from past threats to democracy? From John Adams to Woodrow Wilson, weâve seen nationalism and authoritarianism beforeâbut never like this. And yet, thereâs hope. Resistance has worked in the past. Can it again? Learn more with Corey's new book, The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It: https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-People-Threatened-Democracy-Citizens/dp/1324006277
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Professor Corey Brettschneider and political comedian John Fugelsang this week discuss the Supreme Court's recent ruling on immigration and the capitulation of law firms to Trump's bullying. They also chat about Trump's illegal freeze of university funding and the roller coaster ride of his tariff trade war.
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John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider talk about the deliberate attempt by Trump to curtail free speech at universities by denying them funds. They also discuss the Trump Administration's admission that it mistakenly deported a Maryland resident to El Salvador. Then they welcome former prosecutor and former Army JAG officer Glenn Kirschner to share his insight on the Republican-appointed judges saying "NO" to Trump in multiple cases; the Supreme Court ruling against Trump in his quest to eliminate judges he doesn't like; and the dismissal with prejudice of New York Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case.
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John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider this time hightlight the many judges that are ruling against Trump's illegal orders and policies. They also talk about the president of Columbia University and the law firm Paul, Weiss capitulatng to Trump's extortion and failing the people who depend on them. Plus, they chat about the finger pointing blame-game by the GOP over the leaked Yemeni attack plan on their Signal group chat. Then, they welcome the National Director of Policy and Government at the ACLU - Mike Zamore. They ask him about cases they are working on including Trump revoking birthright citizenship, the illegal detention of Mahmoud Kahlil, and the draconian kidnapping of Venezuelans and exiling them to El Salvador. Zamore highlights the "Hands Off" March in D.C. Sat. April 5th at the Washington Monument.
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This time - John and Corey take a deep dive into Trump's escalating defiance of court orders, attacks on judges, and controversial deportations. They also discuss the injustice of the nearly 250 Venezuelans alleged by the White House to be gang members that have been deported to a supermax prison in El Salvador, even as a US judge blocked the removals. Plus, Justice John Robert's rebuking Trump's call to impeach federal judges who rule against him and the illegal arrest and detention of activist Mahmoud Khalil as well as the continued assaults on universities for DEI practices and the defiant push back from Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber writing an op-ed
in The Atlanic titled "The Cost of the Government's Attack on Columbia". https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/columbia-academic-freedom/682088/ -
John and Corey discuss the illegal ICE arrest and incarceration of activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former student at Columbia University and researcher in machine learning at the University of Connecticut. They also talk about Trump using Title 6 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as an excuse to withhold already-allocated federal funding from universities if they participate in activities that promotes DEI. And they criticise N.Y. Governor Kathy Hochul for forcing Hunter College to remove a job posting for a Professor to teach about Palestine but refusing to comment on the illegal detention of Mahmoud Khalil.
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John and Corey discuss the contentious meeting with President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office. They also talk about Trump's lies and bullying during his address to a joint session of Congress. And, they honor the heroes who are standing up against the lawless actions of DOGE and the crackdown by the Trump Administration against peaceful assembly and free speech.
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John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider discuss Vice President JD Vance who gave a speech in Munich criticising Germany for curtailing free speech about Nazis and hypocritically scolding European leaders for many actions Trump himself has taken. They also chat about Elon Musk's "Pulse Check" email to federal workers and the legal ins and outs of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
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John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider discuss the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, resigning. A member of Trump's team at the DOJ, Emil Bove, directed her to dismiss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, but she chose to take her oath seriously and she quit. They also talk about federal Judge Tanya Chutkin rejecting the request of 14 Attorneys General to block Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data and the parrallels between Richard Nixon and Donald Trump attempting to cover their tracks and hide their crimes.
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Professor Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang discuss the coup that Donald Trump is carrying out against the Constitution and how he's doing it through birthright citizenship and an outright rejection of judicial review.
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Coming soon... The Oath and The Office with Professor Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang
