The Oath and The Office

By: Two Squared Media Productions
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  • Summary

  • Mixing sharp wit and serious political fire, The Oath and The Office is where hard-hitting constitutional analysis meets razor-sharp comedy. Distinguished political science professor Corey Brettschneider teams up with comedian John Fugelsang to break down the most powerful 35 words in American democracy—the presidential oath of office. Every president swears to “preserve, protect, and defend” the Constitution, but what happens when one openly attacks democracy and the rule of law itself? Each week, Corey and John pull no punches, exposing the latest threats to the rule of law and demanding accountability. Smart, fearless, and wickedly funny—this is the civics lesson you can’t afford to miss.
    Corey Brettschneider
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Political Science Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • Lady Justice vs. Trump 2.0 - with guest Dahlia Lithwick

    Lady Justice vs. Trump 2.0 - with guest Dahlia Lithwick
    Apr 23 2025
    Legal journalist Dahlia Lithwick joins The Oath and The Office to explore why Trump’s second presidency is even more dangerous than the first—and 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 week’s legal flashpoints:
    • SCOTUS Shadow Docket: The Supreme Court quietly halts deportations to Venezuela in an emergency ruling—what 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 them—for now. Could criminal charges still be in play?
    • NYT v. Sullivan Revisited: Sarah Palin’s 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 authoritarianism—and 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.
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    56 mins
  • Trump’s Coup Continues: Supreme Court Defiance and the Ivy League Showdown

    Trump’s Coup Continues: Supreme Court Defiance and the Ivy League Showdown
    Apr 16 2025
    This week on The Oath and The Office, Trump openly defies a Supreme Court order to return a non-citizen to El Salvador—then calls it a “win.” Stephen Miller gloats. El Salvador’s 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 movement’s push for “viewpoint diversity” is really a cover for ideological quotas—and Chris Rufo admits it’s 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, we’ve seen nationalism and authoritarianism before—but never like this. And yet, there’s 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

    Please write a note or send feedback to corey.brettschneider@gmail.com or ‪@democracyprof.bsky.social‬
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    44 mins
  • Skadden Folds. The Court Wavers. Trump Advances

    Skadden Folds. The Court Wavers. Trump Advances
    Apr 10 2025
    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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    52 mins
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well written and delivered!

This podcast has something for everyone to learn. It should be required listening for everyone who has the right to vote! Looking forward to more.

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