Episodes

  • SCOTUS Guts Injunctions & Trump’s “Alligator Alcatraz” Spectacle

    SCOTUS Guts Injunctions & Trump’s “Alligator Alcatraz” Spectacle
    Jul 2 2025
    In this episode of The Oath and The Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang unpack the Supreme Court's dramatic ruling that weakens nationwide injunctions—a critical blow to civil rights groups fighting executive overreach. They highlight Justice Jackson’s powerful dissent and the broader implications for birthright citizenship and civil liberties.
    Then, they explore Trump's controversial legislative initiative—the “Big Bill”—which deeply slashes welfare programs while dramatically expanding ICE’s enforcement powers, raising alarms about an emergent authoritarian state.
    Lastly, they discuss Trump's surreal yet chilling media spectacle at "Alligator Alcatraz," a staged visit to an alligator-themed detention facility symbolizing fascism with a smile. Join Corey and John for an urgent, insightful look at these pivotal events reshaping American democracy.
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    46 mins
  • Illegal War? War Powers, Deportation Chaos & Trans Rights at Risk

    Illegal War? War Powers, Deportation Chaos & Trans Rights at Risk
    Jun 25 2025
    In this wide-ranging episode of The Oath and The Office, John and Corey dive into four major legal controversies shaking the nation:
    • Iran Attack & War Powers: Was President Trump’s recent bombing of Iranian nuclear sites without Congress’s approval an illegal act of war? The hosts examine whether the strike amounts to an undeclared war and discuss the War Powers Resolution of 1973. They break down why House Speaker Mike Johnson has called the War Powers Act unconstitutional, noting that presidents of both parties have long bypassed Congress in military actions. If the War Powers Act is flawed, John and Corey argue, it’s because it gives the president too much leeway at the expense of Congress’s authority – not the other way around.
    • Supreme Court on Deportations: The Supreme Court has allowed President Trump to resume deporting migrants to third countries – including turmoil-filled places like South Sudan – with minimal notice to those being removed. John and Corey unpack this controversial ruling, which handed a victory to the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policy. They discuss how the decision bypassed lower-court orders that had required warning migrants about their destination and a chance to contest being sent to dangerous regions, and what this means for executive power and humanitarian protections.
    • Defying Court Orders: A DOJ whistleblower claims a top Justice Department official (now a Trump judicial nominee) suggested ignoring court orders to carry out deportations. John and Corey discuss who could be held in contempt in such a scenario and the broader implications for the rule of law if the executive branch were to defy judicial rulings.
    • Transgender Rights Under Fire: Finally, John and Corey tackle a recent case in which a court upheld a controversial Tennessee law targeting transgender youth. They describe the law – viewed by critics as a bigoted attack on trans rights – which bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors, and how the court’s decision exemplifies the judiciary’s abandonment of transgender rights. The hosts lament this trend in which both state and federal courts are allowing sweeping restrictions on LGBTQ+ individuals, and they discuss the potential fallout for trans Americans and their families.
    Tune in as we analyze these headline-making stories at the intersection of presidential power and constitutional rights, and what they mean for the future of American democracy. Each segment offers critical insights into how far executive authority can stretch and how the courts are responding – or failing to respond – in the battles over war, immigration, and civil rights.
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    58 mins
  • No Kings, No Tyrants: ACLU's Mike Zamore on Protests and Trump’s Constitutional Crisis

    No Kings, No Tyrants: ACLU's Mike Zamore on Protests and Trump’s Constitutional Crisis
    Jun 18 2025
    Join Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang on this timely episode of The Oath and the Office, featuring Mike Zamore, National Policy Director of the ACLU. In the first half, Corey and John dive deep into the weekend's nationwide protests, Trump's escalating impeachable offenses—including his controversial actions involving due process violations and ongoing threats to democratic institutions—and the deployment of the National Guard.

    In the second half, Mike Zamore offers an inside look into the ACLU’s important role in organizing "No Kings" rallies, providing compelling firsthand accounts from Philadelphia. Zamore shares vital updates on the pivotal Khalil case and highlights alarming due process abuses, including the unconstitutional deportations to Venezuela seen in the Garcia case and the troubling use of detention facilities in El Salvador.

    This episode provides essential insights for anyone concerned with civil liberties, constitutional integrity, and the critical battles shaping America’s future.

    Key Topics:
    • Nationwide protests and the impeachment of Donald Trump
    • Legal implications of deploying the National Guard against civilians
    • ACLU's organizing efforts at "No Kings" rallies
    • Updates on the Khalil case and abuses in deportation processes
    Tune in to stay informed and engaged with pressing issues at the intersection of democracy, law, and human rights.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Trump, the Insurrection Act, and the California National Guard: Democracy Under Threat

    Trump, the Insurrection Act, and the California National Guard: Democracy Under Threat
    Jun 11 2025
    In this episode of The Oath and the Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang unpack Donald Trump’s unprecedented move to take operational control of the California National Guard. Currently, the official mission is to protect federal buildings and personnel. But Trump has hinted that he may invoke the Insurrection Act to quell protests. That raises serious constitutional red flags—especially as peaceful protesters remain protected under the First Amendment.

    The episode distinguishes between martial law and the Insurrection Act, clarifying legal limits that Trump may attempt to ignore. Brettschneider also revisits his push for legislative reform of the Act during the Biden administration—a vital effort that failed to gain traction.

    The conversation then turns to federalism: with states like California resisting Trump’s overreach, the battle over sanctuary cities and states' rights has become a defining front in the struggle to defend democracy.

    Broadcasting from Finland, Brettschneider shares insights from recent meetings with government officials and academics. Despite ongoing threats from Russia, Finland remains a model of democratic resilience—something increasingly at risk in the U.S.

    Finally, the episode covers the latest in the Abrego Garcia case: while charges have been filed and extradition enforced, the due process of law remains intact—underscoring what’s at stake in this moment of constitutional crisis.
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    53 mins
  • Harvard Law & Holy Wars: Trump’s Attack on Courts, Campuses, and Religious Freedom

    Harvard Law & Holy Wars: Trump’s Attack on Courts, Campuses, and Religious Freedom
    Jun 4 2025
    Trump’s battles are spreading everywhere: from the Ivy League halls of Harvard to the Supreme Court’s shifting stance on religious liberty. Brettschneider and Fugelsang dive into Trump’s controversial attack on the Harvard Law Review—twisting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to target student editors—and his shocking showdown with his one-time allies in the Federalist Society. Plus, the Supreme Court might soon allow religious opt-outs from school lessons about LGBTQ+ rights and could even greenlight religious charter schools, eroding the wall between church and state. Get ready for sharp insights and witty analysis in an episode about how Trump’s latest attacks on constitutional freedoms threaten America’s most fundamental freedoms.
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    55 mins
  • The War That Didn’t End When We Thought: Michael Vorenberg on Lincoln and Today’s Disinformation

    The War That Didn’t End When We Thought: Michael Vorenberg on Lincoln and Today’s Disinformation
    May 28 2025
    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 Spielberg’s acclaimed film Lincoln, Vorenberg now challenges the conventional wisdom about when the Civil War truly ended. His latest book, Lincoln’s Peace, argues compellingly that the war didn't conclude neatly at Appomattox in April 1865, but persisted into Andrew Johnson's presidency—shaping 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 week’s 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 administration’s ban on foreign students at Harvard.
    Subscribe, rate us, and join us each week as we navigate the evolving constitutional crises shaping America’s future.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Supreme Threats: Melissa Murray on Dobbs, Democracy, and the Future of Abortion Rights

    Supreme Threats: Melissa Murray on Dobbs, Democracy, and the Future of Abortion Rights
    May 21 2025
    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 Court’s 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 remain—even 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.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Rule of Law Under Siege: Judge Duggan Indicted, Roberts' Weak Trump Rebuke, Habeas Corpus Crisis

    The Rule of Law Under Siege: Judge Duggan Indicted, Roberts' Weak Trump Rebuke, Habeas Corpus Crisis
    May 14 2025
    Co-host Corey Brettschneider celebrates winning the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award—but there's no time to rest. He and John Fugelsang tackle the urgent threats facing American democracy.
    Judge Hannah Duggan’s Bombshell Indictment:
    An unprecedented indictment of a sitting judge sparks a crisis of judicial integrity.
    Roberts’ Hollow Warning:
    Chief Justice Roberts warns the rule of law is "endangered," but Corey and John expose why Roberts’ 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 America’s founders warned against—from Washington’s time to ours.
    Birthright Citizenship at Stake:
    The hosts preview a critical Supreme Court case examining the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, highlighting what’s at stake for America’s 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.
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    47 mins