The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg The States and Federal Government are Coequal | Interview: Matt Franck
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Jan 28, 2026 Matt Franck, constitutional scholar and teacher of law and the presidency, discusses federalism, executive power, and institutional reform. They debate why the right fractured and the psychology of following flawed leaders. Conversation covers the unitary executive, limits on removal and pardons, territorial authority, and ideas like repealing the 17th Amendment to revive state-centered politics.
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Cognitive Dissonance Shapes Political Loyalty
- Followers often reshape moral judgments to align with their chosen leader to avoid cognitive dissonance.
- Embarrassing character flaws in a leader trigger overcompensation by supporters who then praise every action.
Limits Of Unitary Executive Theory
- Unitary executive theory has persuasive core insights but important textual and historical holes.
- Matt Franck now treats it more as a political-science claim than an absolute constitutional rule.
Reliance Interest Shields Institutions
- Longstanding institutions like the Federal Reserve create reliance interests that counsel caution before constitutional upsets.
- Even if removal-at-will is legally arguable, practical and historical factors matter.
