5-4 No War Is Illegal (When They All Are) [TEASER]
Mar 17, 2026
A brisk look at who actually gets to start wars and why the legal authority is so murky. Short takes on how modern tools like drones and cyberattacks clash with old laws. Examination of why formal war declarations are rare while military actions multiply. Discussion of how presidential practices and congressional passivity shape perpetual conflict.
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Joke About Netanyahu Deciding U.S. Policy
- Peter Shamshiri jokes that foreign leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu can effectively decide U.S. actions, highlighting perceived executive subservience.
- The quip lampoons recent U.S. deference in Middle East policy amid tensions with Iran.
Presidents Have Shifted War Power Away From Congress
- The Constitution gives war-declaring power to Congress but modern practice has shifted real authority to the president.
- Peter Shamshiri and Michael Liroff trace how presidents expanded commander-in-chief powers so bombing and strikes occur without formal declarations.
Don't Call Conflicts 'Illegal' Without Context
- Listen critically when news outlets call something an 'illegal war' because legal meaning is complex and depends on who authorized action.
- The hosts warn that casual labels obscure constitutional and historical nuances about authorization.