Join Leah Litman, a law professor with a knack for Supreme Court insights, and Steve Maviglio, an astute Democratic strategist, as they delve into the concentrated power of the presidency and the judiciary's role in shaping democracy. They'll tackle the urgent issues of redistricting in Texas and the challenges of maintaining fair representation. The conversation highlights the history of voting rights protests and the implications of authoritarianism in modern politics, making a compelling case for grassroots activism in the fight for democracy.

03:41:10

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ANECDOTE

Troops, Homelessness, And Home Rule Threats

Trump threatened to deploy National Guard to D.C. and revoke homeless residents' rights, prompting officials to call it a power grab.
Critics argue such moves subvert home-rule and criminalize homelessness.

insights

INSIGHT

Loyalty Over Competence At DOJ/FBI

DOJ and FBI have refocused priorities toward loyalty and immigration enforcement, pulling agents from counterterrorism and fraud.
Deprofessionalization and leadership inexperience elevate national security risks.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Mobilize Voters — Don't Normalize Invincibility

Don't assume Trump is invincible; treat polling declines as actionable and mobilize voters for midterms.
Invest in turnout and message work to exploit the administration's unpopularity before norms erode further.

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Democracy at a Crossroads

01:47 • 12min

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Historical Quorum Breaks and the Fight for Voting Rights in Texas

13:55 • 4min

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Power, Politics, and Representation

18:12 • 13min

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Governance and Civil Rights: A Historical Perspective

31:14 • 5min

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Democracy Under Siege

35:47 • 10min

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Assessing the Supreme Court's Impact on Women's Rights and Civil Liberties

46:11 • 4min

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Advocating for Supreme Court Reforms and the Role of the Federalist Society

50:39 • 4min

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The Federalist Society and Authoritarianism

54:26 • 17min

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Trump's Financial Maneuvering and Democratic Decline

01:11:46 • 27min

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Militarization of Law Enforcement and Shifting Political Dynamics

01:39:01 • 6min

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The Paradox of Trump's Political Loyalty

01:45:25 • 16min

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Echoes of the Past: Fugitive Slave Clause and Modern Implications

02:00:57 • 12min

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Democracy on the Line: The Fight Against Gerrymandering

02:13:13 • 27min

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Defending Democracy in Texas

02:40:11 • 8min

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Redistricting and the Defense of Democracy

02:48:34 • 24min

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Judicial Integrity Amid Political Grievance and Media Misrepresentation

03:12:26 • 4min

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Conservative Grievance and Judiciary Dynamics

03:16:53 • 16min

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Controversies in the Judiciary: Beauvais and Beyond

03:33:15 • 22min

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Entitlement, Engagement, and Podcast Community

03:55:06 • 4min

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#3921

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

The dictator's handbook

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita

Alastair Smith

This book, written by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith, challenges conventional wisdom by asserting that leaders, whether in democracies or dictatorships, act primarily to maintain their power. The authors argue that political behavior is driven by the need to please a core group of supporters, and that policies are often dictated by self-interest rather than the welfare of the people. The book draws on economics, history, and political science to illustrate how leaders amass and retain power, and how this affects the quality of life and governance in different political systems.

#181

• Mentioned in 122 episodes

The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.

#1613

• Mentioned in 26 episodes

Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes

Ian Ayers

Air Date 8/20/2025

There's been a faction of conservatives who have been trying to instill king-like powers into the presidency for a long time, so it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is getting so much help from the packed court and the apparatchiks in the states who are more than happy to turn their precious federalism on its head as long as their king is in charge.

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Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 2: Texas Hold Dems - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 3: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 4: Bruce Bueno De Mesquita The Five Rules of Power Politics - Big Think - Air Date 5-13-12

KP 5: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25

KP 6: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 1 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25

KP 7: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25

(00:50:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how fascists run interference

DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:07) SECTION A: GRIFT AND FORCE

A1: Trump's Presidential Library Grift. Plus, the Hacker Behind the NYTs Mamdani Story. - On the Media - Air Date 7-25-25

A2: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to DC - DSR Daily - Air Date 8-11-25

A3: Loyalty Over Competence At Trump's Justice Department - What A Day - Air Date 7-31-25

A4: Trump Deploys National Guard - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-14-25

A5: Trump Press Secs Weird Fawning Rant Goes Awry as Poll Slide Worsens - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 8-1-25

A6: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25

A7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25

(02:00:53) SECTION B: GERRYMANDERING

B1: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25

B2: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez Part 2 - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25

B3: TEXAS HOLD DEMS Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25

B4: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 Part 2 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25

B5: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' Part 2 - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25

B6: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25

B7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America Part 2 - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25

(02:52:39) SECTION C: COURTS

C1: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25

C2: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25

C3: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote Part 2 - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25

C4: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks Part 2 - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25

C5: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 2 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Image of a king of diamonds playing card with a king with orange skin and blonde hair, and a nervous expression on his face, against a dark American flag.

Credit: "king-card-casino-diamond" via Pixabay | Pixabay License

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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