What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

Roman Mars

Pays États-Unis

Genres Gouvernement

Langue EN

Épisodes 94

Dernier 11.06.2026

Professor Elizabeth Joh teaches Intro to Constitutional Law, but the Trump presidency turned her straightforward job upside down. She would check Twitter five minutes before each class to see what the 45th President had said and how it aligns with 200 years of judicial interpretation. Acclaimed podcaster Roman Mars (99% Invisible) asked his neighbor Elizabeth to explain the constitutional law implications of the norms and laws being tested. Even after Trump left office, there is still much to learn. This weekly, fun, casual Con Law 101 class uses the tumultuous activities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to teach about the US Constitution.

Épisodes

Cracking and Packing 11.06.2026 52min

Gerrymandering has long been part of American politics. But as the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act, states are getting more extreme with their redistricting.
What Is a War? 28.11.2025 36min

The Trump administration’s attacks on Venezuelan boats defy even the broadest interpretation of the president's war powers.
Smoot, Hawley, and Trump 27.09.2025 32min

A Senate fight over Lady Chatterley’s Lover paved the way for Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Now the Supreme Court will decide if presidents can use emergency powers to sidestep Congress on trade.
Bad Faith President 25.07.2025 33min

The United States generally does not allow a standing army to be used against civilians. But Trump has been exploiting an exception to keep troops in Los Angeles to protect ICE agents, with terrifying implications.
The Return of Con Law 10.06.2025 57min

Announcing The 99% Invisible Breakdown: The Constitution and the return of What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law.
Election Lawsuits 04.11.2024 34min

No matter what happens on Election Day, Trump and his allies have already put legal challenges in motion. Here’s what a nerdy agency, hanging chads, and zombie lawsuits can tell us about how all this could play out.
Enemy Aliens 29.10.2024 32min

Falsely claiming there is a wave of violence perpetrated by migrants, Trump has threatened mass deportations under the broad and terrifying powers of the Alien Enemies Act.
Faithless Electors and Wrong Winners 08.10.2024 32min

The United States has a strange way of electing presidents.
Deepfakes and Lying Liars 24.09.2024 31min

Election deepfakes have the potential to change people's opinions about a presidential election in ways that can be harmful to democracy and the truth itself. But what does the Constitution say about regulating these manipulated images? One place to look: Hustler Magazine.
Whose Speech, Whose Campus 10.09.2024 31min

As students go back to school, colleges and universities across the country are preparing for the continuation of protests against the Israel-Hamas war—and claims by other students that the protests are violating their own civil rights. Institutions and courts are now weighing the question: whose free speech matters more?
Fishy Deep State 27.08.2024 32min

What’s the connection between former President Donald Trump's attacks on the so-called “Deep State" and a tiny silvery fish? The Supreme Court, of course.
Preview: Not Built For This 14.08.2024 2min

Preview: Not Built For This from 99% Invisible
Cruel and Unusual 14.08.2024 34min

What does it mean for punishment to be cruel and unusual?
Farfetched Arguments 30.07.2024 26min

After an unprecedented several weeks in politics, some on the right are advancing far-fetched arguments to challenge Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and a federal judge in Florida threw out the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. Neither of these are based on established constitutional precedent.
Law-Free Zone 16.07.2024 37min

The concept of presidential immunity is not explicitly stated anywhere in the Constitution. That hasn’t stopped the Supreme Court from essentially creating a law-free zone around the President.
The Disqualification Clause 18.12.2023 33min

Does the 14th Amendment's Disqualification Clause apply to Trump?
Gag 02.11.2023 31min

Why do courts issue gag orders and when do they conflict with the First Amendment?
Margarine, Meadows, and Removal 19.09.2023 32min

What’s the connection between Trump, margarine, and Mark Meadows?
Comstock Zombies 31.05.2023 30min

19th century "zombie" laws are shambling into the abortion debate
On the Eve of Trump's Arraignment 04.04.2023 26min

The presumed criminal charges against former President Trump and role of the New York Grand Jury