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PODCAST

The Oath and The Office

Two Squared Media Productions

Mixing sharp wit and serious political fire, The Oath and The Office is where hard-hitting constitutional analysis meets razor-sharp comedy. Distinguished political science professor Corey Brettschneider teams up with comedian John Fugelsang to break down the most powerful 35 words in American democracy—the presidential oath of office. Every president swears to “preserve, protect, and defend” the Constitution, but what happens when one openly attacks democracy and the rule of law itself? Each

government politics

All Episodes

52:02

Trump’s Flag-Burning Ban and Dictator Dreams

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/08/28

Donald Trump just issued an unconstitutional order against flag burning. He’s trying to oust a Federal Reserve governor—and he declared, “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator.” Professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang show what's at stake in these attacks—free speech, checks and balances, and the survival of our democracy. They also examine California’s redistricting plan, which—despite controversy—may be one of the few defenses of democracy left in today’s

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57:50

Trump Attacks the Smithsonian: Whitewashing Slavery...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/08/21

Donald Trump is attacking the Smithsonian and trying to whitewash the story of slavery. On The Oath and The Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang explain why this is more than politics—it’s a constitutional fight over truth in American history. We also break down Trump’s unconstitutional order to abolish mail-in ballots, Congress’s role in election law, and Newsom v. Trump, where Judge Charles Breyer is weighing the Posse Comitatus Act and the Tenth Amendment.

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55:14

The Hard Coup Has Begun: Trump Escalates His War on...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/08/14

Corey and John open with a personal note: The Presidents and The People has just won the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award for its defense of the rule of law—a mission now more urgent than ever. Trump’s tactics are shifting from a “soft coup” to a “hard coup,” with hallmarks of a violent takeover: using the military to control local police, deploying the FBI for political ends, and undermining judicial independence. In California, Governor Newsom is fighting back in federal court,

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46:18

Rigging Reality: Trump Fires Stats Chief as Texas...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/08/07

Donald Trump didn’t like the latest economic data, so he fired the nation’s top labor statistician. It’s not just about one job: it’s a dangerous move toward rigging reality itself. When a leader punishes truth-tellers, democracy hangs by a thread. At the same time, Texas Republicans are threatening an extreme new wave of gerrymandering designed to silence Democratic voters and entrench Republican power. But blue states aren’t taking it lying down—California and New York are pushing back, drawing

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56:48

Satire Strikes Back: South Park Skewers Trump and...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/07/30

South Park just aired one of its sharpest episodes ever—a brutal, brilliant, and hilarious take-down of Trump and Paramount, its own parent company This after Paramount bowed to Trump's groundless lawsuit over a 60 Minutes story and then refused to renew Stephen Colbert’s contract. Coincidence?Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang break it down:– Why satire matters now more than ever– The fight between corporate media and political dissent– The terrifying implications of a

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61:15

From Courtrooms to Congress: Mike Sacks on Saving...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/07/23

Veteran legal journalist Mike Sacks has reported from countless courtrooms, from Fox 5 to the National Law Journal. Now he’s seeking the Democratic nomination in New York’s 17th congressional district, aiming to unseat MAGA aligned Mike Lawler. Mike joins Corey and John to share why he’s entering politics, his vision for a sweeping omnibus recovery bill to repair American democracy, and his nuanced strategy for approaching impeachment with media savvy. He emphasizes his run as part of a larger

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67:19

Birthright Citizenship Showdown: State AGs vs. Trump...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/07/16

In this urgent episode of The Oath and The Office, hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang unpack the high-stakes constitutional battle over birthright citizenship. With the Supreme Court limiting lower courts' power, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joins the show to reveal how state attorneys general nationwide are leading the charge to protect the 14th Amendment from Trump's unprecedented attempt to strip citizenship rights.Before their in-depth interview with Attorney General

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52:42

The Coup Continues: Trump's Purge, MAGA Meltdown, and...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/07/09

In this explosive episode of The Oath and The Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang reveal how Trump's latest moves amount to a dangerous "self-coup"—an internal attack on American democracy. They dive into the troubling case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Trump's blatant defiance of due process, followed by the AAUP lawsuit challenging the administration's unprecedented crackdown on free speech. Next, they analyze the Supreme Court's shocking greenlight for mass firings of federal workers—an

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45:32

SCOTUS Guts Injunctions & Trump’s “Alligator...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/07/02

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

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58:21

Illegal War? War Powers, Deportation Chaos & Trans...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/06/25

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

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62:20

No Kings, No Tyrants: ACLU's Mike Zamore on Protests...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/06/18

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

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53:14

Trump, the Insurrection Act, and the California...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/06/11

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

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54:55

Harvard Law & Holy Wars: Trump’s Attack on Courts,...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/06/04

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

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74:53

The War That Didn’t End When We Thought: Michael...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/05/28

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

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69:45

Supreme Threats: Melissa Murray on Dobbs, Democracy,...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/05/21

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

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47:27

The Rule of Law Under Siege: Judge Dugan Indicted,...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/05/14

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 Dugan’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

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58:03

Bad Vibes & Broken Oaths: Leah Litman on a Lawless...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/05/07

Law professor Leah Litman (University of Michigan) – co-host of Strict Scrutiny – joins co-hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang on The Oath and The Office for an urgent, witty deep-dive into the chaos at the heart of American law and democracy. Litman discusses her new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, shredding the myth of a neutral Court. Litman compares today’s conservative-dominated Supreme Court to Patrick Bateman in

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50:04

100 Days of Democratic Destruction: Trump, Executive...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/04/30

In this essential episode of The Oath and The Office, hosts Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang dissect Trump’s first 100 days, highlighting dangerous executive orders that threaten constitutional democracy. They examine two alarming categories: orders so clearly unconstitutional that courts may swiftly block them, and subtler actions rooted in the “unitary executive theory” paving the road toward autocracy. Despite this grim landscape, Trump’s poll numbers reveal a weakening presidency—are

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55:37

Lady Justice vs. Trump 2.0 - with guest Dahlia Lithwick

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/04/23

Legal journalist Dahlia Lithwick joins The Oath and The Office to explore why Trump’s second presidency is even more dangerous than the first—and how courageous lawyers, many of them women, are once again stepping up to defend the rule of law. Drawing on her bestselling book Lady Justice, Lithwick shares powerful stories of resistance, from the travel ban to Charlottesville to the fight for reproductive rights.But first, Corey and John break down this week’s legal flashpoints:SCOTUS Shadow

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43:56

Trump’s Coup Continues: Supreme Court Defiance and...

The Oath and The Office ·

2025/04/16

This week on The Oath and The Office, Trump openly defies a Supreme Court order to return a non-citizen to El Salvador—then calls it a “win.” Stephen Miller gloats. El Salvador’s president joins in mocking the rule of law. Is this the tipping point of a slow-motion coup?Then we turn to Harvard, where the Trump movement’s push for “viewpoint diversity” is really a cover for ideological quotas—and Chris Rufo admits it’s all about destroying elite institutions. We unpack how this connects to attempts

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50 results

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