If we hadn’t all been worn down by the relentless turmoil of Donald Trump’s rise to political power, the events of recent weeks would be even harder to believe.
Even though we are somewhat jaded, the barrage of criminal indictments and ominous investigations still have the power to stun. But they haven’t stopped Trump’s drive to win the presidency again next year. If he prevails (and it’s very far from impossible), he has already been clear about what he wants to do: Change the rules so that American democracy looks much more like an authoritarian state.
The stakes of this moment are high. So my conversation with prominent constitutional lawyer and law professor Neal Katyal is a timely one. In addition to his impressive professional accomplishments, Neal is also a new Substack podcaster. As the host of Courtside, he takes up a different Supreme Court case each episode in conversation with celebrity guests including John Legend, Rob Reiner and Katie Couric.
In our conversation, I particularly appreciated how Neal puts today’s events in the context of Watergate — another hinge moment in American history. Like Trump, Nixon seemed to believe (and later declared) that the president is above the law.
Neal’s optimism, expressed at the end of the podcast, is inspiring. And his view of journalism’s role is on point. I hope you’ll enjoy the conversation and learn as much as I did.
I’m very grateful to the thousands of new subscribers to American Crisis. Particular thanks to those who have decided to support my work with a paid subscription, and in some cases, have sent me messages of appreciation. With the assault on truth, combined with the economic tumult of the media industry, this can be a discouraging time to be a journalist. So your kind words — along with your interest and attention here — mean the world to me.
American Crisis, Ep. 5: Neal Katyal on whether the Constitution gives American presidents too much power