President Donald Trump is using the Department of Justice to try to punish his political enemies. How much can the president bend the DOJ, an institution built on norms and ethics, to his will before it breaks? In this episode, we talk to the Atlantic staff writer Quinta Jurecic, who covers legal issues, and Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare, about ... Show More
Nov 6
Will 2026 Be a Fair Fight?
Go ahead, Democrats. Enjoy your victory parties. But after that, brace yourselves, because Republicans may not be playing by the same rules a year from now. Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term—indeed, since his loss in 2020—he has shown his willingness to ... Show More
27m 10s
Mar 2025
How Trump Is Scaring Big Law Firms Into Submission
<p>After engaging in a campaign of retribution against his enemies within the federal government, President Trump is turning to those outside of it.</p><p>Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains what that retribution has looked like for a si ... Show More
24m 59s
Jun 2025
Trump's showdown with the courts with Yale Law School's Emily Bazelon
<p>President Trump has never been shy about his revolutionary ambitions. In his second term, he’s moved aggressively to consolidate power within the executive branch—signing more than 150 executive orders in just over 150 days, sidelining Congress, and pressuring the institutions ... Show More
29m 8s
Apr 2025
What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power?
<p>President Trump may forever reshape the boundaries of executive power. This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross and Jack Goldsmith, who was the head of the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush, discuss which cases are most likely to win in the cou ... Show More
1h 5m
Oct 14
The targets of Trump's DOJ are already paying a price
At President Trump’s public urging, the Justice Department has brought criminal charges against some of his perceived political enemies. NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson explains that for those targeted, a prosecution can mean steep financial and emotional costs, even if ... Show More
7m 19s
Oct 2024
Trump 2.0: A Presidency Driven by Revenge
<p>In a special series, “The Daily” examines what a second Trump presidency would look like, and how it would challenge democratic norms.</p><p>This episode focuses on former President Donald J. Trump’s growing plans for revenge, which his allies and supporters often dismiss as m ... Show More
37m 40s