Leah Litman — University of Michigan law professor and constitutional law expert — joins Corey Brettschneider and cohost John Fugelsang to explain how the Supreme Court may be clearing the way for Donald Trump to fire independent regulators at will. She breaks down the Court’s turn toward the unitary executive, what that means for Trump’s control over the executive branch, what’s at stake in the coming fight over birthright citizenship, and where she still sees possibilities for court reform.

Corey and John open the episode by unpacking the stakes of a recently heard case on independent agencies, its impact on watchdogs like the FTC and the Federal Reserve, and how it might further concentrate presidential power. They then connect the dots to concrete examples from government and the courts — including Pete Hegseth and war crimes allegations and Judge Boasberg’s handling of the administration’s defiance of a court order — before their in-depth conversation with Leah about whether any institutions will be able to hold President Trump to account.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins us for one of our most important conversations yet. We examine MAGA’s escalating effort to blame and target judges who uphold the rule of law — from GOP attacks on Judge Boasberg to the broader push to weaponize impeachment. Senator Whitehouse lays out what Congress can still do now, and the reforms needed to protect democracy in the long term.
But first: John and Corey break down Trump’s shocking pardon of the convicted former Honduran president — and the disturbing reports of potentially unlawful military orders in the Caribbean.

A judge has blown up Trump’s indictments of James Comey and Letitia James — ruling the special prosecutor was illegally appointed. Corey and John explain why this strikes at the heart of Trump’s “retribution” agenda and how the fight raises fundamental separation-of-powers questions at the core of our democracy.

Then: Pete Hegseth threatens to court-martial a sitting U.S. Senator for warning the military not to obey illegal orders. Corey breaks down the rule that service members must refuse unlawful commands — and why Hegseth’s attack is so dangerous. Plus: Trump talks about disbanding DOGE entirely, and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani holds a bizarre press conference with Trump in the Oval Office.

A sharp, urgent episode on the week’s most alarming constitutional abuses — and what they mean for the rule of law heading into 2026. 

Hosted by Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang, The Oath and The Office delivers clear, expert constitutional analysis at the moment democracy needs it most.

Epstein files erupt in Washington, leaving Trump suddenly cornered as Republicans push for their release. Corey and John break down Trump’s push to stretch presidential immunity by labeling even unofficial conduct as “official,” the Supreme Court’s new asylum case at the border, and Tucker Carlson’s move to platform extremist Nick Fuentes. A sharp look at power, democracy, and rising hate in politics.

Trump has ended his shutdown — but the real shock came from the Supreme Court. In a little-noticed move, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson allowed the Trump administration to temporarily halt SNAP benefits, raising serious questions about how the Court is approaching presidential power. Corey and John explain what’s really behind Jackson’s puzzling decision — and what it means for millions of Americans who rely on food assistance. They also break down the Kim Davis denial and the explosive report alleging Trump’s allies were connected to a “sandwich shop” operation selling access and even pardons. A wild week in constitutional law, presidential power, and corruption — and we make sense of every part of it.

This week on The Oath and The Office, Corey and John trace the pattern of Trump’s lawlessness — from unions suing over his surveillance of non-citizens’ social media to his effort to strip gun rights from marijuana users, a selective “law and order” move aimed at his non-allies.

Then Corey sits down with Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick for a wide-ranging conversation about the Supreme Court tariffs case — and what it could mean for the limits of presidential power. Together they explore three central issues: Trump’s abuse of emergency powers, the DOJ’s misleading statements in court, and what Corey and Dahlia agree amounts to a DOJ shakedown.

It’s a conversation about how far Trump’s lawlessness has gone — and whether this case might finally be where the courts push back.

Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang trace how “no taxation without representation” connects to today’s fight to restore Congress’s power in the face of Trump-style presidential overreach. Corey discusses his Supreme Court brief on tariffs and the Founders’ vision for legislative control. Then Rep. Ted Lieu joins to talk about his bill banning first-strike nuclear attacks without congressional approval — a bold move to stop future presidents from seizing unchecked power. From tariffs to nukes, this is the battle to reclaim Congress’s constitutional role — and defend democracy itself.

Three prosecutions. One plan.
In this episode of The Oath and The Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang trace how the cases against Letitia James, James Comey, and soon John Bolton all fit into a single story — Donald Trump’s ongoing self-coup. These prosecutions aren’t random. They’re part of an authoritarian blueprint to punish independent officials and destroy the separation of powers.

We’ll break down why the charges are constitutionally baseless, how Trump is turning the justice system into a weapon, and why even fair-minded judges may not be enough to stop him. The Founders gave us juries as the last line of defense — but can that safeguard still hold in the age of presidential impunity?

From threats to use the Insurrection Act against protesters in Portland and Chicago to his abuse of emergency powers for 100% tariffs on China, this episode follows a single, chilling through-line: unchecked presidential power.

We also discuss a major Supreme Court case challenging state bans on abusive “conversion therapy” for minors — and why its First Amendment reasoning is dangerously wrong, twisting the idea of free speech to protect a harmful and discredited practice.

Is the rule of law still standing—or slipping away?
Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang unpack the week’s biggest threats: ICE’s rogue Chicago raid, Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard for political ends, and the myth of the “deep state”.
Then, CNN’s Jake Tapper joins to discuss his new book Race Against Terror—and how an Obama-era case to try an accused terrorist in U.S. court - showed the rule of law at its best.
Can that precedent survive today’s assaults on truth and justice?
Smart, urgent, and deeply relevant—this episode of The Oath and The Office is a masterclass in how democracy defends itself.

On this episode of The Oath and The Office, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang examine two urgent threats to American democracy before welcoming New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Nance.

• The Comey indictment — moving forward without evidence, it shows Trump’s effort to weaponize the law and shut down democracy.
• The shutdown — more than a budget standoff. Trump and Pete Hegseth’s rhetoric, plus threats of military crackdowns, reveal a “hard coup” strategy.
• Malcolm Nance — MSNBC analyst, counterterrorism expert, and Ukraine war veteran, on Russian disinformation, QAnon, and the global fight against authoritarianism.

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