Podcast appearances and mentions of John Yoo

The band is back together again this week as John Yoo ends his truancy, and we take up the fresh legal and constitutional disputes of the moment, starting with the Supreme Court's recent rulings about mail-in ballots and the Trump Administration's efforts to enlist the Postal Service on behalf of election integrity. From there we […]

The band is back together again this week as John Yoo ends his truancy, and we take up the fresh legal and constitutional disputes of the moment, starting with the Supreme Court's recent rulings about mail-in ballots the the Trump Administration's efforts to enlist the Postal Service on behalf of election integrity. From there we move on to the novel proposal to bring back prize courts and authorize old fashioned "privateers" to capture Iranian shipping on the high seas and profit from their cargoes—something United States hasn't done since around the time of Andrew Jackson (Trump's favorite president, perhaps not coincidentally.). Then, on to the emerging controversy over Flock cameras, and whether we can trust the government not to abuse them or use them to spy on and harass us. This week's cameo appearance is from our favorite classist Alex Priou, who joins us to discuss his terrifically cheeky recenbt essay, "How to Be an Elitist." And our listener question this week is: why does the president get to select the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Shouldn't that be up to the members of the Court? The president doesn't get to appoint the Speaker of the House, after all, and the language on this matter in the Constitution is incomplete or ambiguous. Hmmm.

We're a day and a half late with this episode, but better late than never. It's just Steve and Lucretia this week—John Yoo will be back for the next one—and they spend the first half of the episode updating some of last week's main stories while noting that instead of dying down, they have intensified. […]

We're a day and a half late with this episode, but better late than never. It's just Steve and Lucretia this week—John Yoo will be back next week—and they spend the first half of the episode updating some of last week's main stories while noting that instead of dying down, they have intensified.  The Luigi Mangione Fangirl Murder Mob has extended its tender mercies to Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts wife who (allegedly) strangled her three children apparently—to listen to her demented symathizers—in anticipation of what may become Fourth Wave Feminism. No—we're not making this up!The Jason Arday story continues to have legs, and some strange new permutations, one of which directly includes Lucretia and a strangely self-referential article in the Comical of Higher Education. This resolves into a discussion of what else the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress ought to be doing to force our East German universities into serious reform, and not just renaming their DEI operations and other evasions of the campus rot. (We also have positively identified who will replace Arday at Cambridge, and it's a familiar name.)After a brief intermission, we take up what may turn out to be the central legacy of J.D. Vance, and think other leaders ought to pay more attention to his latest core message. And then we visit one of Ronald Reagan's supposed most egregious gaffs—that "trees cause pollution"—in light of some new mainstream science findings that the Gipper was right after all. 

Charles C. W. Cooke, John Yoo, and Richard Epstein debate whether Meta can really be held responsible for the harms of social media, whether Texas can put the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms, and whether the enormous defamation judgments against Donald Trump can survive Supreme Court scrutiny. They conduct a intense debate over Trump's White House ballroom, including questions of standing, congressional authority, private funding, and just how far a president can go in remaking the executive mansion. Across all four disputes, the conversation keeps returning to the same fault lines: runaway damages, judicial power, constitutional limits, and whether courts are applying the law—or inventing it.

Charles C. W. Cooke, John Yoo, and Richard Epstein debate whether Meta can really be held responsible for the harms of social media, whether Texas can put the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, and whether the enormous defamation judgments against Donald Trump can survive Supreme Court scrutiny. They conduct an intense debate over Trump's […]

Two hours. One subject. Every documented corruption and abuse of power question about the Trump administration, in order, with the receipts attached and the counterargument stated out loud every single time. John Yoo wrote the torture memos. He is, by a wide margin, the most expansive thinker on presidential power in modern American life. And he looked at a US military strike that killed two unarmed men clinging to wreckage and wrote that it was, quote, simply murder. That is where this episode starts. Here is the thread running through all of it, and it is not the one you are expecting: most of what I cover here is legal. The president is exempt from the conflict of interest law that binds nearly every other federal employee. Blind trusts are a tradition, not a requirement. The pardon power has almost no limits. So the question is not only did he break the law. It is whether any president should be able to do this at all. Enrichment and entrenchment. Using the office to make money, and using it to remove the things that could stop you. Both count. I keep them separate. This is a special edition, and it is only the tip of the iceberg. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open 04:40 John Yoo wrote the torture memos 06:05 Why this episode, and what corruption actually means here 11:15 The 927 page disclosure and the 2.2 billion dollar year 13:31 World Liberty Financial and 187 million dollars from Abu Dhabi 17:16 The memecoin, and who lost money on it 19:32 Justin Sun and the SEC case that disappeared 21:45 Nvidia, AMD, and the 15 percent chip fee 23:16 The 400 million dollar ballroom and its anonymous donors 27:01 The enforcement that quietly went away 29:16 Suing the IRS for 10 billion dollars 33:00 The judge who threw the whole thing out 34:32 Blanche confirmed 50 to 49 36:01 The 230 million dollars he asked taxpayers to pay him 37:32 Firing Pam Bondi 39:02 Comey, Letitia James, and a prosecutor who had never tried a case 47:16 1,800 pardons 48:00 January 6th clemency 51:01 Pardoning the 2020 election lawyers 52:32 Binance, crypto, and a very convenient pardon 54:03 The 2 billion dollars owed to victims that vanished 57:01 The honest comparison to Clinton, Biden and Obama 1:00:00 Seventeen inspectors general fired in one night 1:03:46 Closing every channel a whistleblower could use 1:05:17 Firing the person who reports the jobs numbers 1:08:15 The law firms: he lost four for four and it worked anyway 1:12:46 Columbia, Brown, and Harvard 1:15:00 Paramount, CBS, and the merger approval 1:17:18 Subpoenas served on reporters and their families 1:22:30 Trump v. Slaughter and the Election Assistance Commission 1:24:01 Dismantling election security 1:26:16 The mail ballot order now at the Supreme Court 1:28:31 Georgia said no, and why that belongs here 1:30:45 The boat strikes 1:33:01 Venezuela, Greenland, Iran 1:37:31 The steel man: the best case against everything I just said 1:45:46 What I left out, and why that matters 1:49:30 Closing LINKS Podcast website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown All links: https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES Equal Vote Coalition and STAR Voting: voting methods that make every vote count equally, with no wasted votes and no strategic voting. https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition: a grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability and technology. https://futureis.org/ Independent Center: resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. https://www.independentcenter.org/ r/policysolutions: a community for political solutions rather than political noise. https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ Political Solutions Without Political Bias.

The shocking suicide of the fraudulent Jason Arday alongside the Atlantic cover story about how a mostly leftist scholar "of color" (Tyler Austin Harper) quit his tenure track job at Bates College because he couldn't stand "the insufferable hypocrisy of elite academia," ought to be the last straw for our nation's tolerance for a completely rotten education system, from K-12 through the colleges and universities. But it probably won't be, because the left is not going to give up these premier bastions of political power unless they are crushed. And that can't be done quickly or easily.Joining us this week to take the place of the truant John Yoo is Bates College alum Richard Samuelson, nowadays a professor of history at Hillsdale College, who adds some detail from his own experience as an undergraduate at Bates College, and you will wonder how he survived the place.We also have a brief cameo appearance from John, who notes the peculiar legal strategy being pursued by Liuigi Mangione, the killer of United HealthCar CEO Brian Thompson last year. Keep your eye on this one, as we have a possible conspiracy theory to roll out about it. And finally, we take up a reader comment about something we said last week about the meaning of the phrase, "nature bats last."This is a long episode, but it's ad-free this week, so it zips long even zippier than usual. I want to introduce again the new voice for the show opener, Colin McLean. Colin is a noted voice-actor in Britain, and semi-retired from a distinguished business career in The City. You can read about his voice work at his website Vocal Flair, and I also recommend his YouTube channel, The Healing Voice, where he ranges widely from poetry, music, story-telling, and some sensible psychology.

In this Federalist Society America 250 series, experts analyze modern legal and policy debates through the lens of the Founding generation. The Founders gave us the tools to answer many contemporary questions; join us as we explore those answers.In Federalist 23, Alexander Hamilton identified the common defense and the preservation of peace against external attacks as two of the principal purposes served by union. The Constitution that union adopted divides the power to declare war—vested in Congress—and the power to direct war—vested in the President as Commander in Chief. But what does it say about national security more broadly? The Founders were not without reservation about the risks of concentrating the means of defense, with James Madison warning the Constitutional Convention that a “standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.” It was also clear from the start, however, that functions like intelligence gathering belonged more naturally to the executive, whose institutional character supported the necessary secrecy and dispatch.This webinar will explore how the Founders understood national security power beyond the battlefield, how closely subsequent practice tracked their design, and whether today’s allocation of powers serves both the nation's security and its liberty.Featuring:Dr. Alberto Coll, Director, Global Engagement; Vincent de Paul Professor of Law, DePaul University College of LawProf. Matthew Waxman, Liviu Librescu Professor of Law, Columbia School of LawProf. John Yoo, Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley; Senior Research Fellow, School of Civic Leadership, Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin; Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute(Moderator) Molly Nixon, Senior Fellow in Executive Power, Cato Institute

Does the president have the sole and unitary authority to wield all tasks inside to the executive branch by the Constitution? Here to talk about this important topic are two excellent scholars and thinkers. John Yoo, the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at UC Berkeley and perhaps the man who is most known for reviving […]

This week's episode features frequent guest Phil Munoz of Notre Dame University, sitting in for John Yoo, discussing his very timely new article in First Things magazine on “The Founders and the Common Good.” His article is getting a fair bit of buzz on the interwebs, as it takes up the surprisingly hot topic of […]

This week's episode features frequent guest Phil Munoz of Notre Dame University, sitting in for John Yoo, discussing his very timely new article in First Things magazine on "The Founders and the Common Good." His article is getting a fair bit of buzz on the interwebs, as it takes up the surprisingly hot topic of "post-liberalism," in particular to dispute the contention of some leading post-liberals that the American Founding was defective and therefore part of the problem. We also take up briefly an excellent article on the same issue by Andrew Walker in The Daily Wire, "The Neutrality Myth: Liberty, Order and the Common Good." Both worthy of your reading pile.(By the way, speaking of First Things, have I mentioned that I am thinking about starting a quarterly academic journal for the OnlyFans community, and calling it First Thongs?  I'll show myself out. . .)This episode also features a short cameo appearance by "Henry Kissinger" (we summoned him by means of a Ouija board) to bring his legendary perspective to our current foriegn policy confusion, and we tackle a listener question about populism.Our new voice for the show opener is Colin McClean, a noted voice-actor in Britain, semi-retired from a distinguished business career in The City. You can read about his voice work at his website Vocal Flair, and I also recommend his YouTube channel, The Healing Voice, where he ranges widely from poetry, music, story-telling, and some sensible psychology. 

And Todd Blanche keeps trying to get over the Judiciary speedbump. ----- The biggest story in legal last week was an unfortunate guerrilla antagonizing of a couple making out on a park bench... who just happened to be a Wachtell partner and associate. And now an internal HR problem is suddenly national news. Say what you will about the person who filmed it, but "get a room" was good advice. Meanwhile, Todd Blanche's confirmation hearings continued to drag on, with former supporters abandoning him and even some Republicans wondering why he can't commit to ruling out a January 6 slush fund. A new book says Blanche once feared bringing frivolous cases. He seems to have gotten over that. And Elena Kagan publicly claims her colleagues get a "bad rap" for supporting Trump. She's wrong and making these statements unfairly maligns her liberal colleagues facing personal attacks for their work. Oh, and John Yoo is back in the news.

Can a U.S. mayor enforce an International Criminal Court warrant? Has President Trump found a new legal path to tariffs after earlier setbacks? And can the government really seize a $95,000 airplane over a six-pack of beer? Richard Epstein, John Yoo, and Charles C. W. Cooke unpack these legal controversies before closing with a spirited […]

Can a U.S. mayor enforce an International Criminal Court warrant? Has President Trump found a new legal path to tariffs after earlier setbacks? And can the government really seize a $95,000 airplane over a six-pack of beer? Richard Epstein, John Yoo, and Charles C. W. Cooke unpack these legal controversies before closing with a spirited debate over which Supreme Court justices deserve a place on the judicial Mount Rushmore.

Can a U.S. mayor enforce an International Criminal Court warrant? Has President Trump found a new legal path to tariffs after earlier setbacks? And can the government really seize a $95,000 airplane over a six-pack of beer? Richard Epstein, John Yoo, and Charles C. W. Cooke unpack these legal controversies before closing with a spirited debate over which Supreme Court justices deserve a place on the judicial Mount Rushmore.

Mark Simone Interviews Author Ann Coulter on Her Latest Article on Birthright Citizenship. The Mark Simone Show July 1, 2026 • 11 min Episode Description They talk about the Supreme Court blocking Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, which means if you're born in the U.S., you're a citizen, no matter your parents' status. They also get into how college campuses are pushing students to vote for progressive candidates.   Article mentioned- https://anncoulter.com/2026/07/02/dred-scotus/   Dred SCOTUS by Ann Coulter  July 2, 2026  Obviously, the Supreme Court's ruling on anchor babies in Trump v. Barbara is ridiculous. Chief Justice John Roberts, along with the Papist nut and the three witches, has apparently decided the “FREE MONEY” sign on our border was not good enough. We need to give the third world an even bigger incentive to flock here. Henceforth, we will lure illegal aliens with the guarantee of American citizenship for any kids they give birth to on U.S. soil. Welcome Hamas! (And you thought Democratic primaries were already wild!) Inasmuch as no one on TV seems to have bothered reading the opinions, here are a few highlights. 1) Justice Clarence Thomas's dissent is a tour de force. It will go down in history with Justice Benjamin Curtis's dissent in Dred Scott and Justice Frank Murphy's dissent in Korematsu. (It's also a good primer for snowbirds, who plan to avoid state taxes by moving to Florida, on the vital importance and clear legal meaning of “domicile.”) By contrast, Roberts's opinion for the court will go down with Justice Neil Gorsuch's opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, finding that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination against transgender employees—a ruling that was so embarrassing it was immediately ignored by everyone, including Gorsuch. That was clear this week, when, for the fourth time since Bostock, the court rejected similar claims by transgenders. 2) I'm sorry to mention that, inasmuch as Gorsuch was on the right side of the anchor baby case. Which reminds me, could the conservatives confidently informing us that anchor babies are required by the constitution (Bill O'Reilly, John Yoo, The Wall Street Journal, etc.) cite a single other case with Roberts on one side and Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh on the other, where Roberts was right? How about that terrific Obamacare ruling, deeply grounded in the text of the constitution? 3) Thomas's central point—appalling to liberals, but true nonetheless—is that the purpose of the 14th Amendment was to overrule Dred Scott, which held that black Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court. Black slaves and freedmen alike, Thomas writes, “were unambiguously Americans. They were not foreigners. They were not aliens. They owed no foreign allegiance.” He quotes Frederick Douglass's plea for the citizenship of blacks: “We address you not as aliens nor as exiles … We are Americans.” In response to Thomas's manifestly obvious point that the Fourteenth Amendment was “enacted … with the one pervading purpose of securing equal citizenship for the freed slaves,” the great legal scholar Justice Ketanji Jackson ripostes: “The teacher who scolds a student for bullying a classmate hopes the student learns the broader lesson of treating everyone with kindness, not just that one kid.” 3) In his 91-page dissent, Thomas cites 42 legal cases, 19 historical letters or diplomatic dispatches, 6 formal Attorney General opinions and 11 statutes, including The Civil Rights Act of 1866, The Expatriation Act of 1868 and the Naturalization Acts of 1790, 1795 and 1802. All directly on point. This, Roberts calls “scant evidence.” Whereas he cites a mighty three cases for his majority opinion: an inapposite one from Britain; the opinion of a New York assistant vice chancellor in an 1844 inheritance dispute in New York (BIG, if true); and one, Wong Kim Ark—the “strongest support for today's decision,” as Alito put it—using dubious dicta from a wandering opinion that primarily relied on the parents having been “legally domiciled” in the U.S. when the child was born. Not to be confused with, “living here illegally.” (Or “wintering in Palm Beach.”) It's as if Roberts didn't realize the case was about kids born to illegal aliens. 5) Roberts's weirdest citation is to an 1872 letter from Attorney General George Williams describing Francois Heinrich, a child born to Austrian parents while they were “temporarily residing” in New York City, as having been “originally clothed with American nationality.”

Hawk, a former criminal defense attorney, walks through the evidence now in the record, including the Discord group chat first reported by journalist Ken Klippenstein and additional text messages reported by the New York Times. He explains why this far exceeds the probable cause standard, why Twiggs received state and federal immunity, and why he expects Robinson to be held over for trial and, absent something dramatic, convicted. Along the way Hawk reacts to Fox News commentary from John Yoo on how the judge is running the courtroom, credits Megyn Kelly's legally sound take, and addresses the Candace Owens conspiracy theories along with the Ben Shapiro feud, dismissing the assassination claims as baseless. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, fundamental questions about the Constitution and the balance of power are once again at the center of American politics. John Yoo joins to examine the Supreme Court's landmark term, arguing that its recent decisions have restored presidential authority over the administrative state, clarified the constitutional limits of independent agencies, and reaffirmed birthright citizenship in the 14th amendment while leaving broader immigration policy in Congress's hands, as the Constitution intended. From executive power and the civil service to court packing, the filibuster, and the separation of powers, John explains whether the Court is actually reshaping American government and executive power or restoring an originalist vision of the Constitution. As calls to restructure the Court grow louder, are America's constitutional guardrails strong enough to withstand the political battles ahead? And once again, we ask if Congress will do its job in weighing its own responsibilities in the system of checks and balances?John Yoo is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Yoo has served in all three branches of government. He was an official in the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked on national security and terrorism issues after the 9/11 attacks. He served as general counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He has been a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and federal appeals Judge Laurence Silberman. Professor Yoo has published almost 100 scholarly articles on subjects including national security, constitutional law, international law, and the Supreme Court. He also regularly contributes to the editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and National Review, among others. Professor Yoo's latest book is The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Supreme Court.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

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Charles C. W. Cooke, John Yoo, and Richard Epstein break down three major Supreme Court decisions from the end of the term: Trump v. Barbara, the birthright citizenship case that left the status quo intact while sparking a debate over originalism, birth tourism, and Wong Kim Ark; West Virginia v. BPJ, the transgender-athletes case addressing Title IX, equal protection, women's sports, and federalism; and National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, the campaign-finance ruling that further limits restrictions on coordinated party spending and raises big questions about money, speech, corruption, and the future strength of political parties.

Charles C. W. Cooke, John Yoo, and Richard Epstein break down three major Supreme Court decisions from the end of the term: Trump v. Barbara, the birthright citizenship case that left the status quo intact while sparking a debate over originalism, birth tourism, and Wong Kim Ark; West Virginia v. BPJ, the transgender-athletes case addressing Title IX, equal protection, women's sports, and federalism; and National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, the campaign-finance ruling that further limits restrictions on coordinated party spending and raises big questions about money, speech, corruption, and the future strength of political parties.

In this 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence, we are rightly celebrating its proclamation of natural rights. But the document's other core purpose — founding a nation — deserves equal attention. Indeed, the Declaration was in its way a kind of constitution. In its indictment of King George III, it implicitly laid out the structural blueprint for a new government.Guest John Yoo joins us to discuss how the Declaration constituted a new republican government and sovereign nation, and why America is both an idea and a concrete heritage. John Yoo is a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley; and a senior research fellow for the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin.This podcast discusses themes from John's essay in the Summer 2026 issue of National Affairs: “The Declaration as a Constitution.”

In part one of our Supreme Court decisions coverage, Charles C. W. Cooke, Richard Epstein, and John Yoo break down the decisions handed down today, beginning with the Court's treatment of presidential removal power in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook (no relation) —the first apparently overruling Humphrey's Executor for ordinary agencies, the second preserving a major carveout for the Federal Reserve. They also debate Chatrie v. United States, a Fourth Amendment case involving law enforcement's use of geofencing warrants and cellphone location data, and close with Watson v. Republican National Committee, in which Justice Amy Coney Barrett held that states may count mail-in ballots received after Election Day unless Congress clearly says otherwise. Along the way, the hosts argue over the administrative state, judicial independence, election integrity, and whether the Roberts Court is as predictable—or as partisan—as its critics claim. Part two will be on Thursday, with a decision expected on (cue dramatic music)...birthright citizenship!

In part one of our Supreme Court decisions coverage, Charles C. W. Cooke, Richard Epstein, and John Yoo break down the decisions handed down today, beginning with the Court's treatment of presidential removal power in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook (no relation) —the first apparently overruling Humphrey's Executor for ordinary agencies, the second preserving a major carveout for the Federal Reserve. They also debate Chatrie v. United States, a Fourth Amendment case involving law enforcement's use of geofencing warrants and cellphone location data, and close with Watson v. Republican National Committee, in which Justice Amy Coney Barrett held that states may count mail-in ballots received after Election Day unless Congress clearly says otherwise. Along the way, the hosts argue over the administrative state, judicial independence, election integrity, and whether the Roberts Court is as predictable—or as partisan—as its critics claim. Part two will be on Thursday, with a decision expected on (cue dramatic music)...birthright citizenship!

Executive Authority and National Security Frameworks. Guest: John Yoo. Legal expert John Yoo analyzes the scope of executive power, particularly in relation to national security and foreign policy. He explores the constitutional foundations that grant the presidency authority during international crises and the legal debates surrounding the use of executive orders in managing the nation's defense and security. 91900 MAIN STREET LA

The Administrative State and Constitutional Oversight. Guest: John Yoo. Yoo continues his assessment of federal power, focusing on the role of the administrative state. He provides a critical look at how government agencies operate within the constitutional framework, discussing the necessity of judicial oversight to ensure that executive actions remain consistent with the rule of law and democratic principles. 101900 FREMONT HOTEL LA

SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-26-2026.MT. LOWE, LOS ANGELESUrban Crises: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and the Mayor Contest. Guest: Jeff Bliss. Jeff Bliss reports on the interconnected challenges facing Las Vegas and Los Angeles, specifically focusing on the escalating homelessness crisis. The segment also analyzes the ongoing mayor contest, examining how candidates are addressing urban instability and what these political shifts mean for the future of governance in these major cities. 1California Leadership: Governor Newsom and the First Lady. Guest: Jeff Bliss. This segment focuses on CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom and the role of his wife in his administration. Bliss explores their joint political influence, recent policy decisions, and how their public image shapes the political landscape of California as Newsom continues to navigate both state challenges and potential national aspirations. 2Constitutional Interpretation and Individual Liberties. Guest: Richard Epstein. Legal scholar Richard Epstein examines current constitutional debates and the protection of individual liberties. His analysis typically focuses on the tension between government overreach and property rights, evaluating how recent judicial interpretations of the law impact the fundamental principles of American governance and the balance of power within the state. 3Judicial Precedent and the Rule of Law. Guest: Richard Epstein. Continuing his legal analysis, Epstein delves into the importance of judicial precedents in maintaining the rule of law. He critiques modern legislative trends and administrative regulations, arguing for a return to classical legal principles that prioritize individual freedom and limited government intervention in the personal and economic lives of citizens. 4Washington Political Dynamics and Global Markets. Guest: Jim McTague. Veteran journalist Jim McTague explores the intersection of Washington's political maneuvering and the stability of global financial markets. He provides insights into how legislative actions, trade policies, and regulatory changes in the capital influence investor sentiment and the broader economic health of the nation in a volatile fiscal environment. 5European Industrial Strategy and Strategic Security. Guest: Lorenzo Fiori. Lorenzo Fiori analyzes the geopolitical and industrial landscape of Europe, with a focus on the strategic importance of the Mediterranean. He discusses the defense industry's role in international security partnerships and the economic challenges facing European nations as they manage complex energy needs and trade relationships with global powers. 6Advances in Aerospace and Space Exploration. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Space historian Bob Zimmerman reports on the latest milestones in aerospace technology and NASA's current missions. He highlights the scientific objectives of recent launches and the growing role of private space corporations in expanding human presence in orbit, providing a comprehensive look at the future of modern space exploration. 7Geopolitical Competition in the New Space Race. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Zimmerman continues his report by examining the strategic and military implications of the "new space race." He discusses the competition between global powers for dominance in the lunar and orbital domains, evaluating how technological breakthroughs in space travel are influencing international security and the long-term commercialization of the cosmos. 8Executive Authority and National Security Frameworks. Guest: John Yoo. Legal expert John Yoo analyzes the scope of executive power, particularly in relation to national security and foreign policy. He explores the constitutional foundations that grant the presidency authority during international crises and the legal debates surrounding the use of executive orders in managing the nation's defense and security. 9The Administrative State and Constitutional Oversight. Guest: John Yoo. Yoo continues his assessment of federal power, focusing on the role of the administrative state. He provides a critical look at how government agencies operate within the constitutional framework, discussing the necessity of judicial oversight to ensure that executive actions remain consistent with the rule of law and democratic principles. 10Small Business Trends and Economic Adaptation. Guest: Gene Marks. Business expert Gene Marks discusses the current economic trends affecting small businesses, including inflation and labor shortages. He provides practical advice for entrepreneurs on leveraging new technologies like AI and navigating complex tax regulations to maintain growth and competitiveness in an increasingly challenging and rapidly evolving global marketplace. 11Workforce Evolution and the Future of Business. Guest: Gene Marks. Marks expands on the evolution of the modern workforce, focusing on remote work and talent retention strategies. He evaluates the impact of government policies on small firms and discusses how business owners can adapt their operations to meet the changing expectations of employees and consumers in the post-pandemic economy. 12Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Defense Modernization. Guest: Peter Huessy. Strategic analyst Peter Huessy evaluates the status of the U.S. nuclear triad and the importance of strategic deterrence. He discusses the urgent need for modernization in the face of advancing nuclear capabilities by adversary nations, emphasizing how a strong defense posture is critical for maintaining global stability and peace. 13Defense Budgeting and National Security Policy. Guest: Peter Huessy. Huessy explores the fiscal and policy challenges associated with national defense. He analyzes how legislative budget decisions affect military readiness and the development of next-generation weapons systems, arguing for a strategic and long-term approach to addressing the diverse security threats posed by emerging global and regional adversaries. 14Trade Rivalry and National Security Suspects. Guest: Josh Rogin. Josh Rogin analyzes the escalating trade rivalry between the United States and China. He focuses on the strategic decision to list certain Chinese companies as national security suspects, exploring the geopolitical motivations behind these designations and the impact such measures have on the broader economic competition between global superpowers. 15Global Trade Dynamics and Strategic Alliances. Guest: Josh Rogin. In the final segment, Rogin provides a broader discussion on the future of international trade. He evaluates how diplomatic shifts and security concerns are reshaping global supply chains, the effectiveness of trade-based sanctions, and the importance of American alliances in maintaining a stable and open international marketplace amidst rising tensions. 16

Preview for Later Today: John Yoo. Yoo analyzes the American Revolution as a conservative movement aimed at restoring ancient liberties. He emphasizes the early commitment to three branches of government and the critical, often overlooked principle of civilian control over military.1859

Professor John Yoo critiques the "Thucydides Trap" analogy used by Xi Jinping to describe US-China tensions. He argues China resembles militaristic Sparta, while the US represents the democratic, commercial Athens. Yoo warns that China's declining population and stolen technology make it a declining power compared to the booming US. (3)SPARTA

Professor John Yoo applies the Thucydides Trap to the current conflict between the US and Iran's "concert of autocracies." He notes that while some view Iran as a rising power, it functions more like a small, oppressive elite. Yooemphasizes that the US fears autocracy rather than rising power alone. (4)

Preview for Later Today: Professor John Yoo explores the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens, drawing parallels between Pericles' naval strategy and Churchill's WWII tactics, while reflecting on the ultimate disappearance of Sparta versus the endurance of Athens.ATHENS

This week's episode, which finds Steve over in Japan but still with a hoarse voice, ranges widely from exonerating John Yoo from being implicated in a major whiskey heist, to what the prodigious drinking habits of the Founding Fathers has to say about constitutional law today. Justice Neil Gorsuch reminds us that “John Adams took […]

This week's episode, which finds Steve over in Japan but still with a hoarse voice, ranges widely from exonerating John Yoo from being implicated in a major whiskey heist, to what the prodigious drinking habits of the Founding Fathers has to say about constitutional law today. Justice Neil Gorsuch reminds us that “John Adams took a tankard of hard cider with his breakfast every day. James Madison reportedly drank a pint of whiskey every day. Thomas Jefferson said he wasn't much of a user of alcohol—he only had three or four glasses of wine a night.” Ah, the great ones.Speaking of the Founders, we make a nod to the tragic passing of Gordon Wood, and naturally manage to get into an argument about history and historians.But the central topic of today is considering John's foray into grand strategy in his Civitas Outlook article this week on "America Doesn't Need to Fear a 'Thucydides Trap'," , and while Admiral Ackbar needed to fear a trap, John doesn't think so. But what was Chinese premier Xi trying to do in bringing up the subject in a public session at the recent summit with Trump? One doesn't imagine Trump being a reader of Thucydides, though one can easily see him liking the outcome of the Melian debate. In fact, maybe that's what he's up to with Iran? Who can tell. 

John Yoo returns to usher in SCOTUS opinion season, joining James and Steve for some friendly debates on law, politics, and most controversially, more than a few matters of taste. For our democrats in the audience, we've got chatter on California vote counting and Alabama map battles. News from the UK reminds us that the royalists are in even worse shape, as authorities there prove to be as confused in dealing with speech as they are with violence. Thankfully, Scott Pelley brings us a much-needed restorative laugh, and the gang finds something to agree on as they count down to the semiquincentennial. That's right: even petty celebrities can't rain on our Independence Day parade!Sound this week: CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil says goodbye to Scott Pelley while Fox News' Brit Hume finds it all amusing.

John Yoo returns to usher in SCOTUS opinion season, joining James and Steve for some friendly debates on law, politics and, most controversially, a few matters of taste. For our democrats in the audience, we've got chatter on California vote counting and Alabama map battles. News from the UK reminds us that the royalists are […]

The end of this week finds the 3WHH crew in situ in Enna, up in the highlands of Sicily, visiting the University of Kore for a conference on, well, everything, though it is hard to tell since half the speakers are speaking in Italian and the rest of us are speaking in English. John Yoo's […]

The end of this week finds the 3WHH crew in situ in Enna, up in the highlands of Sicily, visiting the University of Kore for a conference on, well, everything, though it is hard to tell since half the speakers are speaking in Italian and the rest of us arenspeaking in English. John Yoo's incoming plane was delayed—again—but it gave us the prompt we needed to have in John place R.J. Pestritto, the Dean of graduate education at Hillsdale College, but above all one of the most treachant critics of the Progressive revolution of the early 20th century, and the insidious administrative state it birthed. If ever you want to throw down on Woodrow Wilson—and what sensible person doesn't?—R.J. is your man.For this episode we consider R.J.'s recent short monograph for the Claremont Institute's "Provocations" series, Government by the Unelected: How It Happened, and How It Might Be Tamed. Settle in with your favorite chianti for this one, as "D.J.—R.J" as I like to call him when he gets rolling on this subject, really gets rolling on this subject with us.For this episode, recorded in a hotel lobby with some visitors wandering by our "field recording studio (which included Michael McConnell listening in for some of it), we decided to keep the "authentic feel" of the background noise, in case you get to wondering.

The Supreme Court drops a bombshell voting-rights ruling, Richard Epstein declares the republic is heading for the rocks, John Yoo says everybody needs to calm down because politicians have always behaved terribly, and Charlie Cooke tries to referee the whole thing before the podcast devolves into anarchy. Along the way: racial gerrymandering, constitutional originalism, the mysterious “Republican Form of Government Clause,” whether Trump can legally settle a lawsuit with… himself, and why both parties suddenly love slush funds when they're the ones holding the hose. It's a cheerful little conversation about whether America's political system is fundamentally broken — and whose fault it is.

The Supreme Court drops a bombshell voting-rights ruling, Richard Epstein declares the republic is heading for the rocks, John Yoo says everybody needs to calm down because politicians have always behaved terribly, and Charlie Cooke tries to referee the whole thing before the podcast devolves into anarchy. Along the way: racial gerrymandering, constitutional originalism, the […]

We could have called this the jeg lag from hell episode, as John Yoo managed to spend 11 hours yesterday on an airplane that didn't fly anywhere, while Steve, already planted as an advance guard in Palermo ahead of next week's conference in Sicily where the 3WHH crew will be together in person at the University […]

We could have called this the jeg lag from hell episode, as John Yoo managed to spend 11 hours on a airplane yesterday that didn't fly anywhere, while Steve, already planted as an advance guard in Palermo ahead of next week's conference in Sicily where the 3WHH crew will be together in person at the University of Enna, is batting both jet lag and a airplane-acquired bug that left his voice raspy.So Lucretia hosts this week, and wonders whether both parties are a hot mess at the moment, what to make of the scene from the cashiering of Messy Massie to Der Platner of Maine to Ken Paxton in Texas, but landing on the breath of fresh air that is Spencer Pratt.In the middle of taping the news broke of the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, so we pivoted to an impromptu discussion of the wider scene of dysfunction in the "intelligence community." Steve made a case for bringing back James Jesus Angleton from the dead, drawing the predictable guffaws from John. All just a warm up for our on-location episodes next week.

Another hectic week for your 3WHH bartenders, and John Yoo wasn't able to join us at all, so this week's episode includes a special guest Steve has long wanted to bring on, Alex Priou of the University of Austin, the bold, brash start-up that has generated lot of headlines and controversies in its early years […]

Another hectic week for your 3WHH bartenders, and John Yoo wasn't able to join us at all, so this week's episode includes a special guest Steve has long wanted to bring on, Alex Priou of the University of Austin, the bold, brash start-up that has generated lot of headlines and controversies in its early years of operation. He's also the co-proprietor of a rival podcast, The New Thinkery, which is on hiatus at the moment as the team is in motion to new assignments, but it can be thought of as an unofficial "Gulf Coast" Straussian podcast. (Check out some past episodes at the link here.)Needless to say, we spend a lot of time discussing the crisis of the humanities in higher education, about which Alex has finished a book that is not yet in print but hopefully coming soon. But as Alex is a premier Plato scholar, we also spend a good deal of time considering some aspects of Plato on the subject of education and mis-education, ending up with a brief look at Shakespeare.Interested listeners should also have a look at Alex's Substack, "The Close Read," his Twitter/X feed, and, for those interested in his academic writing, his Academia page.

3/16: Professor John Yoo argues California's high energy prices result from sacrificing affordability for climate ideology. This approach ignores natural resources like the shale deposits in the middle of the state.1574

4/16: John Yoo details organized attempts to intimidate the Supreme Court through leaks and threats. He also explains the President's constitutional authority to unilaterally terminate international treaties like the NATO alliance.15851

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-6-2026.1903 PERSIAN EMPIRE1/16: Mary Kissel discusses Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a tactic to divert negotiations from its nuclear program. She also addresses Vladimir Putin's paranoia and Ukraine's drone technology.2/16: Mary Kissel examines the Maduro regime's refusal to step down in Venezuela. She highlights Cuba's role in propping up regional autocrats while hosting Chinese intelligence facilities and maintaining ties with Russia.3/16: Professor John Yoo argues California's high energy prices result from sacrificing affordability for climate ideology. This approach ignores natural resources like the shale deposits in the middle of the state.4/16: John Yoo details organized attempts to intimidate the Supreme Court through leaks and threats. He also explains the President's constitutional authority to unilaterally terminate international treaties like the NATO alliance.5/16: Rebecca Grant highlights the US Navy's dominance in clearing the Strait of Hormuz and sinking Iranian fast boats. These operations signal to China that the US controls vital sea lanes.6/16: Charles Burton criticizes proposals for AI cooperation with China, calling it a one-way technology transfer. He warns of espionage, citing the demise of Nortel as a warning against sharing high-end technology.7/16: Scott Harold analyzes Prime Minister Takaichi's "proactive pacifism" and assertive regional security efforts. She must manage domestic concerns over a weakening yen and a declining population while shifting resources to defense.8/16: Scott Harold discusses Japan's $10 billion lending initiative to counter Chinese influence in Asia. He also explores Japan's efforts to diversify energy sources, including nuclear power and importing American LNG.9/16: Henry Sokolski critiques potential US concessions allowing Iran to enrich uranium, warning of rapid breakout capabilities. He also flags Turkey's ICBM development as a signal it is pursuing nuclear weapons.10/16: Henry Sokolski warns that Sentinel program delays could lead to a four-fold expansion of the US nuclear arsenal. He also urges honesty regarding Israel's nuclear weapons to allow for public discussion.11/16: Michael Bernstam predicts a global oil "tipping point" by late May due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Shortages in refined products like jet fuel and diesel are particularly critical.12/16: Michael Toth attributes California's high energy costs to political ideology rather than global events. These "self-inflicted wounds" have caused a middle-class exodus and potential shortages of materials like asphalt.13/16: Simon Constable reviews surging commodity prices and the threat of famine in North Africa. He also discusses UK local elections, framing them as a protest vote against Keir Starmer's leadership.14/16: Simon Constable analyzes potential Labour Party leaders Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner. He notes that voters still find the Conservative Party untrustworthy despite Labour's internal turmoil and perceived failures.15/16: Bob Zimmerman explores rumors of SpaceX acquiring land in Louisiana to exit California. He also details technical delays for NASA's Artemis program and ongoing "technical issues" with Boeing's Starliner capsule.16/16: Bob Zimmerman reports on an unexpectedly weak solar cycle and its link to climate. He also covers China's new space regulations and Russia's recent test flight of a suborbital rocket.

This week Clarence Thomas becomes the second-longest-service Justice on the Supreme Court, and his impact on American law is growing. Paul Gigot speaks with law professor and former Thomas clerk John Yoo about the Justice's influence on the Court and the recent testy exchanges between Justices that have played out in public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2/2: Preview for Later Today: Professor John Yoo discusses the organized campaign of physical threats and leaks against the Supreme Court, characterizing these actions as extremely unhealthy for the Constitution.1905 SCOTUS