Mixing sharp wit and serious political fire, The Oath and The Office is where hard-hitting constitutional analysis meets razor-sharp comedy. Distinguished polit...
Capitulation or Courage: The ACLU's Fight for Non-Citizens' Rights
John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider this time hightlight the many judges that are ruling against Trump's illegal orders and policies. They also talk about the president of Columbia University and the law firm Paul, Weiss capitulatng to Trump's extortion and failing the people who depend on them. Plus, they chat about the finger pointing blame-game by the GOP over the leaked Yemeni attack plan on their Signal group chat. Then, they welcome the National Director of Policy and Government at the ACLU - Mike Zamore. They ask him about cases they are working on including Trump revoking birthright citizenship, the illegal detention of Mahmoud Kahlil, and the draconian kidnapping of Venezuelans and exiling them to El Salvador. Zamore highlights the "Hands Off" March in D.C. Sat. April 5th at the Washington Monument.
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1:00:31
Trump's War on Courts Heats Up
This time - John and Corey take a deep dive into Trump's escalating defiance of court orders, attacks on judges, and controversial deportations. They also discuss the injustice of the nearly 250 Venezuelans alleged by the White House to be gang members that have been deported to a supermax prison in El Salvador, even as a US judge blocked the removals. Plus, Justice John Robert's rebuking Trump's call to impeach federal judges who rule against him and the illegal arrest and detention of activist Mahmoud Khalil as well as the continued assaults on universities for DEI practices and the defiant push back from Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber writing an op-edin The Atlanic titled "The Cost of the Government's Attack on Columbia". https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/columbia-academic-freedom/682088/
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42:50
Systematically Eliminating Dissent By Dismantling Free Speech
John and Corey discuss the illegal ICE arrest and incarceration of activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former student at Columbia University and researcher in machine learning at the University of Connecticut. They also talk about Trump using Title 6 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as an excuse to withhold already-allocated federal funding from universities if they participate in activities that promotes DEI. And they criticise N.Y. Governor Kathy Hochul for forcing Hunter College to remove a job posting for a Professor to teach about Palestine but refusing to comment on the illegal detention of Mahmoud Khalil.
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31:45
Bravely Standing Up to the Bully in the White House
John and Corey discuss the contentious meeting with President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office. They also talk about Trump's lies and bullying during his address to a joint session of Congress. And, they honor the heroes who are standing up against the lawless actions of DOGE and the crackdown by the Trump Administration against peaceful assembly and free speech.
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44:14
What We Can Learn From Germany
John Fugelsang and Professor Corey Brettschneider discuss Vice President JD Vance who gave a speech in Munich criticising Germany for curtailing free speech about Nazis and hypocritically scolding European leaders for many actions Trump himself has taken. They also chat about Elon Musk's "Pulse Check" email to federal workers and the legal ins and outs of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
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 week, Corey and John pull no punches, exposing the latest threats to the rule of law and demanding accountability. Smart, fearless, and wickedly funny—this is the civics lesson you can’t afford to miss.
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