Asha Rangappa

Basically, the unitary executive theory would support President Nixon's maxim that if the president does it, it's legal.

Basically, the unitary executive theory would support President Nixon's maxim that if the president does it, it's legal.

No, and you're more of a political analyst than I am. But my sense is there may be one other potential restraint is that even if this administration doesn't care about the court of law, they do seem to care about the court of public opinion.

No, and you're more of a political analyst than I am. But my sense is there may be one other potential restraint is that even if this administration doesn't care about the court of law, they do seem to care about the court of public opinion.

You don't think they do. Because I think... Mass protest, unpopularity, bad polls. I could potentially—and also the framing of things. For example, the idea that Trump can't bring back a person from El Salvador and Gulag, you know, from this country— Suggests a lot of weakness.

You don't think they do. Because I think... Mass protest, unpopularity, bad polls. I could potentially—and also the framing of things. For example, the idea that Trump can't bring back a person from El Salvador and Gulag, you know, from this country— Suggests a lot of weakness.

And, you know, so I think there are ways to frame things in ways that put the administration on the defensive in terms of the popular narrative.

And, you know, so I think there are ways to frame things in ways that put the administration on the defensive in terms of the popular narrative.

I trust your assessment. I do think that it is an assumption.

I trust your assessment. I do think that it is an assumption.

Yeah. And, you know, I think what you're pointing out is it's always a loyalty test.

Yeah. And, you know, I think what you're pointing out is it's always a loyalty test.

the ritual humiliation, the wanting people to bend the knee. But I do think for that reason, it's that much more important to have the acts of resistance, right? Like what Harvard is doing now is absolutely even changing their website. You know, the law firms that are stepping up. I do think the protests, and if it gets to the point of we need to have our Tiananmen Square moment,

the ritual humiliation, the wanting people to bend the knee. But I do think for that reason, it's that much more important to have the acts of resistance, right? Like what Harvard is doing now is absolutely even changing their website. You know, the law firms that are stepping up. I do think the protests, and if it gets to the point of we need to have our Tiananmen Square moment,

then maybe that's what it needs to happen. I mean, we're kind of, you know, sometimes the egregious things are what wake people up.

then maybe that's what it needs to happen. I mean, we're kind of, you know, sometimes the egregious things are what wake people up.

I expect him to invoke the insurrection.

I expect him to invoke the insurrection.

The Insurrection Act allows the president to use the military for domestic law enforcement. So essentially, we would see military personnel in the street, potentially arresting people or doing other law enforcement type activities, which I think normally the military has tried to not operate in that way domestically.

The Insurrection Act allows the president to use the military for domestic law enforcement. So essentially, we would see military personnel in the street, potentially arresting people or doing other law enforcement type activities, which I think normally the military has tried to not operate in that way domestically.