Noel King

Vox's Ian Millihiser. Up next, an expert on presidential emergencies is getting a little worried.

Vox's Ian Millihiser. Up next, an expert on presidential emergencies is getting a little worried.

Vox's Ian Millihiser. Up next, an expert on presidential emergencies is getting a little worried.

I'm Noelle King. Elizabeth Goitin is with the Brennan Center, where she co-directs the Liberty and National Security Program. Elizabeth is an expert, maybe even the expert, on presidential emergency powers. And she says President Trump has sure been using his.

I'm Noelle King. Elizabeth Goitin is with the Brennan Center, where she co-directs the Liberty and National Security Program. Elizabeth is an expert, maybe even the expert, on presidential emergency powers. And she says President Trump has sure been using his.

I'm Noelle King. Elizabeth Goitin is with the Brennan Center, where she co-directs the Liberty and National Security Program. Elizabeth is an expert, maybe even the expert, on presidential emergency powers. And she says President Trump has sure been using his.

So eight emergencies sounds like a lot, especially because for most Americans day to day, I don't think we feel like we're living in a time of eight distinct emergencies that we weren't living in, you know, six months ago. Why does the president do this?

So eight emergencies sounds like a lot, especially because for most Americans day to day, I don't think we feel like we're living in a time of eight distinct emergencies that we weren't living in, you know, six months ago. Why does the president do this?

So eight emergencies sounds like a lot, especially because for most Americans day to day, I don't think we feel like we're living in a time of eight distinct emergencies that we weren't living in, you know, six months ago. Why does the president do this?

I can certainly see that. And President Trump sometimes behaves as if the emergency powers were, you know, granted from upon high by God. But actually what you're saying is they come from Congress. This is Congress saying we will allow you to have additional power in times of emergency. When and why did Congress initially do this?

I can certainly see that. And President Trump sometimes behaves as if the emergency powers were, you know, granted from upon high by God. But actually what you're saying is they come from Congress. This is Congress saying we will allow you to have additional power in times of emergency. When and why did Congress initially do this?

I can certainly see that. And President Trump sometimes behaves as if the emergency powers were, you know, granted from upon high by God. But actually what you're saying is they come from Congress. This is Congress saying we will allow you to have additional power in times of emergency. When and why did Congress initially do this?

How far can the president go with emergency powers? Like, what kinds of things could he do?

How far can the president go with emergency powers? Like, what kinds of things could he do?

How far can the president go with emergency powers? Like, what kinds of things could he do?

You've laid out why granting some of these powers does make sense in times of emergency. Some of them, though, really seem like a lot, just a lot of power. Donald Trump is a highly unusual American president. Is it possible that Congress made a mistake in assuming that every American president would be like the guy who came before? Yes. Yeah.

You've laid out why granting some of these powers does make sense in times of emergency. Some of them, though, really seem like a lot, just a lot of power. Donald Trump is a highly unusual American president. Is it possible that Congress made a mistake in assuming that every American president would be like the guy who came before? Yes. Yeah.

You've laid out why granting some of these powers does make sense in times of emergency. Some of them, though, really seem like a lot, just a lot of power. Donald Trump is a highly unusual American president. Is it possible that Congress made a mistake in assuming that every American president would be like the guy who came before? Yes. Yeah.

Elizabeth Goitin with the Brennan Center. She co-directs the Liberty and National Security Program. Amanda Llewellyn and Hadi Mouagdi produced today's show. Jolie Myers edited. Andrea Christen's daughter and Patrick Boyd are our engineers. And Laura Bullard checks the facts. I'm Noelle King. It's Today Explained.

Elizabeth Goitin with the Brennan Center. She co-directs the Liberty and National Security Program. Amanda Llewellyn and Hadi Mouagdi produced today's show. Jolie Myers edited. Andrea Christen's daughter and Patrick Boyd are our engineers. And Laura Bullard checks the facts. I'm Noelle King. It's Today Explained.