Scott Detrow

The decision came down to a key question that has big implications on topics far beyond the criminal case at the heart of it. When a president does something that is potentially illegal while executing his duties, who or what can regulate his actions? Who can hold him accountable? These questions have come up a lot in the first weeks of Trump's second term in different contexts.

The decision came down to a key question that has big implications on topics far beyond the criminal case at the heart of it. When a president does something that is potentially illegal while executing his duties, who or what can regulate his actions? Who can hold him accountable? These questions have come up a lot in the first weeks of Trump's second term in different contexts.

from dismantling agencies established by Congress to deporting migrants without due process. President Trump is asserting his power. And one idea that seems to be motivating his actions is the unitary executive theory. But where does this idea come from and how does it relate to the Supreme Court?

from dismantling agencies established by Congress to deporting migrants without due process. President Trump is asserting his power. And one idea that seems to be motivating his actions is the unitary executive theory. But where does this idea come from and how does it relate to the Supreme Court?

from dismantling agencies established by Congress to deporting migrants without due process. President Trump is asserting his power. And one idea that seems to be motivating his actions is the unitary executive theory. But where does this idea come from and how does it relate to the Supreme Court?

That's Amanda Holos-Bruski. She's a politics professor at Pomona College, where she teaches classes about the Supreme Court. The theory started to gain traction and developed in the Reagan administration among a group of young attorneys in the Justice Department who thought the presidency had recently been weakened.

That's Amanda Holos-Bruski. She's a politics professor at Pomona College, where she teaches classes about the Supreme Court. The theory started to gain traction and developed in the Reagan administration among a group of young attorneys in the Justice Department who thought the presidency had recently been weakened.

That's Amanda Holos-Bruski. She's a politics professor at Pomona College, where she teaches classes about the Supreme Court. The theory started to gain traction and developed in the Reagan administration among a group of young attorneys in the Justice Department who thought the presidency had recently been weakened.

Charles Cooper was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Reagan administration.

Charles Cooper was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Reagan administration.

Charles Cooper was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Reagan administration.

So how did this idea that was discussed among young government lawyers make its way to the federal courts and eventually to the Supreme Court? Hollis Brewski points to one major factor, the Federalist Society. She wrote the book Ideas with Consequences, the Federalist Society and the Conservative Counter-Revolution.

So how did this idea that was discussed among young government lawyers make its way to the federal courts and eventually to the Supreme Court? Hollis Brewski points to one major factor, the Federalist Society. She wrote the book Ideas with Consequences, the Federalist Society and the Conservative Counter-Revolution.

So how did this idea that was discussed among young government lawyers make its way to the federal courts and eventually to the Supreme Court? Hollis Brewski points to one major factor, the Federalist Society. She wrote the book Ideas with Consequences, the Federalist Society and the Conservative Counter-Revolution.

It documents the group's founding by a group of conservative law students in the 1980s.

It documents the group's founding by a group of conservative law students in the 1980s.

It documents the group's founding by a group of conservative law students in the 1980s.

Hollis Bruschi spoke with many of the Federal Society's founders and explains how they were thinking about growing their influence.

Hollis Bruschi spoke with many of the Federal Society's founders and explains how they were thinking about growing their influence.

Hollis Bruschi spoke with many of the Federal Society's founders and explains how they were thinking about growing their influence.