Consider This from NPR

How an obscure legal theory shaped the immunity decision and Trump's second term


Listen Later

In Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the president has "absolute immunity from criminal prosecution" for official acts.

To reach that conclusion, the High Court grappled with this question: how much power a president should have?

And some legal scholars say the ruling draws on the unitary executive theory — which, in its most extreme interpretation, gives the president sole authority over the executive branch.

But did it pave the way for Trump's second term and the constitutional questions it's raised: From the dismantling of federal agencies established by Congress to the deportation migrants to third party countries without due process?

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Consider This from NPRBy NPR

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

5,970 ratings


More shows like Consider This from NPR

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,474 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,681 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,784 Listeners

NPR News Now by NPR

NPR News Now

14,382 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,238 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,524 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,519 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,202 Listeners

Post Reports by The Washington Post

Post Reports

5,466 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,355 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,552 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,859 Listeners

State of the World from NPR by NPR

State of the World from NPR

415 Listeners

Trump's Terms by NPR

Trump's Terms

393 Listeners

Sources & Methods by NPR

Sources & Methods

793 Listeners