In this episode, Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, discusses his article, "Making Federalism Great Again: How the Trump Administration's Attack on Sanctuary Cities Unintentionally Strengthened Judicial Protection for State Autonomy," which is published in the Texas Law Review. Somin begins by explaining what a "sanctuary city" is and how the Trump administration has tried to block sanctuary city legislation. He describes the different approaches the administration has taken, and the federalism-based defenses raised by sanctuary cities, which sound in the Spending Clause and the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine. He observes that the defenses have been effective, and reflects on whether they reflect opportunism or a new reflect for federalism as a way of checking government power. You can read his related Washington Post op-ed here. Somin is on Twitter at @IlyaSomin.

This episode was hosted by Brian L. Frye, Spears-Gilbert Associate Professor of Law at the University of Kentucky College of Law. Frye is on Twitter at @brianlfrye.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.