Ten Miles Square

Washington Monthly politics editor and Washington Monthly Editor-in-Chief Paul Glastris join contributing editor Anne Kim for the Monthly's first ever politics livestream, the morning after Donald Trump's first speech to a joint session of Congress.

In his speech, Trump doubled down on tariffs and taking Greenland. He demonized immigrants and trans Americans. And by his own account, he's just getting started.

In this episode, Anne Kim and Garrett Epps discuss the foundational concepts of U.S. democracy, focusing on the separation of powers and the emerging threat of the "unitary executive" theory. They also discuss the implications of Trump's power grab, including threats to public health, safety and the rule of law.

Key moments:

00:00 Foundations of Democracy and Constitutional Challenges

05:05 Separation of Powers: The Structure of Government

09:43 The Unitary Executive Theory: Implications and Origins

12:44 Practical Implications of Power Grabs

17:46 The Role of the Supreme Court in Executive Power

22:27 Looking Ahead: The Future of Constitutional Law

26:15 Introduction and Overview

26:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps speak with Tamar Jacoby, who is living and working in Kyiv as Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's New Ukraine Project. She speaks about the future of Ukraine, the changing face of warfare, and Vladimir Putin's potential ambitions in Europe.

#elections #votersrights #trump #2026 #2028 #elections President Donald Trump has promised drastic changes to election laws, such as requiring proof of citizenship and paper ballots, that could disenfranchise thousands, if not millions, of voters. How serious are these threats?Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epp speak with Joshua A. Douglas, a law professor at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. He is the author of The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights and Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting. He is also the host of the Democracy Optimist podcast and writes the Democracy Optimist Substack. Find him at www.joshuaadouglas.com and follow him on Twitter @JoshuaADouglas.About the co-hosts:Anne Kim is a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly and the author of Poverty for Profit: How Corporations Get Rich Off America's Poor (The New Press, 2024) and Abandoned: America's Lost Youth and the Crisis of Disconnection (The New Press, 2020). Garrett Epps is Professor of Law Emeritus at University of Baltimore, Professor of Practice at the University of Oregon and Legal Affairs Editor at the Washington Monthly.Both Anne and Garrett are alums of the Duke University School of Law and proud Blue Devils.

Federal workers are the latest target of Donald Trump, who vowed in his campaign to shrink the size of government and purge anyone he perceives to be disloyal. Can the civil service be saved? Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epp speak with Donald F. Kettl, former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and an expert on public administration.

Massive tariffs. Mass deportations. A looming budget crisis. A politicized Fed.

Economist Rob Shapiro speaks with co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps about what's ahead for the economy as Donald Trump takes office. Chapters00:00 The Biden Economy: A Strong Recovery03:52 Trump's Tariff Plans and Their Implications09:16 The Threat of Mass Deportations16:12 Fiscal Policies and the Deficit20:47 The Federal Reserve's Role and Challenges24:33 Predictions for a Trump Recession29:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps continue their conversation with Washington Monthly Editor-in-Chief Paul Glastris about how Democrats can win back working-class Americans. Paul also discusses the shape of "Resistance 2.0" to Trump and the legacy of Monthly founder Charlie Peters.

Paul Glastris, Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Monthly, speaks with co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps about the latest issue of the magazine, which offers 10 ideas for reviving the fortunes of working-class Americans - and the Democratic Party. Part 1 of a two-part interview.

#petehegseth #veterans #veteranshealth #privatization #defense #nationalsecurity For decades, the Koch Network and its GOP allies have been working to gut the VA health care system through "privatization." Their efforts could leave millions of veterans without affordable, high-quality care. Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps speak with Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early, two of the nation's foremost experts on the VA system. Gordon is the author of numerous books and articles on the VA system, including Wounds of War: How the VA Delivers Health, Healing, and Hope to the Nation's Veterans. Gordon and Early are also co-authors of Our Veterans: Winners, Losers, Friends, and Enemies on the New Terrain of Veterans Affairs.Key moments:00:00 Understanding the VA Health System05:00 The Privatization Debate13:42 Future Legislative Threats to the VA17:45 The Ideological Battle Over the VACredits:Photo of Pete Hegseth: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps discuss the implications of president-elect Donald Trump's threat to end automatic citizenship for people born on US soil. What damage could he do and how would ordinary Americans be affected?