The Law, such as it is

Lessig talks to Rob Reich, Jeremy M. Weinstein and Mehran Sahami about their new book, SYSTEM ERROR — which unpacks the effect of technology on culture and policy, and redirects how we might respond.

American University Professor David Vine has developed a powerful critique of the war mentality that America takes for granted. We argue about whether we should be a “welfare state.” Why don’t we argue about whether we should remain a “warfare state.” In this episode, he discusses two of his books, The United States of War and Base Nation, and what lessons they teach us now.

A discussion with Daniel Immerwahr about his book, How to Hide An Empire. The United States is not comprised solely of states. As well as states, our nation includes territories. This book tells the story of the role and place of those territories in the history of the United States. #Empire America

A discussion with Zephyr Teachout about her book, Break ‘Em Up. Zephyr is the most important thinker on the Democratic left. This conversation continues from the last about how markets have been transformed from engines of freedom to systems of control. #Competition

A discussion with Barry Lynn about his new book, Liberty from All Masters. There is a kind of competitive market that the American story presumes — competitive, every actor having limited power over us. This book tells the story of the undoing of that market. #Competition

A discussion with Stephen Kinzer about his book, Overthrow. Overthrow tells the story of the many times the United States has intervened directly and militarily to change the course of government in other nations. #Empire America

A discussion with Edward Snowden about his new book, Permanent Record. In 2013, Snowden revealed to the world the extent of the US government’s mass surveillance program. This book tells the story of Snowden’s life and the decision to sacrifice as he did to let us know this truth. #Privacy

A discussion with Andrew Bacevich about his new book, After the Apocolypse. Bacevich is America’s most thoughtful conservative skeptic about the scope of America’s military empire, and the urgent need to redirect our focus. #Empire America

This is an introduction of this season and ideas that the season will explore. Anti-empire, privacy, and competition: these ideas, or as I will call them, values, represent the best of who we’ve been; they are also values we’ve betrayed. These conversations are part of the research for a possible new book. Explore the ideas with me, and with your feedback, help me think them through.

In a surprising twist, the New York Times changed its headline and lede. In this episode, Lessig explains the decision to withdraw the case.