On this week’s episode, Pete and Luke talk about the 2018 midterm elections and the appointment of Matthew Whitaker. We also have a wide-ranging conversation about the undemocratic nature of the Senate and the Electoral College, redistricting, and the legitimacy and history of the federal system. All of that before we discuss the new acting Attorney General — a former district attorney for Iowa who loves crossfit and has a controversial “biblical view on justice” and dislikes Marbury vs. Madison. What even is federalism anymore?

• John E. Bies, “Matthew Whitaker's Appointment as Acting Attorney General: Three Lingering Questions,” Lawfare Blog.
• John Swaine, “Matthew Whitaker: acting attorney general said judges should be Christian,” The Guardian.
• Ezra Klein, “Republicans are paying the Trump Tax,” Vox.com. [Note: this is not about reforming the Electoral college, which Ezra discusses elsewhere on Vox.]

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