Who actually has the authority to declare war—the President or Congress? And why does it feel like that line isn’t always clear?

In this episode, Brian and Lauren are joined by Dr. Mark Caleb Smith of Cedarville University—Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Director of the Center for Political Studies, and Professor of Political Science—to break down one of the most important and often misunderstood questions in American government.

Together, they walk through what the Constitution actually says about war powers, how those powers have been interpreted over time, and why modern conflicts don’t always fit neatly into the categories the Founders had in mind.

The conversation explores how executive authority has expanded, what role Congress is supposed to play, and why these questions still matter for everyday Americans—even if you’re not a political junkie.

As always, the goal isn’t just to understand the system, but to think more clearly and thoughtfully about leadership, responsibility, and the weight of decisions that impact lives around the world.

Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cwV1icVoxzQ

Support the Show:
Exclusive content from Ron and Daria is available on our Patreon for only $10/month:
https://patreon.com/thethirdplacepodcast

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@thethirdplacepodcast

Learn more about Stained Glass Media:
https://stainedglass-media.com

If this episode helped you better understand how our government works, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Donate to our nonprofit, The Cleveland Ministry Collective - https://www.clevelandministrycollective.org/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/podthirdplace?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==