A Constitutional Crisis
The Daily
02/12/25
•26m
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As President Trump issues executive orders that encroach on the powers of Congress — and in some cases fly in the face of established law — a debate has begun about whether he’s merely testing the boundaries of his power or triggering a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court for The Times, walks us through the debate.
Guests: Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court and writes Sidebar, a column on legal developments, for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- President Trump’s actions have created a constitutional crisis, scholars say.
- Sidebar: Is Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship “Dred Scott II”?
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: National Archives, via Associated Press
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Previous Episode
The Demise of U.S.A.I.D. — and American Soft Power
February 11, 2025
•33m
Warning: This episode contains strong language.
As President Trump demolishes the government’s biggest provider of foreign aid, the United States Agency for International Development, he is ending a 60-year bipartisan consensus about the best way to keep America safe from its enemies.
Michael Crowley, who covers U.S. foreign policy, and Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter for The New York Times, discuss the rise and fall of U.S.A.I.D. — and American soft power.
Guests: Michael Crowley, a reporter covering the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The New York Times; and Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- With his aid cutoff, President Trump has halted U.S.A.I.D.’s legacy of “acting with humanity.”
- The agency’s workers are braced for the worst.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Safin Hamid/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Next Episode
How Close Are We to Another Pandemic?
February 13, 2025
•25m
An outbreak of bird flu has been tearing through the nation’s dairy farms and infecting more and more people.
Now there are troubling signs that the United States may be closer to another pandemic, even as President Trump dismantles the country’s public health system.
Apoorva Mandavilli, who covers science and global health for The Times, explains how the virus has changed and why our government might be ill-equipped to respond.
Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter at The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Could the bird flu become airborne?
- Egg prices are high. They’re likely to go higher.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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