Episode Summary

In this episode, Chris Malone speaks with constitutional law scholar Professor Stephen Wermiel about the legal guardrails—and vulnerable norms—that sustain American democracy. Drawing on current events and long-running constitutional debates, Wermiel explains how executive power expands under political pressure, how courts respond, and why public understanding of constitutional basics—voting rights, separation of powers, and free speech—matters more than ever.

About the Guest

Professor Stephen Wermiel is a constitutional law scholar at American University’s Washington College of Law. He previously served as a U.S. Supreme Court correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, His work focuses on constitutional law, the Supreme Court, and First Amendment issues ...