Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf examines three recent events in American politics and justice: the House Republicans’ report targeting Liz Cheney, Fani Willis’s removal from the Georgia case against Donald Trump, and Judge Michael Ponsor’s reprimand for criticizing Justice Samuel Alito. Professor Dorf argues that these incidents represent a troubling pattern where those who attempt to hold powerful figures accountable face punishment and humiliation, while the primary wrongdoers face few or no consequences.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses President-Elect Donald Trump's nomination of Pam Bondi and Kash Patel as potential attorney general and FBI Director, respectively, in his upcoming administration. Professor Sarat argues that these appointments signal Trump’s intention to weaponize the Justice Department and FBI for political revenge, warning that Hunter Biden’s allegedly unfair prosecution could become commonplace for Trump’s opponents if Bondi and Patel are confirmed to these positions.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies analyzes a statement by Senator Ron Wyden criticizing Trump’s Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, using it as a case study to examine modern political discourse. Professor Margulies argues that instead of engaging in substantive policy discussions about important economic issues like tariffs and deportation, political figures and media often resort to simplistic character attacks and inflammatory rhetoric, contributing to a culture of unthinking political animosity.

Illinois Law professor Lesley M. Wexler analyzes potential changes to military inclusion policies under an imminent Trump administration, specifically examining proposed rollbacks of “woke” policies regarding women in combat roles and LGBTQIA+ service members, while exploring the legal and constitutional framework around such changes. Professor Wexler argues that while there are few legal barriers to reversing current inclusive policies, alternative approaches like gender-neutral fitness testing could address stated operational concerns without requiring complete exclusion of these groups.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat examines how the 22nd Amendment’s presidential term limits, originally passed to prevent another FDR-style extended presidency, affects second-term Presidents in general and Donald Trump’s anticipated second term in particular. Professor Sarat argues that term limits can paradoxically enable presidential overreach by freeing second-term Presidents from electoral accountability, suggesting this could be especially concerning in Trump's case given his stated plans to expand executive power.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses how progressives should reconsider their traditional opposition to states’ rights (federalism) and the Senate filibuster in light of Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory. Professor Sarat argues that despite progressives’ historical criticism of these mechanisms, they should now embrace both federalism and the filibuster as valuable tools to resist and limit Trump’s agenda, just as they did during his first administration.

Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf analyzes the eight possible outcomes of today’s U.S. federal elections (based on whether Democrats or Republicans win control of the presidency, Senate, and House) and their implications for governance. Professor Dorf contrasts how unified government enables major legislation with how divided government limits policy changes, while emphasizing an asymmetric risk: Republican control of even one chamber could enable them to challenge a Harris victory or force a debt ceiling crisis, making Democratic control of at least one chamber essential for a potential Harris presidency to function.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat analyzes the contrasting decision-making styles and presidential temperaments of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, as highlighted by Harris’s recent CNN Town Hall appearance. Professor Sarat argues that while Harris’s careful, pragmatic, and “boring” approach to leadership may lack charisma, it would be far preferable to Trump’s impulsive, inattentive, and narcissistic style that would make him dangerous in the role of President.

Former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut discusses the potential economic and institutional dangers of a second Trump presidency, drawing parallels between authoritarian kleptocracies throughout history and Trump's demonstrated patterns of behavior. Mr. Aftergut argues that Trump’s return to power would threaten not only democratic freedoms (as warned by former officials like General John Kelly) but also Americans’ financial well-being through systemic corruption and self-enrichment, with no remaining “guardrails” of principled advisors to constrain such behavior.

Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf discusses a topic that came up in the recent debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, focusing on Trump’s remarks about healthcare and a legal challenge to a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the Supreme Court. Professor Dorf argues that while Trump lacks a clear plan to replace the ACA, Republican officials and their allies are systematically attempting to dismantle the law through litigation, not because they have a better alternative, but because they ideologically oppose government involvement in healthcare and resent the ACA’s success as a Democratic initiative.

In this two-part column, University of Toronto visiting law professor and economist Neil H. Buchanan discusses the poor state of political discourse in the United States. Professor Buchanan argues that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance frequently make incoherent or illogical statements that are not held to proper scrutiny, while Kamala Harris is unfairly criticized for making actual arguments and evolving her views based on new information or political realities.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses Donald Trump’s speech at the Israeli American Council summit, focusing on his comments about Jewish voters and accusations of antisemitism. Professor Sarat argues that Trump’s remarks were self-centered, potentially dangerous, and reflective of his narcissistic tendencies, and he highlights the disconnect between Trump’s expectations of Jewish voter support and actual polling data.

In this second part of a two-part column, University of Toronto visiting law professor and economist Neil H. Buchanan examines recent Republican advice for Donald Trump to focus on “policy" rather than grievances in his presidential campaign. Professor Buchanan expands on the arguments he introduced in Part One, providing examples of Trump’s policy-free rhetoric and explaining why Republicans don’t actually want substantive policy discussions, as their specific policy positions are largely unpopular with voters.

In this two-part column, University of Toronto visiting law professor and economist Neil H. Buchanan discusses recent Republican advice for Donald Trump to focus on policy rather than “culture wars” in his presidential campaign. Professor Buchanan argues that this advice is misguided because Republicans lack popular policy positions, and their call for Trump to “talk policy” actually means inflaming voters’ emotions on select issues like immigration and the economy without offering substantive solutions.

Criminal defense attorney Jon May describes how Donald Trump might govern if re-elected, focusing on his potential appointments to key positions like Attorney General and FBI Director. Mr. May argues that Trump would likely select officials who prioritize loyalty to him over adherence to the Constitution, potentially leading to the implementation of extreme policies and the investigation of Trump’s perceived enemies, which could significantly erode democratic norms and institutions.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses the unusual dynamics of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, particularly focusing on how Vice President Kamala Harris is positioning herself on crime and criminal justice issues. Professor Sarat argues that Harris faces a delicate balancing act of appearing tough on crime to counter Republican attacks while maintaining credibility on criminal justice reform, suggesting she should emphasize crime prevention and address root causes rather than simply adopting traditional “tough-on-crime” rhetoric.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses the upcoming sentencing of Donald Trump in New York and the challenges faced by Judge Juan Merchan in deciding when to hold the sentencing hearing and what punishment to impose. Professor Sarat argues that Judge Merchan’s decision requires both legal acumen and practical wisdom, as it could have significant political ramifications for the 2024 presidential election, regardless of whether the sentencing is delayed or proceeds as scheduled.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses Donald Trump’s recent comments questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity and explores the broader context of racial politics in the United States. Professor Sarat argues that Trump’s remarks are part of a deliberate strategy to stoke racial resentment and fear among white voters, highlighting the stark choice facing Americans in the upcoming election between embracing diversity and inclusivity or endorsing divisive racial politics.

University of Toronto visiting law professor and economist Neil H. Buchanan discusses the recent political developments in the United States, specifically Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and Kamala Harris’s emergence as the likely Democratic nominee. Professor Buchanan argues that while this change has brought optimism to those opposing Trump, it also reveals flaws in arguments about democracy and party processes, criticizes both Republican and Democratic responses to the situation, and calls for a more nuanced view of Biden’s decision to step down.

Stanford Law visiting professor Joanna L. Grossman and Boston University law professor Linda C. McClain discuss the sexist and misogynistic rhetoric employed by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in their political campaigns, particularly focusing on their attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris. Professors Grossman and McClain argue that these attacks, which include criticizing Harris for being “childless” and labeling her a “DEI hire,” are part of a broader Republican strategy to reinforce patriarchal values and undermine women’s progress in politics and society.