The New Yorker Radio Hour cover image

The New Yorker Radio Hour

The A.C.L.U. v. Trump 2.0

Feb 14, 2025
Anthony Romero, the Executive Director of the ACLU since 2001, discusses the organization's relentless legal battles against the Trump administration. He highlights the staggering 434 lawsuits filed during Trump's first term, addressing critical issues like birthright citizenship and gender-affirming healthcare. Romero warns of a potential constitutional crisis if the administration defies judicial orders, emphasizing the importance of civil liberties and activism. His insights shed light on the historical struggle over executive power and the ongoing fight to uphold the rule of law.
33:44

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The ACLU has filed numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration, emphasizing its pivotal role in defending civil liberties against executive overreach.
  • Anthony Romero warned that a potential defiance of judicial orders by the administration could lead to a constitutional crisis, undermining the judiciary's authority.

Deep dives

The ACLU's Role and Legal Battles

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has actively challenged the Trump administration through numerous lawsuits, filing 434 cases during his first term. These lawsuits targeted various policies, such as the Muslim ban and family separations at the border, emphasizing the ACLU's commitment to civil liberties. Executive Director Anthony Romero noted significant issues looming in a potential second term, including executive orders that could challenge core constitutional principles. He underscored that the ACLU's legal actions will likely focus on birthright citizenship and federal funding appropriations, areas where executive power may conflict with established law.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode