1A

'If You Can Keep It': Trump's Early Moves And The Constitution

Jan 27, 2025

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and Martha Jones, a history professor at Johns Hopkins, delve into the tumultuous start of Trump's second term. They discuss the controversial removal of federal inspectors general, highlighting the importance of accountability. The conversation shifts to the legal challenges against Trump's birthright citizenship executive order and its implications on the 14th Amendment, emphasizing the historical context of citizenship and its vital role in democracy.

32:46

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Episode guests

Martha S. Jones

Noah Bookbinder

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The dismissal of inspectors general raises alarms about accountability and adherence to legal protocols within the federal government.

Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship challenges historical legal precedents and ignites debate over immigration and constitutional rights.

Deep dives

The Impact of Inspectors General Purge

The recent dismissal of approximately 17 inspectors general from their positions raises significant concerns about government oversight and accountability. These inspectors, crucial for investigating waste, fraud, and misconduct, ensure that federal agencies function effectively and transparently. The legal requirement for a 30-day notification to Congress before such dismissals was ignored, suggesting an alarming disregard for established protocols. This purge reflects a broader pattern of removing individuals who might challenge or criticize the administration, undermining the independence necessary for inspectors general to perform their roles.

Intro

2min

Exploring Executive Power and Constitutional Challenges

2min

The Plight of Inspectors General

11min

The Impact of Schedule F on Federal Workforce Stability

3min

Challenges to Birthright Citizenship

9min

Understanding Constitutional Complexity

7min

The first week of President Trump's new term ended with a late-night purge of around 17 federal inspectors general on Friday.

The exact total is still unclear. Trump said the move was a, quote, "very standard thing to do." But federal law requires a 30-day notification to Congress before inspectors general can be removed from their posts.

Also, in the first week of his second term – four Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit to stop President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship. On Thursday a federal judge in Seattle temporarily halted the implementation of the order, calling it, quote, "blatantly unconstitutional."

Our series, "If You Can Keep It," cuts through political noise to consider the state of our Democratic Republic and what matters to you.

We discuss the IG purge, take a closer look at the legal challenges to Trump's early moves, and how the Constitution guides our understanding of executive power today.

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