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How Patriots Fight Back Against Presidents (with Corey Brettschneider)
Mar 10, 2025
Corey Brettschneider, a political theorist and constitutional scholar, dives deep into the history of presidential overreach and its implications for democracy. He discusses how past leaders like Woodrow Wilson contributed to systemic racism and the internment of Japanese Americans. The conversation emphasizes the power of grassroots activism in defending democratic principles and parallels between historical figures like Frederick Douglass and today's challenges. Brettschneider also highlights the necessity of local governance in resisting federal overreach and ensuring accountability.
59:47
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Quick takeaways
- Corey Brettschneider identifies five U.S. presidents whose actions and philosophies posed significant threats to democratic principles throughout history.
- The podcast emphasizes that civic engagement is essential in countering presidential overreach and preserving democratic norms against authoritarian tendencies.
Deep dives
Executive Overreach and Its Historical Context
The discussion highlights the theme of executive overreach as a persistent threat to democracy in American history. Political theorist Corey Bretschneider identifies five presidents whose actions significantly undermined democratic principles: John Adams, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Woodrow Wilson. Each of these leaders not only engaged in defiant actions but also embraced authoritarian philosophies that sought to redefine the Constitution to justify their power. Bretschneider emphasizes that the danger extends beyond specific actions to the underlying philosophical shifts that these presidents represented.
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