Left, Right & Center Why are executions on the rise in the US?
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Nov 28, 2025 In this discussion, guests Sarah Isger, a seasoned legal commentator and former DOJ spokesperson, and Liz Brunig, a criminal justice writer from The Atlantic, delve into the alarming rise of executions in the U.S. They explore Trump’s motivations behind capital punishment, examining its political implications. The conversation shifts to Gen Z's political disillusionment, revealing how economic pressures and social dynamics influence their views. The episode also tackles the complexities of presidential pardons and their need for reform, highlighting the duality of mercy and justice.
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Federal Push Amplifies State Executions
- The White House push for executions focuses on helping states and seeking new federal death sentences after Biden commuted federal death row.
- Liz Brunig argues this amplifies state-level executions, where most capital punishment occurs and remains legally viable.
Conservative Tension Over Death Penalty
- Conservatives split on capital punishment between law-and-order arguments and pro-life moral concerns.
- Sarah Isger warns modern methods and delays have sterilized the act, making executions arguably more violent and morally fraught.
Nostalgia For Public Punishment
- Public executions historically served as spectacle and social deterrent, but lawmakers ended them because they coarsened public behavior.
- Liz Brunig suspects Trump may believe public or harsher executions would be politically popular with his base.