Former White House Counsel Bob Bauer discusses debate prep for Biden, Trump's response to Fox News poll, and reflections on political ethics and democracy in crisis

Bob Bauer, a former White House counsel and political ethics expert, discusses his new book, unpacking the unraveling of democratic norms. He critiques Special Counsel Robert Hur's decision to report on President Biden's cognitive abilities. The conversation dives into the role and ethics of governmental lawyers, particularly in high-stakes political environments. Bauer also tackles the chilling effects of surveillance on privacy rights and the legal responsibilities of universities to protect students from discrimination. His insights into political conduct and term limits add urgency to today's democratic discourse.

Bob Bauer, a law professor and President Biden's personal attorney, shares insights on the perils of unchecked presidential power and explores judicial reform possibilities. He emphasizes the need for ethical leadership amidst a political crisis. Meanwhile, Mark Leibovich, a political analyst, discusses Kamala Harris’s choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, using humor to dissect the strategic selections impacting the Democratic ticket and the broader electoral landscape, particularly considering Trump’s rhetoric. It's a blend of serious analysis and light-hearted commentary.

From April 28, 2018: On Thursday, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates hosted a conference at Georgetown Law on the future of American democracy. Matt Axelrod, Bob Bauer, John Bellinger, Jack Goldsmith, and Don Verrilli participated in a panel on the norms that govern contacts between the White House and the Justice Department, how the Trump administration has broken them, and what can be done to protect the Justice Department’s independence in this administration and future ones.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob Bauer, a distinguished legal scholar from NYU, and Liza Goitein, an expert in liberty and national security at the Brennan Center, dive into the complexities of emergency powers. They analyze the National Emergencies Act and its implications for presidential authority, especially amid recent bipartisan reform efforts. The discussion critiques the historical failures of checks on executive power, advocating for clearer rules to safeguard democracy. Their insights shed light on the pressing need for accountability and the evolving landscape of emergency declarations.

Bob Bauer, a seasoned Democratic lawyer with extensive experience in political lawyering, joins the conversation to reflect on his book, which critiques the current state of ethics in politics. He discusses the unique challenges political lawyers face in our polarized world and the evolution of campaign finance laws post-Watergate. Bauer shares insights from representing Barack Obama and highlights the need for improved regulations in political advertising. With a dash of humor, he also recounts a lighthearted moment during debate prep with President Biden's dog, Major.

Legal scholars Jack Goldsmith and Bob Bauer discuss the need to reform the Insurrection Act, highlighting the historical context, recent crises, and recommendations for reform. They emphasize the balance of presidential authority, the importance of clearer terms and limits on executive power, and the necessity for congressional oversight to prevent misuse. The discussion explores judicial review, procedural reforms, and steps to ensure proper military use under the Act.

From May 27, 2017: Amidst the hurricane of news coming out of the White House in recent weeks, one question has surfaced again and again: why isn't White House Counsel Don McGahn stopping Donald Trump from doing all this? This week on the podcast, Benjamin Wittes sat down with Bob Bauer, former White House Counsel for Barack Obama, to talk about the Office of the White House Counsel and how President Trump can and can't be restrained.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been almost a year since Trump lost the presidency and over nine months since a new administration and a new congressional majority took power. We’re moving further and further away from Trump's controversial use of presidential authorities, and it seems like we've lost momentum in the push for systemic changes to prevent future abuses. Fortunately, some people are still pushing. Natalie Orpett sat down with Bob Bauer, former White House counsel to President Obama, and Jack Goldsmith, former assistant attorney general in President Bush’s Office of Legal Counsel. Together, they are the authors of the book, “After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency,” which was published in fall 2020. They've now joined together again to start a new organization, the Presidential Reform Project, which proposes a bipartisan blueprint for reconstructing the presidency. They talked about their recommendations for reform, including a few that they've added to their list since writing their book; about what's going on in Congress and the executive branch right now; and they explained why they believe that it really is still possible to implement some of their reforms.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From October 7, 2017: Last month, Lawfare and Foreign Policy hosted an event on lawyering for the Trump presidency. Susan Hennessey spoke with former White House Counsels Bob Bauer, who served in the Obama administration from 2010 to 2011, and A.B. Culvahouse, who served in the Reagan administration from 1987 to 1989, in a lively discussion on providing legal support when your client is the president. They talked about the distinction between a president’s personal counsel and White House counsel, the challenges of defending a president during an investigation, and the quotidian aspects of the role of the White House Counsel.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.