Jane Mayer and Noah Bookbinder discuss threats to democracy including dark money, tax transparency, and dysfunctional institutions. They explore corruption, government inefficiencies, and combating big money influence. Topics include the impact of inequality, promoting transparency in government spending, and reforming systems for accountability.

Noah Bookbinder, President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, dives into the ethical landscape surrounding Donald Trump’s potential second term. The conversation reveals how Trump's business interests may profit from presidential actions. They discuss the lack of transparency in Trump's financial dealings, potential conflicts of interest, and the challenges of holding a sitting president accountable. Bookbinder emphasizes the importance of ethical standards in governance and the intertwining of personal wealth and political power.

Noah Bookbinder, the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, discusses the alarming trend of billionaires filling key positions in the Trump administration. He highlights the potential conflicts of interest, especially in defense roles, and critiques the weakening of ethical standards in governance. The conversation delves into the rise of oligarchy in political campaigning and the inadequacies of post-Watergate anti-corruption measures. Bookbinder raises urgent concerns about democracy's integrity amidst the growing influence of wealthy elites.

Lawyers and legal experts discuss the ongoing legal developments surrounding the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, including newly unsealed grand jury report recommending criminal charges against 21 additional individuals. They also analyze the implications of the 14th Amendment argument for Trump's eligibility and explore the standard of proof required in the case against him for insurrection. The podcast also addresses how Trump and his associates may have violated the Hatch Act and highlights the denial of Mark Meadows' motion to remove his case to federal court.

Former federal judge, Harvard Law professor, Palestinian spokesperson, and other guests discuss the Colorado ruling on Trump's eligibility, the Supreme Court's new code of ethics, the dire situation in Gaza, concerns about the code's limitations, Trump's mistakes and dangerous rhetoric, and the importance of supporting public libraries.

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.

Brooke Harrington, a sociology professor at Dartmouth and author on offshore wealth, discusses the alarming concentration of wealth in America. Paul Pierson, a political science expert from UC Berkeley, emphasizes the political ramifications of this 'broligarchy.' Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, highlights the ethical dilemmas posed by billionaires in government. Together, they explore historical parallels, potential leaders for reform, and the urgent need for genuine political engagement to counteract elite influence.

Noah Bookbinder, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, discusses the alarming trend of billionaires holding key government positions under Trump. He reveals how Steven Feinberg’s appointment as Deputy Defense Secretary raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and erosion of democratic values. The conversation explores the weak state of post-Watergate reforms against this backdrop and questions the Republican Party’s inability to check corruption, highlighting the troubling merger of wealth and politics.

Noah Bookbinder from CREW discusses the lack of oversight in the Supreme Court, advocating for reform with term limits and ethics codes. The podcast explores ethical issues and the need for non-partisanship in the judiciary system, while critiquing delays in decision-making and flaws in originalism. It also delves into challenges with forum shopping and the impact of recent Supreme Court rulings.

Oral arguments at the Supreme Court Thursday in Trump v. Anderson revealed a lot about some of the justices’ commitment to the primacy of originalism. Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, joins Dahlia Lithwick to discuss why his organization took up and pursued the long shot case to try to keep former President Donald J Trump off the ballot in Colorado. While the Supreme Court appeared to have little appetite for taking the big swing to find that Trump had disqualified himself from office when he engaged in an insurrection, Noah insists the case is far from having been in vain - eloquently highlighting the dangerous potential consequences of inaction. It's a chilling reminder of what’s at stake.Next, Dahlia is joined by slate senior writer Mark Joseph Stern to discuss whether the liberal justices have some grand bargain in mind as they offered multiple off-ramps for Trump’s side, despite dozens of bipartisan briefs arguing for Trump to be kept off the ballot, the court’s originalist’s sudden concern for consequences in this case, when they have had no interest in weighing the life and death consequences for ordinary people in cases concerning guns and abortion. Finally, they tackle a worrying undercurrent to Thursday’s arguments: an apparent capitulation to threats of chaos and violence as a basis for deciding constitutional cases. In our Slate Plus segment, Mark sticks around to discuss a landmark gun decision out of the Hawaii Supreme Court, and why it’s a problem that DOJ’s special counsel, Robert Hur, issued a report declining to prosecute, but affirming that Joe Biden is old (hint: the problem isn’t that he’s old). Want more Amicus? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock exclusive SCOTUS analysis and weekly extended episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices