

The Law, such as it is
Lawrence Lessig
An exploration of a broken, if beautiful, institution, the law, and tradition, America. Season one told the story of a case, LESSIG v. NYT. Season two begins the story about a country, America, and values that country has betrayed.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 18min
How you know when a process has too many lawyers
Francesca Gino, a behavioral scientist and former Harvard Business School professor, shares her gripping tale after allegations of academic misconduct led to her tenure revocation. She discusses the intense investigation process, including gag orders and a surprising shift in the university's evidence. Gino reveals the isolation she felt amidst strict confidentiality rules and describes the high-pressure hearing experience. Lastly, they analyze procedural failures and the emotional toll of the dismissal, seeking accountability and reform within institutional processes.

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 53min
How You Know a Business School is Not a Law School
In this first of two episodes interviewing Francesca, we cover a bit about the nature of her work, and then the period beginning from the charges being raised against her through the business school's determination that she had committed academic misconduct.

Aug 21, 2025 • 24min
Introduction
Francesca Gino was a superstar at the Harvard Business School. This year, she was fired for academic misconduct. In this season, we'll explore that story through interviews with Francesca and others. This episode introduces the story and the plan of the season.

Nov 9, 2021 • 1h 16min
Episode 8 - System Error
Lessig talks to Rob Reich, Jeremy M. Weinstein and Mehran Sahami about their new book, SYSTEM ERROR — which unpacks the effect of technology on culture and policy, and redirects how we might respond.

Sep 30, 2021 • 1h 23min
Episode 7 - David Vine
American University Professor David Vine has developed a powerful critique of the war mentality that America takes for granted. We argue about whether we should be a “welfare state.” Why don’t we argue about whether we should remain a “warfare state.” In this episode, he discusses two of his books, The United States of War and Base Nation, and what lessons they teach us now.

Sep 23, 2021 • 1h 1min
Episode 6 - Daniel Immerwahr
A discussion with Daniel Immerwahr about his book, How to Hide An Empire. The United States is not comprised solely of states. As well as states, our nation includes territories. This book tells the story of the role and place of those territories in the history of the United States. #Empire America

Sep 16, 2021 • 1h 16min
Episode 5 - Zephyr Teachout
A discussion with Zephyr Teachout about her book, Break ‘Em Up. Zephyr is the most important thinker on the Democratic left. This conversation continues from the last about how markets have been transformed from engines of freedom to systems of control. #Competition

Sep 9, 2021 • 1h 11min
Episode 4 - Barry Lynn
A discussion with Barry Lynn about his new book, Liberty from All Masters. There is a kind of competitive market that the American story presumes — competitive, every actor having limited power over us. This book tells the story of the undoing of that market. #Competition

Sep 2, 2021 • 1h 25min
Episode 3 - Stephen Kinzer
A discussion with Stephen Kinzer about his book, Overthrow. Overthrow tells the story of the many times the United States has intervened directly and militarily to change the course of government in other nations. #Empire America

Aug 26, 2021 • 1h 48min
Episode 2 - Edward Snowden
A discussion with Edward Snowden about his new book, Permanent Record. In 2013, Snowden revealed to the world the extent of the US government’s mass surveillance program. This book tells the story of Snowden’s life and the decision to sacrifice as he did to let us know this truth. #Privacy