5.11: The Benign Prerogative (with Janel Moloney)

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This week, we discuss "The Benign Prerogative," and the not so benign aspects of Presidential pardons. We're joined once again by Janel Moloney to talk about Donna's moving storyline in this episode. Plus, Lin-Manuel Miranda makes a little cameo (#Hameo) to help us with Hamilton's original text from which this episode takes its name.

Hrishikesh, Janel, and Joshy discussing this episode.

5.10: The Stormy Present (with Bellamy Young)

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It's the 100th episode of The West Wing! Our guest this week is Bellamy Young, who made her first appearance in a TV White House here, some years before joining Josh on Scandal as PRESIDENT Mellie Grant.

footnotes —
Akhil Amar - America's Constitution
Lost Rights: The Misadventures of a Stolen American Relic
A Liberal’s Case for Brett Kavanaugh
Akhil Reed Amar - Sterling Professor of Law

 

5.07: Separation of Powers (with Michael Hyatt)

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The Supreme Court is looking at a case that relates to Korematsu v. United States, while the White House starts to make their moves towards appointing a new justice. But ai yai yai, we aren’t talking about last month’s headlines—we’re talking about “Separation of Powers,” from November 2003. And this week, we’re joined by special guest Michael Hyatt who plays Angela Blake. She gave us a wonderfully candid interview about how she got the role—and why Angela didn’t stick around for longer.

footnotes —
Legal Rasputins? Law Clerk Influence on Voting at the U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court was right to overturn Korematsu. Now it needs to overrule Hirabayashi
Inside the White House’s Quiet Campaign to Create a Supreme Court Opening
Korematsu, Notorious Supreme Court Ruling on Japanese Internment, Is Finally Tossed Out