Executive Functions Chat

Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith

Trump Administration

Supreme Court

Donald Trump

Congress

Insurrection Act

Artificial Intelligence

Department Of Justice

Iran

National Guard

Executive Authority

Habeas Corpus

Universal Injunctions

Executive Power

United States

Protective Power

Birthright Citizenship

War Powers Resolution

Executive Orders

Paul Weiss

Law Firms

Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith discuss news about the presidency. www.execfunctions.org

21 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	71	Founded	a year ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

Caleb Nelson on Slaughter and the “Dictatorial Presidency”

Jack interviews Caleb Nelson, the Emerson G. Spies Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law, about his working paper, “Against the Dictatorial Presidency.” They discuss the modern history of unitary executive theory,... more

23 Oct 2026 • 37 min • Most popular

The Politics of Tit-for-Tat

Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith discuss Jack’s October 19 piece on Senator Elissa Slotkin’s recent viral remarks at the University of Chicago, where she said she wanted accountability for the people who enabled President Trump, at least in part with the... more

21 Oct 2026 • 20 min

Francis Fukuyama Reflects on His Career and the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracy

Bob Bauer interviews Francis Fukuyama, the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and author of The End of History and the Last Man. They discuss his new memoir, In the Realm of the Last Man, ... more

15 Oct 2026 • 24 min

Scrambling to Regulate a Sensitive Dual-Use Technology

Jack interviews attorney and historian Catherine Grace Katz about her new book, Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War. They discuss how a 1925 U.S. ban on helium exports required German airships to fly on flammable h... more

12 Oct 2026 • 22 min

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Recent Guests

Caleb Nelson

Emerson G. Spies Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law

University of Virginia School of Law

Episode: Caleb Nelson on Slaughter and the “Dictatorial Presidency”

Francis Fukuyama

Professor, senior fellow, author of The End of History and The Origins of Political Order

Stanford University / Freeman Spogli Institute

Episode: Francis Fukuyama Reflects on His Career and the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracy

Catherine Grace Katz

Attorney and historian, author of Shadow Before the Flame

Historian and Author

Episode: Scrambling to Regulate a Sensitive Dual-Use Technology

Nathaniel Persily

Professor of Law at Stanford University

Stanford Law School

Episode: AI, Elections, and the Liar’s Dividend

Tammy Patrick

Election professional with extensive involvement in election administration since 2003

National Association of Election Directors / Election Center

Episode: Election Administration Under Pressure

John Coates

John F. Cogan Professor of Law and Economics, Harvard Law School; former SEC General Counsel

Harvard Law School

Episode: Is Trump Media’s Early-Access Feed Lawful?

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

Ashton B. Carter Visiting Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School

Harvard Kennedy School

Episode: Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall on Bioweapons in the Age of AI

Danielle Friedman

Legal Director at the State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin Law School

University of Wisconsin Law School

Episode: States’ Protection of Their Elections

Jeh Johnson

Former Secretary of Homeland Security; former General Counsel of the Department of Defense

Episode: Jeh Johnson on Presidential War Powers and Congressional Retreat

Hosts

Bob Bauer

Host of Executive Functions Chat; prominent figure in governance and constitutional-law discourse; frequent co-host.

Jack Goldsmith

Co-host and lead figure in governance and constitutional-law discussions; long-standing host.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings

Interesting show, awful production quality
Jack Goldsmith’s voice ranges from (often) a near whisper to (occasionally) a near shout and is seldom close to the volume of Bob Bauer or the show’s guests. Any teenager should be able to modulate this electronically.
Apple Podcasts
2
Doggie David
United States2 months ago

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Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts	#55	United States/Government
Apple Podcasts	#100	Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts	#190	Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts	#250	Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts	#54	Hong Kong/Government
Apple Podcasts	#93	Denmark/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Caleb Nelson on Slaughter and the “Dictatorial Presidency”

Q: Is the civil service in jeopardy, and how broadly might Slaughter extend to inferior officers?

Nelson reads the decision as sweeping and thinks it may extend to inferior executive officers, including some covered by civil service laws. He warns that allowing the president to remove Merit Systems Protection Board members or agency adjudicators could compromise independent decisions and protections for federal employees.

Caleb Nelson on Slaughter and the “Dictatorial Presidency”

Q: Does Congress's power under the Necessary and Proper Clause mean it could give the heads of departments, including the Justice Department and Defense Department, for-cause removal protections?

Nelson says the 20th-century consensus treated department heads as removable at will, while permitting for-cause protections for some agencies. He is not sure that the Constitution requires the traditional distinction and says Congress may have room to protect some department heads, though he recognizes this could constrain presidential authority.

Francis Fukuyama Reflects on His Career and the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracy

Q: You discuss changes in education and leadership training. How should liberal education adapt to cultivate future public servants?

Restore liberal education, emphasize moral philosophy and long-form reasoning, and ensure professional training is coupled with a sense of public responsibility, so leaders can evaluate public interest against private incentives rather than chasing short-term gains.

Francis Fukuyama Reflects on His Career and the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracy

Q: How do you view Trump's influence on U.S. politics and the potential for reform in a post-Trump era?

Trump disrupted the existing balance and exposed weaknesses in governance, but it also opened doors for Republicans and Democrats to pursue genuine administrative reforms, such as streamlined processes and targeted regulatory changes, provided there is bipartisan will and a redefined understanding of accountability.

Francis Fukuyama Reflects on His Career and the Challenges Facing Liberal Democracy

Q: What would you want readers to take away from this memoir, particularly regarding contemporary American politics?

The goal is to illuminate why the End of History framing matters today, to emphasize the fragility of liberal democracy, and to argue for a balanced approach that strengthens state capacity, governance, and the rule of law without stifling practical outcomes.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Functions Chat

What is Executive Functions Chat about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversation-driven show that centers on U.S. governance, constitutional law, national security, and electoral policy, with frequent deep dives into how power is distributed among the presidency, Congress, and the courts. Episodes often feature high-level legal scholars, former government officials, and policy experts who dissect contemporary issues—from war powers and presidential records to election administration and AI governance. The format combines rigorous analysis, historical context, and practical implications for policymakers, lawyers, and political professionals. Notable traits include a strong constitutional-law orientation, willingness to scrutinize executive power, and guests who bring both legal and public-policy perspectiv... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Executive Functions Chat?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Executive Functions Chat:

1. Amarica's Constitution
2. Advisory Opinions
3. Interesting Times
4. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
5. The Lawfare Podcast

How many episodes of Executive Functions Chat are there?

Executive Functions Chat launched a year ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Executive Functions Chat?

Recent guests on Executive Functions Chat include:

1. Caleb Nelson
2. Francis Fukuyama
3. Catherine Grace Katz
4. Nathaniel Persily
5. Tammy Patrick
6. John Coates
7. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
8. Danielle Friedman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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