Podcast
Civics on the Rocks
Hosted by Anne Trominski · EN
A history teacher and an engineer walk into a bar…ouch! Except there isn’t a bar. But there are dad jokes. And whiskey. Two guys who know a few things, have been around a few blocks, and a few cocktails, discuss politics, science, history, technology, and the planet Earth. They also warp through rabbit holes in both the Federation and the Galactic Empire, and toast the ashes of the Twelve Colonies. And did I mention dad jokes? Yeah. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us for Civics on the Rocks.
Oh, and if you want some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CivcsRocks/shop?asc=u
25episodes
Episodes
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Does the Constitution Have an Escape Clause?
Yesterday01:20:58Tap to summarizeThe Twenty-Fifth Amendment: Mack derides, Steve chides, Anne makes asides, and everyone switches sides. REFERENCES The great Constitutional scholars on the interwebs are talking about the Twenty-Fifth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Twenty-Fifth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-25/ The idea of, “Oh, we’ll use the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to get rid of Trump”: Common Cause. “Common Cause Calls on the Cabinet to Invoke the 25th Amendment.” https://www.commoncause.org/work/trump-is-unfit-to-serve/ Impeachment and expulsion: History, Art, & Archives. “Impeachment.” https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Impeachment/ Which has failed twice: Mascaro, Lisa; Jalonick, Mary Clare; Lemire, Jonathan; and Fram, Alan. “Donald Trump Becomes the First U.S. President to be Impeached Twice.” January 13, 2021. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/majority-of-house-members-vote-for-2nd-impeachment-of-trump It’s in Article II, Section 1, Clause 6: Constitution Annotated. “Article II.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-2/section-1/clause-6/ The delegates of the Constitutional Convention: National Archives. “Meet the Framers of the Constitution.” https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/founding-fathers Since the Cold War began: Britannica Editors. “Cold War.” Revised February 18, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War The advent of nuclear…: Office for Disarmament Affairs. “Nuclear Weapons.” United Nations. https://disarmament.unoda.org/index.php/en/our-work/weapons-mass-destruction/nuclear-weapons …and ballistic weapons: Britannica Editors. “Ballistic Missile.” Updated October 24, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/ballistic-missile The Civics on the Rocks Team would like to acknowledge that in this episode we use various colloquialisms to describe mental illness that some may find problematic. No offense was intended and we apologize if any was taken. King George III went a little nutso: Watson, John Steven. “George III.” Updated April 17, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-III There are a lot of really good theories as to why that happened and how that happened: Putnam, Polly. “The King’s ‘Malady’: George III’s Mental Illness Explored.” March 22, 2024. Historic Royal Palaces. https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/the-kings-malady-george-iiis-mental-illness-explored/ Did people in the colonies know? Well, King Geoge III’s illness became public around 1788, and the final draft of the Constitution was signed in 1787, so it probably was not an influence on Article II. In the Declaration, the grievances are against the King: Zagarri, Rosemarie. “The Declaration’s Grievances Against the King.” National Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/essays/the-declarations-grievances-against-the-king They pinned everything on Parliament and wrote nice letters and missives to the King: American Battlefield Trust. “Petitioning the King and Parliament.” Updated July 23, 2025. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/petitioning-king-and-parliament The first Continental Congress and the Declaration of Rights and Grievances: Horan, Katherine and Horecny, Zoie. “First Continental Congress.” Updated May 30, 2025. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/first-continental-congress The presidency was a wholly new creation: Marion, David. “The Creation of the American Presidency.” Bill of Rights Institute. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/the-creation-of-the-american-presidency/ Were there examples of governors removed in case of inability? We didn’t do a big deep dive on this, but Virginia has an excellent archive documenting its colonial governors, so there was… …Sir John Harvey, who was removed as royal governor of Virginia for alleged treason: Tarter, Brent. “Sir John Harvey.” Updated December 22, 2021. Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/harvey-sir-john-ca-1581-or-1582-by-1650/ …Francis Nicholson, who was removed as royal governor of Virgina for being uncouth and a jackass toward one particular woman (as well as political reasons): Zacek, Natalie. “Francis Nicholson.” Updated December 22, 2021. Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/nicholson-francis-1655-1728/ …and Lieutenant Governor Robert Hunter who never served in Virginia because he was kidnapped by the French whilst in transit (Don’t worry. They were nice to him and he later got to be governor of another colony.): Find a Grave. “Lieutenant Governor Robert Hunter.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124558546/robert-hunter So we’ll go with, yeah, there was some precedent. When Woodrow Wilson had a stroke: Woodrow Willson Presidential Library and Museum. “Thomas Woodrow Wilson.” https://www.woodrowwilson.org/about-woodrow-wilson-1 His vice president was Thomas R. Marshall: Britannica Editors. “Thomas R. Marshall.” Updated May 28, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-R-Marshall But, also, Mrs. Wilson: Markel, Howard. “When A Secret President Ran the Country.” October 2, 2015. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/woodrow-wilson-stroke The impetus for the Twenty-Fifth Amendment was Eisenhower: Weiss, Marcia J. “Constitution Provides for the Incapacity of the President.” 2023. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/constitution-provides-incapacity-president He had a history of heart attacks while in office: Merschel, Michael. “The Presidential Heart Attack That Changed America.” February 15, 2024. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/02/15/the-presidential-heart-attack-that-changed-america Kennebunkport(?): The White House Historical Association. “Presidential Vacations & Retreats: President & Mrs. Bush in Maine.” https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/presidential-vacations-retreats-president-mrs-bush-in-maine Bethesda (so close!): Military.com. “National Naval Medical Center.” https://www.military.com/base-guide/national-naval-medical-center Wilford Hall(?): Military.com. “Lackland Air Force Base Wilford Hall Medical Facility.” https://www.military.com/base-guide/lackland-air-force-base/contact/wilford-hall-medical-facility/2397 Johns Hopkins(?): https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ Kennedy’s assassination: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. “November 22, 1963: Death of the President.” https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/november-22-1963-death-of-the-president With Lyndon Johnson specifically: Britannica Editors. “Lyndon B. Johnson.” Updated March 2, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lyndon-B-Johnson He’d always been concerned about his health: Nichter, Luke A. “Who Really Was Lyndon B. Johnson?” November 4, 2024. Yale Books. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2024/11/04/who-really-w...
Transcribe →Untethered Tangent on Arresting a Ship
2w ago00:06:06Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Untethered Tangent on Star Chamber
Apr 2000:06:03Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Is This Behavior Warranted?
Apr 601:18:29Tap to summarizeSteve commits murder, Anne pursues him to the full extent of the law, and Mack is on a mission from God. REFERENCES So, by warrant here, we’re talking about honest-to-gosh legal warrants: Legal Information Institute. “Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/warrant We need to make a distinction because there are administrative warrants: Legal Information Institute. “Administrative Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_warrant So, the executive branch: Legal Information Institute. “Executive Branch.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_branch You need to have probable cause: Legal Information Institute. “Probable Cause.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause Article III judge: Constitution Annotated. “Article III.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-3/ For search and seizure: Legal Information Institute. “Search and Seizure.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/search_and_seizure In the Fourth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Fourth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/ A lot of times, it is for a civil thing: Legal Aid Society of Northeaster New York. “The Differences Between Criminal Court and Civil Court.” Updated August 4, 2022. LawHelp.org. https://www.lawhelp.org/resource/the-differences-between-criminal-court-and-ci ICE, the organization: https://www.ice.gov/ They’ve got to be out in a public place, and then they’re authorized by their own agency to detain them: Diaz, Jaclyn. “What ICE Agents Can and Cannot Legally Do During Arrests.” Updated September 19, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5517998/ice-arrest-rules-explained It’s not just search everything: United States Courts. “What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?” https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-fourth-amendment-mean Writs of assistance: Britannica Editors. “Writ of Assistance.” Updated 2020. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/writ-of-assistance The in-between time between the Seven Years War (the French and Indian War)…: Britannica Editors. “Seven Years’ War.” Updated March 23, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War …and the run-up to the Revolution: Wallace, Willard M. “American Revolution.” Updated March 20, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution So famous Supreme Court case, Mapp vs. Ohio, 1961: Oyez. “Mapp v. Ohio.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1960/236 When did administrative warrants come into play: Arthur, Andrew R. “Going Back to the Past to Explain ‘Administrative Warrants,’ Immigration Enforcement.” February 5, 2026. Center for Immigration Studies. https://cis.org/Arthur/Going-Back-Past-Explain-Administrative-Warrants-Immigration-Enforcement I kind of wonder how the Revenue Cutter Service operated: Vergun, David. “Coast Guard Celebrates 235 Years Protecting Nation’s Waterways.” August 1, 2025. Joint Base San Antonio. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4261826/coast-guard-celebrates-235-years-protecting-nations-waterways/ Like an early DOGE or something: Fields, Gary. “A Year After Trump’s DOGE Cuts, Workers Whose Lives Were Upended Ask What Was Saved.” March 27, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-year-after-trumps-doge-cuts-workers-whose-lives-were-upended-ask-what-was-saved While Civics on the Rocks didn't actually find an answer to this question, we’re sure they had something that gave them paper authorization, because otherwise they’re kind of pirate-y. Feel free to look for it for yourselves: National Archives. “Records of the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS).” Reviewed January 11, 2023. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/coast-guard/revenue-cutter-service And it’s not a letter of marque or reprisal: Mulligan, Steve P. “Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 1): Introduction and Historical Context.” February 26, 2025. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11272 And those are called origin statutes, by the way, or organic statutes: Ballotpedia. “Organic Statute.” https://ballotpedia.org/Organic_statute Some of it is, also, due process rights: Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/ We couldn’t find a comprehensive list of agencies that use administrative warrants, but multiple ones are authorized to do so, including the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA). Let’s do the EPA, that’s a fun one: https://www.epa.gov/ Oh, postal inspectors(!): United States Postal Inspection Service. “Security: It Comes With the Stamp.” https://www.uspis.gov/ The EPA has people who enforce EPA regulations: EPA. “Criminal Enforcement: Special Agents.” https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-enforcement-special-agents Some of what they do, like postal inspectors, it could be a civil thing, it could also be a criminal thing: Office of Inspector General. “Office of Investigations.” https://www.uspsoig.gov/about-us/office-investigations Things like wire tapping: Legal Information Institute. “Wiretapping.” Reviewed July 2024. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/wiretapping Damn spot: Shakespeare. “The Tragedy of Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1.” https://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/macbeth.5.1.html You’re on oath or affirmation: Legal Information Institute. “22 CFR § 92.18 - Oaths and affirmations defined.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/92.18 Now, we’re playing Clue: The Strong National Museum of Play. “Clue.” https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/clue/ Yes, Anne can go into Steve’s house to arrest him with her warrant: Wallentine, Ken. “Whose House Is This? I Think I Know.” 2023. Lexipol. https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/whose-house-is-this-i-think-i-know/ And then somebody pulls over Steve, and runs his license and registration through SCMODS: https://youtu.be/pwqwSukyBvg?si=Kz9XB3WL4-k0vU9S Yes, in most cases, Anne would need a separate warrant to take Steve’s DNA: National Institute of Justice. “DNA–A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory.” https://nij.ojp.gov/nij-hosted-online-training-courses/dna-prosecutors-practice-notebook-inventory/preparing-cases-involving-dna/admissibility/court-order-or-search-warrant So, the phone question is a little more complicated. As one legal source noted, phone technology evolves faster than the law does. If a legal authority figure uses your face to open your phone without your permission, you have a case to bring an unlawful search complaint against them. However, most legal sources we found recommend you use a strong password: Old, Jake. “Privacy Implications of Biometric Phone Encryption in Police Investigations.” Tennessee Bar Association. https://www.tba.org/?pg=crimjustice It’s not civil because it’s a misdemeanor: Legal Information Institute. “Misdemeanor.” ...
Transcribe →Untethered Tangent on Driverless Cars
Mar 1600:11:52Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
Mar 201:07:12Tap to summarizeVOTE IN THE MARCH 3 TEXAS PRIMARY ELECTION. In this episode, we head back to Texas and discuss why this isn’t as off a year as you might think. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, VOTE! References March 3 are the primaries in Texas: Texas Secretary of State. “March 3, 2026 Primary Election Law Calendar and May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election Law Calendar.” https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2025-17-mar-3-2026-primary-elec-law-cal-and-may-26-2026-primary-runoff-elec-law-cal.shtml We had a whole episode on primaries: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2szpe-1544115 It’s an election among the Republican candidates for office to decide who is going to be the Republican candidate in the general election, and then you have the Democratic candidates for office—same deal: Drusch, Andrea. “How Does the Primary Election Work in Texas?” February 16, 2026. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/how-does-the-primary-election-work-in-texas/ Except Iowa: Hull, Christopher C. “Iowa caucuses.” Updated February 1, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Iowa-caucuses There are open primaries, blanket primaries, closed primaries: USA.gov. “Presidential Primaries and Caucuses.” February 25, 2026. https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses Texas has been characterized as a modified open or a modified closed: Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in Texas.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_Texas New York has a closed primary: Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in New York.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_New_York Whereas in Minnesota, they have same day voter registration: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. “Register on Election Day.” https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/register-on-election-day/ In Texas, you have to have registered in advance: VoteTexas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/ Fact check—For the general election, you can vote for any party regardless of how you voted in the primary. However, you have to vote the same party in primary run-offs as you did in the primary. You do NOT have to vote in the primary in order to vote in a primary run-off: Ingram, Keith. “Election Advisory N. 2020-05.” February 11, 2020. Texas Secretary of State. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2020-05.shtml Since Mack mentioned voter ID cards, we’d like to provide some additional information we have learned about since recording this podcast. Due to redistricting, several voter ID cards have not been issued in time for the primary election. This does not affect you if you are registered. You can still vote even without a voter ID card: Pope, Pachatta. “Voter Registration Cards Delayed by Redistricting, But Not Needed to Vote.” February 15, 2026. KSAT. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/02/16/voter-registration-cards-delayed-by-redistricting-but-not-needed-to-vote/ Things like equal protection…: Constitution Annotated. “Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/ …and due process still apply: Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/ In Texas, there was the White primaries case: Oyez. “Smith v. Allwright.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/321us649 They have changed the rules about postmarks on the mail-in ballots: Contreras, Natalia. “Postal Service Changes Mean Texas Voters Shouldn’t Wait to Mail Voter Registrations and Ballots.” January 21, 2026. VoteBeat.org. https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/01/21/usps-postal-service-postmark-mail-ballot-voter-registration-deadline/ If you are eligible to do a mail-in ballot in Texas: VoteTexas.gov. “Voting by Mail Eligibility Requirements.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/eligibility-requirements.html There is a way to check if your ballot was received: VoteTexas.gov. “Track My Ballot and Correct ID Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/track-my-ballot.html The Bexar County Elections Department has been very good about putting out information about the new rules: https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department We voted this in, that we will require certain forms of voter ID to prove that you’re a U.S. citizen: Contreras, Natalia. “Bill Requiring Voters to Show Proof of Citizenship Clears Texas Senate.” April 1, 2025. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/texas-proof-of-citizenship-voting-senate-bill-16/ We’re not the only ones that did stuff like that (to clarify, not Florida in this case, Anne just has a low opinion of their elected officials): Ballotpedia. “Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Voter Registration by State.” https://ballotpedia.org/Proof_of_citizenship_requirements_for_voter_registration_by_state There are still several different forms of valid ID: VoteTexas.gov. “Identification Requirements for Voting.” http://votetexas.gov/voting/need-id.html There’s been a lot of news about the SAVE act: Sweren-Becker, Eliza and Bacskai, Owen. “New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting.” Updated February 9, 2026. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-save-act-bills-would-still-block-millions-americans-voting Conservative opinion leaders that have talked about repealing the Nineteenth Amendment, or saying things on Fox News like a wife should just vote the way her husband tells her to: Padilla, Mariel; Panetta, Grace; and Barclay, Mel Leonor. “Who’s Questioning Women’s Right to Vote?” August 12, 2025. 19thNews.org. https://19thnews.org/2025/08/pete-hegseth-doug-wilson-women-voting/ Where are the cases of any kind of voter fraud: Brennan Center for Justice. “Project: The Myth of Voter Fraud.” https://www.brennancenter.org/topics/voting-elections/vote-suppression/myth-voter-fraud Double-check that you’re registered: Texas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration.” https://www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration/ You can order one. (Note, this reference is for Texas. To obtain a birth certificate, you must order from the state you were born in.): Texas Health and Human Services. “Order A Birth Certificate.” https://ovra.txapps.texas.gov/ovra/order-birth-certificate That’s because of them fully implementing the Real ID Act: Texas Department of Public Safety. “Federal Real ID Act.” https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/federal-real-id-act They don’t have badges: Cameron, Dell and Haskins, Caroline. “FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves.” November 4, 2025. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/ If you happen to live in a town where ICE is buying warehouses: Sterling, Phil. “Massive San Antonio Warehouse to be Turned Into 1,500-bed ICE Processing Center.” February 13, 2026. News4SA. https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/new...
Transcribe →Untethered Tangent on the Freedom of the Seas
Feb 1600:07:41Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →What are the President’s War Powers?
Feb 201:12:22Tap to summarizeSteve points out the squishiness, Mack plays Devil’s advocate, and Anne declares war on Switzerland. REFERENCES The executive power shall be vested in a President: Constitution Annotated. “ArtII.S1.C1.1 Overview of Executive Vesting Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C1-1/ALDE_00013790/ President shall also be Commander in Chief of the armed forces: Legal Information Institute. “Commander in Chief Powers.” Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/commander_in_chief_powers Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, like we all know: Constitution Annotated. “Clause 11 War Powers.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/clause-11/ There’s this other part that says the President shall make sure that the laws be faithfully executed: Constitution Annotated. “ArtII.S3.3.1 Overview of Take Care Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S3-3-1/ALDE_00001160/ Other than, what is war: Merriam-Webster. “War.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war Going back to the Barbary pirates: Office of the Historian. “Barbary Wars, 1801–1805 and 1815–1816.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/barbary-wars In the Navy Act: Bisno, Adam. “President Washington Signs the Naval Act of 1794.” March 20, 2019. Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/origins-of-the-navy/washington-naval-act-1794.html The famous six frigates: Naval History and Heritage Command. “U.S. Navy’s Six Original Frigates.” https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/ships/original-frigates.html Or an amendment later: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. “An Act for the Protection of Commerce of the U.S. in the Mediterranean, Passed by the Senate February 1, 1802.” https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/act-protection-commerce-us-mediterranean-passed-senate-february-1-1802 The Law of the Sea: National Ocean Service. “What is the Law of the Sea?” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lawofsea.html The U.N. Charter has a “you can act in self-defense”: Codification Division Publications. “Chapter VII—Action With Respect to Threats to the Peach, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression.” United Nations. https://legal.un.org/repertory/art51.shtml Armed conflict versus war: Save the Children. “What is Conflict and War?” https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-do/conflict-war When did we declare war on Vietnam: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Was the Vietnam War Technically a War?” https://www.britannica.com/question/Was-the-Vietnam-War-technically-a-war Was there a formal declaration of war: United States Senate. “About Declarations of War by Congress.” https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm George H. W. Bush said he did not believe he needed that authorization from Congress to proceed because it was a United Nations action: Keller, Kate. “An Unlikely Hardliner, George H. W. Bush Was Ready to Push Presidential Powers.” May 14, 2018. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unlikely-hardliner-george-h-w-bush-was-ready-push-presidential-powers-180969017/ Did Congress ever make a ruling on it: United States House of Representatives. “House Passage of the 1991 Resolution Authorizing the Use of Force Against Iraq." https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail?id=35252 The Vietnam war doesn’t happen without Congress at some point voting for the money for it to happen: Hughes, Ken. “The Myth That Congress Cut Off Funding for South Vietnam.” April 28, 2010. History News Network. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/the-myth-that-congress-cut-off-funding-for-south-v A coalition of allies: CNN Editorial Research. “Gulf War Fast Facts.” Updated July 24, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/world/middleeast/gulf-war-fast-facts You had the Quasi-War with France, which was kind of weird: Office of the Historian. “The XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War with France, 1798–1800.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/xyz They’re landlocked: National Geographic Kids. “Switzerland.” https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/switzerland They have the funds: Taylor, Chloe. “The ‘Strongest Currency on Earth’ Just Hit an 11-Year High—and It’s Stirring Up Trouble in Switzerland.” Updated January 28, 2026. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/swiss-franc-us-dollar-price-fx-exchange-rate-trump-switzerland-snb-currency.html That’s called portage, by the way: Merriam-Webster. “Portage.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portage Steve is correct, Switzerland is not in the showcase of nations at EPCOT: Magic Guides. “What Are the Countries in EPCOT?” https://magicguides.com/countries-in-epcot-world-showcase/ Mack was closest. The executive branch of Switzerland is a Federal Council: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft. “Political System.” https://www.aboutswitzerland.eda.admin.ch/en/political-system They’re going to invade our ears with their jamming music: https://youtu.be/oqVy6eRXc7Q?si=wu03olgks0y9i0-B What is imminent? Merriam-Webster. “Imminent.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imminent What is threat? Merriam-Webster. “Threat.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threat Unless you’re a state, actually. Article I, Section 10, Clause 3: Constitution Annotated. “Clause 3 Acts Requiring Consent of Congress.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-10/clause-3/ I bring up Pearl Harbor: Citino, Rob and Zemurray Stone, Samuel. “Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941.” National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941 Again, Mack knew what he was talking about. Here are the specifics of the Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor: Pearl Harbor. “This of the Japanese Striking Force.” June 3, 2017. https://pearlharbor.org/blog/ships-japanese-striking-force/ Did they just turn around and go back to Japan? Where did they go afterward: Pearl Harbor. “Japan’s Plans After Pearl Harbor.” https://pearlharbor.org/blog/japans-plans-pearl-harbor/ In case you, also, were not alive for this event: Hartig, Hannah and Doherty, Carroll. “Two Decades Later, the Enduring Legacy of 9/11.” September 2, 2021. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/ He gave the speech, “…the day that will live in infamy…”: Library of Congress. “Speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, New York (Transcript).” https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc1986022.afc1986022_ms2201/?st=text&r=-0.101,-0.296,1.111,1.327,0 Even during the Great Depression: Richardson, Gary. “The Great Depression.” November 22, 2013. 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Jan 1201:33:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we tackle war crimes. Please note that we record episodes in the month before they are posted—just in case you are wondering why we aren’t talking about one big event in particular. REFERENCES People have desecrated corpses throughout history: Breed, Allen G. “Desecration of the Dead is as Old as War Itself.” January 13, 2012. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/nation-world/2012/01/14/desecration-dead-old-war-itself/15184013007/ Like a flag of truce: Little, Becky. “How Did the White Flag Become a Symbol of Surrender?” Updated May 27, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/when-did-the-white-flag-become-associated-with-surrender Don’t kill the messenger: Frank, David. “Chapter 19 – The Classical Origins and Modern Expressions of ‘Don’t Shoot the Messenger’.” September 4, 2025. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/dont-shoot-the-journalists/classical-origins-and-modern-expressions-of-dont-shoot-the-messenger/97A99431730AA8701715ECB376467643 The Defenestration of Prague: Britannica Editors. “Defenestration of Prague.” May 16, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/event/Defenestration-of-Prague-1618 One of the things that began the Thirty Years’ War in Europe: Britannica Editors. “Thirty Years’ War.” Updated January 6, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/event/Thirty-Years-War It ends with the treaty called the Peace of Westphalia: Gesley, Jenny. “The Peach of Westphalia.” October 24, 2017. Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2017/10/the-peace-of-westphalia/ The world today is composed of nation states: Comstock, Nancy. W. “Nation State.” 2024. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/politics-and-government/nation-state Basically, at some point Europe colonized almost the entirety of the world: Becker, Bastian. “European Overseas Colonies and Their Colonizers Over Time [Interactive map].” September 18, 2023. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/european-overseas-colonies-and-their-colonizers?time=earliest This is probably not the video Steve was referencing, but it illustrates the point that everyone goes to war: ABC News (Australia). “Dozens Killed in Tribal Fighting in Papua New Guinea [Video].” August 23, 2023. https://youtu.be/EhVpKBJESB8?si=3pIXT2kaNlcmKxQp The most famous being the Hauge conventions: HCCH. “Conventions and Other Instruments.” https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions Most of the modern war crimes were as a result of World War II: Penrose, Mary Margaret. “Post-World War II Developments: Genevea Conventions.” December 10, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-crime/Post-World-War-II-developments The Napoleonic Wars gave rise to some: Britannic Editors. “Napoleonic Wars.” November 24, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Napoleonic-Wars The Geneva Convention in 1864: International Committee of the Red Cross. “Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field. Geneva, 22 August 1864.” https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gc-1864 A list of war crimes, right now: BBC. “War Crimes.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/overview/crimes_1.shtml How to treat prisoners of war: United Nations. “Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.” August 12, 1949. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-treatment-prisoners-war Respecting flags of truce: Arnold, Roberta. “Flags of Truce.” May 2006. Oxford Public International Law. https://opil.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e297 In ’49, Geneva conventions: International Committee of the Red Cross. “Geneva Conventions of 1949, Additional Protocols and Their Commentaries.” https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/geneva-conventions-1949additional-protocols-and-their-commentaries A lot of rules about treatment of noncombatants: United Nations. “Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.” August 12, 1949. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-protection-civilian-persons-time-war The idea of total war: Britannica Editors. “Total War.” December 5, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/total-war Dresden: Dawsey, Jason. “Apocalypse in Dresden, February 1945.” February 13, 2020. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/apocalypse-dresden-february-1945 Fire bombing of Tokyo: History.com Editors. “Firebombing of Tokyo.” Updated January 31, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-9/firebombing-of-tokyo Hamburg: Curatola, John. “Operation Gomorrah: The First of the Firestorms.” July 10, 2023. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/operation-gomorrah-first-firestorms The Blitz: Curatola, John. “The Blitz of 1940.” August 27, 2025. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/blitz-1940 Not attacking hospitals: International Committee of the Red Cross. “The Protection of Hospitals During Armed Conflicts: What the Law Says.” June 11, 2023. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/protection-hospitals-during-armed-conflicts-what-law-says It’s a horrible thing that Israelis bombed a hospital in the Gaza strip: United Nations. “Pattern of Israeli Attacks on Gaza Hospitals Raises Grave Concerns – Report.” December 31, 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/pattern-israeli-attacks-gaza-hospitals-raises-grave-concerns-report Who wrote them: Shaw, Malcolm. “Geneva Conventions.” December 3, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Geneva-Conventions The Kellog-Briand pact: Office of the Historian. “The Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/kellogg The Weimar Republic: Britannica Editors. “Weimar Republic.” December 19, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/Weimar-Republic You had, clearly, violation of international law when Iraq goes into Kuwait: Hensel, Howard M. “Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait.” 2023. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/military-history-and-science/iraqi-invasion-kuwait What George H. Bush’s administration did: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Address to the Nation Announcing Operation Desert Storm, 1991.” https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/address-nation-announcing-operation-desert-storm-1991 Whereas the second Gulf War was sort of a counterpoint: Doherty, Carroll and Kiley, Jocelyn. “A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq.” March 14, 2023. Pew Research. <a href='https://www.pewresearch.org/polit...
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