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In part two of this series, Ron talks to Rebecca Roiphe (Joseph Solomon Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School) about critical legal studies, the attacks on our understanding of what the law is and how it should function from across the political spectrum. They focus on how the chilling actions of the Trump Administration stem from a belief that law is merely an instrument of power, and why that belief is corrosive—to the everyday practice of law and to liberal democracy itself.

They discuss:

(08:00) Understanding liberalism vs progressivism

(09:08) Fairness in the legal system

(16:43) The role of the Federalist Society and its shift at Harvard

(21:19) The Trump Administration’s legal philosophy

(25:39) The independence of the Justice Department

(28:33) The impact of executive orders targeting law firms

(32:33) The future of legal representation

Follow Ron and Rebecca on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/rroiphe

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