Podcast Summary
Presidential Immunity: The Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity could potentially remove limits on a president's actions, raising concerns over the rule of law and election integrity.
The Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity, which was seen as a victory for former President Donald Trump, has significant implications for the ongoing case against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The ruling fundamentally changes the legal landscape, potentially removing limits on a president's actions. President Biden expressed concern over this precedent, emphasizing that no one, including presidents, should be above the law. The decision also comes as Biden faces internal party challenges and concerns over voter registration practices, which some argue could lead to non-citizens voting in elections. The debate over these issues underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and maintaining the integrity of elections.
Presidential Immunity: Presidents have absolute immunity for actions only they can perform, a presumption of immunity for official matters, and no immunity for private acts.
The decision made by the court in the case of former President Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution sets a precedent for future presidents, defining three different buckets of protection. First, a president has absolute criminal immunity while engaging in actions that only a president can perform. Second, there is a presumption of immunity for actions where a president is not acting as a private citizen but is still engaging in official matters. Lastly, there is no immunity for unofficial or private acts. This decision not only impacts ongoing cases against Trump but also establishes the level of protection future presidents can expect from criminal prosecution.
Trump investigation: The Supreme Court has sent Trump's case back to the lower court for further investigation, making it more challenging for Special Counsel Jack Smith to proceed due to the need to distinguish official presidential duties from personal actions.
The Supreme Court has sent Trump's case back to the lower court for further investigation, giving Judge Chutkin the task of determining which actions taken by Trump before January 6 were official presidential duties and which were personal. This distinction is crucial as only official acts can be used as evidence against Trump in the ongoing investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The court's decision makes Smith's job significantly more challenging, and given the timing, it is unlikely that the case will go to trial before the upcoming elections.
Alcohol mitigation, Politics: Zebiotics, a genetically engineered probiotic, can help break down alcohol's toxic byproduct in the gut. Biden's family encourages him to stay in the race, blaming poor advice and preparation for his debate performance.
As people make plans for spring events and the presidential race heats up, there are solutions to mitigate potential health issues and political uncertainties. For those planning to drink, Zebiotics, a genetically engineered probiotic, can help break down the toxic byproduct created by alcohol in the gut. Go to zebiotics.com/wire to get a 15% discount using the code "wire" at checkout. In politics, despite calls for President Biden to step down after a debate performance, his family is encouraging him to stay in the race. They reportedly blame poor advice and preparation from his staff, not his own abilities, for his performance. Meanwhile, Biden himself wants to present a "scrappy and in command of the facts" version of himself to voters.
Biden's campaign strategy: Biden's campaign is focusing on discrediting critics, emphasizing the importance of the people deciding the election, and planning to reassure the public of Biden's fitness for the job through more public appearances.
The Biden campaign is responding to calls for his resignation from within his own party and the media by doubling down on his candidacy and labeling critics as trying to undermine democracy. The campaign is focusing on discrediting those who question Biden's ability to lead and is emphasizing the importance of the election being decided by the people rather than party officials. The campaign is also planning to go on the offensive to reassure the public of Biden's fitness for the job through more interviews, press briefings, and town hall events. Meanwhile, there are concerns about potential voter fraud through non-citizens registering to vote, with Republicans advocating for reforms to address the issue. However, they need Democratic support to implement changes. The Biden campaign's strategy is to present the election as a battle between truth and lies, democracy and totalitarianism, and to reassure voters of Biden's ability to lead despite criticism.
Non-citizen voting: 624 non-citizens were found to have registered and voted in an election, highlighting the need for stricter measures to prevent non-citizen voting and maintain election integrity
While there is no federal requirement for proof of citizenship on voting forms, there is a risk of non-citizens registering and potentially voting in elections. This issue came to light in the House Oversight Committee report from 1998, which investigated the race between Bob Dorn and Loretta Sanchez and found clear evidence that 624 non-citizens had registered and voted. This cross-checking was done by comparing INS records to voter registration records. The practice of providing voter registration forms to non-citizens is widespread, with 49 states allowing it, and only Arizona having a law against it for state forms. Congress has taken some action, but more needs to be done to prevent non-citizen voting and maintain the integrity of elections.
SAVE Act: Republicans propose SAVE Act to require US citizenship verification for voter registration, but its passage is uncertain due to lack of Democratic support.
Republicans in Congress have introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to require states to verify US citizenship before distributing voter registration forms. This legislation, according to its supporters like Texas Republican Chip Roy, is intended to ensure that only US citizens vote in federal elections, with documentary proof and a system to guarantee citizenship. However, the bill lacks Democratic support, making its passage uncertain. The SAVE Act is a response to growing concerns over election security, with the vast majority of Americans agreeing that only citizens should have the right to vote. Despite its potential significance, the bill's future remains uncertain.