Experts in the News | Miller Center

I hear 'donut'

Weighing in on the great Laurel v Yanny debate, Paul sides with Charles Barkley before he, Jean, and Mary Kate launch into a spirited discussion of the President’s Tweet-call to open a Justice Department investigation of the Justice Department investigation. The group then reflects on the life of former JFK, LBJ, and RFK speechwriting legend Dick Goodwin, other writers that inspired them to enter the profession (hint: one rhymes with “Meggy Roonan”), and the things they love and hate most about speechwriting. Plus, in a special Royal Wedding edition of What’s Making Us Hopeful This Week, the Podners discuss the cellist, the sermon, and the transatlantic symbolism but, in Moe’s absence, fail to talk about the dress.

Mary Kate Cary

The Only Way to Find Out If the President Can Be Indicted

Saikrishna Prakash teaches constitutional law at the University of Virginia and is the author of Imperial from the Beginning: The Constitution of the Original Executive, a historical study of the executive branch. There is simply no constitutional answer to the question, he said. The text is silent; the limited immunities for Congress pointedly exclude the president. Congress could certainly by statute create immunities for the president, but it has not. “There is no reason to impose a constitutional solution,” he says. Indicting a president might be a crazy thing to do; but “the Constitution can allow crazy things to happen.”

Saikrishna Prakash

The Cybersecurity 202: Georgia is voting on insecure machines in today's primary. This group is suing

In a departure from past presidents, Trump uses a cell phone that does not have sophisticated security features that could protect his communications, two senior administration officials told Politico's Eliana Johnson, Emily Stephenson and Daniel Lippman. One of the officials said Trump uses at least two iPhones — one serves to make calls only and another is for accessing Twitter and a few news sites.

Chris Lu

Event preview: The Age of Eisenhower

Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower may not have always seen eye to eye, but one thing they had in common was that their experience in war shaped the presidents they would become. On Wednesday, June 6, the 74th anniversary of D-Day, author Dr. William I. Hitchcock will speak at a free public program focusing on how Eisenhower’s accomplished military career prepared him for serving as Commander in Chief through the Cold War.

William Hitchcock

From Royals to Royalties

This week on Bipodisan, Paul is outnumbered both in gender and party affiliation by Mary Kate and Jean. The group pays homage to women by discussing the latest in the #MeToo movement, including justice for women and possible come-backs for the men whose careers have been cratered by recent exposure of their behavior. As their conversation evolves, intern Taylor chimes in with her 18-year-old perspective on the treatment of women in modern society. Parallels are drawn, perspective is sought and Mary Kate and Jean both share stories of their own professional experience as women in “The Swamp” of Washington, D.C. The group finds important common ground and wraps the show with lighter topics of royal weddings and the things that are giving them hope.

Mary Kate Cary

What's behind Trump's push to save China's ZTE?

What's behind President Trump's surprising move to save Chinese telecom giant ZTE? Barack Obama's former Deputy Labor Secretary Chris Lu joins Larry with analysis. Then, the political panel weighs in on what happens next in the North Korea summit saga

Chris Lu