Free Daily Podcast Summary
Lawyering Without Law: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Knight First Amendment Institute
We often frame authoritarianism as lawless, marked by constitutional rupture or institutional breakdown. But some of the most effective assaults on democracy have operated through law itself. Around the world, leaders like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey and the former prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, have used legal systems, rules of law, and institutional practices to consolidate power, restrict dissent, and hollow out democratic accountability from within. That pattern is becoming more visible in the United States, where mounting political pressure on courts, lawyers, and legal institutions is raising urgent questions about the role of the legal profession in moments of democratic crisis. “Lawyering Without Law” interrogates the unique and important role that lawyers play in defending democracy, or in facilitating the slide into authoritarianism. Hosted by Knight Institute Senior Fellow and Columbia Law Professor Madhav Khosla and the Knight Institute’s Research Director Katy Glenn Bass, the series brings together scholars, litigators, and practitioners to explore these dynamics across historical and contemporary contexts. Drawing on global examples of democratic backsliding, each episode connects these developments to the United States and outlines what is at stake for the legal profession and for democracy itself.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Jul 10, 202649 min
International Law, Crimes, and Accountability
International law is often imagined as a mechanism of accountability—a way to hold states and individuals responsible for criminal acts. But what if the system was never built to do that? In this final episode of “Lawyering Without Law,” hosts Madhav Khosla and Katy Glenn Bass are joined by Tom Dannenbaum, professor of law at Stanford, and Aslı Bâli, professor of law at Yale, to discuss what international law can and cannot do in a moment of mounting global crises. They examine why accountabi...
- Jun 26, 202641 min
Lawyering Under 20th Century Authoritarianism
We often imagine authoritarianism as the abandonment of law, a moment of rupture when constitutions are torn up and courts are shut down. But some of history’s most effective assaults on democracy have worked through law rather than against it. In this episode, host Madhav Khosla is joined by David Dyzenhaus, professor of law and philosophy at the University of Toronto, and Jan-Werner Müller, professor of politics at Princeton University, to examine how repressive regimes from Nazi Germany to...
- Jun 12, 202638 min
From Torture to Trump: How the Expansion of Executive Power after 9/11 Eroded Accountability and the Rule of Law
The Bush administration’s use of torture after 9/11 was aided by government lawyers who provided contorted legal justifications for its use against detainees. In this episode, Alberto Mora, who served as General Counsel of the Navy during the George W. Bush administration, joins hosts Katy Glenn Bass and Madhav Khosla to recount how he discovered that interrogators at Guantánamo Bay detention facility had been authorized to use techniques that he believed qualified as torture. He explains how...
- May 29, 202653 min
When Lawyers Stop Following the Rules: How Politics Became Law
What happens when lawyers stop believing that law and politics are different things? Constitutional law scholar Deborah Pearlstein joins host Katy Glenn Bass to discuss legal ethics, the rule of law, and how decades of erosion of norms within the legal profession have fueled the democratic backsliding we’re witnessing in America today. Pearlstein’s scholarship and her forthcoming book, Losing the Law, map the forces that have weakened the ethical foundations of American law—from the Reagan-er...
- May 15, 202637 min
Principle vs. Profit: How Institutions Lose Their Way
Bribery is the corruption we prosecute. But according to Lawrence Lessig, it's institutional corruption that poses the most danger to American democracy. Hosts Katy Glenn Bass and Madhav Khosla speak with the Harvard Law professor who makes a pointed distinction: the corruption hollowing out American institutions isn’t about bribes, it’s structural—the capture of courts, law firms, corporations, and Congress by economic dependencies pull each away from its founding purpose and leave them vuln...
- May 1, 202639 min
What Does Legal Authoritarianism Look Like?
What does authoritarianism look like when it operates through law? In the first episode of “Lawyer Without Law,” hosts Katy Glenn Bass and Madhav Khosla speak with Princeton University Professor Kim Lane Scheppele. They explore historic examples of the legal profession’s role in democratic backsliding around the world and in the United States. They examine how legal systems can consolidate power while maintaining the appearance of legitimacy—and what that means for lawyers and legal instituti...
- Apr 22, 20261 min
"Lawyering Without Law," a New Podcast from the Knight First Amendment Institute
What happens when law becomes a tool of democratic decline? Authoritarianism is often framed as lawless. But many of the most effective assaults on democracy operate through law itself. “Lawyering Without Law” is a biweekly podcast examining the role lawyers play in defending democracy or facilitating the slide into authoritarianism. Across six episodes, the series brings together scholars, litigators, and practitioners to explore how legal systems are used, bent, and contested as democratic ...
Get Lawyering Without Law summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Democracy Decoded
Analyzes constitutional issues in American democracy, including voting rights, presidential power, and checks and balances, through expert discussions.
Stanford Legal
Experts from Stanford Law explore constitutional law, voting rights, and landmark Supreme Court cases shaping democracy and civil rights.
The Lawfare Podcast: Patreon Edition
Experts and policymakers discuss national security, law, and policy issues including foreign policy, intelligence, and cybersecurity.
The Lawfare Podcast
Discussions with experts on national security, law, and policy covering foreign policy, intelligence, cybersecurity, and governance.
Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer
Three legal experts analyze everyday topics through a legal lens, exploring how law shapes common experiences and cultural phenomena.
Is This Really Legal?
A legal expert breaks down current events and constitutional issues to clarify what’s actually allowed under U.S. law.
American Law Cafe
Breaks down core legal concepts, landmark cases, and doctrines in clear, accessible discussions for law students and legal enthusiasts.
Another Way, by Lawrence Lessig
Explores policies and movements aimed at restoring democratic power through interviews with activists, politicians, and reformers.
Bound By Oath by IJ
Explores the U.S. Constitution’s text and history through judicial oaths, legal scholarship, and landmark cases.
What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
A law professor explains U.S. constitutional principles through the legal challenges and actions of the Trump administration.
Brief Recess: A Legal Podcast with Michael Foote & Mélissa Malebranche
Lawyers analyze viral legal cases, answer listener questions, and explain how to navigate the justice system with humor and practical advice.
Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
A weekly exploration of the U.S. Supreme Court, its justices, and the legal issues shaping American law and society.
About Lawyering Without Law
We often frame authoritarianism as lawless, marked by constitutional rupture or institutional breakdown. But some of the most effective assaults on democracy have operated through law itself. Around the world, leaders like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey and the former prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, have used legal systems, rules of law, and institutional practices to consolidate power, restrict dissent, and hollow out democratic accountability from within. That pattern is becoming more visible in the United States, where mounting political pressure on courts, lawyers, and legal institutions is raising urgent questions about the role of the legal profession in moments of democratic crisis. “Lawyering Without Law” interrogates the unique and important role that lawyers play in defending democracy, or in facilitating the slide into authoritarianism. Hosted by Knight Institute Senior Fellow and Columbia Law Professor Madhav Khosla and the Knight Institute’s Research Director Katy Glenn Bass, the series brings together scholars, litigators, and practitioners to explore these dynamics across historical and contemporary contexts. Drawing on global examples of democratic backsliding, each episode connects these developments to the United States and outlines what is at stake for the legal profession and for democracy itself.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Lawyering Without Law in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Lawyering Without Law daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Lawyering Without Law as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Lawyering Without Law podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Lawyering Without Law product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Knight First Amendment Institute.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Lawyering Without Law release new episodes?
Lawyering Without Law publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Lawyering Without Law cover?
Lawyering Without Law covers topics including News, Commentary. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Lawyering Without Law summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.