rationally BASED

Center of the American Experiment
  • 4.8 (22)
  • POLITICS

Welcome to rationally BASED, a podcast about law and politics, on the edge. Law professor Ilan Wurman, with co-hosts Kathryn Johnson and Grace Keating, cover cutting-edge, and edgy, legal and political news, ideas, and developments. 

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 3 | Habeas Corpus Chaos

    Our hosts, law professor Ilan Wurman and Kathryn Johnson and Grace Keating, start this episode with a lightning round of legal news. Learn why it's totally fine for the Supreme Court to be "secretive" (whatever that means). Our hosts discuss a DEI victory for the Trump Administration and a judge's concurring opinion to his own opinion, and why it seems so hard from some liberal judges to keep their politics out of their rulings. Hear about the constitutional distribution of power over elections. And our hosts break down a tentative Trump victory over whether California can require federal officers to wear face masks. The episode then takes a deep dive into the controversial Fifth Circuit ruling that held immigrants illegally in the country must be detained prior to deportation, the flood of habeas corpus petitions that the ruling my stanch, and why the Fifth Circuit is probably right but it's a hard question of statutory interpretation (even if it's not hard as a matter of common sense). Finally, as promised, our hosts begin their discussion of birthright citizenship. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to rationally BASED:  @RationallyBasedPodcast New Podcast Episodes every Thursday morning, find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on YouTube! Follow us on social media on Instagram, X, Facebook, or TikTok!

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 5

    Episode 2 | Farmer Don Lemon

    On this episode of rationally BASED, our hosts, law professor Ilan Wurman and Kathryn Johnson and Grace Keating, discuss Don Lemon and the freedom of the press and what that also teaches us about Citizens United. They recall the famous State of the Union where Justice Alito made a face at President Obama, and discuss whether judges like Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson should be allowed to be political and attend the Grammys. They trace the origins of the New Deal state and the expansion of the commerce clause and offer to defend Don Lemon if he’s willing to sacrifice the New Deal. They then turn to the Census and whether illegal aliens must count for apportionment. They throw in a dash of Norman Conquest to top it all off. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to rationally BASED:  @RationallyBasedPodcast New Podcast Episodes every Thursday morning, find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on YouTube! Follow us on social media at: Instagram, X, Facebook, or TikTok!

    55 min

  3. JAN 29

    Episode 1 | Swarm of Harpies

    In the first episode of rationally BASED, our hosts cover Minnesota’s lawsuit against the federal government’s ICE surge, which they deem dead on arrival. They explore the historical underpinnings of state-federal cooperation. The Insurrection Act explained. They even cover the attempted assassination of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice by a former California Supreme Court Justice in the 1800s and what that tells us about executive power. Find out why everybody is wrong about administrative warrants. And why Don Lemon should read up on the First Amendment. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE and follow us on socials: Instagram Facebook Youtube TikTok

    1h 4m

  4. JAN 28

    COMING SOON: The rationally BASED Podcast

    Who's excited for the very first episode of the Rationally Based Podcast feat. Ilan Wurman, Kathryn Johnson, and Grace Keating, presented by the American Experiment! Dropping tomorrow at 6am, here is a sneak peak at what we are covering:

    1 min
  • 4 Episodes

4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Welcome to rationally BASED, a podcast about law and politics, on the edge. Law professor Ilan Wurman, with co-hosts Kathryn Johnson and Grace Keating, cover cutting-edge, and edgy, legal and political news, ideas, and developments. 

Information

  • Creator
    Center of the American Experiment
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 rationally BASED
  • Show Website
    rationally BASED

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