
Corey Brettschneider
Professor of political science at Brown University. Author of The Oath and the Office.


New episode · November 12, 2026
Democrats won control of Congress in the midterms. Now comes the test: should they impeach Pete Hegseth, cut off funding for Trump’s war in Iran, or pass laws to curb presidential abuses?
From the episode
I'm fond of saying America's, you know, eventually we get around to doing the right thing. ...We're like a drunk guy trying to parallel park. We'll break all kinds of stuff, but eventually we'll get there.
John Fugelsang, on Impeach? Defund? Legislate? What Should the New Congress Do About Trump?
The show
The Oath and the Office is a weekly politics podcast unpacking presidential power, the U.S. Constitution, and the rule of law—with serious constitutional analysis and biting comedy.
Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider teams up with comedian John Fugelsang to tackle the week’s biggest stories and what they mean for American democracy—from the Supreme Court and elections to free speech and abuses of presidential power.
Every president swears to “preserve, protect, and defend” the Constitution, but what happens when one openly attacks it? Corey and John pull no punches, exposing threats to democracy, demanding accountability, and talking with the people fighting back.
Mixing sharp wit and serious political fire, this is the civics lesson you can’t afford to miss. New episodes every Thursday.

Professor of political science at Brown University. Author of The Oath and the Office.

Host of The John Fugelsang Show on SiriusXM Progress 127. Author of Separation of Church and Hate.
The new book
Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It
Winner, American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award, 2025
American presidents have often pushed the boundaries established for them by the Constitution; this is the inspirational history of the people who pushed back.
Buy the book
"[A]n essential survey… [The Presidents and the People] is an invaluable breakdown of present-day concerns in an illuminating historical context."