How Democracies Collapse from Within

How Democracies Collapse from Within

Author: Stanford Law School January 22, 2026 Duration: 36:16
What happens when the legal tools meant to protect democracy are used to weaken it? Kim Scheppele explains.

Law is woven into the fabric of our daily existence, from the headlines we read to the personal decisions we make. Stanford Legal, from Stanford Law School, exists to unravel these complex threads, offering clarity and depth on the legal forces shaping our world. Rather than dry lectures, this podcast features conversations that delve into the real cases, ethical conflicts, and pressing questions at the intersection of law, government, and society. You’ll hear from leading legal minds like Professor Pam Karlan, whose expertise includes the constitutional "law of democracy" governing voting and political processes, alongside other scholars and practitioners. Each episode is built on the idea that understanding the law is crucial to understanding our culture and current events. The discussions are timely and substantive, examining how legal principles translate into tangible effects on communities and individuals. Tuning in provides a nuanced perspective on the news, moving beyond soundbites to explore the underlying statutes, court rulings, and debates. It’s for anyone curious about how legal frameworks influence everything from policy and civil rights to technology and everyday life. This isn't just academic theory; it's about the rules that define our shared reality. The Stanford Legal podcast makes that ongoing conversation accessible and engaging, offering listeners a deeper grasp of the systems that organize and often challenge our society.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Stanford Legal
Podcast Episodes
Exploring Alternatives to Policing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:04
While calls to "defund the police" have made headlines, a new Stanford Law report "Safety Beyond Policing: Promoting Care Over Criminalization" explores alternatives to the use of police in sensitive situations such as m…
Classifying Crimes as Violent and What it Means for Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:26
In this episode David Sklansky, a criminal law expert and former federal prosecutor, discusses his new book A Pattern of Violence: How the Law Classifies Crime and What It Means for Justice, which traces central failures…
What How We Dress Matters and Why [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:31
Modern day fashion says a lot about who we are and the image we project. Join Stanford Law Professor Richard Thompson Ford for this episode for a discussion about his new book, Dress Codes, and the history of fashion and…
Vaccines, Testing, and President Biden's Plan to Tackle COVID-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
As deaths from COVID-19 surge to the half million mark, health law expert and Stanford Professor Michelle Mello joins Pam and Joe to discuss the many challenges facing the new Biden administration in getting control of t…

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