At the Blog
On Monday, in an effort to grasp what is at issue in the Trump administration’s assertions of executive power, Jedediah Britton-Purdy reflected on the complex relationship between the rule of law, democracy, and constitutionalism.
On Wednesday, Britton-Purdy turned his attention to the underlying the political economy of the present crisis and the new picture of legitimate government it offers: rule by the boss, where professional civil servants are treated as at-will employees, and the threat of prosecution is just another bargaining chip.
And on Thursday, Martin Sybblis concluded our mini-series on the invisibilized power of trusts in modern financial capitalism. While offshore financial centers are often cast as transnational dens of iniquity, Sybblis argues that by developing their financial services sector, some post-colonial jurisdictions have been able to achieve economic independence and practical autonomy from their former colonial controllers.
In LPE Land
Save the date: On September 11-13, 2025 at the University of Richmond School of Law, it’s the Inaugural Law and Political Economy Association Conference!! Folks from across the LPE landscape are coming together to create an LPE Association (democratic, membership-based, dues-paying). Look out for a formal call for papers soon – soliciting proposals for papers, paper panels, roundtables, or pedagogy/practice workshops.
A group of leading worker, tech policy, and antimonopoly groups released a major report calling on states to prohibit surveillance wages and prices.
In Daedalus, Amy Kapczynski and Gregg Gonsalves argue that if we are to reorient our politics and economy toward equality and freedom for all, it will require a conception of care as a social activity and commitment, rather than as merely an intimate and familial activity and commitment.
On Bluesky, Adam Bonica shares new data that shows how DOGE firings have disproportionately targeted federal agencies perceived as liberal.
Cool job re-alert: the LPE Program at HLS is still accepting applications for its open executive director position.
At the Center for Economic and Policy Research, Dean Baker discusses eight ways Trump might tank the economy.
At Balkinization, David Super offers a helpful outline of the Trump Administration’s Executive Power Grab.
In the Nation, Eric Blanc argues that If Trump Crushes Federal Workers, We’re All Next.
Over at Phenomenal World, Ben Kodres-O’Brien reviews Sandeep Vaheesan’s new book, Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States.
At the People’s Party Project, Jenny Hunter has a new report laying out how the Supreme Court helped Trump win and what we can do about it.
For those in NYC: On Tuesday, February 25 at 6:00PM at the New School, Bruno Leipold will discuss his new book, Citizen Marx: Republicanism and the Formation of Karl Marx’s Social and Political Thought, with Corey Robin.
