Lawfare and the Rule of Law: Who Watches the Watchmen?

The Trump administration's repeated violations of legal norms and statutory requirements have exposed a critical vulnerability in American democracy: what happens when those charged with enforcing the law choose to ignore it? The executive branch - including the President, the Justice Department, the Attorney General, and the FBI - are meant to be the guardians of our legal system, "the watchmen" who ensure the rule of law applies equally to all. Yet we've witnessed these institutions weaponized for political retribution against perceived enemies while shielding allies from accountability. When the enforcers operate with impunity, using lawfare as a tool of partisan warfare rather than justice, the foundational principle that no one is above the law becomes a hollow promise. This raises an urgent question: if the watchmen have abandoned their post, who can hold them accountable?

The erosion of the rule of law in favor of personalized power - whether concentrated in an individual, a political party, or a cabal - threatens the very fabric of constitutional governance. As citizens, we must grapple with difficult questions about what remedies remain available to us. Can we restore the rule of law through electoral politics, civic pressure, or institutional reform? Or does the current crisis reveal deeper structural flaws in the American legal system itself - vulnerabilities that enable corruption, protect the powerful, and leave ordinary citizens without adequate recourse? Join us for a discussion that examines not only the immediate threats to legal accountability, but also whether fundamental reforms are necessary to create a more resilient system that truly serves justice rather than power.