When Lawsuits Become Policy

When Lawsuits Become Policy

In a recent post, I looked at how differently modern presidents approach conflict. For most presidents, the law is something the state uses. Agencies investigate. Regulators act. The Department of Justice files suit. Conflict moves through institutions—slowly, and somewhat impersonally—buffered by process and precedent. The president may set priorities, but…
Presidents and Conflicts

Presidents and Conflicts

Donald Trump is clearly a different kind of president than Biden, Obama, Bush, or Clinton. For them, conflict tends to be institutional. Disputes move through agencies, regulators, and courts in the name of the public. The president may set priorities, but the litigation itself is impersonal—buffered by process, precedent, and…