The Just Security Podcast: How State and Local Governments Can Fight Back Against Authoritarianism

By Erwin Chemerinsky, Aziz Z. Huq, Tess Bridgeman and Ryan Goodman

Published on October 9, 2026

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Erwin Chemerinsky and Aziz Huq discuss the powers and authorities that state and local governments can use to fight back against authoritarianism and serve as a check against federal overreach.

“Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism” Series, Sept. 21, 2026
Erwin Chemerinsky and Aziz Z. Huq, Introduction to “Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism” Series (Aug. 20, 2026)
Jessica Bulman-Pozen, Commandeering, Coercion, and Executive Power (Aug. 21, 2026)
Steven J. Kochevar, States Can Fight Federal Overreach by Protecting State Data (Aug. 26, 2026)
Fred O. Smith, Jr., Collateral Accountability: The Oldest Check on Federal Lawlessness (Aug. 28, 2026)
Catherine E. Lhamon, State Imperatives to Protect Civil Rights for All (Sept. 2, 2026)
Jill Habig, Cities as Nodes of Resistance (Sept. 4, 2026)
Miriam Seifter, Governors and State Administration (Sept. 9, 2026)
David L. Noll, State Attorneys General Can Enforce Federal Laws the Executive Branch Won’t (Sept. 21, 2026)

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Accountability, Authoritarianism, Civil Liberties, Constitution, constitutional law, Democracy, federalism, Fight Back Series, governance, local government, Rule of Law, state governments, Trump administration second term, United States (US)

About the Authors

Erwin Chemerinsky

Erwin Chemerinsky is Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Aziz Z. Huq

Aziz Z. Huq is the Frank and Bernice J. Greenberg Professor of Law at the University of Chicago.

Tess Bridgeman (Bluesky - LinkedIn) is co-editor-in-chief of Just Security and Senior Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law. She previously served as Special Assistant to the President, Associate Counsel to the President, and Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) in the Obama Administration, and at the U.S. State Department in the Office of the Legal Adviser.

Ryan Goodman

Ryan Goodman (X - Bluesky - LinkedIn) is co-editor-in-chief of Just Security and Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Professor of Law at New York University School of Law. He served as Special Counsel to the General Counsel of the Department of Defense.

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The Just Security Podcast: How State and Local Governments Can Fight Back Against Authoritarianism

Watch the Episode:

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Recent Episodes:

Filed Under

About the Authors

Erwin Chemerinsky

Aziz Z. Huq

Tess Bridgeman

Ryan Goodman

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