Season 3, Episode 7 (Show 111): Trillion Dollar Tricks – Special Guest Jack Balkin

February 8, 2023

Congress is playing with the debt ceiling, and we have Professor Jack Balkin, the world’s leading expert on the Constitutional relevance and implications of such foolishness.  It turns out that there’s much more in the 14th Amendment’s section 4 than almost anyone knows.

CLE credit is available by visiting podcast.njsba.com after listening.

The newly Republican House is threatening to refuse to raise the debt ceiling, raising the spectre of a US default.  Given the 14th amendment, section 4’s prohibition on “questioning” the debt of the United States, all sorts of constitutional questions and strategies have been raised.  We are fortunate to welcome Professor Jack Balkin, who knows more about this provision and this topic than anyone, to explain the origin of this constitutional provision, and why its history is directly relevant to today’s developments.  Meanwhile, what about the trillion-dollar coin and other mind-blowing approaches to the problem? We’ve got the lowdown on those, too.

(LAWYERS AND JUDGES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDIT by visiting podcast.njsba.com after listening.)