Jun 9, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min · 13 segments
**Meet the Author:** A trial and appellate lawyer for many years, David writes history and historical novels. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Independent Review of…
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David O. StewartGuest
Jeffrey HigginsHost
So when you're talking about founding principles, it's amazing how little people know about founding principles.

So from your perspective, it's good to define terms, right? When you're talking about founding principles or American exceptionalism, are you talking about limited government, rule of law? You tell me, what are the major components of that?

Rule of law is the central principle, but also this term that we all learned in high school government class and moan inwardly when we hear it, which is checks and balances, which is nobody should be trusted with power.

I mean, we're not a great species and we react to power badly and we abuse it.

So they built the Constitution specifically to have those checks and balances.

And, you know, there are a few holes in the system, some of it because it requires people to actually be responsible and discharge their duties correctly.

But, you know, the most outstanding example of not having a check and balance is the pardon power, which is absolute.

The people from January 6th, the attack on the Capitol, if ever there was an affront to ordered liberty, that was it.

So you're saying it's not in the original intent of the Constitution to have people say pre-pardon people?

So when you're talking about founding principles, it's amazing how little people know about founding principles.

So from your perspective, it's good to define terms, right? When you're talking about founding principles or American exceptionalism, are you talking about limited government, rule of law? You tell me, what are the major components of that?

Rule of law is the central principle, but also this term that we all learned in high school government class and moan inwardly when we hear it, which is checks and balances, which is nobody should be trusted with power.

I mean, we're not a great species and we react to power badly and we abuse it.

So they built the Constitution specifically to have those checks and balances.

And, you know, there are a few holes in the system, some of it because it requires people to actually be responsible and discharge their duties correctly.

But, you know, the most outstanding example of not having a check and balance is the pardon power, which is absolute.

The people from January 6th, the attack on the Capitol, if ever there was an affront to ordered liberty, that was it.

So you're saying it's not in the original intent of the Constitution to have people say pre-pardon people?
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