The Civic Podcast: Beyond the Echo Chambers

Is this the end of international law? This episode of The Civic Podcast tackles the contentious debate surrounding "Operation Rising Lion", Israel's recent strikes on Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. Is international law keeping pace with modern conflicts, or are we witnessing its unravelling? Host Markus Wagner is joined by Professor Yuval Shany, former Chair of the United Nations Huma...

Join hosts Markus Wagner and David Turner on The Civic Podcast as they discuss the aftermath of the Australian elections (definitely not boring!) and dive into the future of law in an AI-driven world. In the post-election roundup in Australia they cover the collapse of the Liberal–National coalition, Labor’s overwhelming majority, and the surprising demotion of Labor front benchers Mark Dreyfus an...

Ever wondered how the Trump tariffs could possibly make sense? In this episode of The Civic Podcast, host Markus Wagner sits down with Stephen Vaughn, former General Counsel for the U.S. Trade Representative, for a spirited discussion on the Trump administration’s trade policy. They explore and discuss the rationale behind Trump’s tariff agenda, its impact on businesses, and the future of global t...

The outcome of Australia’s 2025 federal election shocked just about everyone. Co-hosts Markus Wagner and David Turner unpack the results: the landslide win for Labor resulting in a historic second term for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; how the Coalition is facing an identity crisis; the Greens’ growing pains; and the Teals’ staying power; and the curious case of the “Trumpets for Patriots”. Mar...

What’s behind the Trump tariff blitz – and where is it taking the global economy? In this episode of The Civic Podcast, host and law professor Markus Wagner is joined by trade expert Dr. Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation to unpack the chaos and consequences of Trump’s tariff trade strategy. What’s really driving this sudden escalation? From a fixation on trade deficits, a disregard for politi...

Dive into the complexities of German politics after the recent federal elections in this insightful episode of The Civic Podcast: Beyond the Echo Chambers. Join hosts David Turner and Markus Wagner as they speak with German law and politics expert Maximilian Steinbeis about the rise of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and its impact on the political landscape. We unpack the challeng...

In this episode, co-hosts David Turner and Markus Wagner dive into the Trump administration’s escalating conflicts with the legal profession and their wider impact on democracy. Together with Georgetown Law Professor David Luban they unpack President Trump’s push for control over all branches of government and how his attacks on law firms echo similar efforts against universities and the media. Th...

In the inaugural episode of the "Civic Podcast", co-hosts Markus Wagner and David Turner interview Steve Vladeck about the first 50 days of the second Trump presidency and the state of US politics and constitutional law. They discuss the deconstruction of the administrative state and the drive to replace civil servants with Trump loyalists. They cover concerns about bypassing legal procedures and...

The uncertainty and division we are seeing in the world right now is increasing. People want answers to uncomfortable questions. Law professor Markus Wagner and lawyer and software developer David Turner are the hosts of the The Civic Podcast: Beyond the Echo Chambers. We may not always agree on everything (or you with them), but we give challenging ideas a fair hearing. We know that when it comes...