Podcast · News
by Lawrence Lessig · English · News
An exploration of a broken, if beautiful, institution, the law, and tradition, America. Season one told the story of a case, LESSIG v. NYT. Season two begins the story about a country, America, and values that country has betrayed.
22 May 2026 · 44 min
In this episode, we share a podcast create by NotebookLM based on the transcripts from the 9 episodes of the podcast. It is a powerful summary of the case, which is a great introduction to the issues presented across the episodes.
S3 · E9 · 6 May 2026 · 1 hr 52 min
In this final episode, Lessig pulls together the argument from across the season. Why did this happen? What should happen next?
S3 · E8 · 17 Apr 2026 · 47 min
Allegation 1 is the only allegation within the 6 year limit for fraud investigation. In this episode, we show why it too fails — and the astonishing failure in the investigation that could have shown precisely what had happened.
S3 · E7 · 15 Apr 2026 · 49 min
In this episode, we review Allegation 3, and reveal the simple omission that undermined the investigation into this allegation.
S3 · E6 · 30 Jan 2026 · 59 min
We continue in this episode by unpacking the charges behind allegation number 4, which involved a paper written 15 years ago.
S3 · E5 · 1 Dec 2025 · 9 min
Clarifying one additional point about Allegation 2 in less than ten minutes.
S3 · E4 · 17 Nov 2025 · 59 min
So far, this podcast has considered the procedural flaws that marred the process that led to Francesca Gino's tenure being revoked. With this episode, we begin dismantling the substantive conclusions as they relate to the four alleged cases of fraud. We begin with "Allegation 2."
S3 · E3 · 18 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 18 min
In this second of two episodes interviewing Francesca, we cover the period from HBS' determination that she had committed academic misconduct through the University's decision to revoke her tenure.
S3 · E2 · 21 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 53 min
In this first of two episodes interviewing Francesca, we cover a bit about the nature of her work, and then the period beginning from the charges being raised against her through the business school's determination that she had committed academic misconduct.
S3 · E1 · 21 Aug 2025 · 24 min
Francesca Gino was a superstar at the Harvard Business School. This year, she was fired for academic misconduct. In this season, we'll explore that story through interviews with Francesca and others. This episode introduces the story and the plan of the season.
S2 · E8 · 9 Nov 2021 · 1 hr 16 min
Lessig talks to Rob Reich, Jeremy M. Weinstein and Mehran Sahami about their new book, SYSTEM ERROR — which unpacks the effect of technology on culture and policy, and redirects how we might respond.
S2 · E7 · 30 Sep 2021 · 1 hr 23 min
American University Professor David Vine has developed a powerful critique of the war mentality that America takes for granted. We argue about whether we should be a "welfare state." Why don't we argue about whether we should remain a "warfare state." In this episode, he discusses two of his books, The United States of War and Base Nation , and what lessons they teach us now.
S2 · E6 · 23 Sep 2021 · 1 hr 1 min
A discussion with Daniel Immerwahr about his book, How to Hide An Empire . The United States is not comprised solely of states. As well as states, our nation includes territories. This book tells the story of the role and place of those territories in the history of the United States. #Empire America
S2 · E5 · 16 Sep 2021 · 1 hr 16 min
A discussion with Zephyr Teachout about her book, Break 'Em Up . Zephyr is the most important thinker on the Democratic left. This conversation continues from the last about how markets have been transformed from engines of freedom to systems of control. #Competition
S2 · E4 · 9 Sep 2021 · 1 hr 11 min
A discussion with Barry Lynn about his new book, Liberty from All Masters . There is a kind of competitive market that the American story presumes — competitive, every actor having limited power over us. This book tells the story of the undoing of that market. #Competition
S2 · E3 · 2 Sep 2021 · 1 hr 25 min
A discussion with Stephen Kinzer about his book, Overthrow . Overthrow tells the story of the many times the United States has intervened directly and militarily to change the course of government in other nations. #Empire America
S2 · E2 · 26 Aug 2021 · 1 hr 48 min
A discussion with Edward Snowden about his new book, Permanent Record . In 2013, Snowden revealed to the world the extent of the US government's mass surveillance program. This book tells the story of Snowden's life and the decision to sacrifice as he did to let us know this truth. #Privacy
S2 · E1 · 19 Aug 2021 · 1 hr 7 min
A discussion with Andrew Bacevich about his new book, After the Apocolypse . Bacevich is America's most thoughtful conservative skeptic about the scope of America's military empire, and the urgent need to redirect our focus. #Empire America
S2 · 12 Aug 2021 · 11 min
This is an introduction of this season and ideas that the season will explore. Anti-empire, privacy, and competition: these ideas, or as I will call them, values, represent the best of who we've been; they are also values we've betrayed. These conversations are part of the research for a possible new book. Explore the ideas with me, and with your feedback, help me think them through.
S1 · E4 · 1 Jul 2020 · 32 min
In a surprising twist, the New York Times changed its headline and lede. In this episode, Lessig explains the decision to withdraw the case.
S1 · E3 · 24 Feb 2020 · 19 min
Why this matters to me, and why regardless of cost, it is not something I can let go. clickbaitdefamation.org
S1 · E2 · 29 Jan 2020 · 38 min
An account of what happened and just why the publication by the Times was false. clickbaitdefamation.org
S1 · E1 · 11 Jan 2020 · 15 min
An introduction to the purpose and scope of the podcast, and into the basic facts of the case that has inspired it, Lessig v. NYT. clickbaitdefamation.org
An exploration of a broken, if beautiful, institution, the law, and tradition, America. Season one told the story of a case, LESSIG v. NYT. Season two begins the story about a country, America, and values that country has betrayed.
The Law, such as it is is a English news podcast from Lawrence Lessig. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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