{"podcast":{"title":"Unwritten Law","slug":"unwritten-law-7233280","podcast_index_feed_id":7233280,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/unwritten-law/","website_url":"https://nclalegal.org/media/unwritten-law/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/4e6a8de9-fe92-45b5-9f8f-906c310aa90c/8tfnSzWGybasy_xFa3_tP4Hx.jpg","author":"Mark Chenoweth & John Vecchione","episode_count":129,"summary":"Every day, unelected federal agencies make decisions that affect your job, your business, your speech, your property, and your constitutional rights—often without Congress ever voting on them. From the rules that govern small businesses to the regulations that shape everyday life, the modern administrative state reaches further than most Americans realize. On Unwritten Law, constitutional lawyers Mark Chenoweth and John Vecchione break down the biggest legal battles involving federal agencies, government overreach, and the Constitution. Each episode explores real cases challenging the expanding power of the administrative state, explaining how these disputes affect ordinary Americans, businesses, and the future of limited government. Whether the topic is the Supreme Court, free speech, property rights, due process, jury trials, executive power, or the separation of powers, Unwritten Law explains the legal issues behind today's biggest constitutional debates in clear, accessible language. You'll hear directly from the attorneys litigating landmark cases, as well as clients whose lives and livelihoods have been changed by unlawful government action. Produced by the New Civil Liberti…","last_synced_at":"2026-08-01T16:20:49.476532+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unwritten-law-7233280"},"episode":{"title":"Standing, Security, and the “Trump Ballroom”","slug":"standing-security-and-the-trump-ballroom","published_at":"2026-04-21T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unwritten-law-7233280/standing-security-and-the-trump-ballroom","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unwritten-law-7233280","url":"https://unwritten-law.captivate.fm/episode/standing-security-and-the-trump-ballroom","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/bdf65e67-dde8-469f-87f0-7af24913c2bd.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Unwritten Law , NCLA President and Chief Legal Officer Mark Chenoweth and Senior Litigation Counsel John Vecchione break down a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit involving plans to construct a ballroom at the White House. The case—brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation—sought to halt construction, raising questions about historic preservation, executive authority, and whether private organizations have standing to challenge government building decisions on aesthetic grounds. The D.C. Circuit ultimately remanded the case to the district court, questioning the basis for an earlier injunction. Mark and John explore the key legal issues, including whether the plaintiffs have standing, the scope of statutory authority allowing the President to “improve” the White House grounds, and how national security considerations factor into the analysis—particularly regarding underground security features tied to the project. The episode also examines the practical realities of the case, including the fact that the original structure has already been demolished, raising questions about what relief is even possible at this stage of litigation.","meta_description":"In this episode of Unwritten Law , NCLA President and Chief Legal Officer Mark Chenoweth and Senior Litigation Counsel John Vecchione break down a recent…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1272,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/unwritten-law-7233280/episodes/standing-security-and-the-trump-ballroom/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unwritten-law-7233280/standing-security-and-the-trump-ballroom.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}