Do Laws ACTUALLY Apply to Presidents?

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It’s Not Just Trump, All Presidents Are Criminals
A president did a crime and got convicted, and now everybody is calling it “unprecedented.” But what if stepping outside the law when you lead the free world is less the exception, and more the norm? And what does it mean for a legal system, and a country, when the people in charge aren’t held to the same rules as the rest of us? Let’s find out in this video: Are All Presidents Criminals?
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=== Watch More Episodes! ===
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How Debate Got Stupid ► • How Debate Got Stupid
Written by Michael Burns and Amanda Scherker
Hosted by Michael Burns
Directed by Elizabeth Yarwood
Edited by Benji Dunaief
Produced by Olivia Redden
Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
#2024elections #culture #wisecrack
© 2024 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc. / Enthusiast Gaming

[@ptkettlehatsandthegang]

13:43 Look I bet this comment won't get pinned or liked, reply and I'll do absolutely NOTHING.

[@yourin8er]

This comment fell off. It’s been up for 19 minutes and only 2 likes

[@Megaghost_]

You lost the bet, now you have to do something. ANYTHING! At least one thing...

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Hahahahahahaha! Finally!!! I get to be part of the people who "ruin it for everyone else" (In a manner that suits my morals and personal ethics! Victory is mine! I'm quite "the wee gunney!" Michael is forced to do NOTHING! And I have zero F's in the chat to give about the blatant reverse psychology because "there are none like me.... I do as I please" [also: "We will never sleep ’cause sleep is for the weak No, we will never rest till we’re all f***ing dead."]

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Washington: No, no, i Couldn't possibly, in good conscience, take a salary for this honor of an office, in these turbulent times! I do however require an allowance, like a child, for icecream.... And liquor. The People: uh okay? Seems like you could just buy all that with... A salary.... Washington: Oh i couldn't possibly! That will be 40,000 dollars a month. NOW. The people:..... Would you like a crown with that? Washington: *whispers* yes. *While Washington is killin' it in irl Monopoly, innovating the evils of capitalism and sowing the seeds for the country greedy and corrupt path moving forward*

[@shiftymcgee9359]

Reminder: thoughtful criticism of your home country does not make one a traitor. It means someone can self identify flaws to become better.

[@luisalejandro2335]

Reminder, Biden was so awful last night that the libs at Wisecrack had to remind the public that Trumps been convicted of a crime.

[@Quadr44t]

Oh man, a shame this has to be said, but it very much tracks with US culture I gathered during my 6month intership stay there. Such a culture shock, but Americans often think so binary. Either you are pro this group/thing/idea, or you against. Either one of us, or one of them. Often there is little room for nuance. I mean, on average. The general experience. I've had the best of conversations with Americans. It's just not the norm.

[@shiftymcgee9359]

@@Quadr44tit’s only going to get worse.

[@Governor-General.of.Qanada]

I still find it odd that the us and it's allies call for Russian president putin to be prosecuted for war crimes (which includes illegal wars) for his invasion of Ukraine, but the west is mostly quiet about bush and Obama's war crimes (illegal wars, etc) for its illegal invasion of Iraq. Keep in mind, only the UN can legally declare war under international law. The us is as guilty as Russia in that regard. And no, not pro-putin. Not pro-us either. Pro-peace. Putin and bush shouldn't have invaded, putin and Obama shouldn't kill civilians If putin goes to the Hague, so to should they. And just so you know, the us enacted a law that makes them above the law. And Americans criticize other countries for such. Check out the latest second thought video about international law not applying to the us

[@Governor-General.of.Qanada]

I still find it odd that the us and it's allies call for Russian president putin to be prosecuted for war crimes (which includes illegal wars) for his invasion of Ukraine, but the west is mostly quiet about bush and Obama's war crimes (illegal wars, etc) for its illegal invasion of Iraq. Keep in mind, only the UN can legally declare war under international law. The us is as guilty as Russia in that regard. And no, not pro-putin. Not pro-us either. Pro-peace. Putin and bush shouldn't have invaded, putin and Obama shouldn't kill civilians If putin goes to the Hague, so to should they. And just so you know, the us enacted a law that makes them above the law. And Americans criticize other countries for such. Check out the latest second thought video about international law not applying to the us

[@ahmed_mo2nis_talk]

- Marge Simpson : I thought you said the law was powerless. - Chief Wiggum : Powerless to help you, not punish you..

[@tzrvines9862]

We immediately need an election between Homelander and Joker to see who wins and becomes the next President as both of them are a new class of criminals.

[@WisecrackEDU]

This is the only viable option.

[@SMLL-crow]

Bloodbath, they have the same voter base, a bunch of...you know what? I think we all know without saying😂

[@jaythehuman2552]

Liberals... Jk ​@@SMLL-crow

[@Keith-vh4sg]

Joker all the way. He really knows to have fun.

[@SMLL-crow]

@@jaythehuman2552 oh snap! It's happening! They know! 😂

[@ohsnap8186]

Please stop using Better Help as a sponsor. They are selling your medical data, and trig to replace its therapist with AI

[@bazzfromthebackground3696]

It's their MCN that is the issue.

[@EricGranata]

Word on the street was that was the final read.

[@KanielD]

I’d prefer an AI therapist

[@toadster-gp5in]

​@@KanielD j propaganda

[@dantb9695]

He said on stream it's their last one and he tried to look very unenthused. Was part of the contract

[@NeutralL12]

laws dont apply to anyone with power unless they piss off someone with more power

[@marcuswalters8093]

The job of the president is to sign off on crimes.

[@brianduthie7456]

Michael, you nailed the "dead inside look" as you read the Better Help ad read. Bravo kind sir!

[@Ford_prefect_42]

LMAO! The intro for better help... I can feel your brain screaming. You got through it!

[@WisecrackEDU]

thank you.

[@Quadr44t]

@@WisecrackEDU Ooo, it comes from higher up? Ah...

[@SageWon-1aussie]

The final ad!

[@autodidacticartisan]

I think I speak for all of us When I say that I'm glad this is the last ad read for them.

[@user-adrsilva123]

I swear it’s about time to hold those in Power Accountable Permanently!!! Regardless of their Power!!🤬🤬🤬 we need to encourage change!!

[@colonelweird]

Saw this on patreon, but now I'm just watching to laugh at the ad read.

[@WisecrackEDU]

no idea what you're referring to . . .

[@Ford_prefect_42]

It's so good 🤣

[@YEKOBness]

So true! I’m going to miss the dead eyes

[@FacterinoCommenterino]

Today's Fact: The largest Minecraft creation ever made is a replica of Denmark, measuring over 1:1, and taking over 4 years to complete.

[@doodlegame8704]

Isn’t Build the Earth bigger overall tho? Since it includes Denmark?

[@Lamb666]

@@doodlegame8704has it finished though

[@foxymetroid]

Additional fact: it quickly became the target of trolls who started building American flags and possibly "tanks" everywhere.

[@doodlegame8704]

@@Lamb666 It’s still bigger even if it’s unfinished

[@swirlyglasseschan]

Nu uh

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

Because laws are for the plebs. Power much like immense wealth, is not possible to gain without doing terrible things.

[@dentistrider3874]

Where are all the BetterHelp comments? Everytime I see it sponsoring I scroll down to look for them 😂😂

[@deathlytree434]

Mao definitely thinks that landlords should be illegal

[@crackitybones]

Meow is dead

[@NateJGardner]

As we all should

[@abider5108]

Michael's ad read this week was fantastic. Had the affect of Orlando Jones's character from Office Space selling subscriptions to Vibe.

[@WisecrackEDU]

oh wow. truly an honor.

[@umairahmadkhan3792]

Its not about just presidents. Its about power. Majority of the people who have power usually tend to abuse it. Power is corrupting in nature. Only very very few can posses power but not abuse it. We all sometime abuse whatever small power we have as well. Its human nature to abuse power, and power has the nature to corrupt even the best of us.

[@Governor-General.of.Qanada]

Yes. The presidential system has always devolved into dictatorship. The us is the only country that uses that system that hasn't yet devolved into dictatorship. Parliamentary, along the lines of Ireland would probably be best: -President is the nonpartisan symbol of the country and can submit controversial bills to referendum, can submit questionable bills to the Supreme Court for proactive judicial review, can remove and replace the prime minister (political leader) if lost the majority of support of parliament but can never take that role himself. -prime minister is the political leader of the country and head of the majority party or coalition of parties in parliament.

[@Governor-General.of.Qanada]

Yes. The presidential system has always devolved into dictatorship. The us is the only country that uses that system that hasn't yet devolved into dictatorship. Parliamentary, along the lines of Ireland would probably be best: -President is the nonpartisan symbol of the country and can submit controversial bills to referendum, can submit questionable bills to the Supreme Court for proactive judicial review, can remove and replace the prime minister (political leader) if lost the majority of support of parliament but can never take that role himself. -prime minister is the political leader of the country and head of the majority party or coalition of parties in parliament.

[@ak-ub1ym]

​@@Governor-General.of.Qanadahope this isn't sarcasm cause the US is only backwards country that actually still uses the outdated & antiquated system of electoral college / Jury system which all other countries have rejected for being too unreliable and biased.( Even the lowest level of a 3rd world country / developing country doesn't use the jury system / electoral college) The US is THE shining example of what a presidential rule of country built on a war economy post WW2 which directly leads to fascist/dictatorship govt ( it's just operated by a different entity that's all , instead of incompetent dictators you have have competent corpos running the show that's all) Most countries use a mix of democracy + republic format where the representatives are elected who inturn vote for the president / PM Not by the ppl / some commitee that made of the 1% of the elites in the US and have all the power. So either u are joking or aren't aware of how backwards the US is when compared to social and economic reforms to a 3rd world country / developing one.

[@ak-ub1ym]

​​@@Governor-General.of.Qanada The US's military budget as off now is 3 times that of Russia/Asia added which are capable of providing both social and economical beneficial plans for both military and civilians despite being China & Asia in general being some of the most populated countries. And ironically the US has 1/3rd of that Chinese population and is incompetent in providing decent public social and economic policies that isn't attached to the corpos or private sector. So lol , US is the closest to current fascists govt u can get but they just let u believe in the illusion of freedom and control you in that manner. Humans are more easier to control if there is a carrot attached to the stick rather than with the stick.

[@Governor-General.of.Qanada]

@ak-ub1ym Apologies if I wasn't clear (I'm sure I was adamant about it), but I'm supporting the parliamentary system. I stated that the presidential system always devolves into dictatorship. I outlined my ideal parliamentary system. Please read my comment again.

[@lemontart507]

correction, WAR CRIMINALS

[@daltongrowley5280]

Mr. Rogers was deliberate conscientious and humane. what a legend.

[@DeadtownNothing]

The short answer is yes The long answer is yes.

[@lorriechristian7164]

Never seen better timing in all my life.

[@WisecrackEDU]

we got lucky on this one.

[@OysterOfDoom]

The timing is too old

[@explodingbarrel2]

Section 9 of the constitution: "...Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion...". Good old lincoln following the law.

[@chazblank2717]

1:17 Jeeeesus, blink some sorta code if this is a hostage situation

[@persephoneinthesky]

I'm totally getting a Better Help subscription after seeing this video! They seem like a good company, doing good work, for the good of the people. I'm sure that's what motivates their goals as a corporation.

[@existentialpotato]

LMAO

[@glitchbanana]

OMGG SAMEE

[@Szznt]

Did Better Help ever stop being a scam? Because I'm pretty sure it's still a scam.

[@leoperez2566]

These guys only shill scams, then dump on capitalism.

[@TowerShield_]

Point of order: My understanding is that the things 45 was convicted of occurred before his "election" to office. Like he was campaigning when those payments were made. So that would be why he was an exception to the "state of exception"

[@RobertGrimm]

I'm surprised you didn't mention my favorite Washington story. When one of his slaves escaped while he was President, he used government funds to try, and fortunately fail, to get her back. Everything I've learned about him since I've been out of school has made him look worse and worse. George Washington was a really bad guy.

[@arenomusic]

Michael, seeing what this channel has grown up into makes me so happy :) Thank you

[@katehartley2333]

I'm going to guess this video essay was written by an Irish American 😂

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Hey facts are facts! Just look at Conan O'Brien 😂

[@duaijalqallaf]

Michael blink twice if betterhelp finally lowered the gun and left the building

[@theofficialnicholasyee]

Lol i think this is the Better Help ad mentioned in the stream where Michael intentionally made it as monotone as possible because it was their last one

[@kate_hyde]

Michael, thank you for that final BH sponsor bit - the dead eyes and flat affect made for a great tiny FU to BH!

[@Tabby3456]

well if a judge can tell the president "No" then...Yes

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Such great timing as always guys 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@John-PaulHunt-pv6ol]

Rules and laws for thee but not for me: ALL politicians and political rich donors.

[@GrassBluck]

I honestly want to know what you think about independent candidates. Why doesn’t Jill Stein ever get mentioned here? Isn’t she even worth talking about?

[@justmikoto9880]

10:16 Reagan looks like a podcaster telling you that the Iran Contra deal was just and valid. What would his podcast be called though?

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

The CONTRAriam

[@taotaostrong]

They should build a President’s Wing @ Guantanamo.

[@taipolar333]

In a country where "all men are created equal" we have legalized slavery embedded into our constitution and people who are exempt from the law. -_____-

[@Kitchwamon]

We did it! It's over! After this vid we will never have this ad again

[@empyrial4090]

But… who has the better golf swing?!

[@justinbuergi9867]

There’s a reason all the president (besides Lincoln) went to the bad place

[@booker229]

"If I could save the union without freeing any slaves I would do it" -Lincoln 1862. This is why I think its kind of unproductive to attempt to understand presidents as good or bad people. We should try to understand them as instruments of power, because thats what they are. They are shaped by the office and the moment more than they shape the office and the moment. We should judge them by how effective they were at meeting their moment; in that regard Lincoln was great, and I would argue FDR was too. If we try to understand them as people, we can only ever come to the conclusion that they are all monsters because they all presided over a monstrosity.

[@Nick-o-time]

Nah, he went to the bad place too.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Jimmy Carter was a good guy

[@Mr--_--M]

Nope. Dick Cheney proved that right in front of our faces.

[@EricGranata]

I watched on Patreon yesterday (subscribe) but came back today for the ad read. 🤣 Also, I gave the ending another listen, Michael. Hit better the second time. Not feeling so helpless this round.

[@saltmysoul]

we are 30 seconds into the video and i am already watching something so based that i feel like i should put myself on a waltchlist.

[@whynot13]

Can you do a "law of exception" history of the justices as well? Thanks either way. This episode was great

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Do you watch "last week tonight"? Free episodes on KZbin. John Oliver did a pretty direct against one of them. Like offered to legally pay him to resign. It was wild😅

[@jerrys.9895]

What happened to the audio mix on this one? Sounds really flat and low. Anyway, great work as always

[@Arthiurito]

Latin America, and the Middle East know this for at least 60 years

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

"It's the norm" I'm not surprised.

[@sterasigma8734]

If laws don't apply to a nation's presidents the same way they do to a citizen, that nation has little right to be called a democracy.

[@ApplePi1]

A banger, after 2 weeks

[@JemLeavitt]

Ty.

[@mak4374]

Very good context, as always. One thing, the level of music is VERY destructing.

[@13orrax]

laws barely apply to regular cops

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

*in a Christmasy tune* It's beginning to look a lot like many South American Countries. How much longer will we even still have snow? Everything is going to sh*t, For government, corporate, billionaires personal gain and profit, Nobody does anything about it, even though it's so obviously something everybody knows.

[@GNARGNARHEAD]

I just want a little more stability, until the robots can take over

[@eddietoro2682]

FINAL BETTER HELP AD SPOT WOOO I knew it was it as soon as you segue to the ad lmao

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Commentary bump for the algorithm

[@paullukis3315]

Algorithm friendly response.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Your friendly internet engagement feeder

[@danielmikula1375]

Landlords? Even the "Father of Capitalism" Adam Smith was against them. He wrote to contemporaries about be felt that passively generating wealth was a perversion of his economic theory. I often wonder how Smith and Marx would have gotten along.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Comment for engagement

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

Engagement for Comment, An overly nerdy and techno flavored Emo band. 😅

[@ErutaniaRose]

If you can get out of a punishment for a law through money, it’s only a crime for the poor.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

And if you use the governments or other people's money to pay for it.... What does that say? Probably gonna be the outcome of 45

[@chadjones1266]

This is what happens when you don't do the maintenence on your government.

[@damianarvizu1095]

I don’t think I can add to this conversation. That said, much of what you said resembles my own opinion about the situation we live in today.

[@Discovery_Nuggets]

Famous quote here: “to my friends, everything; to my enemies, the law.”

[@hegyak]

Why? Because those with Money/Power means NO Consequences.

[@StrayVagabond]

It's almost like the American justice system has, like... Multiple tiers

[@EricGranata]

Kind of like there’s a club, and we’re not members.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

And the tiers are all stacked like wood broken by martial artist at a demo lol

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content guys! You always make My day! Hearth please ❤️🔥

[@gabrieljordan8015]

In conclusion. We're all f*cked.

[@Dbenenenenett]

Commenting my honest opinions about landlords? Nice try Fed, bring back the real Michael lol

[@lampost_]

Last better help ad 🎉

[@kwamekamguia7221]

Can you do a video on the “fear of the other” in American society and how that fits into our media and pop culture? That would be an interesting talk for many of us Americans!

[@EuCoruja]

On the landlord issue, I stand with Chairman Mao.

[@e.lycopersicon9720]

This is the most stellar ad read I have ever witnessed. Dr. MIchael is an internet God!

[@ShionChosa]

I think booze 🥃 was a necessary expense for voting for laws and offices

[@marknugent9851]

“The difference between patriotism and [ethnic] nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does.” - Sydney J. Harris I really like this quote. Please gawd, made Harris not some kind of fascist or . Dead eyed line reads, the real ones know, so proud of young Michael.

[@StrayVagabond]

I know y'all read the comments. Is there just no one besides better help that is willing to sponsor you?

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

They do kinda "attack" a LOT of things...😅

[@mu33]

Here after the SCOTUS decision. How'd we do?

[@MrQuantumInc]

In theory the government's and the law's power extends from the public consensus. If the law and government is no longer acting according to the will of the people, many of argued that the "state of exception" should extend to the public, resulting in revolution.

[@ioannisaliazis]

I was going to say that you should drop betterhelp but I guess it goes in line with the theme of the video kinda. But what is the scary alternative mentioned at the end?

[@Cincyboy56]

Get over yourselves, people. Seizing on the sponsor and ignoring the message is very messed up, and automatically makes you part of the problem. Don’t let ‘em get you down, Michael. Your pieces are essential. As these commenters indicate.

[@flagcoco69]

I've long held Franklin Pierce to be our worst president ever because of his apathy and ineffectiveness in the years leading up to the Civil War. Bleeding Kansas and the Fugitive Slave Act happened on his watch. I considered such things based on performance, not corruption. After watching this video, now I have to rethink the whole thing.

[@mwarnas]

When your country is so fundamentally broken that psychological help is advertised in every podcast and via KZbinrs…

[@frfras7]

Which is a scam as well lol

[@aidenkz]

Is there not a controvery about how Betterhelp doesn't actually have certified therapists?

[@IrfanArifID]

A landlord IS NOT A JOB

[@YawaruSan]

Depressing episode, especially after that abysmal debate last night. Keep trying to think of a way around the whole exception logic but I don’t see people giving up the facade of legitimacy, actually makes the prospect of AI taking over way more enticing. Please destroy these flimsy pretenses of government institutions quickly AI overlords!

[@mooncalf191]

In theory, yes. In practice? Not so far.

[@stefanmilicevic5322]

Nice seeing Carl Schmitt being brought up in the discussion. I like his work, but not his Nazi stance. Him, Heidegger-why do good philosophers end up following bad ideologies? Another question to ponder for a later time, I suppose

[@SageWon-1aussie]

Depends on whether you work with or against the current power structure. Strong power structures have the bravery to allow people to work against them.

[@aidanoconnell5664]

So interesting! This video truly represents why post modernism is such an existential concept to grasp.

[@taffitteal]

The amount of times y'all used clips of Raegan in this video was starting to turn the dial from educational to horror. Quit it.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

*Law and order SVU DUNN DUNN*

[@Zrytun]

Wow I can't believe you're representing Better help again.

[@danielmontana3610]

I don't need to watch the video to say : not in Colombia, not at all

[@chrisbankhead9669]

I have a personal issue with the last president because of Covid. (Mom passed away from it in 2022 because she listened to him) The rest of them have just sucked in a regular way!

[@jraluark]

I think that we just need to be honest. If the system is built with exception in mind, we need to be communicating that the exception is there.

[@davidknightx]

You're asking the wrong question. What you SHOULD be asking is do laws apply to oligarchs. And there's two answers to that: we're a civil oligarchy and only if the oligarch screws over other oligarchs (see Bernie Madoff). We're not a truly free society. We never were.

[@Cashsalvino]

Is it an insane proposition that we put people into these positions of power, or that they are necessary? Serious question.

[@dlmhdlmh]

Surely there is a difference between an act commited before one becomes the President and after, even if some Americans think the guy gets lifetime immunity after elected.

[@dylanthomas385]

Ya when now😞

[@dropoutnotbombs]

ALAB includes George Washington is not something I knew. The more you know 🌈

[@brandonhodnett5420]

Appreciate the keeping it real about the founding fathers, they were largely horrible human beings that literally owned slaves. The fact we put them on a pedestal or mountain says a lot about this country. SMH

[@williamsimkulet7832]

False equivocation is false equivocation.

[@bigmoviefreak]

Well, that was depressing.

[@persephoneinthesky]

Mao let me tell you how I feel about landlords...