Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Guantánamo, the Constitution and Presidential Politics

    In 2008, candidate Barack Obama accused George W. Bush of abusing the power of the presidency to establish the prison at Guantánamo Bay. Now President Obama's accused of doing the same thing -- to close Guantánamo down. It's all about the authority of the Commander in Chief.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Nov 13, 2015 • 33m Listen

    In 2008, candidate Barack Obama accused George W. Bush of abusing the power of the presidency to establish the prison at Guantánamo Bay. Now President Obama's accused of doing the same thing -- to close Guantánamo down. It's all about the authority of the Commander in Chief. But, Congress says the remaining inmates are too dangerous to be held in American prisons and has made the transfer illegal. The White House says executive action is "not off the table," which could light a political firestorm in time for next year's presidential campaign.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Guantánamo, the Constitution and Presidential Politics
    1. 1:48Kurds Re-Take Iraqi City from ISIS
    2. 8:48Guantánamo, the Constitution and Presidential PoliticsYou’re reading this
    3. 42:49Trump goes "Full Trump" in Iowa, GOP Candidates React
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Molly O'Toole

      journalist working on a book about global migration

    • KCRW placeholder

      Morris Davis

      US Air Force (retired)

    • KCRW placeholder

      David D. Cole

      American Civil Liberties Union / Georgetown University

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Guantánamo, the Constitution and Presidential Politics
    1. 1:48Kurds Re-Take Iraqi City from ISIS
    2. 8:48Guantánamo, the Constitution and Presidential PoliticsYou’re reading this
    3. 42:49Trump goes "Full Trump" in Iowa, GOP Candidates React
    Back to To the Point