The Alien Enemies Act: When Fear Became Law—and Never Left

Passed in 1798 as part of the notorious Alien and Sedition Acts, the Alien Enemies Act has outlived its controversial siblings — and it’s still on the books today. In this episode, I trace its origins in the fear and politics of the early republic, how presidents from Madison to FDR have invoked it in times of war, and what it means that this 18th-century law remains active in the 21st century.

From the tension between liberty and security to the ways old laws shape modern policy, this is the story of how a relic of the Federalist Era continues to echo through American history.

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