Lawfare Daily: ‘A Whole Other Country,’ with Zoe Kurland and Terence O’Rourke
Summary
This episode explores the 1997 standoff of the "Republic of Texas," a secessionist movement led by Rick McLaren, who claimed Texas was never legally annexed. Hosts discuss McLaren’s "paper war" and his deliberate use of diplomatic language to legitimize his pseudo-nation. Terry O’Rourke, who served as McLaren’s international counsel during the crisis, recounts the tense negotiations with the Texas Rangers and the eventual resolution via a symbolic ceasefire agreement. The conversation highlights the clash between McLaren’s legal theories and state authority, concluding with his subsequent c…
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