Eminent domain is the legal principle that allows the government to seize private property for public use, as long as the property owner is fairly compensated. This power has been used extensively for projects like highways, railroads, and urban renewal, but is often a source of controversy due to the personal and community impacts of forced displacements.

The podcast episodes cover various cases where eminent domain has been used or challenged, from the creation of Central Park in New York City to the construction of new oil pipelines and transmission lines across the country. These examples highlight the tensions between the public good and individual rights, as well as the uneven impacts on marginalized communities.