Episodes

  • Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense

    Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense
    Feb 12 2026
    Gary Berton, the president of The Thomas Paine Historical Association, joins Scott Cleary, co-editor of New Directions in Thomas Paine Studies and author of The Field of Imagination: Thomas Paine and Eighteenth-Century Poetry, to discuss the revolutionary life, ideas, and legacy of Thomas Paine in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on February 9, 2026. It is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers. Resources Scott Cleary, New Directions in Thomas Paine Studies Scott Cleary, The Field of Imagination: Thomas Paine and Eighteenth-Century Poetry Thomas Paine, Common Sense Richard Rosenfeld, American Aurora: A Democratic-Republican Returns Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at programs@constitutioncenter.org Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube Support our important work Donate
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    57 mins
  • The Declaration of Independence and the Push for Racial Equality

    The Declaration of Independence and the Push for Racial Equality
    Feb 5 2026
    In celebration of Black History Month, scholars Lucas Morel and Melvin Rogers join to discuss how African American leaders and citizens, such as Prince Hall, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. have invoked the ideas and principles of the Declaration of Independence throughout American history to push for a more free and equal America. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on February 2, 2026. Resources National Constitution Center, "The Declaration Across History" Primary Sources Lucas Morel, Lincoln and the American Founding Melvin Rogers, The Darkened Light of Faith: Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate
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    1 hr
  • Best of 2025: Michael Lewis on Who Is Government?

    Best of 2025: Michael Lewis on Who Is Government?
    Jan 29 2026
    In this Best of 2025-episode, Best-selling author Michael Lewis discusses his new book, Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service. As Americans’ distrust in the government continues to grow, Lewis’ book examines how the government works, who works for it, and why their contributions continue to matter. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on March 26, 2025. Resources Michael Lewis, ed., ⁠Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service⁠ (2025) Michael Lewis, “⁠The free‑living bureaucrat⁠,” The Washington Post (March 2025) Michael Lewis, “⁠Directions to a journalistic gold mine⁠,” The Washington Post (Nov. 2024) Michael Lewis, ⁠The Premonition: A Pandemic Story⁠ (2022) Michael Lewis, ⁠The Fifth Risk ⁠(2018) ⁠CURE ID Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate
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    58 mins
  • The Lost Founder: James Wilson

    The Lost Founder: James Wilson
    Jan 22 2026
    This week, we explore the life of an influential and yet, often overlooked founder, James Wilson. Whose ideas and influence continue to shape current debates about popular sovereignty, constitutional structure, and democratic self-government. Legal scholar William Ewald of the University of Pennsylvania and Jesse Wegman of the Brennan Center for Justice join to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the life and legacy of this founder and Supreme Court justice. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Jesse Wegman, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution Jesse Wegman, Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠ Explore ⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work: ⁠⁠⁠Donate
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    57 mins
  • The Story of the U.S. Constitution: Past and Present

    The Story of the U.S. Constitution: Past and Present
    Jan 15 2026
    After more than 12 years of distinguished service as President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Rosen has transitioned to the role of CEO Emeritus, enabling him to devote his full time and energy to his scholarship and public dialogue. The Center’s Board of Trustees appointed Vince Stango to serve as Interim President and CEO. From all of us at the National Constitution Center, we express our gratitude to Jeff for his leadership and vision, including his role as the long-time host of the Center’s We the People podcast, where he brought constitutional debate to life for millions of listeners. For the full announcement, visit the website. While you’re there, check out the many exciting things, including the Interactive Declaration, and all of our resources for America’s 250th! As we work to bring you the next chapter of We the People, we will continue to share recent programs and episodes from the archive. In this episode, we're sharing an America's Town Hall program with historians, Akhil Reed Amar, David Blight, and Annette Gordon-Reed, who joined for a sweeping conversation about the Constitution and the debates that have shaped America—from the founding era to today. They examine transformative moments in American history and landmark Supreme Court decisions. This program is presented in partnership with the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute and the Organization of American Historians. Resources National Constitution Center Announces Leadership Transition Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠ Explore ⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠live program⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Support our important work: ⁠⁠Donate
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Kathleen DuVal on Native Nations

    Kathleen DuVal on Native Nations
    Jan 8 2026
    In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, award-winning historian Kathleen DuVal discusses her new book, Native Nations: A Millennium in North America, which traces a thousand years of Native history—from the rise of ancient cities and the arrival of Europeans to today’s ongoing fights for sovereignty. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live on November 4, 2025, as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series. Resources Kathleen DuVal, Native Nations: A Millenium in North America (2025) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠ Explore ⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠ ⁠Sign up⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠live program⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠YouTube⁠ Support our important work: ⁠Donate
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    1 hr
  • William F. Buckley and the Intellectual History of American Conservatism

    William F. Buckley and the Intellectual History of American Conservatism
    Jan 1 2026
    Matthew Continetti, author of The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism, joins prize-winning biographer Sam Tanenhaus to discuss Tanenhaus’s new book, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America, and to trace American conservatism’s evolution from the Progressive Era, through the rise of William F. Buckley Jr., to today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on December 11th, 2025. Resources Sam Tanenhaus, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America (2025) Matthew Continetti, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism (2022) Stay Connected and Learn More   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠ Explore ⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • The Constitutional Legacy of Justice Robert Jackson

    The Constitutional Legacy of Justice Robert Jackson
    Dec 25 2025
    John Q. Barrett, discoverer and editor of Robert H. Jackson's acclaimed book That Man: An Insider's Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt and writer of the popular blog The Jackson List, joins author and constitutional scholar Gerard Magliocca, author of The Actual Art of Governing: Justice Robert H. Jackson's Concurring Opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, and G. Edward White, author of Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgment, to discuss the Jackson’s legacy in debates over presidential power, constitutional interpretation, and the prosecution of war crimes at Nuremberg. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program is presented in partnership with the Robert H. Jackson Center. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on December 8th, 2025. Resources John Q. Barrett, The Jackson List Robert H. Jackson and John Q. Barrett (editor), That Man: An Insider’s Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt (2004) Gerard Magliocca, The Actual Art of Governing: Justice Robert H. Jackson’s Concurring Opinion in the Steel Seizure Case (2025) G. Edward White, Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgment (2025) G. Edward White, The American Judicial Tradition: Profile of Leading American Judges (2007) Stay Connected and Learn More   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠ Explore ⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠ ⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠live program⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠Donate
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    58 mins