Live At America's Town Hall

The National Constitution Center recently hosted a special “Student Town Hall” with Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch. Justice Gorsuch spoke to students joining online from across the country about his career, the role of the judicial branch, and what it’s like to sit on the Supreme Court. Center President Jeffrey Rosen moderated. This conversation was recorded on September 17—Constitution Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. As Justice Gorsuch mentions, that evening, prior to her passing, the Center awarded Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the 2020 Liberty Medal. Watch the Liberty Medal video mentioned by Jeff here https://constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal.

Last week, before the passing of constitutional icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the National Constitution Center awarded Justice Ginsburg the 2020 Liberty Medal for her lifelong efforts to advance liberty and equality for all. Following the Liberty Medal Ceremony, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen discussed the justice’s legacy both before and after joining the Supreme Court bench with two of her former clerks—Kelsi Corkran and Amanda Tyler. The Liberty Medal Ceremony included a video tribute featuring performances by internationally-renowned opera singers and tributes from special friends of Justice Ginsburg. You can watch it at constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last month, the National Constitution Center hosted a musical performance and conversation about the women who fought for the right to vote. On this episode you’ll hear the premiere performance of RESOLVED — a song cycle about the 19th Amendment and the American women’s suffrage movement—by composer/soprano/creator Patrice Michaels, performed by renowned mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and pianist Laura Ward and produced by NBCUniversal. Next, you’ll hear a discussion featuring scholars Marcia Chatelain of Georgetown University and Gail Heriot of the University of San Diego School of Law, and Center Exhibit Developer Elena Popchock exploring some of the iconic women highlighted in the performance who fought for the 19th Amendment and the Equal Rights Amendment. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the Center, moderates. This program was presented in partnership with Vision 2020’s Women 100 and as part of the Center’s yearlong initiative, Women and the Constitution, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Ame

The National Constitution Center is hosting a series of online constitutional classes this fall for students and learners of all ages. Last Friday, Center President Jeffrey Rosen and Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner were joined by David Coleman, CEO of the College Board. They discussed the founders, their flaws, and whether they still matter today. They also dove into the ideas of classical philosophers like Aristotle and Plato—and how their ideas influence the continual pursuit of a more perfect union .  Our schedule of constitutional classes for the 2020-2021 school year is available here: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. Check out all of our online educational resources: https://constitutioncenter.org/learn. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, parents, and learners of all ages joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the National Constitution Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes starting on August 31st, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from spring 2020 on today’s episode. Center President Jeffrey Rosen reviews 15 of the most important Supreme Court cases in American history in this lecture, which was given with high school students taking AP Government in mind but is great for learners of all ages! Jeff was joined by the Center’s Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner and by Stefanie Sanford from the College Board.  Here's the list of cases covered in this episode: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) United States v. Lopez (1995) Engle v. Vitale (1962) Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) Sche

Our annual Supreme Court term review, hosted in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, recapped the landmark cases from this past term and previewed what’s to come next term. The panel featured Supreme Court experts Dahlia Lithwick, Erwin Chemerinsky, Paul Clement, and Frederick Lawrence. Karen Levit, National Civil Rights Counsel at ADL moderates, with opening remarks from National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last week, historians Martha Jones and Lisa Tetrault joined National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a conversation exploring the history and legacy of the 19th Amendment. The discussion highlighted the untold stories of women from all backgrounds who fought for women's suffrage and equality for all. Martha Jones is author of the new book Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All. Lisa Tetrault is author of The Myth of Seneca Falls: Memory and the Women's Suffrage Movement, 1848-1898. This program was presented as part of the 19th Amendment: Past, Present, and Future symposium presented in partnership with All in Together, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, the LBJ Presidential Library, the National Archives, The 19th, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It’s as part of the National Constitution Center's Women and the Constitution initiative – a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Learn more abou

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, and parents joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes this coming school year, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from spring 2020 on today’s episode.    National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Eric Foner for a conversation about the Constitution and slavery in America, including the history and legacy of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, ratified during Reconstruction.    Our schedule of constitutional classes for the 2020-2021 school year, which will begin on August 31, is now available online: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. Check out all of our online educational resources: https://constitutioncenter.org/learn.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@co

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, and parents joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the National Constitution Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes this coming school year, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from the spring on today’s episode.   National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Emily Bazelon—a lawyer, law professor, journalist, and podcast host who is staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and the Truman Capote Fellow at Yale Law School. Emily and Jeff answered audience questions about coronavirus’ potential impacts on the upcoming election—including how it impacted primaries in places like Wisconsin and what challenges it might pose for the general election in November.   Our schedule of constitutional classes  for the 2020-2021 school year will be available soon at: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-

What did the original Constitution say about the right to vote? How has that changed over time, and why? In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment in 2020, the National Constitution Center hosted a program featuring a panel of voting and election law experts who addressed those questions and more. They also reflected on the memory of legendary voting and civil rights advocate Congressman John Lewis, the anniversaries of two landmark suffrage amendments, and other key laws and Supreme Court decisions that changed the scope of suffrage in America. National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Alexander Keyssar of the Harvard Kennedy School, Derek Muller of Iowa Law School, and Franita Tolson of the USC Gould School of Law. This program was part of the Center’s yearlong initiative, Women and the Constitution, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and was made possible through the generous support o

Recently, the National Constitution Center hosted a symposium bringing together contributors from The Battle for the Constitution website—a joint project from the National Constitution Center and The Atlantic that features essays exploring current constitutional issues from all perspectives. Today we’re sharing the second panel of the symposium: a conversation on the key constitutional issues raised by the coronavirus crisis. Jeffrey Rosen was joined by scholars Deborah Pearlstein, Polly Price, and Adam White to discuss how coronavirus has impacted democracy and the forthcoming 2020 election, public health law, the functioning of government, and more. Read The Battle for the Constitution including essays by these panelists here https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/battle-constitution/ Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last week, the National Constitution Center hosted a symposium bringing together contributors from The Battle for the Constitution website—a joint project from the National Constitution Center and The Atlantic that features essays exploring current constitutional issues from all perspectives. Today we’re sharing the first panel of the symposium: a conversation on the constitutional dimensions of policing and protests. Jeffrey Rosen was joined by former Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, as well as First Amendment expert and law professor John Inazu, and policing expert and law professor Tracey Meares.   This program is presented in partnership with The Atlantic and in conjunction with The Battle for the Constitution website linked here http://www.theatlantic.com/projects/battle-constitution/. It is also made possible through generous support from the John Templeton Foundation. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

On June 19, 1775, The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Shortly after he received his commission, Washington left for Massachusetts and assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge on July 3, 1775. In honor of that anniversary and of the Fourth of July holiday this weekend, we’re sharing a program on Washington from earlier this year. Acclaimed historians Lindsay Chervinsky and Edward Larson joined National Constitution Center President  and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to discuss Washington and his role in the Revolutionary War and the Founding. Chervinsky is the author of The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution and Larson is author of Franklin & Washington: The Founding Partnership.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

This week, the NCC hosted a conversation on Congress in times of crisis featuring historians and co-hosts of the podcast Backstory Edward Ayers of the University of Richmond and Joanne Freeman of Yale University, and political scientist Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. They explored how Congress has handled crises of the past—particularly the Civil War, other key moments throughout American history in which Congress played a pivotal role, and the lessons those moments can teach us as Congress tries to navigate today’s challenges. NCC President Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constituitoncenter.org.

This week, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, America’s first female secretary of state, joined host Jeffrey Rosen to reflect on her experience in government, her views on the Constitution, and how women leaders play a more important role than ever in the world today. She also shared stories from her life as told in her new book Hell and Other Destinations. This conversation was part of the National Constitution Center’s yearlong Women and the Constitution initiative in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. This program is made possible through the generous support of The John P. & Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last Friday, the National Constitution Center hosted a national Town Hall program on policing, protests, and the Constitution. The wide-ranging discussions covered qualified immunity for police officers, the history of racial inequality, protests and the First Amendment, and more. Part two of the discussion, this panel, features Monica Bell of Yale Law School, David French of The Dispatch, Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Theodore Shaw of the University of North Carolina School of Law. Part one is a keynote conversation featuring Judge Theodore McKee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and you can listen to that here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/policing-protests-and-the-constitution-part-1/id1037423300?i=1000477348971 Jeffrey Rosen moderates. This week’s episode is a crossover with our companion podcast, We the People, a weekly show of constitutional debate that you can listen to here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-the-people/id83213431 Ques

Last Friday, the National Constitution Center hosted a national Town Hall program on policing, protests, and the Constitution. This episode features National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen’s keynote conversation with Judge Theodore McKee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Their wide-ranging discussion covered qualified immunity for police officers, the history of racial inequality, protests and the First Amendment, and more. Part two features a panel of leading scholars and commentators to further touch on these issues, and you can listen to it here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/policing-protests-and-the-constitution-part-2/id1037423300?i=1000477356597. This week’s episode is a crossover with our companion podcast, We the People, a weekly show of constitutional debate that you can listen to here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-the-people/id83213431 Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George F. Will joins Saikrishna Prakash, professor of law at the University of Virginia, for a conversation on Prakash's new book, The Living Presidency: An Originalist Argument against Its Ever-Expanding Powers. They explore the expansion of presidential power from the founding era to today; provide their take on what, if any, constraints there may be on executive power; and whether originalism can provide a solution. National Constitution Center president Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Hosted on the 124th anniversary of the infamous decision, this virtual program tells the story of Plessy v. Ferguson in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation.National Constitution President Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Steve Luxenberg, associate editor at The Washington Post and author of Separate: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson and America’s Journey from Slavery to Segregation, along with Dean Risa Goluboff of the University of Virginia Law School and Ted Shaw of University of North Carolina Law School.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Over the last two weeks, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments remotely, by teleconference, allowing the public to listen in in real time for the first time in history. The National Constitution Center recapped those arguments live on C-SPAN with advocates on either side of each case. This episode features the recap of Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Vance — disputes over whether President Trump must release his tax returns and other financial records to prosecutors and House committees. NCC President Jeffrey Rosen was joined by law professors Gillian Metzger and Andy Grewal to recap the arguments and dive into the case’s potential implications for presidential powers.   Check out more Supreme Court argument recaps on our companion podcast We the People or on our YouTube channel.  Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.