Madison's Notes

Matthew J. Franck, a film-savvy political scientist and commentator, traces the western’s reach from Cooper and Twain to John Ford and modern space films. He explores frontier themes as American identity, mobility, and vicarious heroism. Conversations connect Turner's frontier thesis to cinema, race and myth in Ford’s work, and how the frontier survives in science and space stories.

Chris Griswold, policy director at American Compass and former senior advisor to Senator Marco Rubio, discusses center-right economic realignment. He covers the shift from free-trade orthodoxy to industrial policy, the case for worker voice and dignity in the face of AI and automation, and ideas for durable trade and industrial finance to rebuild American industry and communities.

Thomas C. Schmidt, Associate Professor and author of Josephus and Jesus, explores the writings of Josephus and their bearing on Jesus and early Christianity. He offers a revised translation of the Testimonium, traces manuscript variants across languages, examines possible eyewitness sources like Ananus II, and considers how Josephus’ wording affects readings of resurrection and early creedal claims.

Thomas C. Schmidt, Associate Professor at Fairfield University and author of Josephus and Jesus, explores the life and world of the historian Josephus. He sketches Josephus’s aristocratic roots, Roman connections, wartime dramas, and writings. Short, vivid accounts connect Josephus to New Testament places, people, and contested passages. The conversation sets up deeper historical context for early Christianity.

R.J. Snell, a Princeton instructor and editor of Public Discourse, discusses modern disenchantment and attempts at re-enchantment. He traces phenomenology, technology’s role in flattening meaning, false substitutes like tech boosterism and activist universalism, and the virtue of hope from heroic examples to daily sanctification. The conversation closes on play, paternal care, and hopeful perseverance.

Dr. Reece Edmends, a Princeton classics lecturer who recently finished a PhD on Augustan propaganda, explores the fall of the Roman Republic and Augustus's rise. He discusses Augustus's use of liberation rhetoric, propaganda through poets like Virgil, and how religion and omens shaped politics. They also consider liberty, slavery, ritual culture, and whether Augustus preserved or ended the Republic.

Madison’s Notes is back and with a new host, Ryan Shinkel. In this episode to start off Season 5, I interview Dr. Kevin DeYoung, a popular author, Presbyterian pastor, as well as noted theologian and historian. Drawing on DeYoung’ book, The Religious Formation of John Witherspoon (2020), we dive into Witherspoon’s fascinating life as a Scottish preacher and Reformed apologist who became the president of Princeton University, one of America’s Founding Fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a teacher and mentor to James Madison. We examine the place Witherspoon takes in the history of American and religious thought, as well as how he models a spirit of religious devotion with republican self-government in an example that is still relevant for us today. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page. Madison’s Notes is the podcast of Princeton University’s James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions.

That’s a wrap on the 2024-2025 season of Madison’s Notes! Stay tuned until the end for a special announcement—you won’t want to miss it! A massive thank you to our incredible listeners and guests for making this season unforgettable. Your support means everything! The show will be back—so hit subscribe to be the first to know when we return. Until then, keep exploring, learning, and staying curious!

In this insightful discussion, Joel Alicea, a law professor with a focus on constitutional law, explores the Supreme Court's pivotal 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. He delves into the shift from interest balancing to historical analysis in evaluating Second Amendment rights. Alicea examines the critical distinctions between natural and positive rights, emphasizing civic engagement to protect individual freedoms. He also considers how the Bruin framework could apply to other constitutional rights, illuminating the evolving landscape of gun rights in America.

Michael McConnell, a renowned constitutional scholar and former federal judge, dives into the evolving dynamics of executive power. He discusses how the Founders’ vision of limited presidential authority contrasts sharply with today's landscape, characterized by significant administrative overreach. The conversation critiques Justice Jackson's framework for assessing presidential actions, delves into the 'imperial presidency' concept, and examines the implications of the Take Care Clause. McConnell provides insights on restoring balance between powers, a pivotal issue in contemporary political discourse.