Live at the National Constitution Center

Acclaimed historians Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita of American History at Cornell University, and Rosemarie Zagarri, distinguished university professor of history at George Mason University, examine how women influenced the political, social, and intellectual currents of the American Revolution. The conversation explores how women’s experiences and contributions deepen and expand our understanding of America’s founding. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources  Mary Beth Norton, Founding Mothers & Fathers: Gendered Power and the Forming of American Society  Mary Beth Norton, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution  Rosemarie Zagarri, Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic  Rosemarie Zagarri, “The Declaration’s Grievances Against the King”  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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Ellen DuBois, award-winning historian and author of a biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, explores Stanton’s life, personality, and radical vision for women’s freedom. Short takes cover Seneca Falls, the Declaration of Sentiments, splits over Reconstruction amendments, the partnership with Susan B. Anthony, the Woman’s Bible controversy, and Stanton’s complex legacy including racism and later feminist turns.

Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and author of American Struggle, walks through America’s tensions using voices from its past. He discusses why he compiled a mix of leaders and critics. Conversations touch on Civil War roots, constitutional tradeoffs, checks on executive power, politics as civilized contention, Frederick Douglass’s faith in reform, and historical parallels to today.

In this episode, 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 program 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 the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America 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

Share 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. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America 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

William Ewald, a legal scholar at Penn who unearthed James Wilson’s constitutional role, and Jesse Wegman, author of The Lost Founder, discuss Wilson’s central contributions to the Constitution. They trace his Committee of Detail work, ties between the Declaration and the Constitution, Scottish Enlightenment influences, the Fort Wilson riot, and how his ideas about popular sovereignty resonate today.

In this episode, 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. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America 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

G. Edward White, a constitutional scholar and biographer of Robert H. Jackson, joins John Q. Barrett, a legal historian who edited Jackson's work, and Gerard Magliocca, an expert on Jackson's Steel Seizure concurrence. They dive into Jackson's influential views on presidential power and separation of powers. The discussion highlights how Jackson's experiences at Nuremberg affected his judicial philosophy and his impactful opinions on free speech. Their insights reveal Jackson's enduring legacy and relevance in today's legal landscape.

Join constitutional scholars Gerard Magliocca, Michael Rappaport, Stephen E. Sachs, and Sanford Levinson as they unpack the complexities of Article V. Magliocca reveals fears around limited conventions, while Rappaport discusses the importance and potential pitfalls of the convention amendment method. Sachs tackles interpretive puzzles and historical precedents, contrasting them with Levinson's call for a new constitutional convention to reflect on pressing national issues. Together, they navigate past traditions and future reforms in a lively conversation.

In this episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward Larson discusses his newest book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Still Matters. This book traces the idea of American independence in one pivotal year—1776—and explores why this year continues to hold significance today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers. Resources Ed Larson, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (2025) Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776) John Adams, Thoughts on Government (1776) George Mason, First Draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) 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 the⁠⁠⁠⁠America 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