Live At America's Town Hall

This week, we’re sharing another program held back in March before the National Constitution Center went remote. This program is part of our yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. It features New York Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Hochul and former Congresswomen Melissa A. Hart and Donna F. Edwards. They explore the unfinished work of women’s suffrage and how the fight for constitutional change shaped women’s involvement in public life. They also discuss why females make up less than a quarter of Congress and what needs to be done to improve women’s representation in government. The conversation is moderated by Lauren Leader, co-founder and CEO of All in Together, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower women to participate in civic and political life. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Welcome to Live at the National Constitution Center, our newly-renamed podcast sharing live constitutional conversations held here at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and across America. The center is temporarily closed to the public due to coronavirus, but, before we went remote, we held a few programs that we’re excited to share here on the podcast in the coming weeks. This episode features conversations from an event held at the center in early March as part of our yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. In the first panel (00:00-12:00), NCC President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen and Exhibit Developer Elena Popchock discuss the NCC’s forthcoming exhibit The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote. (At the time of this conversation, the exhibit was set to open in June but may now open later this year.) Next (12:00-end) Elena joins a panel featuring historian Lori Ginzberg, author of Elizabeth Cady Stanton: An American Life. They share a

We’re changing our name! to Live at the National Constitution Center. New name, same podcast bringing you live constitutional conversations held here at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and across America. Check out these highlights from last season, and stay tuned for new episodes coming soon! Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. This trailer was engineered and produced by Jackie McDermott with production by Tanaya Tauber and Lana Ulrich and additional editing by Greg Scheckler.

Americans sometimes find themselves at the center of some of the biggest moments in constitutional history. John Tinker, one of the students who brought the lawsuit in the landmark student speech case Tinker v. Des Moines; Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred Korematsu, petitioner in the Japanese internment case Korematsu v. United States; and Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of Reverend Oliver Brown, the petitioner in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, share what that’s like. They describe their families’ experiences bringing these landmark cases, how the outcome affected their lives, and how those cases shaped the Constitution and the country. February 24 was the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1969 decision in Tinker v. Des Moines. This program was recorded here at the National Constitution Center on Constitution Day 2017. We were lucky to have lots of students here at the Center and in the audience that day, so you’ll hear their questions for our panelists! Questions or comments about the podcast? Ema

This time of year back in 1916, Senate confirmation hearings were beginning for Louis D. Brandeis. After a lengthy confirmation process, Brandeis was confirmed as the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, and went on to write landmark opinions on free speech, privacy, and more. In this 2016 program, National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen and Brandeis scholars Philippa Strum and Melvin Urofsky explain why Brandeis’ forward-thinking wisdom still matters today. They celebrated the launch of Jeff’s book Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet – part of the Jewish Lives biography series. Jeff recently discussed the book on the Jewish Lives podcast, and you can listen to that interview here. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

February 12th is President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, so we’re sharing a program that dives into one of the most pivotal periods of his political life. Sidney Blumenthal discusses his book Wrestling with his Angel: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln 1849-1856 – the years when Lincoln emerged from political defeat and began to build his career on the national stage – in conversation with National Constitution Center Scholar-in-Residence Michael Gerhardt.  Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

 The Iowa Caucus kicked off the 2020 presidential primaries this week, so we’re sharing a primer on the history and influence of presidential campaigns. Communications scholar Geoffrey Cowan and historian David Greenberg explain how our primary system originated in the midst of Teddy Roosevelt’s quest for a third term, how campaigning and “spin” has evolved since then, and more in this program from 2016.  NCC President Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Jeff’s mic cuts out briefly around 15 minutes in (sorry!) but it just lasts a few minutes so please stick with us!   Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. 

This Thursday is President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's birthday, so we’re sharing a program that explores how FDR and other presidents have dealt with America’s biggest constitutional crises. Historians and presidential biographers Annette Gordon-Reed, Sidney Blumenthal, and Sean Wilentz joined NCC President Jeffrey Rosen for this program held at Congress Hall, the first meeting place of the U.S. Congress, in Philadelphia in 2017.  Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Rep. John Lewis’ childhood aspiration was to be a preacher, and he practiced sermons in front of the chickens on his family farm in rural Alabama. Little did he know that he would soon lead the “freedom rides” fighting segregation in the south, give a keynote address at the March on Washington at age 23, and become a 17-term congressman. Rep. Lewis shares inspiring stories from that journey in this 2013 address delivered on Constitution Day here at the National Constitution Center, which we’re sharing in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Rep. Lewis discussed his graphic novel March: Book One which spans his youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and the battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins. He was joined by his co-author Andrew Aydin and NCC President Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

With the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump approaching, we’re sharing a past program featuring Joshua Matz – co-author (with Laurence Tribe) of To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment, counsel for the House Judiciary Committee, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center. Matz explains his belief that the creation of the impeachment power was a “gamble” taken by the Framers who hoped to impeach rogue presidents, and impeachment is not a “white knight” that can save our democracy. He shares insights from his book including scenarios in which he thinks impeachment must be used, as well as times when impeachment can harm the country more than help it, and gives informative historic examples of both situations. He sat down with NCC President Jeffrey Rosen just after the release of his book in 2018.  Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

In light of the recent U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani – we’re sharing this program from fall 2017 on war powers and the Constitution. John Yoo of Berkeley Law, Deborah Pearlstein of Cardozo Law, and Ben Wittes, Editor-in-Chief of Lawfare, discuss the president’s ability to order unilateral airstrikes, the definition of “imminent threats”, and other topics that lend context to the current controversy. NCC President Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Two leading Fourth Amendment scholars join NCC President Jeffrey Rosen to trace the history and interpretation of the Fourth Amendment from the founding to today. They explain some Fourth Amendment basics like: What is a warrant? What are subpoenas? When and why can they be issued? They also dive into key Supreme Court opinions that interpreted the Fourth Amendment, and give their takes on whether the Court’s Fourth Amendment doctrine has kept up with the digital age. This program was presented in partnership with the Federal Judicial Center. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to discuss his new book, Conversations with RBG: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty and Law—an informal portrait of the Justice through an extraordinary series of conversations, starting in the 1990s and continuing to today. They expand upon several of the conversations featured in the book, such as Justice Ginsburg’s favorite dissents, key gender cases she worked on throughout her career, and how to lead a productive, compassionate life of service. They also reflect on the performance that preceded the discussion.  The discussion was preceded by a special performance of “The Long View: A Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Nine Songs” by Patrice Michaels, composer/soprano/creator and daughter-in law of Justice Ginsburg. This episode is a crossover with our companion podcast, We the People, where this Town Hall originally aired. The National Constitution Center gratefully acknowledg

On June 8, 1972, the South Vietnamese air force dropped napalm on its own troops and civilians after mistaking them for North Vietnamese forces. Nine-year-old Kim Phúc Phan Thi, who was severely injured, was running from the bombed village when an Associated Press photographer captured her and others in one of the most iconic photographs from the Vietnam War, which later won the Pulitzer Prize. In this moving program, Kim Phúc discusses her firsthand experience of the Vietnam War and its impact; Mark Bowden, contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam offers historical context; and classical composer and jazz trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe discusses the piece he was moved to compose after seeing Kim’s photograph. Hannibal performs that piece at the beginning of the program, after an introduction from moderator and NCC President Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last week, the National Constitution Center hosted a timely two-part discussion of impeachment. Part two features current and former members of Congress, including Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which unveiled articles of impeachment against President Trump today. The panelists share their unique insights into what constitutes and impeachable offense and the current impeachment process—giving their candid takes on the facts behind the inquiry, what they think might happen, and how the process and outcome may affect the country as a whole. They also share their views on whether they might vote to impeach the president. Featuring: Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05)  Fmr. Rep. Charles Dent (PA-15) Fmr. Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) Moderator: Jeffrey Rosen – National Constitution Center President Part one of our impeachment program featured leading constitutional scholars, including NCC Scholar-in-Residence Michael Gerhardt who testified before Congre

This week, the National Constitution Center hosted a timely two-part discussion of impeachment. In panel one, leading constitutional scholars break down the facts at the center of the current impeachment inquiry, and share their thoughts on what the Framers of the Constitution might think of whether those facts rise to the level of an impeachable offense under their conception of and the definition of impeachment. They also share their own views on whether or not the President should be impeached. Tune back in next week to hear panel two, featuring current and former members of Congress who also debate how they would vote on whether or not to impeach. Panel one features: Michael Gerhardt – National Constitution Center Scholar in Residence, CNN impeachment expert, and professor at UNC Law School Keith Whittington – professor of politics at Princeton University Kimberly Wehle – professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and CBS News legal analyst John Malcolm – Vice President of the Institution

This week, we’re sharing a past program on the Civil War and Reconstruction and public memory. Leading civil war historians Eric Foner, Thavolia Glymph, and Kate Masur explore the questions: How do we define Reconstruction? What was that period like politically and economically, for ordinary Americans and for the country’s leaders? How can we better understand the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments by contextualizing them in the history of Reconstruction? And how does that history connect to modern issues surrounding racial inequality, Confederate monuments, and more. Sherilynn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, moderates. This program was presented at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Institute. If you enjoyed this constitutional conversation and want to hear more from the panelists, please check out their other appearances on Live at America’s Town Hall: Eric Foner on the Second Founding Women and the Civil War: The Untold

Pultizer Prize-winning historian Eric Foner tells the story of the battle to inscribe equality into the Constitution. Foner traces the arc of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution—the “Reconstruction amendments”—from their dramatic pre-Civil War origins to today, detailing how they changed our founding document and shaped American history. He sits down with National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen. This program was presented in conjunction with the Center’s exhibit Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

This Town Hall celebrates the launch of host Jeffrey Rosen’s newest book, Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law—an informal portrait of the justice through an extraordinary series of conversations, starting in the 1990s and continuing to today. Jeff has collected Justice Ginsburg’s wisdom from their many conversations on the future of the Supreme Court and Roe v. Wade, which Supreme Court decisions she would like to see overturned, the #MeToo movement, and how to lead a productive, compassionate life – illuminating the determination, self-mastery, and wit of the “Notorious RBG.” Dahlia Lithwick, veteran Supreme Court reporter and host of the Slate podcast Amicus, moderates. Check out Conversations with RBG on Amazon and listen to the audiobook on Audible. The audiobook also has its very own Alexa skill – Ask RBG. You can ask your Amazon echo things like, “Alexa, ask RBG about the #MeToo movement” and you’ll hear clips from the real-life interviews with Justice Ginsburg fe

Is the Constitution “democratic” enough? What does it mean to be a democracy as opposed to a republic—is there a significant difference, and why does it matter? Should institutions like the Senate and the Electoral College, which are sometimes criticized for being undemocratic, be reformed or abolished? Constitutional scholars and professors Randy Barnett of Georgetown Law and Vikram Amar of the University of Illinois College of Law sat down for a rich debate of these questions here at the National Constitution Center, moderated by NCC President Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.