We the People

A weekly show of constitutional debate hosted by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen where listeners can hear the best arguments on all sides of the constitutional issues at the center of American life.

News
History
News Commentary
226
Civil Liberties and COVID-19
What happens to constitutional rights like free exercise of religion when Americans can’t gather in person? First Amendment experts discuss with host Jeffrey Rosen.
49 min
227
Governing During Social Distancing
How can Congress and the courts carry on their constitutional functions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic? Norm Ornstein and Ken White discuss with host Jeffrey Rosen.
44 min
228
The Constitution and the Coronavirus
What powers does the government have to manage a public health crisis? What rights do citizens maintain? Public health law experts discuss with host Jeffrey Rosen.
54 min
229
Louisiana Abortion Law at the Supreme Court
Advocates on both sides of the latest abortion case at the Supreme Court join host Jeffrey Rosen to debate it.
37 min
230
The Future of the CFPB
Richard Cordray, former Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Cato’s Ilya Shapiro join host Jeffrey Rosen to discuss a case challenging the constitutionality of the leadership structure of the CFPB.
44 min
231
The Executive and the Rule of Law
John Yoo and Kim Wehle discuss the recent sentencing of Roger Stone and the larger rule of law questions surrounding it in conversation with host Jeffrey Rosen.
54 min
232
George Washington’s Constitutional Legacy
Historians Lindsay Chervinsky and Craig Bruce Smith reflect on Washington – the good and the bad – and his constitutional legacy.
53 min
233
Civic Virtue, and Why It Matters
Reflecting on the values and the concept of “civic virtue” that the founders hoped every American would embody, and how we can return to those values, Margaret Taylor of Lawfare and Adam White of AEI join host Jeffrey Rosen.
54 min
234
An Impeachment Trial Recap
Recapping the arguments made by both sides in the impeachment trial – GW Law Professors Andrew Knaggs, who formerly served in the Trump administration, and Peter J. Smith, a former Justice Department lawyer, join host Jeffrey Rosen.
68 min
235
Will the Equal Rights Amendment be Adopted?
Explaining the latest developments in efforts to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment into the Constitution – Julie Suk and Sai Prakash join host Jeffrey Rosen.
46 min
236
School Choice and Separation of Church and State
The Supreme Court heard Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue this week. Michael Bindas of Institute for Justice and Alice O'Brien of National Education Association join host Jeffrey Rosen to explain the case.
57 min
237
The Chief, the Senate, and the Trial
Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who investigated President Clinton before his impeachment, and Joan Biskupic, CNN Supreme Court analyst and biographer of Chief Justice Roberts, predict how the Chief will preside over the trial and how disputes over procedure may play out in conversation with host Jeffrey Rosen.
35 min
238
Was the Qasem Soleimani Strike Constitutional?
War powers experts John Bellinger and Oona Hathaway grapple with the legal and constitutional controversies surrounding the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week –in conversation with host Jeffrey Rosen.
56 min
239
Understanding the Four Executive-Branch-Subpoen...
Four major cases currently in the courts center around subpoenas – as Congress and, separately, a state grand jury request financial documents from President Trump, and Congress seeks testimony from former White House Counsel Don McGahn. Explaining these important cases, which could have major implications for separation of powers, guests Steve Vladeck and Andy Grewal join host Jeffrey Rosen.
53 min
240
2019: A Constitutional Year in Review
David French and Kate Shaw recap the biggest constitutional debates of 2019 with host Jeffrey Rosen.
63 min
241
RBG on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sits down with Jeffrey Rosen to share invaluable life lessons, reflect on her career, and discuss Jeff’s new book Conversation with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty and Law.
70 min
242
Should President Trump Be Impeached?
Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and some of her congressional colleagues, as well as leading constitutional scholars, share their candid thoughts on impeachment live at the National Constitution Center.
83 min
243
Is There a Constitutional Right to Transport a ...
Do gun owners have a right to travel with their firearms outside of their city or any place else? Second Amendment experts Darrell Miller and Clark Neily join host Jeffrey Rosen to discuss that question at the center of a c ase just heard by the Supreme Court.
57 min
244
What Would Madison Think of the Presidency Today?
Tracing the history of the American presidency and exploring the biggest controversy surrounding it today – impeachment – scholars Sean Wilentz and Sai Prakash join host Jeffrey Rosen.
61 min
245
Dueling Platform Policies and Free Speech Online
Twitter has decided to ban paid political advertising, while Facebook has not– will either policy have unintended consequences for free speech principles online? Digital speech experts Ellen Goodman of Rutgers University Law School and Eugene Volokh of UCLA Law join host Jeffrey Rosen to discuss.
64 min
246
Can the Trump Administration End DACA?
The Trump administration’s decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is being challenged at the Supreme Court, and argument was held earlier this week. Brianne Gorod and Josh Blackman join host Jeffrey Rosen to explore those challenges.
49 min
247
Conversations with RBG
Host Jeffrey Rosen unveils his new book Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law in a live interview with Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick.
68 min
248
Is Brexit a British Constitutional Crisis?
Joining us from London, two experts on Brexit – Meg Russell of University College London and Kim Lane Scheppele of Princeton – explain its impact on the UK Constitution.
59 min
249
What Does the Constitution Say About Impeachment?
Detailing the process for impeachment set out by the Constitution – host Jeffrey Rosen is joined by former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, who served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment, and Gene Healy of the Cato Institute.
65 min
250
Can Employees Be Fired for Being LGTBQ?
Employment discrimination against LGBTQ people is at the center of three cases that were argued at the Supreme Court last week; Karen Loewy, Senior Counsel for Lambda Legal, and Professor David Upham of the University of Dallas explain the arguments on both sides of these cases in conversation with host Jeffrey Rosen.
54 min