Live at the National Constitution Center

Live constitutional conversations and debates featuring leading historians, journalists, scholars, and public officials hosted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and across America. To watch National Constitution Center Town Halls live, check out our schedule of upcoming programs at constitutioncenter.org/townhall. Register through Zoom to ask your constitutional questions in the Q&A or watch live on YouTube at YouTube.com/ConstitutionCenter.

History
News
51
Trump v. United States and the National Securit...
International and national security law experts Harold Hongju Koh of Yale Law School, Deborah Pearlstein of Princeton University, and Matthew Waxman of Columbia Law School join for a conversation to explore Trump v, United States and the updated edition of Koh’s landmark book, The National Security Constitution in the Twenty-First Century. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
61 min
52
The Intellectual Origins of the Founding and Ci...
Political theorist William B. Allen and historian Alison LaCroix in dicussion with Jeffrey Rosen explored the intellectual foundations—from Montesquieu and beyond—of the U.S. constitutional vision and core values.
59 min
53
A Conversation on Black Leadership With Eddie G...
In celebration of Juneteenth, political commentator Eddie Glaude Jr. explores how ordinary people have the capacity to achieve a more just and perfect democracy.
59 min
54
Can the Constitution Revive the American Dream?
Yuval Levin and Aziz Rana discuss their latest books
63 min
55
America’s Confrontations With Illiberalism: Fro...
Historians Steven Hahn and Manisha Sinha explore America's historical encounters with illiberalism and its relevance to challenges confronting American democracy today.
63 min
56
Constitutional Challenges in the Age of AI
Tech policy experts Mark Coeckelbergh, Mary Anne Franks, and Marc Rotenberg in conversation about the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and constitutional principles.
61 min
57
Living Constitutionally: Insights From A.J. Jac...
A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning, in conversation with NCC President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
55 min
58
Ensuring Election Integrity: Insights From Meta...
Members of Meta’s Oversight Board Michael McConnell and Kenji Yoshino discuss the board’s recent work, including its efforts to ensure free and fair elections in advance of the 2024 presidential election.
63 min
59
America’s Most Consequential Elections: From FD...
A conversation with authors Michael Gerhardt and Andrew Busch comparing these pivotal presidencies
61 min
60
The Legacy of Emmett Till: From Tragedy to Acti...
Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund joins scholar Ronald Collins to discuss Collins' new book on the shocking story of the trial that followed Emmett Till's murder and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
59 min
61
Justice Stephen Breyer on Reading the Constitution
Why Justice Breyer chose pragmatism, not textualism
65 min
62
Lincoln’s Lessons: Then and Now
Acclaimed Lincoln historians Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Holzer assess Lincoln’s life and legacy to unveil remarkable similarities between the 19th century and today.
61 min
63
Democracy Checkup: Preparing for the 2024 Election
Legal experts Richard Hasen, Sarah Isgur, and Lawrence Lessig provide a health check on the state of American democracy in the run-up to the 2024 election.
59 min
64
The Pursuit of Happiness: A Book Launch and Con...
A Presidents Day Book Launch
65 min
65
Following Tubman’s Trail: Unveiling Stories of ...
In celebration of Black History Month, historians Edda Fields-Black and James Oakes explore the history of the African American fight for freedom during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
60 min
66
Constitution Drafting Project: A Discussion of ...
The Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University and the National Constitution Center present a discussion on the NCC’s landmark Constitution Drafting Project, featuring members of the drafting teams: Caroline Fredrickson of team progressive, Timothy Sandefur of team libertarian, and Ilan Wurman of team conservative.
56 min
67
David Hume and the Ideas That Shaped America
Scholars explore the Scottish philosopher David Hume, his philosophical legacy, and his profound impact on shaping the nation.
59 min
68
Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Tech Term
Legal experts Alex Abdo, Clay Calvert, and David Greene explore key tech cases before the Supreme Court and important questions at the intersection of technology and law.
58 min
69
Loyalists vs. Patriots and the American Revolution
Historians Joyce Lee Malcolm and Eli Merritt explore the differing opinions of Loyalist and Patriots and how both groups continue to shape our understanding of American identity.
61 min
70
The Taft Court: Making Law for a Divided Nation
Legal scholar Robert Post explores the history of the Taft Court and the contrasting constitutional approaches among its justices, including Louis Brandeis and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., among others.
58 min
71
From Spies to Leakers: The History of the Espio...
Legal scholar Heidi Kitrosser and political historian Sam Lebovic discuss one of the most contentious statutes relating to the First Amendment and how it has been used over time.
64 min
72
Democracy, Populism, and the Tyranny of the Min...
Political scientists Frances Lee of Princeton University, Steven Levitsky of Harvard University, and Kurt Weyland of the University of Texas at Austin, explore some of the new theories and approaches to the challenges facing American democracy in 2023 and beyond.
62 min
73
What the Black Intellectual Tradition Can Teach...
New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and political scientist Melvin Rogers explore the ways key African American intellectuals and artist reimagined U.S. democracy.
65 min
74
From Founders to Politicians: Political Divisio...
Historians Carol Berkin and H.W. Brands explore the hotly contested election of 1800, political partisanship, and nationalism in early America.
61 min
75
Native Peoples and Redefining U.S. History
Historians Ned Blackhawk and Brenda Child shed light on the central role Indigenous peoples have played in shaping our nation’s narrative.
58 min