Live at America's Town Hall

How are social media platforms dealing with disinformation in the midst of election 2020? Experts joined host Jeffrey Rosen to explore that question as well as the complex, persistent issues surrounding the regulation of online speech and content, and how all of that relates to the First Amendment and free speech norms. The panel featured David Hudson, Jr., First Amendment Fellow at the Freedom Forum; Professor Kate Klonick of St. John’s University School of Law, who’s studied and written about the creation of the Facebook Oversight Board; John Samples, Vice President at the Cato Institute, who’s a member of the Oversight Board; and Professor Nate Persily, co-director of the Stanford Program on Democracy and the Internet. This program was presented in partnership with the Freedom Forum, and its chair, Jan Neuharth, delivers opening remarks. For more on the 2020 election and nonpartisan educational resources, check out our recent election-related episodes of Live at the National Constitution Center, and visit the National Constitution Center’s election resources page—which includes informative podcast episodes, video lessons and more—at constitutioncenter.org/calendar/election-day-programming.

The biggest immigration controversies of the last decade have involved policies produced by presidents. Earlier this month, legal scholars Cristina Rodriguez, Adam Cox, and Michael McConnell joined National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to explore some of those controversies and consider what the president’s role in immigration law has been and should be. Rodriguez and Cox are co-authors of the new book The President and Immigration Law.  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

As the 2020 election approaches, this week we hosted program about the history of presidential elections. Experts Franita Tolson of USC Law, Edward Foley of Ohio State Law, James Ceaser of the University of Virginia, and Robert Lieberman of Johns Hopkins University joined National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the most contentious elections in American history—including one of the first controversial elections—1800—pitting Thomas Jefferson against Aaron Burr; the election of 1860 which set the stage for the Civil War; and the 2000 election which led to the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore. The panelists also explore the questions: How might controversy arise in the 2020 election, and what can we learn from history to try and avoid it? If you enjoyed this conversation, please check out last week’s episode to learn more about one of the elections covered in this conversation: The Hayes-Tilden Election of 1876. This program was presented in partnership with the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

This week, we partnered with Free and Fair with Franita and Foley, a podcast about democracy and elections hosted by election experts Professor Edward Foley of Ohio State Moritz College of Law and Professor Franita Tolson of USC Gould School of Law. They joined fellow elections scholar Professor Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law and National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a live recording of their podcast—a discussion of one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history, the 1876 Hayes-Tilden election, and a history lesson about what it can teach us today. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

The Constitution Drafting Project challenged three teams of leading constitutional thinkers from different ideological perspectives to draft their ideal constitutions. Earlier this week, “Team Progressive”—led by Caroline Fredrickson of Georgetown Law along with Jamal Greene of Columbia Law and Melissa Murray of NYU Law, and “Team Libertarian”—led by Ilya Shapiro along with Tim Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute and Christina Mulligan of Brooklyn Law—joined Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to present their constitutions. They explained their writing and drafting process, how they decided whether to start from scratch or revise the existing Constitution, what they kept and what they changed, how the two constitutions are similar and different, and more. Read the Libertarian and Progressive constitutions here https://constitutioncenter.org/debate/special-projects/constitution-drafting-project and stay tuned for a constitution from “Team Conservative,” coming soon. The Constitution Drafting Project was generously supported by Jeff Yass.

We recently hosted a special “Student Town Hall” with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch. Justice Gorsuch spoke to students joining online from across the country about his career, the role of the judicial branch, and what it’s like to sit on the Supreme Court. National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen moderated. This conversation was recorded on September 17—Constitution Day, the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution. As Justice Gorsuch mentions, that day, prior to her passing, the Center awarded Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the 2020 Liberty Medal. Watch the Liberty Medal video mentioned by Jeff here: https://constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal.

Last week, before the passing of constitutional icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the National Constitution Center awarded Justice Ginsburg the 2020 Liberty Medal for her lifelong efforts to advance liberty and equality for all. Following the Liberty Medal Ceremony, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen discussed the justice’s legacy both before and after joining the Supreme Court bench with two of her former clerks—Kelsi Corkran and Amanda Tyler. The Liberty Medal Ceremony included a video tribute featuring performances by internationally-renowned opera singers and tributes from special friends of Justice Ginsburg. You can watch it at constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last month, the National Constitution Center hosted a musical performance and conversation about the women who fought for the right to vote. On this episode you’ll hear the premiere performance of RESOLVED — a song cycle about the 19th Amendment and the American women’s suffrage movement—by composer/soprano/creator Patrice Michaels, performed by renowned mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and pianist Laura Ward and produced by NBCUniversal. Next, you’ll hear a discussion featuring scholars Marcia Chatelain of Georgetown University and Gail Heriot of the University of San Diego School of Law, and Center Exhibit Developer Elena Popchock exploring some of the iconic women highlighted in the performance who fought for the 19th Amendment and the Equal Rights Amendment. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the Center, moderates. This program was presented in partnership with Vision 2020’s Women 100 and as part of the Center’s yearlong initiative, Women and the Constitution, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the Center’s new exhibit The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote. As the highlight of the Women and the Constitution initiative, this Thursday, the Center will award the 32nd annual Liberty Medal to the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, for her efforts to advance liberty and equality for all. You can sign up to join the livestream of the special awards ceremony this Thursday at 6:30 p.m at constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

The National Constitution Center is hosting a series of online constitutional classes this fall for students and learners of all ages. Last Friday, Center President Jeffrey Rosen and Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner were joined by David Coleman, CEO of the College Board. They discussed the founders, their flaws, and whether they still matter today. They also dove into the ideas of classical philosophers like Aristotle and Plato—and how their ideas influence the pursuit of a more perfect union today.  Our schedule of constitutional classes for the 2020-2021 school year is available here: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. Check out all of our online educational resources: https://constitutioncenter.org/learn. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

The National Constitution Center is hosting a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, parents, and learners of all ages can join in constitutional discussions with scholars from the National Constitution Center and guest speakers. We’re sharing our first lecture of the new school year on today’s episode. Center President Jeffrey Rosen gave an introduction on how to think about constitutional questions, and then guided students in answering a crucial Fourth Amendment question recently addressed by the Supreme Court. Jeff was joined by the Center’s Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner.  Check out the full schedule of our constitutional classes here https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/educational-video/scholar-exchange-constitutional-conversations-and-civil-dialogue-high-school-and-college-level Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, parents, and learners of all ages joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the National Constitution Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes starting on August 31st, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from spring 2020 on today’s episode. Center President Jeffrey Rosen reviews 15 of the most important Supreme Court cases in American history in this lecture, which was given with high school students taking AP Government in mind but is great for learners of all ages! Jeff was joined by the Center’s Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner and by Stefanie Sanford from the College Board.  Our schedule of constitutional classes for the 2020-2021 school year, which will begin on August 31, is now available online: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. Check out all of our online educational resources: https://constitutioncenter.org/learn.  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Our annual Supreme Court term review, hosted in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, recapped the landmark cases from this past term and previewed what’s to come next term. The panel featured Supreme Court experts Dahlia Lithwick, Erwin Chemerinsky, Paul Clement, and Frederick Lawrence. Karen Levit, National Civil Rights Counsel at ADL moderates, with opening remarks from National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last week, historians Martha Jones and Lisa Tetrault joined National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a conversation exploring the history and legacy of the 19th Amendment. The discussion highlighted the untold stories of women from all backgrounds who fought for women's suffrage and equality for all. Martha Jones is author of the new book Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All. Lisa Tetrault is author of The Myth of Seneca Falls: Memory and the Women's Suffrage Movement, 1848-1898. This program was presented as part of the 19th Amendment: Past, Present, and Future symposium presented in partnership with All in Together, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, the LBJ Presidential Library, the National Archives, The 19th, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It’s as part of the National Constitution Center's Women and the Constitution initiative – a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Learn more about the National Constitution Center’s new exhibit The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote here https://constitutioncenter.org/experience/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, and parents joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes this coming school year, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from spring 2020 on today’s episode.    National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Eric Foner for a conversation about the Constitution and slavery in America, including the history and legacy of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, ratified during Reconstruction.    Our schedule of constitutional classes for the 2020-2021 school year, which will begin on August 31, is now available online: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. Check out all of our online educational resources: https://constitutioncenter.org/learn.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

In the spring, the National Constitution Center hosted a series of online constitutional classes where students, teachers, and parents joined in constitutional discussions with scholars from the National Constitution Center and guest speakers. As we gear up for more classes this coming school year, we’re sharing one of our favorite lectures from the spring on today’s episode.   National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Emily Bazelon—a lawyer, law professor, journalist, and podcast host who is staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and the Truman Capote Fellow at Yale Law School. Emily and Jeff answered audience questions about coronavirus’ potential impacts on the upcoming election—including how it impacted primaries in places like Wisconsin and what challenges it might pose for the general election in November.   Our schedule of constitutional classes  for the 2020-2021 school year will be available soon at: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/online-civic-learning-opportunities. In the meantime, check out all of our online educational resources at https://constitutioncenter.org/learn.  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

What did the original Constitution say about the right to vote? How has that changed over time, and why? In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment in 2020, the National Constitution Center hosted a program featuring a panel of voting and election law experts who addressed those questions and more. They also reflected on the memory of legendary voting and civil rights advocate Congressman John Lewis, the anniversaries of two landmark suffrage amendments, and other key laws and Supreme Court decisions that changed the scope of suffrage in America. National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen was joined by Alexander Keyssar of the Harvard Kennedy School, Derek Muller of Iowa Law School, and Franita Tolson of the USC Gould School of Law. This program was part of the Center’s yearlong initiative, Women and the Constitution, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and was made possible through the generous support of SteegeThomson Communications. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Recently, the National Constitution Center hosted a symposium bringing together contributors from The Battle for the Constitution website—a joint project from the National Constitution Center and The Atlantic that features essays exploring current constitutional issues from all perspectives. Today we’re sharing the second panel of the symposium: a conversation on the key constitutional issues raised by the coronavirus crisis. Jeffrey Rosen was joined by scholars Deborah Pearlstein, Polly Price, and Adam White to discuss how coronavirus has impacted democracy and the forthcoming 2020 election, public health law, the functioning of government, and more. Read The Battle for the Constitution including essays by these panelists here https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/battle-constitution/ Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Last week, the National Constitution Center hosted a symposium bringing together contributors from The Battle for the Constitution website — a joint project from the National Constitution Center and The Atlantic that features essays exploring current constitutional issues from all perspectives. Today we’re sharing the first panel of the symposium: a conversation on the constitutional dimensions of policing and protests. Jeffrey Rosen was joined by former Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, as well as First Amendment expert and law professor John Inazu, and policing expert and law professor Tracey Meares. Read The Battle for the Constitution including essays by these panelists here https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/battle-constitution/ This program is also made possible through generous support from the John Templeton Foundation. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

On June 19, 1775, The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Shortly after he received his commission, Washington left for Massachusetts and assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge on July 3, 1775. In honor of that anniversary and of the Fourth of July holiday this weekend, we’re sharing a program on Washington from earlier this year. Acclaimed historians Lindsay Chervinsky and Edward Larson joined National Constitution Center President  and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to discuss Washington and his role in the Revolutionary War and the Founding. Chervinsky is the author of The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution and Larson is author of Franklin & Washington: The Founding Partnership.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

This week, the NCC hosted a conversation on Congress in times of crisis featuring historians and co-hosts of the podcast Backstory Edward Ayers of the University of Richmond and Joanne Freeman of Yale University, and political scientist Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. They explored how Congress has handled crises of the past—particularly the Civil War, other key moments throughout American history in which Congress played a pivotal role, and the lessons those moments can teach us as Congress tries to navigate today’s challenges. NCC President Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constituitoncenter.org.