We the People

Juan Williams on the Rise of America’s Second Civil Rights Movement

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie joins award-winning journalist Juan Williams for a conversation on Williams’ latest book, New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America’s Second Civil Rights Movement, exploring the emergence of a new civil rights era—from the 2008 election of President Obama to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar at the National Constitution Center, moderates.  This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on February 26, 2025.  Resources Juan Williams, New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America’s Second Civil Rights Movement (2025) Jamelle Bouie, “Discussing Trayvon Martin, Obama Embraces his Blackness,” The American Prospect (July 19, 2013) Jamelle Bouie, opinion columnist, The New York Times Civil Rights Movement Reconstruction Thomas Ricks, Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968 (2022) 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

Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense

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 conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on February 9, 2026. It 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 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

The Declaration of Independence and the Push for Racial Equality

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.  This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on February 2, 2026.  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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠  Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr    Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠   Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate   Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen   Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate 

Best of 2025: Michael Lewis on Who Is Government?

In this Best of 2025-episode, Best-selling author Michael Lewis discusses his new book, Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service. As Americans’ distrust in the government continues to grow, Lewis’ book examines how the government works, who works for it, and why their contributions continue to matter. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on March 26, 2025.  Resources  Michael Lewis, ed., ⁠Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service⁠ (2025)  Michael Lewis, “⁠The free‑living bureaucrat⁠,” The Washington Post (March 2025)  Michael Lewis, “⁠Directions to a journalistic gold mine⁠,” The Washington Post (Nov. 2024)  Michael Lewis, ⁠The Premonition: A Pandemic Story⁠ (2022)  Michael Lewis, ⁠The Fifth Risk ⁠(2018)  ⁠CURE ID  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   Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate   Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen   Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support our important work  ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate 

The Lost Founder: James Wilson

This week, we explore the life of an influential and yet, often overlooked founder, James Wilson. Whose ideas and influence continue to shape current debates about popular sovereignty, constitutional structure, and democratic self-government.   Legal scholar William Ewald of the University of Pennsylvania and Jesse Wegman of the Brennan Center for Justice join to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the life and legacy of this founder and Supreme Court justice. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Jesse Wegman, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution  Jesse Wegman, Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College  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  Explore ⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate  Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen  Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠  Support our important work: ⁠⁠⁠Donate