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The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Legal scholar William Ewald joins Jesse Wegman to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the influence and legacy of forgotten founder and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson. 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

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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William F. Buckley and the History of American Conservatism Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Matthew Continetti, author of The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism, joins prize-winning biographer Sam Tanenhaus to discuss Tanenhaus’s new book, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America, and to trace American conservatism’s evolution from the Progressive Era, through the rise of William F. Buckley Jr., to today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Resources

Sam Tanenhaus, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America (2025)
Matthew Continetti, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism (2022)

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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The Constitutional Legacy of Justice Robert Jackson Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, John Q. Barrett, discoverer and editor of Robert H. Jackson's acclaimed book That Man: An Insider's Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt and writer of the popular blog The Jackson List, joins author and constitutional scholar Gerard Magliocca, author of The Actual Art of Governing: Justice Robert H. Jackson's Concurring Opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, and G. Edward White, author of Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgment, to discuss the Justice’s influential concurrence in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, his approach to constitutional interpretation, and the lasting legacy he left on debates over presidential power. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in partnership with the Robert H. Jackson Center.

Resources

John Q. Barrett, The Jackson List
Robert H. Jackson and John Q. Barrett (editor), That Man: An Insider’s Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt (2004)
Gerard Magliocca, The Actual Art of Governing: Justice Robert H. Jackson’s Concurring Opinion in the Steel Seizure Case(2025)
G. Edward White, Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgment(2025)
G. Edward White, The American Judicial Tradition: Profile of Leading American Judges (2007)

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Amending the Constitution and the Article V Project Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, the National Constitution Center launches its Article V Project, a new initiative exploring the founders’ vision for Article V and an historical look at the use of the Article V process from 1789 to the present. Project contributors and constitutional law experts Gerard Magliocca, Sanford Levinson, Michael Rappaport, and Stephen Sachs explore the origins, debates, and ongoing challenges surrounding Article V in this conversation about their new essays.Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in conjunction with the Article V Project, made possible by Democracy Restated.

Resources

Article V: Amending the Constitution
Gerard Magliocca, Report: Article V Constitutional Conventions
Sanford Levinson, Reflections on the Possibility of a New Constitutional Convention
Michael B. Rappaport, The Convention Method for Proposing Amendments: Essential, Misunderstood, and Broken
Stephen E. Sachs, Restoring Conventions, One Amendment at a Time

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Still Matters Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward Larson discusses his newest book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Still Matters. This book traces the idea of American independence in one pivotal year—1776—and explores why this year continues to hold significance today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

Resources

Ed Larson, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (2025)
Thomas Paine, Common Sense(1776)
John Adams, Thoughts on Government (1776)
George Mason, First Draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Bonus: Twelve Titans Song Cycle Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, we are sharing recordings from the Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness podcast launch event featuring a performance of Jeffrey Rosen’s The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness and Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses in Philadelphia.

Jeffrey Rosen, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and host of the podcast, performs his original songs inspired by the book’s exploration of the classical writers on virtue that shaped the founders.

This performance features Jeffrey Rosen and pianist Jennifer Blyth with arrangements by Greg Strohman.

Resources

Listen to Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness on ⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠
Watch the full performance of the ⁠Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles⁠ by Jeffrey Rosen
Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses, music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen [PDF]
Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America⁠, (2024)
Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America⁠, (2025)

Timeline

Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses

[00:00] Episode Introduction

[01:14] Twelve Titans Introduction

[05:10] 1. Twelve Titans

[08:15] 2. Apollo, Helios, and Hyperion

[11:15] 3. Pythia

[14:49] 4. O Diana

[17:36] 5. Athena

[20:00] 6. Mighty Aphrodite

[22:42] 7. Mercury

[25:28] 8. The Three Fates

[28:25] 9. Apollo’s Rising

[31:04] 10. Dame Fortune

[33:29] 11. Enthusiasmos

[36:16] 12. Divinity Is One

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Bonus: The Golden Mean Song Cycle Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

This performance features pianist Jennifer Blyth and baritone James Martin with arrangements by Greg Strohman.

Resources

Listen to Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness on ⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠
Watch the full performance of the ⁠Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles⁠ by Jeffrey Rosen
⁠The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness⁠, music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen [PDF]
Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America⁠, (2024)
Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America⁠, (2025)

Timeline

The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness

[00:00] Episode Introduction

[01:33] 1. Order: The Golden Mean

[04:10] 2. Temperance: Calm Self-Mastery

[06:40] 3. Humility: Judge Not

[08:28] 4. Industry: Industry Alone

[11:06] 5. Frugality: Thomas Jefferson

[13:51] 6. Sincerity: The Light Within

[16:50] 7. Resolution: Just Do What You Resolve

[19:00] 8. Moderation: Alexander Hamilton

[21:05] 9. Tranquility: Security Is an Illusion

[23:57] 10. Cleanliness: John Quincy Adams

[26:55] 11. Justice: Love’s the Answer

[29:40] 12. Silence: Silence Is Golden

[32:37] 13. Coda: Song of Devotion and The Pursuit of Happiness

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate
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Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Liberalism: Current Challenges and Modern Debates Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Susan Stokes, author of The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies, and Cass Sunstein, author of On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom, explore the current challenges facing liberalism and why liberalism remains essential to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Resources

Susan Stokes, The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies (2025)
Cass Sunstein, On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom (2025)

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠programs@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠
Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr
Explore the⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate
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Native Nations: From Ancient Cities to Today Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, award-winning historian Kathleen DuVal discusses her new book, Native Nations: A Millennium in North America, tracing a thousand years of Native history—from the rise of ancient cities and the arrival of Europeans to today’s ongoing fights for sovereignty. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Resources

Kathleen DuVal, Native Nations: A Millenium in North America (2025)

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 the⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠
⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate
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The Pursuit of Liberty: A Book Launch Event With Jeffrey Rosen and Jeffrey Goldberg Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen and The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg discuss Rosen’s new book, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America. The book explores how the opposing constitutional visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton have defined the nation since its founding, shaped presidents from Washington to Trump, and continued to drive today’s debates over government power.

This program is presented in partnership with The Atlantic and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Resources

Jeffrey Rosen’s new book, Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle over Power in America, is out in October 2025. His other books include New York Times bestsellers The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America and Conversations with RBG: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law, as well as biographies of Louis Brandeis and William Howard Taft.

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 the⁠America 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

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