Live at America's Town Hall
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.
- 1 hour 3 minutesWilliam F. Buckley and the History of American Conservatism
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 [email protected]
- 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
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30 December 2025, 8:00 am - 57 minutes 20 secondsThe Constitutional Legacy of Justice Robert Jackson
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)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
23 December 2025, 8:00 am - 58 minutes 9 secondsAmending the Constitution and the Article V Project
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
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
16 December 2025, 5:51 pm - 59 minutes 28 secondsDeclaring Independence: Why 1776 Still Matters
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)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
9 December 2025, 7:36 pm - 41 minutes 59 secondsBonus: Twelve Titans Song Cycle
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
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
3 December 2025, 1:32 am - 38 minutes 14 secondsBonus: The Golden Mean Song Cycle
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 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
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
3 December 2025, 1:30 am - 53 minutes 25 secondsLiberalism: Current Challenges and Modern Debates
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)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
18 November 2025, 7:00 pm - 59 minutes 30 secondsNative Nations: From Ancient Cities to Today
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 [email protected]
- 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
12 November 2025, 2:14 am - 1 hour 6 minutesThe Pursuit of Liberty: A Book Launch Event With Jeffrey Rosen and Jeffrey Goldberg
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 [email protected]
- 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
28 October 2025, 2:08 pm - 45 minutes 6 secondsOur Fragile Freedoms
In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Eric Foner discusses Our Fragile Freedoms, a new collection of essays exploring a range of topics, including debates over slavery and antislavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the battle to dismantle it, and modern debates over the Constitution and how to teach American history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Resources
- Eric Foner, Our Fragile Freedoms(2025)
- Eric Foner, The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution (2019)
- Eric Foner, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery (2010)
- Eric Foner, Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 (1988)
- Richard Hofstadter, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (1963)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
7 October 2025, 11:49 pm - 1 hour 19 secondsAn Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett
In this episode, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a special Constitution Day conversation to discuss her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Justice Barrett reflects on her journey to the Court and offers a glimpse into her role (and daily life) as a justice, including her deliberative process and how she approaches interpreting the Constitution.
This program was recorded live in Philadelphia on September 17, 2025.
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
- 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
- Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen
- Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube
30 September 2025, 1:42 pm - More Episodes? Get the App