The Blessings of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen
The Blessings of Liberty is a weekly podcast hosted by Jeffrey Rosen — CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, professor of law at George Washington University Law School, and senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Each episode brings together leading liberal and conservative authors, historians, legal scholars, judges, journalists, and public intellectuals for thoughtful conversations about the constitutional and historical questions at the center of American life. Guests discuss new books about American history and the Constitution, debate the best arguments on both sides of current Supreme Court cases, and explore the Founding principles at the heart of the American story — including how deep reading and lifelong learning can help citizens pursue happiness and lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives. With deep dives into history, the Constitution, the lives of the Founders, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and the great books that shape the American tradition, The Blessings of Liberty examines not only what the Constitution means, but why the American Idea still matters. The podcast also offers a model for how citizens with different views can engage in the civil dialogue the Founders believed was essential to preserving the American experiment.
Episodes
How their debates ignited the lasting battle over power in America
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, podcast host Jeffrey Rosen discusses the competing constitutional visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and explores how debates over national power vs. states’ rights; rule by elites vs. democracy; and liberal vs. strict construction of the Constitution have influenced the trajectory of Amer...
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Mary Sarah Bilder, Justin Collings, and Alan Taylor discuss the history of the rights of conscience, which James Madison in 1792 called “the most sacred of all property,” and how Madison, Washington, and Jefferson approached questions of religious liberty. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. This program was originally recorded as a panel during the September 16th conference...
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, constitutional law and environmental law scholars Jonathan Adler and Donald Kochan join to discuss the first Supreme Court case of the new term, Suncor v. Boulder, exploring whether states, cities, and counties can sue fossil fuel producers for the harms caused by climate change. Jeffrey Rosen moderates.
Jonathan Adleris the Tazwell Taylor Professor of Law and William H. Cabel...
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Melody Barnes, Executive Director of Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and Rabbi David Saperstein, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, join to discuss the role of faith and freedom of conscience in advancing the common good and strengthe...
"Exploring the career and contributions of the Penman of the Revolution"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, historian Jane E. Calvert discusses the life and legacy of John Dickinson. The program also features readings from Calvert’s new Dickinson biography, a performance of Dickinson’s “The Liberty Song,” and original compositions with music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen. Rosen moderat...
"The American Idea with America’s patriotic philanthropist"
SHOW NOTES: In this special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a celebration of Constitution Day, investor, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein walks through the nation’s semiquincentennial, the big ideas of the Declaration and the Constitution, and the importance of history and reading in today’s climate.
Participants
"Exploring the inspirations, advocacy, and struggle behind the Thirteenth Amendment"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, award-winning journalist Damon Root joins to discuss his most recent book, Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment. In Emancipation War, Root chronicles the wide-ranging movement against slavery― consisting of white and Black visionaries operating b...
"Exploring In Pursuit"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Colleen Shogan, the CEO of In Pursuit, joins to discuss a new national initiative. In Pursuit, a More Perfect project, features a set of essays on U.S. Presidents and select First Ladies. Contributors – including three former Presidents, three former First Ladies, Chief Justice John Roberts, and seven Pulitzer Prize winners– reflect on ...
SHOW NOTES: Ted Widmer joins to discuss his recent book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America’s Founding Text. Widmer traces the antecedents of the Declaration’s big ideas and finds in the words of succeeding generations of Americans, and people around the globe, the key to understanding the durability of America’s founding ideas.
Participants
Ted Widmer was Distinguished Lecturer at the Mac...
"Exploring the big ideas at the heart of the American experiment"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, law professor Robert P. George joins to discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the American Founding, the original meaning of “the pursuit of happiness,” the centrality of education to the formation of virtue, and the importance of structural safeguards for the protection of liberty. Jeffrey ...
"Recounting the ultimate road trip through the American past"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Beverly Gage joins to discuss her most recent book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. In this book, Gage recounts her travels to the museums, historic sites, roadside attractions, reenactments, and souvenir shops where Americans learn and fight about our histo...
"Exploring the arguments and implications of the Court’s recent major decisions"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, journalist Joanne Lipman moderates a conversation with legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg and podcast host Jeffrey Rosen about the overarching themes, historical context, and future developments of the biggest cases from the Supreme Court’s most recent term. This episode wa...
"Exploring the history of presidential demagoguery and conspiracy-mongering"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, esteemed presidential historian Stephen Knott joins to discuss his most recent book, Conspirator in Chief: The Long Tradition of Conspiracy Theories in the American Presidency. Knott takes readerson a sobering tour of the lowlights in the American presidency, showing how presidents from Thomas Jef...
Unpacking the history behind the Court’s biggest cases
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, leading originalism and executive power scholars Jed Shugerman and Ilan Wurman break down the historical arguments underlying two of the Court’s most consequential cases this term: Trump v. Barbara (the birthright citizenship case) and Trump v. Slaughter (the presidential removal power case). Jeffrey Rosen mode...
Exploring the life, ideas, and contributions of James Wilson
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman joins to discuss his new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution. This biography tells the story of James Wilson, a Founding Father whose bold vision shaped American democracy, but whose legacy was lost to scandal. Jeffrey R...
Unpacking the legal and political issues surrounding free speech and the First Amendment
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, former president of FIRE David French explores evolving threats to free speech, the rise of Christian nationalism, the importance of religious liberty, and the thorny legal issues posed by AI and social media. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constituti...
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, leading Supreme Court commentators Sarah Isgur and Melissa Murray join to discuss the most important cases and overarching themes of the recently concluded term. Jeffrey Rosen moderates.
Participants
Sarah Isguris the host of Advisory Opinions and the editor of SCOTUSblog. She has worked in every branch of the federal government and on 3 presidential campaigns...
"Distilling the essence of the American Idea with America’s storyteller"
SHOW NOTES: In this special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns walks through the Declaration of Independence, clause by clause, to encapsulate the big ideas at the heart of the American story. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Co...
"Exploring the character and public service of America’s first president"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, award-winning historian H.W. Brands joins to discuss his new book, American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington. From his early military career to his leadership during the American Revolution and reluctant return to public service as the first president of the United States, American...
"Exploring the personal and public life of America’s 'greatest public servant'"
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Bob Crawford, bassist for the Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers, joins to discuss his new book, America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick. This accessible and entertaining biography tells the tale of Adams’s turbulent government career ...
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