We the People

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 

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠

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Explore the ⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠ 

Explore ⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠ 


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After more than 12 years of distinguished service as President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Rosen has transitioned to the role of CEO Emeritus, enabling him to devote his full time and energy to his scholarship and public dialogue. 

The Center’s Board of Trustees appointed Vince Stango to serve as Interim President and CEO. 

From all of us at the National Constitution Center, we express our gratitude to Jeff for his leadership and vision, including his role as the long-time host of the Center’s We the People podcast, where he brought constitutional debate to life for millions of listeners. 

For the full announcement, visit the website. While you’re there, check out the many exciting things, including the Interactive Declaration, and all of our resources for America’s 250th!  

As we work to bring you the next chapter of We the People, we will continue to share recent programs and episodes from the archive.  

In this episode, we're sharing an America's Town Hall program with historians, Akhil Reed Amar, David Blight, and Annette Gordon-Reed, who joined for a sweeping conversation about the Constitution and the debates that have shaped America—from the founding era to today. They examine transformative moments in American history and landmark Supreme Court decisions. 

This program is presented in partnership with the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute and the Organization of American Historians.

Resources 


National Constitution Center Announces Leadership Transition 

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 

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 

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In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, award-winning historian Kathleen DuVal discusses her new book, Native Nations: A Millennium in North America, which traces 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. 

This conversation was originally streamed live on November 4, 2025, as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series. 

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 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 

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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. 

This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on December 11th, 2025. 

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) 

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 

Explore ⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠ 


⁠⁠⁠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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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 Jackson’s legacy in debates over presidential power, constitutional interpretation, and the prosecution of war crimes at Nuremberg. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

This program is presented in partnership with the Robert H. Jackson Center. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on December 8th, 2025.

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 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