Season 2, Episode 4 (Show 56): Debate Debate
January 26, 2022
The Senate spent 13 hours debating voting rights bills, and more fundamentally, debating whether the world’s greatest deliberative body would restore debate to its halls. Listen to excerpts and our commentary as the Senate considers eliminating or modifying the filibuster.
Amidst a host of state-level voting law initiatives, the Senate considers voting rights bills. Without 60 votes on hand, the Democrats have proposed extending the “nuclear option” to some or all legislation; this past week, they debated and voted on it. We have digested the 13 hours of debate and play for you relevant clips, with Professor Amar weighing in on who has the history and/or the Constitution right, and who is playing with facts and founders. A potpourri of Senators, from Leaders McConnell and Schumer, to recent Presidential candidate Klobuchar, and numerous others, weigh in and debate on whether or not the Senate shall, in fact, debate.
Show Notes:
Season 2, Episode 3 (Show 55): Heart To Hart: Filibuster Finis – Special Guest Gary Hart
January 19, 2022
The former US Senator, Presidential Candidate, Envoy, and long-time public intellectual joins us as we explore the possible demise of the filibuster, and what ails the U.S.’ democracy.
Exactly 10 years to the day prior to the January 6 outrages, Professor Amar and former Senator Gary Hart teamed up for a history-changing article explaining how the filibuster could become a thing of the past. In ensuing years, the “nuclear option” they outlined was invoked on presidential appointments, then Supreme Court nominations, and now it is so close to being gone for good. But this is just one episode in an epic American life served in the public sphere, and we go afield to begin to tap the endless insights of this man who was nearly President, and wound up doing, and knowing, more than you can imagine – and he begins to share it with us. Part one of two special episodes.
Show Notes:
Season 2, Episode 2 (Show 54): The Year and The Questions, Part 2
January 12, 2022
We conclude our look back at the first year of “Amarica’s Constitution” with clips on the Biden commission, on arguing before the Court, on leading the ACLU, and all about abortion. And – some great audience questions.
As year 2 of “Amarica’s Constitution” begins, we complete our year 1 recap with remarkable clips, some from outstanding guests: Neal Katyal on preparing and executing Supreme Court advocacy (including the specifics of a recent case he argued); Nadine Strossen (on how this ACLU leader has some surprisingly nuanced positions that the ACLU might not love); and Linda Greenhouse (on sources – who has them, and who doesn’t). We also hear from the SCOTUS Justices in oral argument clips from one of our most popular episodes, on abortion, unsurprisingly. We update our thoughts on the Biden commission. Finally, your questions are getting better, prompting Akhil to give respectful (!) and nuanced answers.
Show Notes:
Season 2, Episode 1 (Show 53): 80 Years in 80 Minutes: A Special Live Episode
January 5, 2022
Amidst the unreality of a pandemic book tour, Amarica’s Constitution goes in front of a live audience for something strange and wonderful these days – a real in-person book talk, speeding through the revolutionary period and whetting your appetite with historical and constitutional tidbits galore, to the delight of the crowd, and now, you.
Amarica’s Constitution takes to the road, as the Yale Club of the Palm Beaches, Florida, hosts us with a live audience of constitutional aficionados! The long-delayed book tour of “The Words That Made Us” finally assumes a recognizable form, as Akhil gives a whirlwind tour of the first 80 years of America’s Constitutional Conversation. Aside from a sense of the book, you should come away from this episode knowing 20-30 things you either didn’t know, or wrongly understood before. The audience then questions Professor Amar from founding to Trump – literally, as no holds are barred.
Episode 52: The Year That Was, and Your Questions
December 29, 2021
2022 in review, including clips from Bob Woodward, Neal Katyal, Philip Bobbitt, and more. Plus, Professor Amar responds to your questions!
Amarica’s Constitution celebrates one year of podcasting, and what a year it was. From the steps of the Capitol to the bench of the Court, we were there with coverage and analysis. In this episode we replay clips from, among others, Bob Woodward, Philip Bobbitt, and Neal Katyal, as they discussed and debated everything from impeachment to abortion with Akhil and Andy. And, as long promised, your questions submitted throughout the year are answered!
Show Notes:
Episode 51: Roberts Court, or Trump Court? A Conversation with Linda Greenhouse
December 22, 2021
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author, and Yale Law School colleague of Professor Amar, Linda Greenhouse, joins us for a discussion of the Court, and its possible moment of truth, identified in her latest book, “Justice on the Brink.” Meanwhile, SCOTUS keeps making news, and we (this time with Linda’s help) keep clarifying it.
The Supreme Court is still in the news, with vaccine mandate follies and more, and we continue to be there to help you decipher it. This week, our timing is perfect: the long-time, Pulitzer-winning NY Times correspondent, now columnist, Linda Greenhouse, joins us for a discussion of the Court and her new book: “Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months that Transformed the Supreme Court.” In light of Justice Breyer’s retirement issues (and how RBG’s retirement echoes loudly), the current torrent of impactful cases, and our recent commentary and other guests, this couldn’t be more timely. Linda’s book prepares us to ask if the Roberts Court is gone and the Trump Court arrived – and now we can begin to answer the question, as the Court slowly unveils its character. Best of all, you can find out what all this has to do with an iguana.