Episode 26: Know the Nine You Will
June 30, 2021
We begin a series on the Supreme Court by profiling its nine Justices with an approach you haven’t heard before. And Akhil has some news about an upcoming appearance.
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The Supreme Court’s 2020-21 term is closing, and we are opening a window into the Court. We begin by looking closely at each Justice – specifically, their backgrounds and how their jurisprudence reflects influences from their past. Each Justice has their best and worst moments in Akhil’s eyes, and we discuss them. Also, Akhil has an important appearance coming up, so some background to that event is yours for the listening.
Show Notes:
Episode 25: Yale’s Constitution – special episode – guest Professor Nicholas Christakis
June 28, 2021
Andy and Akhil, in a role-switching episode, dissect the recent scandal regarding Yale’s governance and take stock of disturbing trends at their alma mater. Professor Nicholas Christakis makes a guest appearance, forming an all-star faculty team along with Andy – a now-former candidate for Yale’s Board.
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In this “additional” episode, Andy and Akhil switch roles and put the US Constitution aside for an hour, as they take a deep dive into the governance and politics of their beloved alma mater. Yale recently provoked a scandal when their trustees abruptly eliminated most of the democratic elements whereby alumni participated in the governance of the University. Andy was a candidate for election to the Yale Corporation, and he leads us through the weeds “inside Yale.” Meanwhile, Nicholas Christakis, a Sterling Professor at Yale and an official of Yale’s Faculty Senate, joins us; he and Akhil offer a unique faculty-oriented perspective on events. Anyone who cares about Yale will want to learn the facts behind this outrage. And how does John Adams, a Harvard man, sneak his way in?
Show Notes:
Episode 24: They Are Small Colleges
June 23, 2021
The colleges of the Founding era were few in number but outsize in importance both then and now; Andy and Akhil discuss greats, familiar and otherwise, from Webster to Wood.
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Akhil and Andy continue their tour of the 9 established colleges at the Founding, 7 were in the Ivy League, so the Ancient Eight will inevitably stand out in our survey – but they are not alone, as we discuss. Still it is remarkable that such a tiny portion of the population yielded so many familiar names. Latter-day scholars from these institutions still loom large as well, from Daniel Webster and Charles Beard to Gordon Wood and Maggie Blackhawk – giants all. And learn about one of the greats that you may not know well – Douglas Adair.
Show Notes:
Excerpt from Good Will Hunting on Gordon Wood et al
Re-creation of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, with Neal Katyal presenting Daniel Webster’s argument
Episode 23: Princeton Palaver Present
June 16, 2021
Akhil and Andy move the discussion to today’s Princeton University and some of its greatest scholars; they find both coherence and controversy.
Akhil and Andy move from The College of New Jersey – Princeton in the period of America’s Founding – to the Princeton University of today, and discuss matters of agreement and disagreement between Akhil and some of the Orange and Black’s leading faculty lights. Topics range from the 1619 project to the Electoral College and some of Andrew Jackson’s most controversial and misunderstood statements. Finally, everything you never knew you wanted to know about property is revealed.
Show Notes:
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Episode 22: Princeton Palaver Past
June 9, 2021
The Ivy League and the Founders continues as we move on to Princeton for a look at those Founders it educated, and how the place continues to influence their legacy. First of a two-part look at Old Nassau.
Akhil and Andy continue their look around the Ivy League. Having dispensed with Harvard, Princeton enters their sights, particularly their great early product, James Madison. Was he truly “the father of the Constitution,” and why does it matter? Two of the most important early Supreme Court cases are implicated – one you probably have heard of, and one you most likely have not. And two big issues for the 21st century find their roots in these cases – and the Court will be heard soon enough on one or both. And why does Bobby Bonds find his way into this episode?
Show Notes:
Episode 21: Harvard Hooey
June 2, 2021
A couple of Yale men tell you about Harvard – central to America’s original story, and to our telling and mis-telling of that story now.
That little-known school in Cambridge, Massachusetts keeps popping up. Akhil and Andy, objective Yale men as always, look at how Harvard was in the room at the American Revolution’s first stirrings, how generations of Harvard men kept a version of that story alive, and how today’s Cantab Crowd stumble over their own stories in ways that profoundly influence our American dialog about our past and our present. Akhil scrutinizes Harvard’s best and finds them brilliant but at times wanting – and issues an invitation to hash it all out.