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Artwork for We the People
Supreme Court
First Amendment
Constitution
National Constitution Center
Executive Power
Declaration Of Independence
Congress
Thomas Jefferson
Originalism
Slavery
Free Speech
Democracy
Constitutional Law
Pursuit Of Happiness
Separation Of Powers
Reconstruction
Donald Trump
Federalism
American Revolution
Civil Rights Movement

A weekly show from the National Constitution Center hosted by Julie Silverbrook and Tom Donnelly where listeners can hear the best arguments on all sides of the constitutional issues at the center of American life.

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Artwork for We the People

Latest Episodes

In this episode, prize-winning author and historian Fergus M. Bordewich discusses his latest book, Centennial: The Great Fair of 1876 and the Invention of America’s Future, which explores the story of the nation’s 100th birthday and the first world’s... more

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When Americans think about the Declaration of Independence, we tend to remember its most famous words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” and its promise of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But to fully understand the Declaration... more

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The Supreme Court's latest term featured landmark decisions on executive power, birthright citizenship, voting rights, and more. But beyond the headlines, what did the term tell us about the Roberts Court itself? In this episode, Masha Hansford and J... more

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In this episode, Nadine Strossen, New York Law School professor emerita and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Jacob Mchangama, the founder and executive director of The Future of Free Speech, discuss the history, endu... more

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Recent Guests

Fergus Bordewich
Historian and author of Centennial, The Great Fair of 1876 and the Invention of America's Future
Author
Episode: Fergus Bordewich on Centennial and the Great Fair of 1876
Rosemarie Zagarri
Historian, George Mason University
George Mason University
Episode: Rosemarie Zagarri on The Declaration’s Grievances
Jonathan Adler
Tazewell Taylor Professor of Law at William and Mary Law School; author/editor of multiple works on the Roberts Court
William & Mary Law School
Episode: What the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Revealed About the Roberts Court
Masha Hansford
Partner in Davis Polk's Supreme Court and Appellate Practice; experienced Supreme Court advocate
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Episode: What the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Revealed About the Roberts Court
Jacob Mchangama
Founder and executive director of The Future of Free Speech
The Future of Free Speech / Vanderbilt University
Episode: Free Speech in a Changing World
Nadine Strossen
New York Law Professor Emerita, former president of the ACLU
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression / ACLU
Episode: Free Speech in a Changing World
Jed Shugerman
Professor, Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Episode: Does Article II of the Constitution Grant the President Power to Fire Anyone in the Executive Branch?
Michael Ramsey
Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law
University of San Diego School of Law
Episode: Does Article II of the Constitution Grant the President Power to Fire Anyone in the Executive Branch?
Julian Mortenson
James G. Philip Professor of Law at the University of Michigan School of Law
University of Michigan
Episode: The Supreme Court and Executive Power

Hosts

Julie Silverbrook
Host of We the People; National Constitution Center
Tom Donnelly
Host of We the People; law professor at University of Richmond (affiliation noted with NCC)

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Please get some vocal training

    ValleySpeak, especially the harsh vocal fry, is extremely grating and detracts from the content.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    SaraB3301
    United States3 months ago
  • Used to be my favorite show

    What happened to this podcast? Please return to primarily debating Supreme Court arguments and opinions with an occasional historical show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DJ French Fry
    United States4 months ago
  • Used to be about debate

    Jeff used to host regular, weekly debates on current constitutional questions between reputable scholars who engaged with ideas, not ideology.

    These days it seems to be a weekly history lesson with occasional focused debate over an immediate issue.

    I feel they are trying to avoid controversy and neglecting their mission.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Daishi52
    United States5 months ago
  • Afraid of discussing important cases

    This used to be one of my favorite podcasts, but since early 2025 they’ve shied away from discussing the actual merits of arguments being made. This is doubly true for issues that the current administration has strong feelings about. I’m not saying they’re partisan, but you can tell they’re playing it safe since they’re “chartered by congress”. It’s sad to see. I really appreciated hearing opposing opinions for the most hotly debated issues. There’s tons of podcasts out there that cover historic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    chadley426
    United States5 months ago
  • This is the most persistently disappointing podcast I know of. The topics are consistently interesting, and I'm always eager to learn more about them. The discussions seem like a boring overly officious polite class, rather than engaging and provocative. Maybe it's so eager to be non-partisan that it's pablum. It's certainly notable today that as we go through huge changes, I don't hear any meaningful challenge, nor do I gain an appreciation of other views. Rome crumbles and I hear blah bl... more

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Winston Smith
    6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique a perceived drift toward historical storytelling over debate.
Listeners appreciate the balanced, scholarly discourse and civic context.
Positive feedback highlights thoughtful moderation and diverse expert guests.
A number of listeners express frustration with perceived partisanship in recent episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Revealed About the Roberts Court
Q: How did the guests describe Justice Barrett's approach this term?
Barrett is seen as an incrementalist and doctrinalist who focuses on fitting doctrinal pieces together and prefers narrow, precise resolutions over broad constitutional overhauls.
What the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Revealed About the Roberts Court
Q: What did Masha Hansford identify as a key shift in the Court's approach to Fourth Amendment doctrine?
She pointed to Chatree as a landmark expansion of Fourth Amendment protections, moving beyond Carpenter and reshaping how privacy expectations apply to data held by tech companies, signaling a broader recalibration of surveillance jurisprudence.
What the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term Revealed About the Roberts Court
Q: What overarching theme did Jonathan Adler see defining the term for the Roberts Court?
He highlighted a blend of conservatism with independence, noting the Court often ruled conservatively but did so independently of the presidential administration, balancing ideology with institutional independence.
Rosemarie Zagarri on The Declaration’s Grievances
Q: Why have the grievances become the heart of the Declaration rather than the preamble or the famous lines about rights?
Rosie explains that the grievances provide concrete, historically grounded evidence showing how Parliament and the Crown violated English constitutional norms, and how these violations were framed to justify independence beyond abstract rights.
Eric Slauter on The Declaration’s Promises
Q: How did ordinary readers influence the Declaration's reception beyond the political elite?
Readers like abolitionists, religious leaders, and later reformers used the text as a mobilizing moral framework, pushing for emancipation, women's rights, and human rights, thereby embedding the Declaration in broader American constitutional culture.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About We the People

What is We the People about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly program exploring constitutional questions through balanced debates with prominent scholars, historians, and legal experts. Episodes frequently feature deep dives into the text, history, and practical implications of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration, and related governance issues, with fresh perspectives from law professors, judges, and national historians. Listeners can expect rigorous, idea-driven conversations that illuminate complex topics—from executive power and separation of powers to civil rights, birthright citizenship, and the role of the judiciary—often framed with historical context and global comparisons. Notable strengths include a strong cadre of academic guests, clear moderating, and a consistent emphasis on c... more

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1. Amarica's Constitution
2. Divided Argument
3. Advisory Opinions
4. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
5. The Lawfare Podcast

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We the People launched 21 years ago and published 635 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on We the People?

Recent guests on We the People include:

1. Fergus Bordewich
2. Rosemarie Zagarri
3. Jonathan Adler
4. Masha Hansford
5. Jacob Mchangama
6. Nadine Strossen
7. Jed Shugerman
8. Michael Ramsey

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