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America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, Ted Bundy and his lasting impact on American life. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Donald Trump is told to attend a deposition hearing, if he wants to continue suing the BBC for defamation. Donald Trump has told his Attorney General Todd Blanche to challenge the outcome of the Alaska senator race... but only if they lose. And as we get closer to the midterms, we're looking back at two years of Trump 2.0, to try and understand his recent behaviour, as we stare at the possibility of lame duck Trump for the next two years. Joining me this week is Iwan Morgan, an Emeritus Professor in the Institute of the Americas at University College London. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wall Street Crash is one of the defining moments in modern economic history - a sudden collapse in stock prices that helped trigger the Great Depression and reshape global politics, finance, and society. But the crash didn’t come out of nowhere. It emerged from a decade of speculation, fragile banking systems, global instability after the First World War, and domestic political choices that left the American economy dangerously exposed. To understand the crash, we need to understand the world that produced it: the roaring markets of the 1920s, the rise of Wall Street as a cultural and financial force, and the individuals whose decisions fuelled both the boom and the bust. So in this episode, I’m asking… what was the Wall Street Crash of 1929? . Special Guest: Dr Sean Vanatta, a historian of American finance and political economy at the University of Glasgow. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:19 - . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, The History of the U.S. Attorney General - where the role came from, why it was created, what it does, and the most consequential Attorneys General in American history. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I speak with Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand, in an extended conversation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. He explains how political rallies are funded, why “grassroots” movements rarely exist in the way people imagine, and how his company navigates ethics, safety, and influence in an increasingly polarised America. We also explore Adam’s proposed Transparency in Political Demonstrations Act - a push to force major rallies to disclose who’s paying for them. This is a pretty mindblowing conversation that reframes how political pressure is manufactured in the 21st century. Visit Crowds on Demand: https://crowdsondemand.com/ . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democracy is often described as a system in which power ultimately rests with the people. But history shows that democratic power is never guaranteed - it must be structured, protected, and constantly renewed. The relationship between citizens and government is shaped by laws, institutions, norms, and behaviours that can either sustain democracy or allow it to erode. Across the world, democracies have collapsed not only through coups or revolutions, but through gradual shifts: weakened checks and balances, concentrated executive power, politicised courts, and citizens who stop paying attention. Today, in the final part of our series on democracy, we explore how democratic systems distribute power, how governments earn and lose legitimacy, how authoritarianism emerges from within democratic structures, and what warning signs citizens should recognise. So in this episode, I’m asking… who owns democracy? . Special Guest: Ira Chaleff, author of To Stop a Tyrant and one of the leading thinkers on power, followership, and resisting authoritarian behaviour. His work examines how systems break down, how leaders accumulate dangerous levels of authority, and how citizens and institutions can prevent democratic backsliding. Buy Ira's book: https://a.co/d/0coCQuEs . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:19 - Did the Framers Believe in Democracy? 07:13 - The Benevolent Dictator 15:34 - Too Much People Power? 18:59 - Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely 26:02 - Can't We All Get Along? 30:21 - The Danger of Complacency 39:34 - The Normalization of Deviance 44:25 - Protecting Today's Democracy 49:24 - A Blind Spot in the System . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, the twelfth President of the United States, Zachary Taylor - his election, his presidency, his key achievements and challenges, and his lasting legacy. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we discuss a debut to forget for the White House's new press secretary, and the sad news that Pope Leo has lung cancer. Plus, the latest from Cornell University as they impose bans on frat parties and introduce new support for victims of sexual assault. To discuss this and the other big stories from the US this week, I'm joined by Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. Plus, I speak to Daniel Cox, the director and founder of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow in polling and public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute. His new book, Generation Uncoupled pulls together years of research and data to address these big questions facing America today. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 02:01 - Nobel Peace Prize 08:27 - Pope Leo 15:12 - Cornell University 24:49 - Daniel Cox 1:08:02 - Katie Zacharia . News Sources: Generation Uncouple by Daniel Cox: https://danielcoxbook.com/  American Storylines newsletter: https://www.americanstorylines.com/  2026 Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2026/press-release/  Pope Leo Diagnosed with Lung Cancer: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/10/13/pope-leo-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-successful-surgery/92237630007/  Cornell University Suspends Frat Parties: https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/14/cornell-bans-frat-parties-rest-year-gang-rape-claims-29708717/  Reaction to New Press Secretary: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/13/katie-zacharia-trump-press-briefing  Highlights from Katie Zacharia’s Debut: https://youtu.be/bfvq1eta_aM?si=9ws_p4gmowXfXhXB . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans elect their political leaders, but some of the most consequential decisions about their lives are made by judges they cannot vote out. The Supreme Court justices can overturn laws passed by their elected representatives, decide the boundaries of their rights, and determine how far a president’s authority extends. That independence can protect people from abuses of political power. It also raises a difficult democratic question: how do you hold powerful judges accountable when you cannot vote them out? Today, we’ll explore why America gave its Supreme Court this authority, what it has done with it, and what its future could mean for American democracy. So in this episode, I’m asking… how much power does the Supreme Court have? . Special Guest: Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at UEA and an expert on the US Supreme Court. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:57 - . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan Researcher - Michelle Poole In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, The History of Mormonism in the United States - how the movement began, how it grew, the challenges it faced, and the place it occupies in American life today. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, following the attempted terrorist attack at RAF Fairford, can the UK keep up the pretence of neutrality in the Iran War anymore? Plus, the crisis at Cornell University deepens as students protest and faculty take a no confidence vote in the administration due to failings in the Cornell 7 case. And, Virginia is the latest state to adopt Clean Slate laws, giving minor convicts a chance to hide their criminal record and avoid discrimination. To discuss this and the other big stories from the US this week, I'm joined by Liz Covart, host of Ben Franklin's World. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 02:27 - Jim Bakker Dies 06:48 - Cornell University 16:23 - RAF Fairford and the War in Iran 46:35 - Virginia's Clean Slate Laws . News Sources: Jim Bakker dies: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/06/jim-bakker-us-televangelist-fraud-sex-scandal-dead-at-86  Cornell protests: https://apnews.com/article/cornell-university-rape-investigation-70d74249bc779480975f3b2a4166ee97  Cornell rape allegations to be investigated: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/us/cornell-no-confidence-vote-rape-case-hnk  What we know about RAF Fairford: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c85ydnwqpzyzo  Virginia’s Clean Slate Law: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/virginia-becomes-latest-state-to-enact-clean-slate-law-to-help-residents-move-on-from-minor-offenses/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Religion has shaped American democracy from the very beginning; the founders debated the role of faith in public life, citizens invoked scripture to justify revolution, and early political movements drew heavily on religious identity. Over the next 250 years, religion influenced abolition, suffrage, civil rights, foreign policy, and nearly every major election. Americans still wrestle with the same questions: what role should faith play in politics? How does religion shape our understanding of democracy? And what happens when religious conviction collides with democratic decision‑making? So today, we explore the long relationship between religion and American politics, the advantages and challenges of religious influence, and how faith continues to shape elections, administrations, and public policy, as I’m asking… does God have the right to vote? So in this episode, continuing our four part democracy special, I’m asking… does God have the right to vote? . Special Guests: Caleb Lines, a progressive Christian Leader from California who speaks openly about the intersection between religion, politics. He's amassed six figure followings on social media. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:57 - Religion's role in the founding of the US 11:05 - Slavery, religion and power 18:10 - Religious leaders and their political influence 22:11 - Religion as a force for good 29:23 - Religious freedom 35:41 - The President & God 41:57 - Faith and activism 44:24 - 9/11 and Islamophobia 53:25 - A generational change 57:09 - Free speech vs hate speech . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, The Founding Fathers - who they were, how they came together, what they believed, and why they remain so consequential to the creation of the United States. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, tech bros unite to sign an accord that means they pinky promise to not destroy humanity with AI. The likes of OpenAI, Meta, Google and Elon Musk's xAI have agreed to create more robust internal checks on themselves, after OpenAI announced the postponement of their latest model due to safety failures. Meanwhile, Google are launching AI satellites into orbit, with Elon Musk's help, which is reassuring. Plus, the Senate pass new laws giving college athletes more earning potential, while on the same day Donald Trump and Linda McMahon reverse Biden-era definitions of sexual misconduct, essentially removing protections for women and the LGBTQ+ community. And, new DNA evidence has exonerated a man who was spent nearly 40 years on Death Row. To discuss this, I am joined by Jared Bahir Browsh, a cultural historian, commentator and author from the University of Colorado Boulder. He studies the relationship between culture, money, power, and identity in the United States, specifically focused on sport and pop culture. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 01:48 - Media Ban Update 06:16 - Protect College Sports Act 19:21 - Sexual Misconduct Laws 24:34 - AI Accord 46:43 - Death Row Inmate Freed . News Sources: Trump reinstates sexual misconduct rule: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/28/trump-administration-finalizes-repeal-of-biden-era-title-ix-rule-01094990  OpenAI halts release of new model: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/openai-halts-release-next-generation-223702291.html  SpaceX launch prototype Google AI satellite: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/spacex-launching-prototype-google-ai-satellite-next-week/ar-AA2cXFTd?ocid=BingNewsSerp  Tech firms sign AI governance accord: https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-anthropic-musk-595796511f110fc006cca0d01329733e  Utah man freed after nearly 40 years on death row: https://apnews.com/article/utah-death-row-douglas-carter-eva-olesen-10c0bf7603c87b214e0179ecf7a4be94  Senate overwhelmingly passes Protect College Sports Act: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/rep/release/senate-overwhelmingly-passes-protect-college-sports-act/  Trump reinstates sexual misconduct rules: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/28/trump-administration-finalizes-repeal-of-biden-era-title-ix-rule-01094990 . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Americans talk about democracy, they often invoke the Founding Fathers, the Revolution, and the Constitution. But the United States did not begin as a fully democratic nation, and the framers themselves disagreed profoundly about what democracy meant and how it should be structured. The Revolution was a fight against monarchy, but it was also a moment of contradiction: a struggle for liberty in a society that permitted slavery, limited political participation, and feared the dangers of popular rule. The framers built a republic that blended democratic principles with safeguards against what they saw as instability and faction. Today, we explore how the United States chose its form of government, what alternatives were possible, and how those early choices still shape American politics. So in this episode, in the first of a four part special, I’m asking… what does democracy mean? . Special Guests: Lindsay Chervinsky, one of the leading historians of the early American republic and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:16 - What Did Democracy Mean to the Framers? 08:35 - Is the American Revolution Radical? 12:29 - The Articles of Confederation 16:16 - State vs Federal Governance 21:12 - Passions of the Mob 25:57 - Vice President vs Deputy Prime Minister 30:59 - Different Types of Democracy 37:02 - Gerry Mandering & King George 42:40 - What Does Democracy Mean to Americans Today? 46:19 - Trust in Democracy . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices