Advertise on podcast: The Blessings of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen

How their debates ignited the lasting battle over power in America SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, podcast host Jeffrey Rosen discusses the competing constitutional visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and explores how debates over national power vs. states’ rights; rule by elites vs. democracy; and liberal vs. strict construction of the Constitution have influenced the trajectory of American history. This talk was originally recorded at the 10th annual College of the Atlantic Summer Institute: Toward a More Perfect Union, held on the college's seaside campus in Bar Harbor, Maine, from July 27 - 31, 2026. To learn more about the Summer Institute, visit coa.edu/si .  Participants  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Jeff Rosen, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America (2025) Jeff Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024) All Summer Institute sessions can be watched on the College of the Atlantic YouTube channel. Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Mary Sarah Bilder, Justin Collings, and Alan Taylor discuss the history of the rights of conscience, which James Madison in 1792 called “the most sacred of all property,” and how Madison, Washington, and Jefferson approached questions of religious liberty. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. This program was originally recorded as a panel during the September 16th conference, “The Most Sacred of All Property”: Rights of Conscience in American Constitutional Thought, co-hosted by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and The George Washington School of Law.  Participants  Mary Sarah Bilder is the Founders Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. A constitutional historian and author of three books, Bilder was awarded the 2016 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy for Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention.  Justin Collings is the Academic Vice President at Brigham Young University and a Professor of Law at Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. A scholar of constitutional law and constitutional history, Collings’ most recent book is Scales of Memory: Constitutional Justice and Historical Evil.  Alan Taylor is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Chair Emeritus at the University of Virginia. The author of seven books, his most recent book is American Revolutions: A Continental History.  Additional Resources Mary Sarah Bilder, Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention (2017)Justin Collings, Scales of Memory: Constitutional Justice and Historical Evil (2021)Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History (2016)Live from the Washington National Cathedral (2026)Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, constitutional law and environmental law scholars Jonathan Adler and Donald Kochan join to discuss the first Supreme Court case of the new term, Suncor v. Boulder, exploring whether states, cities, and counties can sue fossil fuel producers for the harms caused by climate change. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Jonathan Adler is the Tazwell Taylor Professor of Law and William H. Cabell Research Professor at the William & Mary Law School. He is the author or editor of seven books, including Climate Liberalism: Perspectives on Liberty, Property and Pollution. Donald Kochan is a Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Law & Economics Center at the Antonin Scalia Law School. He serves as an Adviser to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Fourth, Property project, and his scholarship focuses on the areas of property law, constitutional law, and natural resources and environmental law. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Oral Argument Audio and Transcript for Suncor v. BoulderAmerican Electric Power Co. v. Connecticut (2011)International Paper Co v. Ouellette (1987)Jonathan Adler, Brief for Jonathan Adler as Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondents and Affirmance (8/3/2026)Donald Kochan, “Supreme Court Has Chance to End Legally Flawed Climate Claims,” Bloomberg Law (10/2/2026)Donald Kochan, “The Energy Sector is Threatened by a Climate Litigation Free-for-All,” National Review (9/20/2026)Stay Connected Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPod and @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about at FIRE.org/blessings.

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Melody Barnes, Executive Director of Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and Rabbi David Saperstein, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, join to discuss the role of faith and freedom of conscience in advancing the common good and strengthening democratic society. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Originally recorded as part of the September 16th Dallin H. Oaks Evening Program at the Washington National Cathedral, a part of the Cathedral’s A Better Way initiative. The entire program is on the Washington National Cathedral’s podcast, Crossroads.  Participants  Melody Barnes, executive director of the UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy and a professor of practice at the Miller Center. During the administration of President Barack Obama, Barnes was assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the first woman elected to the position. She also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which stewards the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools. Rabbi David Saperstein, director emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, having served as its director and counsel for 40 years. He was also the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom during the second term of the Obama administration. Jeffrey Rosen, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Dallin H. Oaks Evening ProgramCrossroads, the Washington National Cathedral’s podcastStay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyIG: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYT: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring the career and contributions of the Penman of the Revolution" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, historian Jane E. Calvert discusses the life and legacy of John Dickinson. The program also features readings from Calvert’s new Dickinson biography, a performance of Dickinson’s “The Liberty Song,” and original compositions with music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen. Rosen moderates. This episode was originally recorded as a Clarke Forum program at Dickinson College. Participants  Jane E. Calvert is the founder, director, and chief editor of the John Dickinson Writings Project (JDP) and associate professor of History at the University of Kentucky (UK). She is the author of Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson, the first comprehensive biography of the key American founder John Dickinson Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Jane E. Calvert, Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson (2024) Jane E. Calvert, Quaker Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson (2012)John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767-1768)Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How the Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024)Pursuit of Happiness: Two Song Cycles by Jeffrey RosenThe Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"The American Idea with America’s patriotic philanthropist" SHOW NOTES: In this special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a celebration of Constitution Day, investor, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein walks through the nation’s semiquincentennial, the big ideas of the Declaration and the Constitution, and the importance of history and reading in today’s climate. Participants  David Rubenstein is the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private investment firms. He is principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Chairman of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees, and a leader in the area of Patriotic Philanthropy. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources David M. Rubenstein, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency (2024) David M. Rubenstein, The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream (2021) Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America (2025) Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How the Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024) Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring the inspirations, advocacy, and struggle behind the Thirteenth Amendment" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, award-winning journalist Damon Root joins to discuss his most recent book, Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment. In Emancipation War, Root chronicles the wide-ranging movement against slavery― consisting of white and Black visionaries operating both inside and outside the halls of power, fighting both on and off the battlefield― that made the Constitution’s antislavery Thirteenth Amendment possible.  Participants Damon Root is a senior editor of Reason magazine and the author of Reason’s semiweekly Injustice System newsletter. He is the author of three books, including the 2020 work, A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Damon Root, Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment (2026)Damon Root, A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution (2020)Damon Root, Overruled: The Long War for Control of the U.S. Supreme Court (2014)  Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring In Pursuit" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Colleen Shogan, the CEO of In Pursuit,  joins to discuss a new national initiative. In Pursuit, a More Perfect project, features a set of essays on U.S. Presidents and select First Ladies. Contributors – including three former Presidents, three former First Ladies, Chief Justice John Roberts, and seven Pulitzer Prize winners– reflect on each figure to distill a key lesson about the American experiment. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  Participants Colleen Shogan is the CEO of In Pursuit and served as the 11th Archivist of the United States. Prior to becoming Archivist, Shogan served as Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association, worked in the United States Senate, and served as a senior executive at the Library of Congress and its Congressional Research Service.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources In PursuitGeorge W. Bush, “For a Leader, Humility is the Ultimate Strength,” In Pursuit (2026) William J. Clinton, “An Even More Perfect Union Requires an Even Wider ‘We,’” In Pursuit (2026) Barack Obama, “Individual Liberty is Served by the Pursuit of the Common Good,” In Pursuit (2026) John Roberts, “Maintain Your Dignity and Principles Through Defeat,” In Pursuit (2026)  Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

SHOW NOTES: Ted Widmer joins to discuss his recent book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America’s Founding Text. Widmer traces the antecedents of the Declaration’s big ideas and finds in the words of succeeding generations of Americans, and people around the globe, the key to understanding the durability of America’s founding ideas. Participants  Ted Widmer was Distinguished Lecturer at the Macaulay Honors College of the CUNY. A former director of the John Carter Brown Library and the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, he is the author of 10 books and recipient of the Lincoln Forum Book Prize. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President on the Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality” (2015)Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream” (1963)Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States” (1876)Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address” (1863) Stay Connected Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPod and @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring the big ideas at the heart of the American experiment" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, law professor Robert P. George joins to discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the American Founding, the original meaning of “the pursuit of happiness,” the centrality of education to the formation of virtue, and the importance of structural safeguards for the protection of liberty. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. This episode was originally recorded as a program with the Chautauqua Institution.   Participants  Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He also chairs the New Jersey Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. His most recent book is Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth: Law and Morality in Our Cultural Moment (2025).  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Robert P. George | Chautauqua Lecture SeriesRobert P. George, Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth: Law and Morality in Our Cultural Moment (2025)Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America (2025)James Madison, “Federalist No. 10” (1787)James Madison, “Federalist No. 51” (1788) Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Recounting the ultimate road trip through the American past" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Beverly Gage joins to discuss her most recent book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. In this book, Gage recounts her travels to the museums, historic sites, roadside attractions, reenactments, and souvenir shops where Americans learn and fight about our history. From the birth of the nation in Philadelphia to Disneyland and the California dream, This Land Is Your Land offers a guided tour of thirteen places and thirteen key moments that define America's greatest successes and challenges. Participants  Beverly Gage is the John Lewis Gaddis Professor of History at Yale University. Her book G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, a biography of former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, received the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Beverly Gage, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History (2026)Beverly Gage, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century (2023) Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring the arguments and implications of the Court’s recent major decisions" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, journalist Joanne Lipman moderates a conversation with legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg and podcast host Jeffrey Rosen about the overarching themes, historical context, and future developments of the biggest cases from the Supreme Court’s most recent term. This episode was originally recorded as a virtual program with The New York Historical.  Participants  Joanne Lipman is an author and journalist who has served as editor-in-chief of organizations including USA Today and the Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Journal. She is also a scholar-trustee of The New York Historical.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Nina Totenberg is the American legal affairs correspondent for the National Public Radio (NPR). She has been covering the Supreme Court for over 50 years and has won numerous awards for her reporting. Additional Resources Trump v. Barbara (2026)Trump v. Slaughter (2026)Trump v. Cook (2026)Louisiana v. Callais (2026) Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

"Exploring the history of presidential demagoguery and conspiracy-mongering" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, esteemed presidential historian Stephen Knott joins to discuss his most recent book, Conspirator in Chief: The Long Tradition of Conspiracy Theories in the American Presidency. Knott takes readers on a sobering tour of the lowlights in the American presidency, showing how presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump have engaged in reckless conspiracy-mongering about their political opponents in order to increase their power and prestige. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  Participants  Stephen Knott is the Thomas & Mabel Guy Professor of American History and Government at Ashland University and an Emeritus Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College. He is the author or editor of ten books dealing with the American presidency, the early republic, and American foreign policy.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Stephen Knott, Conspirator in Chief: The Long Tradition of Conspiracy Theories in the American Presidency (2026) Stephen Knott, The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal (2019)Stephen Knott, Alexander Hamilton & The Persistence of Myth (2002) Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

Unpacking the history behind the Court’s biggest cases SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, leading originalism and executive power scholars Jed Shugerman and Ilan Wurman break down the historical arguments underlying two of the Court’s most consequential cases this term: Trump v. Barbara (the birthright citizenship case) and Trump v. Slaughter (the presidential removal power case). Jeffrey Rosen moderates.   Participants  Jed Shugerman is a Professor, Joseph Lipsitt Scholar, and Henry Elwood Warren Scholar at Boston University School of Law. The author of several law review articles about the original public meaning of Article II, he is currently working on two books on the history of executive power and prosecution in America. Illan Wurman is the Julius E. Davis Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches administrative law and constitutional law. He hosts the podcast rationally BASED, and his new book is The Constitution of 1789: An Introduction. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing writer of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Trump v. Barbara (2026)Trump v. Slaughter (2026)Jed Shugerman, Brief Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondents [Trump v. Slaughter] (11/14/2025)Jed Shugerman, Brief of Originalist Scholars Evan D. Bernick and Jed H. Shugerman As Amici Curiae Supporting Respondents, [Trump v. Barbara] (2/26/2026)Ilan Wurman, Brief of Amicus Curiae Professor Ilan Wurman in Support of Petitioners [Trump v. Slaughter] (10/16/2025)Ilan Wurman, Brief of Amicus Curiae Professor Ilan Wurman in Support of Petitioners [Trump v. Barbara] (1/27/2026) Stay Connected and Learn More Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

Exploring the life, ideas, and contributions of James Wilson SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman joins to discuss his new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution. This biography tells the story of James Wilson, a Founding Father whose bold vision shaped American democracy, but whose legacy was lost to scandal. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  Participants  Jesse Wegman is a Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, where he writes about Supreme Court reform and constitutional amendments. From 2013 to 2025, he was a member of the New York Times editorial board, covering law and politics, the Supreme Court, democracy, and electoral reforms. His first book, Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College, was published in 2020. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Jesse Wegman, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution (6/23/2026) James Wilson, Considerations on the Nature and Extent of Legislative Authority (1774)James Wilson, “Speech in the State House Yard” (1787)James Wilson, Lectures on Law (1790-1791) Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.