We the People

In this episode, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, retired, honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center, joins to discuss The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals, a new keepsake volume from the National Constitution Center. Justice Breyer, who wrote the book’s foreword, reflects on the enduring constitutional ideals explored in the volume and their continued relevance today. He is joined by the Honorable Cheryl Ann Krause, judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and member of the National Constitution Center Board of Trustees. 

This conversation was streamed live from Philadelphia as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on May 16, 2026. 

Resources  


The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals 

Justice Stephen G. Breyer, “It's up to us whether the American experiment succeeds,” (USA Today, May 11, 2026) 

Justice Neil Gorsuch, “How Imperfect People Form a More Perfect Union,” (Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2026) 


Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals: A Conversation with Justice Stephen Breyer , National Constitution Center, America’s Town Hall 

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The National Constitution Center recently published The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals (Simon & Schuster), a keepsake collection of essays bringing together leading thinkers from across perspectives to reflect on the ideals at the heart of the American experiment and what those principles have meant across generations of American life. In this episode, Professor David Armitage discusses his essay, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World,” which explores the document’s international legacy as a powerful blueprint for collective rights and national self-determination, and its ever-evolving domestic legacy as a touchstone for individual rights and human equality. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources 

David Armitage, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World” 

National Constitution Center, The Declaration of Independence 

Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended” (1776) 


Vermont Declaration of Independence (1777) 


French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) 


Haitian Declaration of Independence (1804) 


Venezuelan Declaration of Independence (1811) 


Greek Declaration of Independence (1822) 


Belgian Declaration of Independence (1830) 


New Zealand Declaration of Independence (1835) 


Texas Declaration of Independence (1836) 


Liberia Declaration of Independence (1847) 


Declaration of Sentiments (1848) 


Hungary Declaration of Independence (1849) 


Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945) 


Israel Declaration of Independence (1948) 


Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) 


Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Southern Rhodesia (1965) 


The Black Declaration of Independence (1970) 


Kosovo Declaration of Independence (2008) 

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Michael Auslin joins to discuss his new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America, a sweeping and vivid history of the Declaration of Independence from its drafting to its enduring role in American life today. Tracing the remarkable journey of this iconic document—from a Philadelphia boarding house to wartime hiding places and its place as a national symbol—Auslin explores how its ideals of liberty and equality have inspired generations and continue to shape the American experiment. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

This program was streamed live on May 6, 2026, as part of the NCC's Book Club Series. 

Resources 

Michael Auslin, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America (2026)

National Constitution Center, Interactive Declaration of Independence

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Jonathan Adler of William & Mary Law School and Stephen Vladeck of Georgetown University Law Center explore a part of the Supreme Court’s work that has drawn growing public attention: its emergency, or “shadow,” docket. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources

Jonathan Adler, “Reading the Clean Power Plan "Shadow Papers" in Context,” The Volokh Conspiracy (April 22, 2026) 

Jonathan Adler, “Mifepristone Returns to the Shadow Docket,” The Volokh Conspiracy (May 3, 2026) 

Stephen Vladeck, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic (2024) 

Stephen Vladeck, “Chief Justice Roberts and the Clean Power Plan,” OneFirst (April 20, 2026) 


City of Los Angeles v. Lyons (1983) 


Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) 


Winter v. NRDC (2008) 


West Virginia v. EPA (2016) 


Biden v. Texas (2022) 


United States v. Texas (2023) 


FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (2024) 


Trump v. CASA (2024) 


NIH v. American Public Health Association (2025)

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Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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On April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisiana congressional map, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in the drawing of electoral districts. The ruling narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination, not just discriminatory effects. In this episode, we explore the Court’s 6-3 decision and what it means for the future of the Voting Rights Act with two leading election law scholars: Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources 

Edward Foley, “The Supreme Court’s indefensible evisceration of the Voting Rights Act,” SCOTUSblog, May 5, 2026 

Michael Morley, “Voting Rights Case Sets Stage for 2050’s Multiracial Democracy,” Bloomberg Law, May 6, 2026 


Louisiana v. Callais (2026) 


Allen v. Milligan (2023)  


Robinson v. Ardoin (2022) 


Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) 


Shelby County v. Holder (2013) 


Thornburg v. Gingles (1986) 


Voting Rights Act (1965) 

National Constitution Center, “The Supreme Court’s Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering” (April 30, 2026) 

National Constitution Center, Voting Rights Classroom Resources 

National Constitution Center, Elections and Voting in the Constitution (Constitution 101 Curriculum)

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