Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com (Benjamin Kleinerman, Shane Leary)

Shows

The Constitutionalist#59 - Tocqueville - The Omnipotence of the MajorityOn the fifty-ninth episode of the Constitutionalist, Ben and Matthew discuss Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 7 of Alexis De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" on the omnipotence of the majority. They discuss Tocqueville's warnings of the detrimental effects of democracy on the citizen. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Pr...2025-05-1652 min

The Constitutionalist#58 - Montesquieu and the Founding with William B. AllenOn the fifty-eighth episode, Shane, Matthew, and Ben are joined by William B. Allen, Professor Emeritus of Political Philosophy at Michigan State University, to discuss Montesquieu's political philosophy and its influence on the American Founding and eighteenth-century British politics. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JM...2025-05-0958 min

The Constitutionalist#57 - Tocqueville's Point of DepartureOn the fifty-seventh episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane and Matthew discuss Volume 1, Chapter 2 of Alexis De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer In...2025-04-251h 05

The Constitutionalist#56 - Federalist 37On the fifty-sixth episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane, Ben, and Matthew discuss Federalist 37, and Madison's teachings on political and epistemological limits. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Su...2025-04-1852 min

The Constitutionalist#55 - Gouverneur Morris with Dennis C. RasmussenPurchase Professor Rasmussen's book here.We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Cen...2025-04-111h 00

The Constitutionalist#54 - Defending the Electoral College (Martin Diamond and Herbert Storing)On the fifty-fourth episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane, Ben, and Matthew discuss the arguments of Martin Diamond and Herbert Storing in favor of preserving the Electoral College, presented to the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Senate Judiciary Committee in July 1977. The readings may be accessed here: Martin Diamond: http://www.electoralcollegehistory.com/electoral/docs/diamond.pdf Herbert Storing (Chapter 21 in this volume): https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/-toward-a-more-perfect-union_154408483501.pdf?x85095 We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and Hi...2025-04-041h 04

The Constitutionalist#53 - Lincoln's Temperance AddressOn the fifty-third episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane, Ben, and Matthew discuss Lincoln's famous "Temperance Address," delivered on Washington's birthday in 1842 to the Washington Society in Springfield, Illinois. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses ac...2025-03-281h 01

The Constitutionalist#52 - Texas Annexation - Adding the Lone Star with Jordan CashOn the fifty-second episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane, Ben, and Matthew are joined by Jordan Cash, Assistant Professor at the James Madison College at Michigan State University, to discuss Texas's declaration of independence from Mexico, and its annexation by the United States. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Po...2025-03-211h 06

The Constitutionalist#51 - Madison on PropertyOn the fifty-first episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Matthew Reising discuss James Madison's Note on Property for the National Gazette, published March 27, 1792 We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially th...2025-03-1445 min

The Constitutionalist#50 - The Constitution of 1787To commemorate the fiftieth episode of The Constitutionalist, Benjamin Kleinerman, Shane Leary, and Matthew Reising discuss the Constitution of 1787. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes fo...2025-03-0756 min

The Constitutionalist#49 - Madison's Notes on Ancient and Modern ConfederaciesOn the forty-ninth episode of The Constitutionalist, Benjamin Kleinerman, Shane Leary, and Matthew Reising discuss James Madison's "Notes on Ancient and Modern Confederacies," compiled in 1786, and his early thinking regarding confederacies, union, and the necessity of a new Constitution. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JM...2025-02-2855 min

The Constitutionalist#48 - Adams and Jefferson on Natural AristocracyOn the forty-eighth episode of the Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Matthew Reising discuss John Adams and Thomas Jefferson's discussion of natural aristocracy, in a series of letter from August 14 to October 28 of 1813. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at...2025-02-2152 min

The Constitutionalist#47 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance with Matthew ReisingOn the forty-seventh episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Dr. Matthew Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University, to discuss John Ford's classic film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tr...2025-02-111h 09

The Constitutionalist#46 - Monarchy vs. Democracy in Herodotus with Matthew K. ReisingOn the forty-sixth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary is joined by Dr. Matthew Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University, to discuss the constitutional debate that occurs in Book 3 of Herodotus' Histories and its implication for American constitutionalism. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through th...2025-02-0451 min

The Constitutionalist#45 - Brutus XVOn the forty-fifth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Brutus XV and his concern that the judiciary will prove to be the most dangerous branch. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 co...2025-01-2443 min

The Constitutionalist#44 - Federalist 78On the forty-fourth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Federalist 78 and the role of the Supreme Court. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their an...2025-01-1643 min

The Constitutionalist#43 - Biden's PardonsOn the forty-third episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by both Dr. Jordan Cash, Assistant Professor of Political Science of James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Isabelle Thelen, a Ph.D. student at Baylor University. They discuss President Biden's controversial pardons, including his own son, as well as his issuance of mass pardons and commutations, which the administration has described as 'the largest single-day clemency event for any president in modern U.S. history. Moreover, they discuss the administration's indication that Biden is considering preemptively pardoning political opponents of Donald Trump. We...2024-12-181h 06

The Constitutionalist#42 - Keeping the Republic with Marc LandyOn the forty-second episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Marc Landy, professor of Political Science at Boston College. They discuss his latest book, "Keeping the Republic: A Defense of American Constitutionalism," coauthored with professor Dennis Hale (also of Boston College). We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K...2024-11-201h 04

The Constitutionalist#41 - Should Biden Pardon Trump? (Federalist 74)On the forty-first episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Federalist no. 74, the executive power to pardon, and whether President Biden should consider pardoning President Trump. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 co...2024-11-1250 min

The Constitutionalist#40 - Trump's Second TermOn the fortieth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Donald Trump's election victory, and consider both why the victory was so surprising to many observers, and the possibility of moderating American political discourse going forward. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Pr...2024-11-0859 min

The Constitutionalist#39 - Jefferson's Call for UnityOn the thirty-ninth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Jefferson's First Inaugural, his understanding of the inherently tumultuous character of a free society, and the criticisms leveled against his legacy. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with mo...2024-11-0842 min

The Constitutionalist#38 - Civic Leadership with Justin DyerOn the thirty-eighth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Justin Dyer, professor of government and the inaugural dean of UT Austin's School of Civic Leadership (SCL). They discuss SCL's aims and objectives, and the growing civic education movement within the American academy. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the co...2024-10-1958 min

The Constitutionalist#37 - October 7th and Political ViolenceOn the thirty-seventh episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Dr. Kleinerman's latest article "There are no "both sides" to October 7th." The two co-hosts reflect on the relationship between day's of remembrance and intellectual debates, before considering the degree to which the University ought to take clear moral stances in shaping its students. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote th...2024-10-0756 min

The Constitutionalist#36 - Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc with Bernard J. DobskiOn the thirty-sixth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Dr. Bernard J. Dobski, Professor of Political Science at Assumption University to discuss his latest book, "Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc: Political Wisdom, Divine Justice, and the Origins of Modernity," which examines Mark Twain as a sophisticated political thinker, and his efforts to confront the political-theological problem in his final book "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc." We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Prin...2024-10-051h 12

The Constitutionalist#35 - The Bill of Rights with Tony BartlOn the thirty-fifth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Dr. Tony Bartl, Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at Angelo State University to discuss Federalist no. 84 and the consequences of the Bill of Rights. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tr...2024-09-1752 min

The Constitutionalist#34 - Russell Kirk's Conservatism with Michael LuccheseOn the thirty-fourth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Michael Lucchese to discuss the legacy of Russell Kirk and the contours of American conservatism. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at ov...2024-09-1254 min

The Constitutionalist#33 - ReaganOn the thirty-third episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss President Reagan's 1964 speech, "A time for choosing," and his legacy in shaping the Republican Party. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college ca...2024-09-051h 00

The Constitutionalist#32 - Montesquieu & the Separation of PowersOn the thirty-second episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Montesquieu's understanding of the separation of powers, and its relationship to the US Constitution. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses ac...2024-08-3049 min

The Constitutionalist#31 - John Quincy Adam's The jubilee of the ConstitutionOn the thirty-first episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss John Quincy Adam's Jubilee of the Constitution speech, and consider its relationship to Lincoln's understanding of the founding. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at...2024-08-2354 min

The Constitutionalist#30 - The Declaration of IndependenceOn the thirtieth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss the Declaration of Independence, and reflect on their respective Independence Day traditions. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the co...2024-08-1341 min

The Constitutionalist#29 - The Gettysburg AddressOn the twenty-ninth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss the Gettysburg Address. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate st...2024-08-0851 min

The Constitutionalist#28 - Supreme Court Reform & Presidential ImmunityOn the twenty-eighth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Biden's plan for Supreme Court reform, and the landmark Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college ca...2024-08-021h 04

The Constitutionalist#27 - Biden's Drop Out and Project 2025On the twenty-seventh episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss Biden dropping out of the 2024 election, support for Kamala Harris, and Project 2025. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the co...2024-07-2355 min

The Constitutionalist#26 - Trump Assassination Attempt & VP PickOn the twenty-fourth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman discuss the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, and the announcement that Senator J.D. Vance will be his running mate. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 sc...2024-07-231h 23