Melissa Murray: Understanding the US Constitution

Melissa Murray: Understanding the US Constitution

Author: Commonwealth Club of California July 23, 2026 Duration: 1:09:15
The U.S. Constitution is often at the center of debates about rights and wrongs and public policies in this country, but how many people have actually read it? How many have thought about it? How many understand it? Join us as bestselling author and popular law professor Melissa Murray shares with us her look at the country’s founding legal document—a document that still guides our judges, lawyers, lawmakers and executives nearly a quarter millennium later. Murray has spent a lot of time demystifying laws for people, something she does as a contributor to MSNOW, on her podcast “Strict Scrutiny,” and in articles and books, including her most recent, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader. With the Supreme Court and its interpretations central to the continuation of the republic, come see Murray act as an expert guide for reading and understanding the U.S. Constitution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly a century, the Commonwealth Club of California Podcast has served as a vital platform for civic dialogue, directly from the nation's largest public affairs forum. Each episode captures live, thoughtful conversations with leading voices from across the political spectrum and various fields, all committed to exploring the most pressing issues of our time. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit operation, the Club’s priority is substance over soundbite, fostering a depth of discussion that is increasingly rare. You’ll hear authors, policymakers, scientists, and cultural figures engage in nuanced debates and detailed analyses, reflecting a genuine diversity of perspectives. This isn't just a recording of events; it's an ongoing, accessible chronicle of American and global thought. The audio you find in this podcast feed originates from the longest-running weekly radio broadcast of its kind in the United States, a tradition started in 1924, now shared with a modern audience. Updated frequently throughout the week, the feed ensures you have direct access to a forum where complex ideas about government, society, and current events are given the time and respect they deserve. Tune in for a consistently enlightening experience that challenges assumptions and provides context far beyond the daily headlines.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
Podcast Episodes
CLIMATE ONE: It’s Too Damn Hot… So What Can We Do? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:09
We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were reco…
Ninety-Two: The Silent Revolt No One Saw Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
Join us for an evening of film, data and dialogue exploring one of the most consequential workforce questions of our time, featuring the documentary Ninety-Two: The Silent Revolt No One Saw Coming. Black women are among…
Tremendous Telescopes: The Future of American Space Observation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:16
For 500 years, telescopes have opened windows on the cosmos with increasing power and precision. Beginning with the historic telescopes funded by Andrew Carnegie and built by George Ellery Hale atop Pasadena’s Mount Wils…
Investing in a Resilient Future: From Climate Finance to Human Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
Natural and human-made extreme weather events are disrupting food systems worldwide, threatening the long-term economic stability and health of already vulnerable populations. Across the globe, 80 percent of the poorest…
Ecocivilization: Making a World That Works for Al [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:59
It has been said that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than it is to imagine the end of capitalism. Yet Jeremy Lent says that is what this historical moment urgently calls for. As climate chaos, inequality an…