Eric Foner on Our Fragile Freedoms

Eric Foner on Our Fragile Freedoms

Author: National Constitution Center November 20, 2025 Duration: 44:28
In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Eric Foner joins to discuss his book, Our Fragile Freedoms, a new collection of essays exploring a range of topics, including debates over slavery and antislavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the battle to dismantle it, and modern debates over the Constitution and how to teach American history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was originally streamed live on September 24, 2025, as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series.  Resources  Eric Foner, Our Fragile Freedoms (2025)  Eric Foner, The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution (2019)  Eric Foner, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery (2010)  Eric Foner, Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 (1988)  Richard Hofstadter, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (1963)  Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org  Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr   Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit  Explore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness  Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate  Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen  Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube  Support our important work: Donate

Hosted by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, We the People is a weekly conversation that digs into the constitutional questions shaping the country right now. This isn't just a history lesson, though historical context is always part of the discussion. Instead, each episode brings together leading voices-legal scholars, journalists, public officials, and advocates-to engage in thoughtful, civil debate. You'll hear genuine dialogue where participants articulate and defend their positions, offering a clearer understanding of the complex legal and philosophical principles at stake. The goal is to move beyond headlines and soundbites, providing a forum where the best arguments from all sides are presented with depth and respect. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting in on a crucial discussion at the intersection of law, politics, and society, one that illuminates how the Constitution actively influences contemporary American life. Produced by the National Constitution Center, it serves as an essential resource for anyone looking to deepen their grasp of the nation's founding document and its powerful, ongoing role in our public discourse.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

We the People
Podcast Episodes
The State of Free Speech in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:26
Geoffrey Stone of the University of Chicago Law School and Eugene Volokh, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and UCLA School of Law, discuss the First Amendment and the rapidly evolving speech landscape—from social…
Mary Sarah Bilder on the Origins of the Bill of Rights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:37
In this episode, Mary Sarah Bilder, Founders Professor at Boston College Law School, explores the history of rights and liberties in America and the origins of the Bill of Rights. She traces how ideas about rights develo…
Chatrie and the Future of the Fourth Amendment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:57
In a recent decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that law enforcement’s use of a geofence warrant, which collected identity and location data from mobile phone users, violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against u…
Fergus Bordewich on Centennial and the Great Fair of 1876 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:52
In this episode, prize-winning author and historian Fergus M. Bordewich discusses his latest book, Centennial: The Great Fair of 1876 and the Invention of America’s Future, which explores the story of the nation’s 100th…
Rosemarie Zagarri on The Declaration’s Grievances [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:14
When Americans think about the Declaration of Independence, we tend to remember its most famous words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” and its promise of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But to fu…
Free Speech in a Changing World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:49
In this episode, Nadine Strossen, New York Law School professor emerita and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Jacob Mchangama, the founder and executive director of The Future of Free Spe…
Civil Discourse and the Supreme Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:46
In this episode, legal scholars Jonathan Adler, Greg Garre, Katherine Mims Crocker, and Howard Wasserman discuss the state of civil discourse inside the Supreme Court and in public debate about the Court. Julie Silverbro…
The Supreme Court and Executive Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:56
In this episode, legal scholars Gillian Metzger, Julian Mortenson, and Ilya Somin discuss the Supreme Court’s approach to executive power in recent decisions. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Ce…