Podcast
The American Idea
Hosted by Ashbrook Center · EN
The American Idea explores America's Founding principles and their effect on American history and government. Through thoughtful conversations with renowned academics and public figures from across the country, we examine the history and political thought behind our country’s greatest documents and debates, as well as contemporary issues, American popular culture, and political statesmanship. The podcast is a production of the Ashbrook Center and hosted by Jeff Sikkenga.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From 1776 to Civil Rights: How the Declaration Shaped the Struggle for Equality
1w ago00:52:03Tap to summarizeThe Abolition and Civil Rights movements are often presented as solutions to the failures of the American Founding, or replacements for its ideas. The relationship between the core ideas of America, as asserted in the Declaration of Independence and those of these two movements is complicated and has evolved over time. As we approach our 250th birthday, let’s take a look at how the Declaration is, in fact, the moral and intellectual foundation of both abolition and civil rights.Jeff is joined by Dr. Peter Myers, Professor of Political Science and expert in the politics of abolition and civil rights.Read Peter's book on Douglass: https://a.co/d/0b1TiSI3Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonOn Apple Podcasts: https://tr.ee/aTARALr9GxOn Spotify: https://tr.ee/09Ca21CCp-On iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-american-idea-119582945/
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Ronald Reagan and the Declaration of Independence
2w ago00:43:57Tap to summarizeAbraham Lincoln once asserted that all of his political philosophy was rooted in the Declaration of Independence. Other presidents have spoken positively about our founding document, and some have disparaged the ideas promoted in it. What about Ronald Reagan? Where did he stand on the Declaration’s core ideas of natural rights, limited government, and liberty?Jeff is joined by Greg McBrayer, who looks back on decades of speeches from Reagan in order to establish a clear connection between the principles of our 40th president and America’s original mission statement.Read Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing”: https://tinyurl.com/btvr8mu9Read Reagan’s 1986 Independence Day speech: https://tinyurl.com/ycyfvnkaRead Reagan’s Farewell Address: https://tinyurl.com/mu92b545Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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From Madison to Modern Politics: The Separation of Powers Debate
3w ago00:38:35Tap to summarizeThis episode examines the constitutional principle of separation of powers: what it is, why the American founders considered it essential to liberty, and how it works in practice through checks and balances. The conversation explores the distinct roles of Congress, the presidency, and the courts, and then turns to major controversies that continue to shape American government, including executive removal power, independent agencies, and war powers. The result is a clear discussion of why separation of powers remains one of the most important and contested features of the American constitutional order.Download the Separation of Powers documents collection for free: https://tinyurl.com/mr3274xxHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Prevent World War III
4w ago00:38:40Tap to summarizeJeff is joined by Palantir Technologies Development Strategist and author Madeline Hart to discuss her book, co-authored with Palantir’s CTO, about what’s wrong with America’s military industrial base, how we got here, and what we can do to fix this vital part of our national defense.Read about Madeline’s book: https://mobilizebook.com/Get the book: https://a.co/d/0ikuJ5tbHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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Missouri v. Biden: Free Speech, Coercion, and Government Power
Apr 800:29:55Tap to summarizeThe First Amendment’s free speech clause is meant to protect Americans against government abridgment of free expression. How does this apply to social media companies when they are subjected to both formal and informal pressure from members of a president’s inner circle?Although a narrow ruling, MO v. Biden makes clear the relevance of free speech, regardless of the state of technology at a given time in our history.Read NCLA’s press release: https://nclalegal.org/press_release/ncla-reaches-historic-settlement-strikes-major-blow-against-governments-social-media-censorship/Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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Natural Rights: The Declaration's Central Claim
Apr 100:37:00Tap to summarizeWhat are natural rights, and why, without them, are the ideas in the Declaration of Independence empty without them?Americans talk a lot about rights, but natural rights are the foundation of them all, and all the Declaration’s assertions and ideals flow from them. Jeff discusses what they are, how they relate to government, and why the are at the core of what Jefferson called ‘the American mind.”Download the 50 Core Documents book mentioned in the episode for free: https://tinyurl.com/yckez9c3Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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The Causes and Politics of Financial Bubbles
Mar 2500:42:18Tap to summarizeWhat is a financial bubble, and what are its causes? What are the political, as well as economic, impacts of these events? Jeff welcomes investment capital expert Aman Verjee to discuss these events, and the role they’ve played throughout history. You’ll learn not only a great deal more about what really caused the stock market crash of 1929, but how it compares to a tulip sales bubble (yes, tulips) in the Netherlands in the 1600s.Read Aman’s new book about the topic: https://www.amanverjee.com/the-bookHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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Did FDR Threaten the Fundamental Freedoms in the Bill of Rights?
Mar 1800:50:55Tap to summarizeHistorian David Beito joins Jeff this week to discuss the dark side of FDR: a seeming disregard for constitutional process and a lack of respect for the fundamental freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. Long lauded as a great president, is there more to his story and impact on America?Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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Thomas Willing: The Revolution’s Forgotten Financier
Mar 1100:36:52Tap to summarizeWhen we think of the American Revolution, we usually consider the ideas and animated the patriots and those leaders who organized and directed the war. Largely forgotten in all of this is a simple question: how was it all financed? And who did it?Thomas Willing, one of the most prominent merchants of the Middle Colonies, was at the forefront of solving the logistical and financial problems that plagued the American cause from the outset. Why, then, is he overlooked in all mainstream histories?Jeff meets with author Richard Vague to discuss Willing’s place in American Founding. You can get his book about Willing here: https://a.co/d/05py4B72Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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What Can We Learn from the Antifederalists?
Mar 400:37:25Tap to summarizeThe Anti-Federalists are often overlooked in the story of America's founding, but their arguments helped shape the Constitution we live under today. In this episode of The American Idea, host Jeff Sikkenga sits down with Professor Adam Carrington of Ashland University to explore what the Anti-Federalists actually stood for, why they opposed ratification of the Constitution, and why their warnings still resonate in American political life. From fears of consolidation and judicial overreach to the "fetus of monarchy" critique of the presidency, the Anti-Federalists raised serious constitutional questions that the Federalists could not simply dismiss.Together, Jeff and Adam trace the Anti-Federalists' most lasting contribution — the Bill of Rights — and examine how their concerns about government size, the Necessary and Proper Clause, standing armies, and the gap between constitutional text and political reality continue to echo today. Whether you're a student, teacher, or engaged citizen, this conversation offers an essential and often missing perspective on the American founding.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
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