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We the People

2021: A Constitutional Year in Review

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.61.1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2021

⏱️ 66 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, we look back on the events of 2021 from a constitutional perspective—from a violent mob storming the Capitol in January, to the inauguration of President Biden, and the convergence of a new Supreme Court with the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett; from key Supreme Court cases about religious liberty, voting rights, abortion, and guns, and finally, continuing questions about the scope of individual rights and government power amidst the continuing coronavirus pandemic. As 2021 comes to a close, we look back on how this year will be remembered in constitutional history. Joining host Jeffrey Rosen for the conversation are Adam Liptak, Supreme Court reporter for The New York Times, and Jennifer Mascott, assistant professor of law at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.   The National Constitution Center relies on support from listeners like you to provide nonpartisan constitutional education to Americans of all ages. In honor of the 234th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, every dollar you give to support the We the People podcast campaign will be doubled with a generous 1:1 match up to a total of $234,000, made possible by the John Templeton Foundation! Visit www.constitutioncenter.org/we-the-people to donate, and thank you for your crucial support.   Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello friends in honor of the

0:02.0

234th anniversary of the ratification of the US Constitution

0:05.4

the National Constitution Center is launching an exciting

0:08.2

crowdfunding campaign.

0:09.7

Thanks to our friends at the John Templeton Foundation

0:12.2

every dollar you gift to support

0:13.7

We The People will be doubled with a generous one-to-one match up to a total of $234,000.

0:20.7

Right now we have a total of 162 donations from 40 states for a total of 21,98.

0:30.0

So we are making progress week to week and let's keep the momentum going.

0:36.7

We love to see donations from all 50 states.

0:39.6

We don't have donations yet from Hawaii, Idaho, or Kansas. So if you're a listener in one of those

0:45.7

states, it'd be so wonderful if you would consider donating $5, $10 or more. This is such a meaningful opportunity to show your support of

0:54.6

constitutional education for all. Please go to Constitution Center.org

0:58.8

slash We the People, that's all one word, all lower case.

1:03.0

Now, on to today's episode.

1:05.4

Hello friends, I'm Jeffrey Rosen,

1:10.4

president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome to We The People,

1:14.8

a weekly show of constitutional debate.

1:17.5

The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan non-profit chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.

1:27.0

What a year in constitutional history from a mob storming the capital on January 6th to Supreme Court cases about

1:37.8

religious liberty, voting rights, abortion, and guns, to the continuing challenges of a global pandemic it has been a year

1:46.1

to remember. Joining us for this constitutional year in review are two of America's most thoughtful and illuminating

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