We the People: The Right to Remain Silent

Throughline

NPR

Society & Culture, History, Documentary

4.6 • 16.4K Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Fifth Amendment. You have the right to remain silent when you're being questioned in police custody, thanks to the Fifth's protection against self-incrimination. But most people end up talking to police anyway. Why? Today on Throughline's We the People: the Fifth Amendment, the right to remain silent, and how hard it can be to use it. This episode originally ran in March 2025.

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Transcript

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0:51.1	we just wanted to let you know
0:52.3	that this episode contains descriptions of racial violence.
1:05.6	Took his coat off. Now he's wearing a blue shirt with number 15 on it. Heading northbound through the complex.
1:25.6	You have a right to remain silent. Dexter Morgan, you have the right to remain silent.
1:31.5	Text to Morgan, you have the right to remain silent.
1:33.9	Hey, you're not really arresting me.
1:35.6	You have the right to remain silent.
1:38.3	Walter White, you have the right to remain silent.
1:39.9	You know this moment.
1:42.7	The scene right after the dramatic standoff,
1:45.7	when the suspect is finally tracked down and cuffed.
	...

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