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Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

What Power Does the U.S. Constitution Really Give WE THE PEOPLE? — w/ Strict Scrutiny co-host, Melissa Murray

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Sony Music

Comedy, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Education

4.921.6K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2026

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The U.S. Constitution can feel intimidating—but what if understanding it is one of the most empowering things you can do? This week, JVN sits down with constitutional law professor, legal scholar, and Strict Scrutiny co-host Melissa Murray to unpack what the Constitution actually says, how it’s evolved over time, and what it does to shape our daily lives here in the U.S. Together, they break down the myths, the amendments, and the big debates that continue to define U.S. democracy. From the origins of Prohibition to the long fight for women’s rights, Melissa explains why the Constitution was designed to change—and why “We the People” have always been central to that process. They also explore what rights the Constitution does (and doesn’t) guarantee, how constitutional amendments come to be, and what power ordinary people have to shape the country’s future. Get your copy of THE U.S. CONSTITUTION: AN ANNOTATED GUIDE FOR THE MODERN READER here Catch Strict Scrutiny wherever you get your podcasts! .  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Melissa Murray on Instagram @profmmurray   Follow Strict Scrutiny on Instagram @stricscrutinypodcast  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, Better Babes. Welcome back to Getting Better. It's me, Jonathan Van Ness. It is July. Honey, happy birthday, America. You're 250 years old, but Turtle Island, you're way older. And we got to learn about this Constitution, y'all. The Constitution in the Supreme Court is running amok out here in these streets. And the first three words of the Constitution are what? We the people. And we the people have lost a little bit of our bite, a little bit of our power, a little bit of our resolve, our resilience, our joie to be, honey.

0:25.3

I know there's a lot of constitutional law experts, but there's one in particular who I love who's going to be the most incredible guest for us today, Melissa Murray.

0:32.0

She is a constitutional law expert. She's a lawyer. She has a new book out now, which is called The U.S. Constitution, a comprehensive and annotated guide for the modern reader. This book is so important. I really can't think of a more important thing for us to read. Even Christians, honey, because y'all, I know you love the Bible, but some folks are using the Bible to do some bad stuff around here. So if we want to learn a little bit more about how to navigate it, you came to the right place. Let's dive into our conversation with Melissa Marie. Melissa, welcome back to getting better. How are you? I'm getting better. Thank you. Honey, we're going to get better about understanding the Constitution today and how it can protect us and what we need to understand. And can I just tell you, I love you so much and I'm so excited to see you every time I see you.

1:14.9

Same.

1:16.0

Also, can I just tell you the last time I was here, you gave me some incredible JVN hair products,

1:21.6

like the dry cream.

1:23.1

It's the air dry cream.

1:23.9

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:25.0

Love, love, love, love.

1:26.6

It's my favorite baby girl. It's like air dry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love. Love, love, love. It's my favorite baby girl.

1:28.0

It's like, it's a texture.

1:29.4

Is that in there now?

1:30.3

It is in there now.

1:31.3

Stop it. I do think that the definition of the movement was really giving. It really was, I don't want to assume it looks so gorgeous. Thank you. You did that. Can I tell you that every time I see you on MSNBC, I'm like, or it's MS now.

1:43.6

It's MS now, yeah.

1:44.8

I literally, but I wave at you so aggressively through the TV like I'm a four-year-old.

1:48.0

I'm like, or it's MS now. It's MS now, yeah.

1:44.8

I literally, but I wave at you so aggressively through the TV like I'm a four-year-old. I'm waving too. I love seeing you on there. Thank you. Wait, just for the people in case they, it's like kind of weird to plug it at the very top, but what night is it on? Is it every night? I don't have a show. Where do I see you on there then?

1:58.8

So sometimes I come on as a contributor for legal news,

2:02.0

but then sometimes, usually on as a contributor for

2:01.1

legal news, but then sometimes usually on the high holy days when Ari Melbur has to be at

2:07.5

synagogue or temple, you know, they'll call me in. I'm ready for you to get your, because I see you on

...

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