Civics 101

44:08

What Does it Mean to Be a Democrat or a Republican?

Civics 101 ·

2026/10/06

Today we look at the creation and evolution of the two major parties in the US; the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. How did they come about? How did their ideals shift over the last 200+ years? And where might they go next?These episodes originally aired in 2020, and feature Keneshia Grant, George Will, Kathryn DePalo-Gould, Heather Wagner, Paddy Riley, and William Adler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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28:10

How a Bill (REALLY) Becomes a Law

Civics 101 ·

2026/09/29

Our final "Back to School" episode is a nod to how we started in the first place. Our show was created to be "Schoolhouse Rock for adults," and no mention of Schoolhouse Rock is complete without a sad little scrap of paper hoping to become a bill. Today we're exploring how that bill, sitting there on Capitol Hill, becomes a law. This episode features the voices of Andy Wilson, Adia Samba-Quee, Alizah Ross, and Eleanor Powell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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27:56

What is Federalism?

Civics 101 ·

2026/09/22

A tug of war, a balancing act, two dancers dragging each other across the floor. This is the perpetual ebb and flow of power between the states and the federal government. How can things be legal in a state but illegal nationally? Are states obstinate barricades to federal legislation? Or are they laboratories of democracy?Exclusive Coveron discount: : https://coveron.com/CIVICS or use the code CIVICS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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29:40

U.S. Versus: The Two Party System

Civics 101 ·

2026/09/15

Americans often take issue with our two-party system. So what other options are out there? Today, with the help of political scientists Guillermo Rosas and Robin Best, we explore the reason why we have (and may always have) such a system, and compare it to other democracies around the world. This episode contains an overabundance of Street Fighter 2 references.INCOGNI DEAL: They can't harm you, if they can't find you! To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to

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47:58

These United Hosts

Civics 101 ·

2026/09/08

In which we take an historical look at the interplay between marriage and democracy, and Hannah and Nick reveal a Civics 101 secret years in the making.INCOGNI DEAL: They can't harm you, if they can't find you! To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to ⁠incogni.com/CIVICS⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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31:16

Our 250th Annual Trivia Episode!

Civics 101 ·

2026/09/01

Not really. But we send one of our own out in style by asking (and answering) some very tough questions. Including one you might recognize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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37:59

Article II of the Constitution

Civics 101 ·

2026/08/25

Article II, which lays out the powers, duties, and limits on presidential powers, is one of the most debated and reinterpreted parts of the Constitution. So what does it say?Today we are joined by Dr. Corey Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown, author of several books on presidential power, and co-host of the podcast The Oath and the Office. We go through each and every clause of Article II, but somehow it keeps coming back to the same 35 words. Be sure to check out

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36:03

SCOTUS Decision Roundup

Civics 101 ·

2026/08/19

The Supreme Court wrapped it's 2025-2026 term and headed off on summer recess, so we're running through the biggest decisions from the bench. What did the court have to say about our constitution, our federal government and our individual rights?This year they got to everything from Birthright Citizenship to mail-in ballots to executive agencies, cementing some principles and throwing others into legal limbo. A lot can change in a year, especially when nine people have the power to profoundly

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33:30

What is communism, socialism, and fascism?

Civics 101 ·

2026/08/11

With the midterms coming up, these words are being uttered more and more each day. So what does it really mean when we call someone a socialist, communist, or fascist? Where did these ideologies come from, and why do we have ideologies in the first place?Today we speak with Patrick McGovern, professor of political science at Buffalo State University, and Susan Kang, professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and host of Left On Red. Learn more about your ad choices

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48:38

Article I of The Constitution

Civics 101 ·

2026/08/05

Maybe you’ve read the Constitution a ton of times. Maybe you’ve never read it. Maybe you even have one somewhere in your home! But, even for us civics lovers, there are times we forget what exactly is in it. However, by the end of this episode, you’ll know each and every part of the largest, and most important, section.Article I, which lays out the powers and restrictions of Congress, is massive. It comprises a full half of the written Constitution, and it’s the part the framers spent the most

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43:18

Why do Americans love conspiracy theories?

Civics 101 ·

2026/07/28

Conspiracy theories are not new in the United States, but over the years they have taken on a life and power of their own. How did conspiracy theories become so entrenched in the American mind? Why is it that, even if we don't entirely believe them, we like them?Our guests today are Katherine Olmsted, author of Challenging the Secret Government: The Post-Watergate Investigations of the CIA and FBI and history professor at UC Davis and Derek Arnold, an instructor at Villanova University who teaches

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32:19

Do we have separation of church and state?

Civics 101 ·

2026/07/21

What did Jefferson mean when he wrote about a "wall of separation" between the church and the state? How have we interpreted the pair of clauses in the 1st Amendment regarding religion? And what is the current relationship between church and state when it comes to the Supreme Court, religious schools, taxes, and growing religious nationalism?Today we talk to Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism and Morgan Marietta, Chair of

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55:14

Why is our union so imperfect? (With Jill Lepore)

Civics 101 ·

2026/07/14

Pulitzer-prize winning historian and author Jill Lepore has spent her career uncovering the stories we often do not tell, particularly about American history and democracy. In her most recent books, These Truths and We, the People, she asks what really made and makes the United States and what role citizens have in arching toward a more perfect Union. Listen in as she talks about her work for Writers on a New England Stage, recorded at the Seacoast Litfest in Portsmouth New Hampshire. Learn more

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23:38

How we started, how it's going

Civics 101 ·

2026/07/07

This is part two of our story about the original story of America we don't talk about...and how it ties to where we are today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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30:30

America's other origin story

Civics 101 ·

2026/07/03

This episode is being recorded just a couple of days before the 4th of July, and as so many are calling it, America's 250th birthday. And we here at Civics 101 have spent a lot of this year trying to understand when and how America, as we know it was really born. What is our origin story? Why are we like this? And why don't we talk about the empire that was here before the United States? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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28:09

Why is Congress like this?

Civics 101 ·

2026/06/30

Today in our continued exploration of why the US is the way it is, we get to Article I. Why did the framers design Congress the way they did? Why did the small states come out so far ahead? And what, potentially, would James Madison think if he saw its operation in 2026? To help us navigate the thoughts of men long-dead, we talk to Madison scholar Jack Rakove. He shares his insights on representation, the electoral college, and much more. Click here to listen to our episode on the Articles of

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28:42

When a flag is against the rules... or the law

Civics 101 ·

2026/06/23

In recent years, flag restriction rules, policies and laws have been cropping up across the country. Whether the government is telling you what you can fly or what you cannot, there's always something behind the flag. We dig into how, why and when it's legal for the government to decide what you can or cannot fly and hear from Halifax, Massachusetts, about what a flag controversy revealed about that town. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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46:51

Lessons from the American Revolution (with Ken Burns)

Civics 101 ·

2026/06/16

Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein spent nearly a decade making a twelve-hour documentary on the American Revolution. This is what they learned from the thousands of stories and events that resulted in the United States of America. It's a story of world-changing ideas, contradictory figures, myths that do us no good and what it means to be in pursuit of a more perfect union.You can watch Ken Burns The American Revolution on PBS, PBS.org and the free PBS app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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28:00

How to Make Things Better

Civics 101 ·

2026/06/09

Today we complete our trio of episodes in collaboration with iCivics, where we explore why people of myriad groups are having a tough time, civics-wise. In this episode, we tell you how to eradicate your cynicism and make a difference. First, we share Jill Lepore's presentation on conventions; how we used to interact with our many constitutions. And then, we talk with Eitan Hersh. Eitan is the author of Politics Is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real

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28:17

How did we get so red, white and blue?

Civics 101 ·

2026/06/02

Whether you fly it, wear it or want nothing to do with it, the American flag says a lot in and about the United States. Red, white and blue is far from exclusive to our nation and yet it is very much our brand... and very much branded on anything we can think to put it on. So where did the American obsession with our flag come from? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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