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PODCAST

The American Idea

Ashbrook Center

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.

education

All Episodes

39:43

What Makes Americans a "Declarational" People?

The American Idea ·

2026/01/14

The Declaration of Independence is not, properly understood, a historical document. It is a statement of beliefs and principles describing the proper relationship between the individual and the state, and how the individual should view others in political matters. As such, it is not tied to a moment in time - 1776 - but should serve as the foundation of the American Idea for all time.What does that mean, and what can it mean for you? Join Jeff and Dr. Adam Seagrave as they discuss our Declaration,

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41:14

The American Revolution and the Fate of the World

The American Idea ·

2026/01/07

Was the American Revolution just a regional rebellion on the eastern seaboard, or something far larger? Professor Richard Bell, author of The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, argues it was a geopolitical earthquake that reshaped the global order. In this episode, Bell explores how France, Spain, and the Netherlands entered the conflict for their own strategic reasons, why Jamaica mattered more to Britain than Virginia, and how foreign intervention proved decisive at battles like

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7:12

2025 End of Year Message: Looking Back and Forward

The American Idea ·

2025/12/31

Jeff Sikkenga, Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center, shares a brief message about the reasons behind and goals of The American Idea, as well as Ashbrook’s plans to celebrate 250 years of America’s independence.Learn more at Ashbrook.org, or about our celebratory plans for 2026 at AshbrookFreedom250.orgHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

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60:35

Special Episode: Born American, But in the Wrong Place

The American Idea ·

2025/12/24

What does it mean to be American? How does one become an American? Join us for this special episode as Peter Schramm, past Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center and Professor of Political Science, discusses his family's flight from Communist Hungary, move to California, and growing up in his adopted home, learning the answers to those questions and, in his career, teaching native-born Americans about their homeland and the legacy they had been gifted by past generations.In this season of

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34:18

How Does the Declaration of Independence Influence...

The American Idea ·

2025/12/17

The Declaration of Independence summarizes and defends the most fundamental ideas about America - about our government, the relationship between it and individuals, and how its proper place in public life. If the Constitution is a set of rules and processes, with a 'mission statement' in the Preamble, the Declaration of Independence presents the ideas that call for those rules and processes, and make sense of that mission statement.As we prepare for America's 250th birthday, let's understand the

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36:53

When in the Course of Human Events: Creating the...

The American Idea ·

2025/12/10

Summer, 1776: the war for independence is over a year old and the leaders of the 13 colonies have finally decided that independence is their goal. How shall they explain America’s aims and reasons to her own people and to the world?A committee of five was selected to draft the document; the Second Continental Congress debated, revised, and voted on the document; and the world was never the same again.Read the document: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/declaration-of-independence/Read the

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52:41

“If they mean to have a war...”: The Causes of the...

The American Idea ·

2025/12/03

The American Revolution, born in the hearts and minds of Americans in response to British tyranny, is one of the most pivotal moments in human political and national history. But what caused it? It’s a lot deeper than taxes or tea, and as we prepare for America’s 250th birthday, it’s a good time to look back, and look deeply at the roots of the revolution, and what our Founders thought about the relationship between individuals and the state, and the appropriate limits of government - enduring ideas

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46:39

What Did Frederick Douglass Think of Abraham Lincoln?

The American Idea ·

2025/11/26

What Did Frederick Douglass Really Think of Abraham Lincoln?Discover the complex relationship between two of America's most influential figures in this revealing conversation about a groundbreaking new book. Historians John White and Lucas Morel unveil previously unknown letters and documents that transform our understanding of how Frederick Douglass viewed Abraham Lincoln—from harsh critic to reluctant admirer.Featured Guests:Dr. John White, Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport

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31:33

The Constitution and the Rule of Law

The American Idea ·

2025/11/19

Jeff is joined by Justice Sharon Kennedy, Chief Justice of the Ohio State Supreme Court to discuss the Rule of Law - what is it? Why is it so essential to limited, fair government? How is it promoted, protected, and how can we understand it better so as to pass on its value to future generations?Join us as we look at some of the most foundational, essential ideas, moments, and events in our history as we look forward to America's 250th birthday.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy

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42:31

Want to Understand America? Study the Gettysburg Address

The American Idea ·

2025/11/12

America is, at its core, a nation founded on ideas, and those ideas have faced criticism, revision, and review over the centuries. Abraham Lincoln, who once said that he didn’t have a political idea that didn’t spring from the Declaration of Independence, not only reframed the meaning of the Civil War, but also pointed back to America’s Founding to assert what America should and could be in the future.The Gettysburg Address is far more than commentary on the Civil War; it was a critique of how

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40:13

Entitlement Reform: A Problem We Can No Longer Avoid

The American Idea ·

2025/11/05

What are entitlements? How did they come to be so entrenched in American politics and economics? Why is it that people say that Social Security is going to run out of money? What does this have to do with you? Jeff welcomes analyst Jim Capretta to discuss the origins of America’s entitlement programs, how they have evolved, and why we are reaching a point where something must be done to shore up programs that are no longer fiscally solvent.Read Jim's book on the subject: https://a.co/d/hn2gsDkHost:

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39:05

Inside Camp David - The Private World of the...

The American Idea ·

2025/10/29

Jeff is joined this week by Rear Admiral Mike Giorgione (ret.), former commander of Camp David during the Clinton and Bush administrations, to discuss the creation, evolution, and role of the president’s Maryland retreat. Get the book here: https://a.co/d/aHCzcuSHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

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47:28

Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist

The American Idea ·

2025/10/22

Alexander Hamilton didn’t get his due until a Hip-Hip musical brought him to the public eye, over 200 years after his death. But what did he contribute to the American Founding? What did he contribute to the #1 cited source by the Supreme Court, The Federalist? Renowned historian and author Stephen Knott joins Jeff to kick off our series of “Freedom for the Next 250” episodes, leading up to America's 250th birthday.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe:

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56:13

What Can We Learn from Herbert Hoover?

The American Idea ·

2025/10/15

Think Herbert Hoover was just a failed Great Depression president? Think again. Historian George Nash reveals the shocking truth about one of America's most misunderstood leaders in this eye-opening episode of The American Idea.What You'll Discover: How Hoover saved more lives than perhaps any person in history through WWI humanitarian efforts Why both Democrats AND Republicans wanted him as president in 1920 (FDR even supported him!) The real story behind his Great Depression response - and the

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41:40

Taking Manhattan - The Creation of New York

The American Idea ·

2025/10/08

Taking Manhattan, available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/eQTNGWV https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton On Apple Podcasts: https://tr.ee/aTARALr9Gx On Spotify: https://tr.ee/09Ca21CCp- On iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-american-idea-119582945/

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38:23

The Pathfinder and the President: John C. Fremont,...

The American Idea ·

2025/10/01

In August 1861, General John C. Fremont—once America's most famous explorer and the Republican Party's first presidential nominee—issued an unauthorized order freeing all slaves in Missouri. President Lincoln swiftly revoked it, fearing the decision would drive crucial border states into Confederate hands. The clash between these two men revealed a fundamental tension: Fremont operated on moral urgency and personal instinct, while Lincoln worked within constitutional constraints and political

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48:17

Congress: What It Was Meant to Be and What It's Become5

The American Idea ·

2025/09/24

What was the original purpose of Congress? What powers did the Founders give it to fulfill that purpose? How does that compare to the institution we see today, in which Americans profess very little trust. Explore the historical and constitutional roots of the “First Branch” and how time and some well-intentioned changes have distorted its powers and role within our government.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

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83:28

The Constitutional Convention was a Four-Act Drama

The American Idea ·

2025/09/17

Discover how 55 delegates created the U.S. Constitution in just 88 days during the summer of 1787. Constitutional scholar Gordon Lloyd breaks down the Philadelphia Convention using his acclaimed "four-act drama" framework, revealing the behind-the-scenes negotiations, heated debates, and crucial compromises that shaped American government.What You'll Learn:✓ How Madison's Virginia Plan clashed with the New Jersey Plan✓ The Connecticut Compromise that balanced state vs. popular representation✓ Why

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50:23

The American Way of War

The American Idea ·

2025/09/10

This episode explores James Ellman's book "Seeds of Victory: Defeat, Triumph, and the American Way of War" with host Jeff Sikkenga from the Ashbrook Center. This military strategy documentary examines how US war tactics follow a consistent pattern: initial strategic defeats followed by rapid adaptation and ultimate victory. From Washington's military disasters in New York (1776) to early setbacks in Korea, American military history shows eight major strategic defeats between 1776-1951, yet US forces

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32:22

What are Capital Markets and How Do They Impact Our...

The American Idea ·

2025/09/03

You hear about them in the news, but how much do you know about capital markets - what they are, why they exist, how they've evolved over time, and what role the play in our economy and politics? Jeff discusses these in plain language with Bob Selvaggio, Head of Analytics at Rutter Associates. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

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