Constitutional | Podcast on Podbay

Constitutional

The Washington Post

With the writing of the Constitution in 1787, the framers set out a young nation’s highest ideals. And ever since, we’ve been fighting over it — what is in it and what was left out. At the heart of these arguments is the story of America. As a follow-up to the popular Washington Post podcast “Presidential,” reporter Lillian Cunningham returns with this series exploring the Constitution and the people who framed and reframed it — revolutionaries, abolitionists, suffragists, teetotalers, protesters, justices, presidents – in the ongoing struggle to form a more perfect union across a vast and diverse land.

Introducing “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop”

Grenada’s revolutionary leader was executed in a coup in 1983, with seven others. The whereabouts of their remains are unknown. Now, The Washington Post’s Martine Powers uncovers new answers about how the U.S. fits into this 40-year-old Caribbean mystery.

Oct 16, 2023

3 min

Listen to the first episode of “Field Trip”: Yosemite National Park

Lillian Cunningham begins her journey in the place that helped inspire the national parks. As wildfires threaten Yosemite’s giant sequoias, she asks how to ensure the survival of these ancient trees. Follow "Field Trip" to hear the whole series.

Jun 29, 2023

55 min

Introducing “Field Trip”

Journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s national parks. The Washington Post’s Lillian Cunningham ventures off the marked trail to better understand the most urgent stories playing out in five iconic landscapes today.

Jun 14, 2023

3 min

Introducing "Broken Doors"

An unusual warrant. A pattern of questionable no-knock raids. A reporting thread that just kept going. “Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series from the Washington Post. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.

Apr 27, 2022

4 min

Ourselves and our posterity

In the "Constitutional" finale, we address listener questions about the history--and future--of the nation's governing document.

Feb 12, 2018

54 min

The First Amendment

Why do First Amendment rights trump nearly every other right in America? Thank Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jan 29, 2018

52 min

Privacy

How should the Constitution's privacy protections be translated for a new era? This is a question before the Supreme Court today, but it was also a question that captivated a justice appointed to the Supreme Court 100 years ago — Louis Brandeis.

Jan 15, 2018

45 min

Prohibition

The passage and then repeal of the 18th Amendment, banning alcohol in America, highlighted the pitfalls of trying to legislate against vice.

Jan 1, 2018

53 min

Taxes

Congress today faces the same question it faced a century ago when creating the modern tax system: What kind of society should America be?

Dec 18, 2017

42 min

The common defense

One intention the framers had when creating the U.S. Constitution was to “provide for the common defense.” But who shoulders that duty has not always been so clear.

Dec 4, 2017

49 min