The Democratic Constitution Podcast

Lucas De Hart and Luke Pickrell

The United States is not a democracy. We need a democratic constitution! A media wing of the Democratic Constitution Blog.

  1. 1d ago

    Audio Article: The Senate Is Begging to Be Abolished

    The hubbub surrounding McConnell, Platner, and Graham stems from the undemocratic Senate, argues Steven Raney. In a democratic political system, McConnell and Graham would be historical footnotes, and their life’s work would be nothing. But thanks to the radically anti-egalitarian Senate, a President who lost the popular vote (who they helped shield from meaningful consequences for trying to remain in power by force), and an unelected and unaccountable Supreme Court they helped shape, McConnell and Graham enjoyed more than a decade of free rein to remake the world according to their designs. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe live tangibly worse lives as a result."

  2. 4d ago

    Ep. 86: John Mulkins on Building the Movement for a New Constitution

    “We don’t need two legislatures to enact a piece of legislation. You want to have representation? Create an assembly of people who can faithfully represent the people and let them deliberate about whatever legislation they have in mind and let them make their own decisions. You’d need someone across the hall saying ‘No, the people can’t do that… the people are dangerous.’” Luke talks with John Mulkins, creator and host of the Peaceful Political Revolution in America podcast. Luke and John share how they each came to fight for a democratic constitution, the necessity of ideological and strategic leadership, and what will be important to keep in mind in the many struggles ahead. John also shares the knowledge he has gained through his podcast, and how he approached the work of educating the public. It takes a lot of work to plan, record, and edit each episode. If you enjoy these conversations with guests like John, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Your support is the motivation we need to keep going.

  3. Aug 7

    Ep. 85: Gil Schaeffer on DSA's New Program and the Bills Coming Due

    “The bourgeoisie has fought democracy for the last 230 years, because democracy would be the transfer of power into the hands of the majority. And the explanation of why all of the other parts of the minimum program are so hard to achieve is because we don’t make the laws… the conquest of political power is key.” Lucas and Luke talk with Gil Schaeffer, a frequent podcast guest and blog contributor. Gil’s most recent article is “Political Slavery and Modern Democratic Constitutions,” in which he engages with Mike Macnair’s comments on constitutions and universal and equal rights. Here, Gil talks about DSA’s new Workers Deserve More program and the explosion of discourse around abolishing the Senate. Thanks in no small part to Marxist Unity Group, DSA is slowly (and fitfully) positioning itself at the vanguard of the struggle for a democratic constitution. Gil also discusses the lessons we should draw from the Chartists, the US Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement; why and how we should rethink the traditional Marxist minimum-maximum program; and the conjuncture of multiple crises, including the end of Medicare and the ballooning cost of the war with Iran. It takes a lot of work to plan, record, and edit each episode. If you enjoy these conversations with Gil and our other guests, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Your support is the motivation we need to keep going.

  4. Jul 17

    Ep. 84: Zach Lewis and Elliot Lewis on a Democratization Program for the American Left

    “The lack of democracy in this country and the broader problems with capitalism and the rise of Trumpism were all tied together. I think it’s hard to understand why so much of the country supported Trump, including large parts of the working class, unless you look at the democratic deficit of this country and the lack of a multi-party system, lack of real political alternatives, and the way that Bernie was sort of shunted aside.” Lucas and Luke talk with Zach and Elliot, authors of the recent Jacobin article, “How to Democratize the United States,” which presents a four-point program for reshaping our political terrain. The conversation touches on why folks should think twice before putting faith in the federal courts as a bulwark of democracy, where the Constitution fits into the democratization program, what Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) can do to further a democratization program, the impact of the Bernie Sanders campaign, Majority Speaker Mike Johnson’s concerns about DSA’s program, and why so many Americans—including some law students—are ready for a change. Luke mentions several other interviews, including with labor lawyer Thomas Geoghegan and DSA congressional candidate Oliver Larkin.

  5. Jul 10

    Ep. 83: Robert Levine on Frederick Douglass, Andrew Johnson, and the Impeachment of a President

    “The whole issue of Reconstruction for Douglass… the whole idea of being able to vote was huge. So what if you’re a black person able to vote, but your vote is now so diluted into white majority districts that your vote doesn’t matter? It’s kind of like you are back to some of the issues that people were arguing about in the Reconstruction period.” Robert Levine joins the podcast to talk about his 2021 book, The Failed Promise: Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass, and the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Topics include Douglass’s relationship to other radical republicans; Johnson’s inconsistencies, idiosyncrasies, and plan for presidential restoration as opposed to reconstruction; Johnson and Douglass as historical narrators of varying credibility; Johnson’s impeachment, including the restrictions placed on the impeachment process by Article II; and the contemporary relevance of Douglass’s “Sources of Danger to the Republic,” a rousing critique of presidential powers under the existing Constitution. During the interview with Robert, I mention a different episode with August Nimtz about Douglass. I also used “Sources of Danger to the Republic” in a recent post about what it might mean to finish Reconstruction. The image for this episode is a drawing of Thaddeus Stevens announcing the impeachment of Andrew Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act.

  6. Jul 3

    Ep. 82: Tad Stoermer on the Resistance History of the United States

    “I think the Constitution is fatally flawed. And I think that the kind of reconstruction that’s required needs to get back to the kind of things that the radical Republicans couldn’t finish.” Historian Tad Stoermer returns to the podcast to talk about his new book, A Resistance History of the United States. We talk about the audience Tad had in mind for his book, the conversations he’s had about his work, and what a resistance history might offer a hypothetical member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). We also discuss questions of political culture versus political structure, the Confederacy and Reconstruction as a “hot topic,” the need for a democratic constitution, the late historian Gordon S. Wood, and why Tad thinks that “containment is complete.” Tad mentions David Waldstreicher’s reflection on Wood’s life and work. We spoke with David about slavery and the Constitution. Tad was last on the show to discuss public history and political myths, among other topics. The image used for this episode is a map of the Underground Railroad.

  7. Jul 1

    250 Years Without Democracy: The Significance of the Declaration of Independence

    This year is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and its proclamation that all men are created equal; that they have unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that they have the right to establish governments to secure these rights. Trump and the Republicans have been wrapping themselves in the flag and claiming they are upholding these principles. The Democrats are also wrapping themselves in the flag and claiming only they can defend us against Trump by upholding the Constitution. Of course, neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party is interested in universal and equal rights or a government and economy created of, by, and for the people. I explored the context, contradictions, influence, & contemporary significance of the Declaration’s assertion of universal and equal human and political rights. I argued that this assertion was and still is revolutionary because our Constitution denies equal suffrage. Attendees were encouraged to read my article (since paywalled on Jacobin but available here) on the 4th of July, excerpts from Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” and excerpts from Eugene Debs’s 1901 Independence Day Address.

  8. Jun 29

    Audio Article: What Would it Mean to Finish Reconstruction?

    "What Would it Mean to Finish Reconstruction?" By Luke Pickrell. Original article here.

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About

The United States is not a democracy. We need a democratic constitution! A media wing of the Democratic Constitution Blog.

Information

  • Creator
    Lucas De Hart and Luke Pickrell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    139
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lucas De Hart and Luke Pickrell
  • Show Website
    The Democratic Constitution Podcast