Amended! Liberty's Guide to the First Amendment

Voxtopica & Liberty Vittert
  • 4.9 (12)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • SEMIWEEKLY SERIES

From Nazi marches to celebrity sex tapes to modern-day Satanists, Amended! unpacks the true stories that have shaped our modern understanding of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Professor, political commentator, and TV chef Liberty Vittert guides you through this deeply researched and thoroughly entertaining blend of interviews, narration, and archival audio that will leave you sharper and ready to win your next dinner table debate.  This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis.

Episodes

  1. A Mostly Free Country

    EPISODE 1

    A Mostly Free Country

    The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees some of the most fundamental rights that shape American society today. Yet, many of us struggle to fully grasp what these freedoms truly mean in our daily lives. This first episode of Amended! delves into its five freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. It examines the historical context of the Bill of Rights, how these rights have evolved over time, and how significant Supreme Court cases have shaped their interpretation. This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    11 min
  2. O Your Honor, Hear My Prayer

    EPISODE 2

    O Your Honor, Hear My Prayer

    The First Amendment’s freedom of religion clauses were the Founding Fathers' way of saying, “Hands off people’s beliefs,” but the way they work in real life is far more complicated, thanks to the constant pressure of believers from the Jehovah's Witnesses to the Satanic Temple. In this episode, Liberty explores how the Free Exercise Clause—the "believe what you want" rule in the Constitution—has constantly been tested by worshipers who wear spaghetti strainers on their heads and believers who knock on doors relentlessly to share the Good News. Then she explains how the Establishment Clause—the “no official religion” rule—evolved from a Federal restriction into law for States, towns, and school districts, thanks to a teenager reading the Koran in high school and statues of the demon Baphomet on State Capitol grounds. Join her on this raucous ride over centuries of changing views on what, exactly, freedom of religion actually guarantees for Americans and why so much of the law surrounding it is thought to be "broken." This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 3m
  3. They Can't Say That, Can They?

    EPISODE 3

    They Can't Say That, Can They?

    Free speech: the most iconic right guaranteed by the First Amendment. And, of course, one of the most controversial. Defining what counts as "speech" and when it can be regulated has sparked some of the most explosive cultural and legal battles in American history. In this episode, Liberty digs into landmark cases that have shaped modern free speech doctrine: from a once-scandalous French art film that now feels quaint, to George Carlin's iconic "Seven Dirty Words," to the outrageous (and raunchy) satire at the center of the clash between Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt and televangelist Jerry Falwell. Join Liberty for an irreverent tour through the courtroom battles that have defined freedom of speech and the new digital frontiers testing its boundaries in real time. This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min

  4. JAN 17

    Introducing Amended! Liberty's Guide to the First Amendment

    Free Speech. Freedom of Religion. Freedom of the Press. You’ve probably heard these terms a thousand times or more. But what do these “freedoms” really mean?  In this new series, Liberty Vittert, professor, political analyst, and TV chef, explores how Americans view and interpret the First Amendment, particularly at a time when what everyday people say and do is more publicly scrutinized than ever before.  She'll examine how the First Amendment is interpreted, challenged, and defended in America today by tracing the history of each of the rights it enshrines, and examine the debates over what the government can and can’t say about religion, speak with experts about what the press can and can’t publish without fear of being sued, and help you understand when and why the government can and will limit your right to free speech. If you love politics, history, or current events, or if you just want a better understanding of all the rhetoric being tossed around on social media, in the news, and everywhere else, Amended is for you. Follow Amended! Liberty’s Guide to the First Amendment now! This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

From Nazi marches to celebrity sex tapes to modern-day Satanists, Amended! unpacks the true stories that have shaped our modern understanding of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Professor, political commentator, and TV chef Liberty Vittert guides you through this deeply researched and thoroughly entertaining blend of interviews, narration, and archival audio that will leave you sharper and ready to win your next dinner table debate.  This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis.

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