22 episodes

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.

Constitutional The Washington Post

    • History
    • 4.7 • 2.5K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Introducing 'Constitutional'

    Introducing 'Constitutional'

    Preview The Washington Post's newest podcast, a narrative series about the revolutionary figures who shaped America's story. Subscribe now to get the first episode when it launches July 24.

    • 4 min
    Framed

    Framed

    In the premier episode of “Constitutional,” we go back in time to that hot Philadelphia summer in 1787 when a group of revolutionary Americans debated, drank and together drafted the U.S. Constitution.

    • 1 hr 3 min
    Ancestry

    Ancestry

    In 1879, a case involving Chief Standing Bear came before a Nebraska courtroom and demanded an answer to the question: Are Native Americans considered human beings under the U.S. Constitution?

    • 40 min
    Nationality

    Nationality

    What makes someone American? A landmark Supreme Court case in 1898, involving a child born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, would help answer that question.

    • 47 min
    Race

    Race

    As powerful as it was to change the Constitution after the Civil War, and enshrine racial equality into our governing document, that wasn’t enough to change the reality of life in America.

    • 51 min
    Gender

    Gender

    From the American Revolution through today, women have been leading a long-burning rebellion to gain rights not originally guaranteed under the Constitution.

    • 48 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
2.5K Ratings

2.5K Ratings

Eddie Ginsburg ,

Constitutional

The Constitution has 27 amendments. This podcast comes the closest to answering the question-What were the arguments that led to some amendments being passed and some not. I wish there was a separate podcast honoring each of these changes. Also why was the 27th amendment allowed to pass in 1992 after being proposed in 1789, yet the Equal Rights Amendment failed because it wasn’t passed in a certain length of time? Thanks for the knowledge

Mmgriff99 ,

Lily’s podcasts unpack essential history

I listened to my first Presidential podcast at the suggestion of my 20-something daughter. I then listened to all of the Presidential podcasts. The depth of research and accessible presentation satisfied my curiosity and kept me feeling balanced through the tumultuous last several years.
Recently I saw a play about the Constitution which left me very unsatisfied. I remembered that Lily was going to make Constitutional. Again, the depth of research and accessible presentation is outstanding. I now have a real interest and connection with the US Constitution.
Great job!!

#babyboomer ,

So Important

So much valuable information for all US citizens to know and others in the world who thrive on knowledge. Have shared this with everyone I know as I’m not sure everyone paid attention in civics/Amer. History classes. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.

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