The Blessings of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen

Jeffrey Rosen

The Blessings of Liberty is a weekly podcast hosted by Jeffrey Rosen — CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, professor of law at George Washington University Law School, and senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Each episode brings together leading liberal and conservative authors, historians, legal scholars, judges, journalists, and public intellectuals for thoughtful conversations about the constitutional and historical questions at the center of American life. Guests discuss new books about American history and the Constitution, debate the best arguments on both sides of current Supreme Court cases, and explore the Founding principles at the heart of the American story — including how deep reading and lifelong learning can help citizens pursue happiness and lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives. With deep dives into history, the Constitution, the lives of the Founders, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and the great books that shape the American tradition, The Blessings of Liberty examines not only what the Constitution means, but why the American Idea still matters. The podcast also offers a model for how citizens with different views can engage in the civil dialogue the Founders believed was essential to preserving the American experiment. 

  1. 7h ago

    What did Madison, Washington, and Jefferson think about Religious Liberty

    "Exploring the Founders’ Views on the Sacred Rights of Conscience" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Mary Sarah Bilder, Justin Collings, and Alan Taylor discuss the history of the rights of conscience, which James Madison in 1792 called “the most sacred of all property,” and how Madison, Washington, and Jefferson approached questions of religious liberty. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. This program was originally recorded as a panel during the September 16th conference, “The Most Sacred of All Property”: Rights of Conscience in American Constitutional Thought, which was co-hosted by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and The George Washington School of Law.  Participants  Mary Sarah Bilder is the Founders Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. A constitutional historian and author of three books, Bilder was awarded the 2016 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy for Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention.  Justin Collings is the Academic Vice President at Brigham Young University and a Professor of Law at Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. A scholar of constitutional law and constitutional history, Collings’ most recent book is Scales of Memory: Constitutional Justice and Historical Evil.  Alan Taylor is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Chair Emeritus at the University of Virginia. The author of seven books, his most recent book is American Revolutions: A Continental History.  Additional Resources Mary Sarah Bilder, Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention (2017)Justin Collings, Scales of Memory: Constitutional Justice and Historical Evil (2021)Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History (2016)Live from the Washington National Cathedral (2026)Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  2. Oct 8

    Can states and municipalities sue oil companies over climate change?

    SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, constitutional law and environmental law scholars Jonathan Adler and Donald Kochan join to discuss the first Supreme Court case of the new term, Suncor v. Boulder, exploring whether states, cities, and counties can sue fossil fuel producers for the harms caused by climate change. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Jonathan Adler is the Tazwell Taylor Professor of Law and William H. Cabell Research Professor at the William & Mary Law School. He is the author or editor of seven books, including Climate Liberalism: Perspectives on Liberty, Property and Pollution. Donald Kochan is a Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Law & Economics Center at the Antonin Scalia Law School. He serves as an Adviser to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Fourth, Property project, and his scholarship focuses on the areas of property law, constitutional law, and natural resources and environmental law. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Oral Argument Audio and Transcript for Suncor v. BoulderAmerican Electric Power Co. v. Connecticut (2011)International Paper Co v. Ouellette (1987)Jonathan Adler, Brief for Jonathan Adler as Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondents and Affirmance (8/3/2026)Donald Kochan, “Supreme Court Has Chance to End Legally Flawed Climate Claims,” Bloomberg Law (10/2/2026)Donald Kochan, “The Energy Sector is Threatened by a Climate Litigation Free-for-All,” National Review (9/20/2026)Stay Connected Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPod and @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about at FIRE.org/blessings.

  3. Oct 1

    Live from the Washington National Cathedral

    "Exploring how faith and freedom of conscience can promote the common good. " SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Melody Barnes, Executive Director of Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and Rabbi David Saperstein, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, join to discuss the role of faith and freedom of conscience in advancing the common good and strengthening democratic society. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program was originally recorded as part of the September 16th Dallin H. Oaks Evening Program at the Washington National Cathedral, a part of the Cathedral’s A Better Way initiative. You can hear the entire program at the Washington National Cathedral’s podcast, Crossroads.  Participants  Melody Barnes is executive director of the UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy and a professor of practice at the Miller Center. During the administration of President Barack Obama, Barnes was assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the first woman elected to the position. She also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which stewards the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools. Rabbi David Saperstein is director emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, having served as its director and counsel for 40 years. He also served as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom during the second term of the Obama administration. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Dallin H. Oaks Evening ProgramCrossroads, the Washington National Cathedral’s podcastStay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodThank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  4. Sep 24

    America’s First Celebrity: The Life of John Dickinson

    "Exploring the career and contributions of the Penman of the Revolution" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, historian Jane E. Calvert discusses the life and legacy of John Dickinson. The program also features readings from Calvert’s new Dickinson biography, a performance of Dickinson’s “The Liberty Song,” and original compositions with music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen. Rosen moderates. This episode was originally recorded as a Clarke Forum program at Dickinson College. Participants  Jane E. Calvert is the founder, director, and chief editor of the John Dickinson Writings Project (JDP) and associate professor of History at the University of Kentucky (UK). She is the author of Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson, the first comprehensive biography of the key American founder John Dickinson Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Jane E. Calvert, Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson (2024) Jane E. Calvert, Quaker Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson (2012)John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767-1768)Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How the Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024)Pursuit of Happiness: Two Song Cycles by Jeffrey RosenThe Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  5. Sep 17

    Constitution Day Special: David Rubenstein on the Declaration at America’s 250th

    "The American Idea with America’s patriotic philanthropist" SHOW NOTES: In this special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a celebration of Constitution Day, investor, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein walks through the nation’s semiquincentennial, the big ideas of the Declaration and the Constitution, and the importance of history and reading in today’s climate. Participants  David Rubenstein is the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private investment firms. He is principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Chairman of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees, and a leader in the area of Patriotic Philanthropy. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources David M. Rubenstein, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency (2024) David M. Rubenstein, The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream (2021) Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America (2025) Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How the Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024) Stay Connected and Learn More Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  6. Sep 10

    Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment

    "Exploring the inspirations, advocacy, and struggle behind the Thirteenth Amendment" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, award-winning journalist Damon Root joins to discuss his most recent book, Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment. In Emancipation War, Root chronicles the wide-ranging movement against slavery― consisting of white and Black visionaries operating both inside and outside the halls of power, fighting both on and off the battlefield― that made the Constitution’s antislavery Thirteenth Amendment possible.  Participants Damon Root is a senior editor of Reason magazine and the author of Reason’s semiweekly Injustice System newsletter. He is the author of three books, including the 2020 work, A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Damon Root, Emancipation War: The Fall of Slavery and the Coming of the Thirteenth Amendment (2026)Damon Root, A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution (2020)Damon Root, Overruled: The Long War for Control of the U.S. Supreme Court (2014)  Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to HappinessFollow, rate, and review wherever you listen Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  7. Sep 3

    What Can the Presidents and First Ladies Teach Us About the American Idea?

    "Exploring In Pursuit" SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, Colleen Shogan, the CEO of In Pursuit,  joins to discuss a new national initiative. In Pursuit, a More Perfect project, features a set of essays on U.S. Presidents and select First Ladies. Contributors – including three former Presidents, three former First Ladies, Chief Justice John Roberts, and seven Pulitzer Prize winners– reflect on each figure to distill a key lesson about the American experiment. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  Participants Colleen Shogan is the CEO of In Pursuit and served as the 11th Archivist of the United States. Prior to becoming Archivist, Shogan served as Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association, worked in the United States Senate, and served as a senior executive at the Library of Congress and its Congressional Research Service.  Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources In PursuitGeorge W. Bush, “For a Leader, Humility is the Ultimate Strength,” In Pursuit (2026) William J. Clinton, “An Even More Perfect Union Requires an Even Wider ‘We,’” In Pursuit (2026) Barack Obama, “Individual Liberty is Served by the Pursuit of the Common Good,” In Pursuit (2026) John Roberts, “Maintain Your Dignity and Principles Through Defeat,” In Pursuit (2026)  Stay Connected and Learn More Continue the conversation by following us on social media.Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPodX (Personal): @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPodExplore Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

  8. Aug 27

    How has the Declaration of Independence Inspired Americans Over Time?

    SHOW NOTES: Ted Widmer joins to discuss his recent book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America’s Founding Text. Widmer traces the antecedents of the Declaration’s big ideas and finds in the words of succeeding generations of Americans, and people around the globe, the key to understanding the durability of America’s founding ideas. Participants  Ted Widmer was Distinguished Lecturer at the Macaulay Honors College of the CUNY. A former director of the John Carter Brown Library and the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, he is the author of 10 books and recipient of the Lincoln Forum Book Prize. Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.  Additional Resources Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President on the Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality” (2015)Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream” (1963)Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States” (1876)Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address” (1863) Stay Connected Substack: @rosenjeffreyInstagram: @TheBlessingsOfLibertyX: @JeffreyRosenPod and @RosenJeffreyYouTube: @TheBlessingsofLibertyPod Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

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About

The Blessings of Liberty is a weekly podcast hosted by Jeffrey Rosen — CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, professor of law at George Washington University Law School, and senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Each episode brings together leading liberal and conservative authors, historians, legal scholars, judges, journalists, and public intellectuals for thoughtful conversations about the constitutional and historical questions at the center of American life. Guests discuss new books about American history and the Constitution, debate the best arguments on both sides of current Supreme Court cases, and explore the Founding principles at the heart of the American story — including how deep reading and lifelong learning can help citizens pursue happiness and lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives. With deep dives into history, the Constitution, the lives of the Founders, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and the great books that shape the American tradition, The Blessings of Liberty examines not only what the Constitution means, but why the American Idea still matters. The podcast also offers a model for how citizens with different views can engage in the civil dialogue the Founders believed was essential to preserving the American experiment. 

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