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Civics 101: Daily Summaries Delivered
by NHPR
How do landmark Supreme Court decisions affect our lives? What does the 2nd Amendment really say? Why does the Senate have so much power? Civics 101 is the podcast about how our democracy works…or is supposed to work, anyway.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago29 min
U.S. Versus: The Two Party System
Americans often take issue with our two-party system. So what other options are out there? Today, with the help of political scientists Guillermo Rosas and Robin Best, we explore the reason why we have (and may always have) such a system, and compare it to other democracies around the world. This episode contains an overabundance of Street Fighter 2 references. INCOGNI DEAL: They can't harm you, if they can't find you! To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/CIVICS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago47 min
These United Hosts
In which we take an historical look at the interplay between marriage and democracy, and Hannah and Nick reveal a Civics 101 secret years in the making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago31 min
Our 250th Annual Trivia Episode!
Not really. But we send one of our own out in style by asking (and answering) some very tough questions. Including one you might recognize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago37 min
Article II of the Constitution
Article II, which lays out the powers, duties, and limits on presidential powers, is one of the most debated and reinterpreted parts of the Constitution. So what does it say? Today we are joined by Dr. Corey Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown, author of several books on presidential power, and co-host of the podcast The Oath and the Office. We go through each and every clause of Article II, but somehow it keeps coming back to the same 35 words. Be sure to check out Corey's podcast here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 18, 202636 min
SCOTUS Decision Roudup
The Supreme Court wrapped it's 2025-2026 term and headed off on summer recess, so we're running through the biggest decisions from the bench. What did the court have to say about our constitution, our federal government and our individual rights? This year they got to everything from Birthright Citizenship to mail-in ballots to executive agencies, cementing some principles and throwing others into legal limbo. A lot can change in a year, especially when nine people have the power to profoundly affect constitutional democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 11, 202633 min
What is communism, socialism, and fascism?
With the midterms coming up, these words are being uttered more and more each day. So what does it really mean when we call someone a socialist, communist, or fascist? Where did these ideologies come from, and why do we have ideologies in the first place? Today we speak with Patrick McGovern, professor of political science at Buffalo State University, and Susan Kang, professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and host of Left On Red. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 4, 202644 min
Article I of The Constitution
Maybe you’ve read the Constitution a ton of times. Maybe you’ve never read it. Maybe you even have one somewhere in your home! But, even for us civics lovers, there are times we forget what exactly is in it. However, by the end of this episode, you’ll know each and every part of the largest, and most important, section. Article I, which lays out the powers and restrictions of Congress, is massive. It comprises a full half of the written Constitution, and it’s the part the framers spent the most time debating. Today we’re going through the entire thing, section by section, with the inimitable Linda Monk, JD. Linda is a constitutional scholar and author of The Words We Live By, An Annotated Guide to the Constitution and The Bill of Rights: A User’s Guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 28, 202643 min
Why do Americans love conspiracy theories?
Conspiracy theories are not new in the United States, but over the years they have taken on a life and power of their own. How did conspiracy theories become so entrenched in the American mind? Why is it that, even if we don't entirely believe them, we like them? Our guests today are Katherine Olmsted, author of Challenging the Secret Government: The Post-Watergate Investigations of the CIA and FBI and history professor at UC Davis and Derek Arnold, an instructor at Villanova University who teaches communications and conspiracy theory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About Civics 101
How do landmark Supreme Court decisions affect our lives? What does the 2nd Amendment really say? Why does the Senate have so much power? Civics 101 is the podcast about how our democracy works…or is supposed to work, anyway.
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