Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Democratic Constitution Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago39 min
Where We've Been and Where We're Going (Ft. John Mulkins)
In this episode, John Mulkins and I put our heads together and discuss how people understand the demand for a democratic constitution, who will get involved in the struggle, the role of socialism in the demand for democracy, and the counterrevolution of 1787. John last appeared on the show in August.
- 1 weeks ago54 min
Ep. 89: Julie Suk on Alternatives to the Supreme Court’s Dominance
Professor Julie Suk joins the show to discuss the Supreme Court’s immense power, the challenges of invoking Article V, the general constraints on necessary change posed by the Constitution, and a possible solution in alternative bodies like a shadow court. Julie is the author of several books on constitutional reform, particularly regarding gender equality and patriarchy. Her forthcoming book is The Shadow Court: Rescuing Democracy from the Supreme Court. Julie’s recent interview with Dissent is also discussed. A friendly reminder that you can support the show by becoming a free or paid subscriber on the Blog or on Patreon.
- 3 weeks ago43 min
Ep. 88: Jeremy Popkin on the French Revolution and the Long Road to Emancipation
“No legislative assembly ever debated constitutional issues more thoroughly and more loudly and more angrily than the French National Assembly of 1789 to 1791. Imagine a group of 1,200 people meeting in a hall with no amplification equipment, shouting at each other and trying to work out the details of the Constitution.”Luke talks with Professor Jeremy Popkin, author of several books on the French Revolution, including A Short History of the French Revolution, A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution, and The First Emancipation: The Forgotten History of Abolition in Revolutionary France. They discuss constitutional debates during the Revolution; state intervention in the economy and Babeuf’s communism; Thomas Paine’s insistence on the importance of equal suffrage in the face of the Thermidorian Reaction; the continuities between 1793, 1848, and 1871; the Revolution’s international repercussions, including its impact on slavery in the French colonies; and Herbert Marcuse’s course on “Social Philosophy.”It takes a lot of work to plan, record, and edit each episode. If you enjoy these conversations with guests like Professor Popkin, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Your support is the motivation we need to keep going.
- Aug 21, 202636 min
Ep. 87: Geoffrey Robertson on the Levellers, Democracy, and the English Civil War
“The poorest he that is in England hath a right to live as the greatest he” - Col. Thomas Rainborowe, Leveller. In this episode, I speak with Geoffrey Robertson, an English barrister, historian, and the author of several works on the English Civil War and the Levellers, including The Tyrannicide Brief: The Story of the Man who sent Charles I to the Scaffold, and the introduction to Verso books’ The Putney Debates. We’ve published blog articles on the Levellers (here and here), and they have come up in many other conversations, particularly with Gil Schaeffer and around our reader, Equal Human and Political Rights and Democratic Republicanism, but this is the first time I’ve had a guest dedicated to the topic. So much has been written about the Levellers and the English Civil War more generally. Besides Geoffrey’s work, I’d recommend John Rees’ The Leveller Revolution, Anna Keay’s The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown, and a much older collection of Leveller documents called Leveller Manifestoes of the Puritan Revolution—especially the introduction. The foreword to that book was written by Charles Beard, who folks might remember from our conversation with Clyde Barrow. It’s a fun demonstration of how these ideas and thinkers all connect.
- Aug 17, 202610 min
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."
- Aug 14, 202645 min
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.
- Aug 7, 202644 min
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.
- Jul 17, 202633 min
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.
About The Democratic Constitution Podcast
The United States is not a democracy. We need a democratic constitution! A media wing of the Democratic Constitution Blog.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Democratic Constitution Podcast in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Democratic Constitution Podcast daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Democratic Constitution Podcast as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Democratic Constitution Podcast podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Democratic Constitution Podcast product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Lucas De Hart and Luke Pickrell.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Democratic Constitution Podcast release new episodes?
The Democratic Constitution Podcast publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Democratic Constitution Podcast cover?
The Democratic Constitution Podcast covers topics including Education. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Democratic Constitution Podcast summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.