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The American Idea

Ashbrook Center

The American Idea explores America's history and principles and what they mean today. The podcast is a production of the Ashbrook Center and hosted by Dr. Jeff Sikkenga.

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  • 28 episodes
  • Avg 40 min
  • English

Episodes 28

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  • S6 · E19
    May 13 · 37 min

    "Mischievous Cousins' - A British Perspective on the American Revolution

    What’s taught in British schools about the American Revolution? How are Americans’ motivations during the Founding understood by our ‘cousins’ on the other side of the Atlantic? Jeff discusses the fascinating history of British history and perspectives on America with Liam Heffernan, host of America: The Story of the USA, a British podcast that seeks to explain American to the British. You can find Liam's pod at https://tinyurl.com/puysecxp Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E18
    May 6 · 52 min

    From 1776 to Civil Rights: How the Declaration Shaped the Struggle for Equality

    The Abolition and Civil Rights movements are often presented as solutions to the failures of the American Founding, or replacements for its ideas. The relationship between the core ideas of America, as asserted in the Declaration of Independence and those of these two movements is complicated and has evolved over time. As we approach our 250th birthday, let’s take a look at how the Declaration is, in fact, the moral and intellectual foundation of both abolition and civil rights. Jeff is joined by Dr. Peter Myers, Professor of Political Science and expert in the politics of abolition and civil rights. Read Peter's book on Douglass: https://a.co/d/0b1TiSI3 Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton On Apple Podcasts: https://tr.ee/aTARALr9Gx On Spotify: https://tr.ee/09Ca21CCp- On iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-american-idea-119582945/

  • S6 · E17
    April 29 · 43 min

    Ronald Reagan and the Declaration of Independence

    Abraham Lincoln once asserted that all of his political philosophy was rooted in the Declaration of Independence. Other presidents have spoken positively about our founding document, and some have disparaged the ideas promoted in it. What about Ronald Reagan? Where did he stand on the Declaration’s core ideas of natural rights, limited government, and liberty? Jeff is joined by Greg McBrayer, who looks back on decades of speeches from Reagan in order to establish a clear connection between the principles of our 40th president and America’s original mission statement. Read Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing”: https://tinyurl.com/btvr8mu9 Read Reagan’s 1986 Independence Day speech: https://tinyurl.com/ycyfvnka Read Reagan’s Farewell Address: https://tinyurl.com/mu92b545 Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E16
    April 21 · 38 min

    From Madison to Modern Politics: The Separation of Powers Debate

    This episode examines the constitutional principle of separation of powers: what it is, why the American founders considered it essential to liberty, and how it works in practice through checks and balances. The conversation explores the distinct roles of Congress, the presidency, and the courts, and then turns to major controversies that continue to shape American government, including executive removal power, independent agencies, and war powers. The result is a clear discussion of why separation of powers remains one of the most important and contested features of the American constitutional order. Download the Separation of Powers documents collection for free: https://tinyurl.com/mr3274xx Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E15
    April 15 · 38 min

    Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Prevent World War III

    Jeff is joined by Palantir Technologies Development Strategist and author Madeline Hart to discuss her book, co-authored with Palantir’s CTO, about what’s wrong with America’s military industrial base, how we got here, and what we can do to fix this vital part of our national defense. Read about Madeline’s book: https://mobilizebook.com/ Get the book: https://a.co/d/0ikuJ5tb Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E14
    April 8 · 29 min

    Missouri v. Biden: Free Speech, Coercion, and Government Power

    The First Amendment’s free speech clause is meant to protect Americans against government abridgment of free expression. How does this apply to social media companies when they are subjected to both formal and informal pressure from members of a president’s inner circle? Although a narrow ruling, MO v. Biden makes clear the relevance of free speech, regardless of the state of technology at a given time in our history. Read NCLA’s press release: https://nclalegal.org/press_release/ncla-reaches-historic-settlement-strikes-major-blow-against-governments-social-media-censorship/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E13
    April 1 · 37 min

    Natural Rights: The Declaration's Central Claim

    What are natural rights, and why, without them, are the ideas in the Declaration of Independence empty without them? Americans talk a lot about rights, but natural rights are the foundation of them all, and all the Declaration’s assertions and ideals flow from them. Jeff discusses what they are, how they relate to government, and why the are at the core of what Jefferson called ‘the American mind.” Download the 50 Core Documents book mentioned in the episode for free: https://tinyurl.com/yckez9c3 Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

  • S6 · E12
    March 25 · 42 min

    The Causes and Politics of Financial Bubbles

    What is a financial bubble, and what are its causes? What are the political, as well as economic, impacts of these events? Jeff welcomes investment capital expert Aman Verjee to discuss these events, and the role they’ve played throughout history. You’ll learn not only a great deal more about what really caused the stock market crash of 1929, but how it compares to a tulip sales bubble (yes, tulips) in the Netherlands in the 1600s. Read Aman’s new book about the topic: https://www.amanverjee.com/the-book Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

Showing 21–28 of 28 episodes