Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

MS

Matthew Spalding

Series

Federalist Radio Hour1 episodeThe Ricochet Podcast1 episode

Recent Episodes

Federalist Radio Hour
Federalist Radio Hour

‘The Making Of The American Mind’: A Deep Dive Into The Declaration Of Independence

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle on the brink of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to discuss the pivotal creed and explain why 'the making of the American mind' is key to understanding the nation and its founding. You can find Spalding's book The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence here. The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.
Host:
Matt Kittle
Organization
The Federalist

December 2025

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

The Making of the American Mind

America has a big anniversary coming up. And you know it's set to be grand when people give it a name like "semiquincentenial." To help us prepare for the big 250th, Matthew Spalding, Dean of Hillsdale College's School of Government in DC, joins to discuss his just-published book: The Making of the American Mind. He and the gang get into the story of how a group of iron men came to declare war with and independence from the greatest empire on earth. They delve into the many attacks against the Declaration and the founding that are coming in from all angles these days. Remember, these self-evident truths are not obvious, so order your copy today! Plus, Señor Lileks wonders what we're supposed to call this escalating series of adventures near Venezuela; the Honorable Hayward weighs in on the stunningly titled Trump v. Slaughter SCOTUS case and Justice KBJ's startling comments; and, lastly, Captain Cooke has a bone to pick with Europe! - Sound from the open this week: The EU fines X and Trump talks Europe with Politico
Hosts:
Charles C. W. CookeJames LileksSteve Hayward
Organization
Ricochet