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Ashbrook Center

The mission of the Ashbrook Center is to strengthen constitutional self-government by educating our fellow Americans—students, teachers, and citizens—in the history and Founding principles of our country and the habits of reflection and choice necessary to perpetuate our republic.

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Series

The American Idea201 episodes

Recent Episodes

The American Idea
The American Idea

Money and Politics: The National Bank, the Federal Reserve, and America’s Finances

We hear a lot about “The Fed,” interest rates, and America’s staggering national debt. But what do they each mean, how are they related, and how do they impact each of us today and in the future? Jeff discusses these seemingly complicated issues in clear terms with John Popeo of the Gallatin Group, unpacking how America created a national bank, how federal borrowing works, and the connection between taxing, spending, and borrowing shape our country’s economy and our individual possibilities and plans. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

September 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution

Jeff is joined by Jonathan Turley - Georgetown University law professor, author, and constitutional law expert - to discuss the revolutionary roots of America, and how a few key distinctions between our revolution and that of France kept America from devouring itself, as so many revolutions do. Get Jonathan Turley’s new book, Rage and the Republic, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/03CmA2CU Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
Guest:
JTJonathan Turley
The American Idea
The American Idea

Was the Supreme Court Supposed to Have This Much Power?

Typical civics and American Government courses teach that the Supreme Court has the final say in interpreting the Constitution - that is, determining its meaning and limits. Judicial Review, and other accepted powers of the court, are also taught as if the Founders built them that way. But what if that’s not the case? What if the court’s powers and norms are the current state of a centuries-long evolution, one that isn’t necessarily, or supposed to ever be, complete? Constitutional scholar Matthew Franck joins Jeff to discuss the evolution of the court’s powers, particularly that of judicial review, and how the view that they are a settled issue may not serve our republic well. Read Federalist 78, mentioned in the episode: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federalist-78/ Read Federalist 81: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federalist-no-81/ Find Matt’s articles at the Public Discourse: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

The Last Adieu: Lafayette and Early America

The Marquis de Lafayette came to America at age 19, on his own dime, to earn glory on the battlefield. He quickly became one of the Revolution’s greatest believers, and spent the rest of his life admiring the spirit and goals of the American Revolution and the republic it birthed. Author Ryan Cole joins us this week to discuss his book, The Last Adieu, which chronicles Lafayette’s tour of America 40 years after the Revolution. Visiting every state, and meeting with surviving veterans and leaders, along with the next generation of prominent Americans, his experience gave him a unique perspective on the country he helped create. Read Ryan’s book: https://a.co/d/0fTFmzET Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

August 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

Completing the Founding: The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Written while the Constitutional Convention was taking place in 1787, the Northwest Ordinance was adopted fully by the new government, despite being a production of the Articles of Confederation. It also laid the foundation for many of the Founders’ priorities and aspirations in terms of governance, land usage, economics, and slavery. How would the new, expanding America look, and what would it be like? The Northwest Ordinance is an essential enabler for the America that came on the heals of the Revolution. Jeff is joined by historian Peter Onuf to discuss this essential, yet largely overlooked, document. Read the document: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-northwest-ordinance/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

America’s First Citizen: Character Lessons from George Washington

First in war, first in peace, and traditionally first in the hearts of Americans - what can we learn from Washington, the man? What made him the person around whom history seemed to turn, and why is his character worth studying and, in many ways, emulating? Professor Stephen Knott, noted presidential historian, discusses Washington, the man, and three key moments in his life when his decisions and integrity shifted the arc of history. Read David Hackett Fischer’s book, recommended by Steve: https://a.co/d/05GDbgbO Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

July 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

Why Did the Founders Create a Republic?

America is often called a democracy, sometimes a democratic republic, and probably less-often a republic. But to be precise, the American system of constitutional government, first in the original 13 states, then in the general government, and since 1787, consists of a series of republics. Each state is a republic, and the national (or general, or federal) government is, as well. But what exactly is a republic, and does it matter? What is republican (little R) government, and what did the Founders see in it that was superior to a democracy? What qualities did they see in their fellow Americans, and hope to see in their progeny - us? Professor of Political Science Jim Stoner, of Louisiana State University, discusses the difference between a republic and a democracy, and how the Founders understood republicanism as both a system and a set of civic values. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

A Sober View of Human Nature: Federalist 10 and Factions

In Federalist 10, James Madison identified what he saw as one of the greatest dangers to popular government: factions. How did he define and understand them? Do his definition and his argument still stand up today? How can understanding the view on this issue at the Founding better understand our current politics? Read Federalist 10: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federalist-no-10-3// Read Madison’s “Consolidation”: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/consolidation/ Read Madison’s “A Candid State of Parties”: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/a-candid-state-of-parties-2/ Read Joe’s article on political parties: https://www.heritage.org/political-process/report/the-rise-and-fall-political-parties-america Find American Covenant on Amazon: https://a.co/d/00voBuXV Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. ​​​Click to learn about how we're planning for America's 250th birthday!​ https://www.ashbrookfreedom250.org/ Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

More than a Document: Living the Declaration of Independence

The ideals, values, and aspirations in the Declaration of Independence aren’t just the words of an old document - they’re a statement of political and public faith in how we should see one another and how we should conduct ourselves as a political body. In preparation for America’s 250th birthday, don’t just focus on the years and accomplishments - get in touch with the ideas that underpin them, and consider how you can live out the Declaration of Independence, and encourage others, as well, so that we can bequeath another 250 years of freedom to the generations that follow us. Read the Declaration of Independence: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/declaration-of-independence/ Read Calvin Coolidge's speech about the DI: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/speech-on-the-occasion-of-the-one-hundred-and-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-declaration-of-independence/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

June 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

Our Right to Privacy and the 4th Amendment

Our 4th Amendment rights to privacy, in various forms, has its origins before the Declaration of Independence, and is at the foundation of Americans’ understanding of natural rights. In this episode, Dr. Cara Rogers-Stevens discusses the importance and evolution of our privacy rights, and how they set us apart from so many other peoples in the world. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations at 250 Years

Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” was published in 1776, shortly before America’s Declaration of Independence. Smith famously described an “invisible hand” at work behind markets and exchanges, but what did he really mean, and how have so many people misunderstood his many ideas about trade, markets, and free enterprise? Professor Brianne Wolf discusses Smith in surprising terms: he was first concerned with human morality and behavior, in the connections and community that individuals built with one another. Trade and economics were downstream of those fundamentals. Beyond that, Smith’s explanation of the advantages of markets over central planning or forced commerce are not well-known today - despite their relevance in the face of arguments in favor of government control of economic behavior. Read Bri's article on Smith: https://tinyurl.com/5yuwsc9b Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

Returning to First Principles: America’s Machiavellian Moment?

Niccolo Machiavelli, is usually cast as something of a villain for supposedly promoting cut-throat politics. Regarded as the father of modern political theory and science, however, among his many ideas was that when regimes - governments - slip into a state of decline, a return to first principles was necessary to save them. Turning back to the ideas that were most pure at a founding was, he believed, essential to revive a country that had lost its way. Is America at such a point today? Political theorist, commentator, and author Jay Cost believes we are, and discusses what a “Machiavellian Moment” is, and why America, especially as we approach our 250th birthday, is in need of one. Read his article: https://tinyurl.com/3ytfx3fb Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

Religious Liberty at the Founding and Today

Religious liberty is at the foundation of the American Idea - but how was it understood and protected at America’s Founding, and how what does this fundamental right look like today? Jeff and Dr. Vincent Phillip Munoz, of Notre Dame University, discuss the earliest state of religious freedom, and how it has evolved today. Read the Virginia Declaration of Rights: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/virginia-declaration-of-rights-2/ Read the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/virginia-statute-for-religious-liberty/ Read Washington’s Letter to the Hebrew Congregation: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/letter-to-the-hebrew-congregation-at-newport/ Read JFK’s Speech to the Houston Ministerial Association: https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-to-the-greater-houston-ministerial-association Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

May 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

The Voting Rights Act and the Callais Supreme Court Decision - Context and Analysis

The United States Supreme Court handed down its decision on Louisiana v. Callais in early May, and it’s impossible to understand this 6-3 ruling without having some background knowledge of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and how courts between then and now have interpreted it. Don’t get lost in the political rhetoric surrounding this case; learn the background for yourself and make up your own mind. Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

School Choice: The Past, Present, and Future of a Movement

School choice has moved to the forefront of national conversations and debates most notably since COVID; however the ‘educational choice’ movement is not new in America at all. Jeff is joined by Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, to trace the history of school choice and schooling in America, drawing clear policy, political, and cultural connections between what was, what has been, and what is ‘normal’ now, and how that’s changing. You can follow Shaka on his Substack: https://shakamitchell.substack.com/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

‘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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

‘A Glorious Liberty Document’: The Declaration of Independence and Civil Rights

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

April 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga

March 2026

The American Idea
The American Idea

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/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
The American Idea
The American Idea

Did FDR Threaten the Fundamental Freedoms in the Bill of Rights?

Historian David Beito joins Jeff this week to discuss the dark side of FDR: a seeming disregard for constitutional process and a lack of respect for the fundamental freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. Long lauded as a great president, is there more to his story and impact on America? Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/
Host:
Jeff Sikkenga
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