Episode
America's Constitutional Crossroads with Peter Rosenblum | Bonus Episode
- Published
- May 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3101
- Processing state
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Summary
In this bonus episode of the podcast, host Roger Berkowitz welcomes Peter Rosenblum, a professor of international law and human rights at Bard College, to discuss their constitutional law course, which is taught as a liberal-arts, critical-thinking class rather than pre-law. Beginning with Aristotle, Montesquieu, the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, and Arendt, it asks what a constitution is and how it constitutes a people. They explain how the course has shifted with changing student experience and politics: a chronological account through the New Deal followed by thematic units on civil rights, the administrative state (including Chevron and post-Chevron debates), and, most recently, presidential power amid congressional abdication. Discussing cases from Lincoln through Youngstown, Nixon, Hamdi, and Trump v. United States, they emphasize separation of powers over rights-centered narratives, worry about eroded norms and legislative dysfunction, and point to competitive elections and independent redistricting as crucial to rebalancing power. On Friday, June 12th, 2026, we’ll begin reading “Responsibility and Judgement”, Hannah Arendt’s indispensable investigation into some of the most troubling and important issues of our time. Find it here on the podcast beginning June 17th. Or become a member of the Center and join the VRG! ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations. Released weekly, each episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of Arendt's philosophy and its relevance to contemporary issues. Available on all major podcast platforms, listeners join us on a captivating intellectual journey through the mind of Hann…