The American Idea

by Ashbrook Center

The American Idea explores America's Founding principles and their effect on American history and government. Through lively and thoughtful conversations with renowned academics and public figures from across the country, the podcast examines the history and political thought behind our country’s greatest documents and debates, as well as contemporary issues, American popular culture, and political statesmanship. The podcast is... Read more

Podcast episodes

  • Season 3

  • S03 E11 - American Portraits: The Western in American Political Culture

    S03 E11 - American Portraits: The Western in American Political Culture

    Jeff and Chris Burkett discuss the unique place of the Western, as presented in literature and film, in American political culture. There's a lot more to the genre than gunfighters, wagon trains, and Monument Valley, as all enduri...

    41:04
  • S03 E10 - Contemporary Conversations: The 1619 Project and Telling America's Story

    S03 E10 - Contemporary Conversations: The 1619 Project and Telling America's Story

    Jeff and Miles Smith IV discuss the 1619 Project and why it’s poorly-done as a piece of history and that in fact, it’s not history and should not be treated as such. Jeff and Miles discuss the importance of using primary sources -...

    40:00
  • S03 E09 - Contemporary Conversations: War with China?

    S03 E09 - Contemporary Conversations: War with China?

    Jeff sits down with Rebeccah Heinrichs, an authority on national security issues, to discuss the challenge - and even threat - that the Chinese Communist Party presents to the United States and the world. Unpacking decades of poli...

    49:36
  • S03 E08 - Documents and Debates: The President and the Freedom Fighter

    S03 E08 - Documents and Debates: The President and the Freedom Fighter

    Jeff and Brian Kilmeade discuss his book, The President and the Freedom Fighter, and the central role Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass played in “saving America’s soul.” Both were self-made men, who never stopped striving to...

    38:16
  • S03 E07 - American Portraits: Ulysses S. Grant

    S03 E07 - American Portraits: Ulysses S. Grant

    Jeff talks with Dr. Andy Lang about U.S. Grant - as a soldier, general, and president. Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Jeremy GyptonApple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3jcrp73mGoogle Podcasts: https:/...

    56:24