The Next Big Idea Daily
"The Presidents and the People" by Corey Brettschneider
Jul 17, 2024
Constitutional law expert Corey Brettschneider discusses citizens' pushback against presidential power abuses throughout history, including the fight for free speech during the 1800 election and Frederick Douglass's advocacy for civil rights. The importance of dissent in American democracy is highlighted, emphasizing the need for constitutional constituencies to safeguard democratic values.
12:24
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Quick takeaways
- Citizens' resistance vindicated free speech rights in the face of government limitations.
- People's actions influenced constitutional interpretations, backing presidents aligned with democratic restoration.
Deep dives
The fragility of the right to dissent
The podcast discusses how the right to dissent, perceived as a constitutional right, faced challenges historically. John Adams, the second president, viewed dissent as a threat to the government's stability and passed laws criminalizing criticism of the president. However, citizens, including the press, resisted these limitations on free speech, leading to the vindication of free speech rights during the election of 1800, signaling a victory for the First Amendment's protection of dissent.
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