Jackie Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier

How The U.S. Capitol Historical Society Keeps Democracy Real

The U.S. Capitol is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, but many Americans don’t realize there’s an organization dedicated to preserving its story and turning that history into practical civic education. We sit down with Roswell Encina, president and CEO of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, to talk about what it really means to “own” the people’s house and why the Capitol’s history includes far more than lawmakers, from preservation teams and librarians to the Capitol Police and everyone who keeps democracy functioning day to day.  We get into the moments that make visitors stop and stare, like stepping into the Rotunda or Statuary Hall, and we share a few surprising Capitol facts you can’t unsee once you know them. One of our favorites is the star inside the Capitol that helps define Washington, DC’s quadrant grid and the symbolism behind the Capitol's location on a hill. We also talk about the building’s deeper legal history, including the era when the Supreme Court met inside the Capitol and why places tied to cases like Amistad still give people goosebumps.  From there, the conversation shifts to teaching civics in a way that sticks. Roswell tells a story about following a group of Title I eighth graders through the Capitol and realizing just how hungry students are for real, place-based learning when they’re invited to ask honest questions. We also break down teacher professional development and classroom resources, including workshops centered on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as guidance on how educators can use digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and presidential libraries from anywhere in the country. If you care about civic engagement, history, and practical civics education, subscribe, share this with a teacher or student in your life, and leave a review with the biggest question you want civics class to answer. Check out Civic Learning Resources for Teachers! [https://capitolhistory.org/us-capitol-history-for-teachers/educational-programs/] Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

Elizabeth Willing Powel

A woman in Philadelphia tells George Washington, plainly, that the country needs him to serve again and she does not write for personal gain. That single moment opens a much bigger story about how influence works when you cannot vote, cannot hold office, and still refuse to stay silent.  We sit down with Samantha Snyder from the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon to talk about Elizabeth Willing Powel, the subject of Samantha’s forthcoming full-scale biography (University of Virginia Press, March 2027). Powel is not a formal political leader, but she is deeply connected to the people who are. Through letters, conversation, and a keen “talent for suggesting,” she helps shape the founding era from a different stage: salons, homes, and relationships that quietly steer big decisions.  We also dig into the sources that make Powel come alive. Beyond correspondence with George and Martha Washington, Samantha finds meaning in ledgers, receipts, and account books that show Powel managing wealth, property, investments, and civic improvement projects after becoming a widow. Those details expand our understanding of early American civic life, women’s political influence, and the networks surrounding the founders.  If you’ve ever felt like you need a title, a platform, or “top billing” to matter, Powel’s life argues the opposite. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves history, and leave a review with one overlooked historical figure you think we should talk about next. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

Social Media And Modern Elections

A single TikTok can redefine a candidate faster than a week of traditional ads, and that reality is changing American elections in real time. We sit down with educator Spencer Burrows to trace how campaign communication evolved from “earned media” moments to Facebook fundraising, Twitter as a direct line to voters, and now podcasts and short-form video that reach people who don’t even think of themselves as political. Along the way, we ask what this means for Gen Z voters, whose political information often shows up as quick clips, creator commentary, and algorithmic recommendations.  We also get honest about the darker incentive structure baked into platform design. When engagement rewards outrage, candidates and even members of Congress can feel pushed to grandstand and chase viral moments instead of doing the slow work of negotiation and compromise. We talk about how rage bait spreads, why attention gets fragmented, and how a “big” viral controversy can distract from the issues that actually shape people’s lives at the local, state, and federal level.  Then we pivot to solutions that educators, students, and everyday voters can use right now: go to the source, compare multiple perspectives, and learn to frame better questions before reacting. We also look ahead to AI and deepfakes, why they’re so concerning, and why a healthy skepticism is quickly becoming a core civic skill. If you care about media literacy, civic education, and the future of democratic participation, listen, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

D-Day: What Does Courage Look Like When History Is Watching

D-Day gets reduced to a date and a diagram, but the truth is messier, riskier, and far more human. We sit down with historian Dr. Michael Butler to talk about June 6, 1944 not just as the Normandy invasion, but as a moment when thousands of ordinary people stepped into history without knowing how it would end. From the weight of memory carried by veterans to the hard reality of fear and loss, we ask what courage actually looks like when it isn’t a movie scene, but a job you have to do. We also zoom out to the big stakes. The Allies’ foothold in Western Europe helps squeeze Nazi Germany from both sides and shapes the postwar world order, laying groundwork for the Cold War tension between democracy and communism. Dr. Butler explains why Operation Overlord was never guaranteed: the Atlantic Wall defenses, the weather delay, and even Eisenhower’s written statement accepting blame if the invasion failed. Then we dig into Operation Fortitude, the deception campaign of fake armies, double agents, and misdirection that helped make the landing possible. Along the way we break down the Normandy beaches, why Omaha becomes such sacred ground for Americans, and why D-Day still matters to civic life now, especially when people feel disconnected from World War II history. If you care about democracy, leadership in crisis, and the responsibility we inherit from those who came before us, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

The Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket

The Supreme Court’s “shadow docket” sounds like a secret back hallway of law and that’s exactly why it triggers so much public suspicion. We sit down with Spencer Burrows, an 11th grade dean, AP US Government teacher, and civic engagement coordinator, to translate what the Court is actually doing when it issues emergency orders and why so many people mistake those orders for final constitutional rulings.  We walk through the crucial difference between cases decided on the merits (full briefing, oral argument, lengthy opinions) and the emergency docket (fast requests meant to prevent irreparable harm while litigation continues). Then we dig into why the emergency docket has exploded in prominence: more aggressive executive action, more state-driven litigation, and a legal system that increasingly produces urgent nationwide fights. We also explore a provocative idea Spencer heard from former Supreme Court clerks: Congress could set clearer rules that reduce the pressure landing on the justices.  Transparency and accountability are the heart of the debate. When an order drops with little explanation, it can feel like “nine politicians in robes” issuing edicts, even if the Court is making a narrow procedural call. We discuss headline-making examples like West Virginia v. EPA, immigration enforcement disputes, and emergency fights over abortion medication access, plus what students and everyday citizens can do to stay grounded: read the actual orders, follow the procedural posture, and check primary sources before trusting the loudest takes.  If you care about civic education, judicial process, and how Supreme Court decisions shape daily life, this conversation will sharpen your lens. Subscribe, share with a friend who follows Court news, and leave us a review with your take: should the emergency docket come with more explanation? Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]