Consider the Constitution

• Campus Safety and Free Speech: Police Training for Constitutional Rights

  As college campuses continue to serve as vital sites of activism, protest, and public debate, university police face the complex task of upholding First Amendment freedoms while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of diverse campus communities. In this episode, Dr. Katie Crawford Lackey sits down with Chief Timothy Longo, Associate Vice President for Safety and Security at the University of Virginia, to explore the delicate intersection of constitutional rights and campus safety. With over 40 years in law enforcement, Chief Longo shares insights on how university police navigate the delicate balance between protecting First Amendment freedoms and ensuring campus security. The conversation covers the unique challenges of policing diverse academic communities, the importance of constitutional training for officers, and practical approaches to managing expressive conduct while maintaining public safety. Chief Longo emphasizes the critical role of empathy, collaboration, and deep constitutional understanding in modern law enforcement. 

  --------  

  25:17

  --------

  25:17
• Qualified Immunity: Where Constitutional Law Meets Public Safety

  In this compelling episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey explores one of the most contentious intersections of constitutional law and public policy with Professor Hank Chambers from the University of Richmond Law School. Together, they unpack the complex doctrine of qualified immunity and its relationship to police discretion—topics that have become central to national debates about policing, accountability, and civil rights.Professor Chambers breaks down what qualified immunity actually means, explaining how it allows law enforcement officers to avoid liability in certain situations, even when constitutional violations may have occurred. Professor Chambers offers a nuanced perspective on why some view qualified immunity as necessary protection for officers doing difficult work, while others see it as a barrier to accountability.

  --------  

  38:00

  --------

  38:00
• Official Message: How Members of Congress Communicate with Constituents

  In this illuminating episode of Consider the Constitution, Dr. Katie Crawford Lackey welcomes back Dr. Lindsey Cormack, the pioneering political scientist who created DC Inbox—a first-of-its-kind digital archive preserving congressional newsletters.From James Madison's vision of Congress as the people's branch to today's digital communication tactics, this conversation uncovers the evolution of constituent engagement and the power dynamics of political messaging. Dr. Cormack explains why she invented this crucial archive solution when she discovered these taxpayer-funded communications weren't being systematically preserved.

  --------  

  24:11

  --------

  24:11
• Beyond the Founders: How Ordinary Americans Built a Government

  In this episode, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey interviews historian Dr. Peter Kastor about how America's founding generation transformed constitutional ideals into functioning government institutions. Learn about the challenges faced by early federal leaders, the overlooked contributions of thousands of ordinary civil servants, and how this formative period established enduring traditions of public service and constitutional governance. 

  --------  

  37:19

  --------

  37:19
• The Philosophical Roots of American Democracy

  In this enlightening episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford Lackey sits down with Dr. Dennis Rasmussen, professor of political science at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Their conversation explores the philosophical underpinnings that influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution, particularly focusing on Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, David Hume, Adam Smith, and Montesquieu whose ideas shaped the framers' thinking.Dr. Rasmussen, author of "Fears of a Setting Sun," provides fascinating insights into how the founders – particularly Madison – navigated between theory and practical application when designing America's system of government. The discussion reveals surprising details about Madison's disappointment with certain aspects of the Constitution, the founders' evolving opinions about their creation, and the remarkable durability of America's founding document despite its imperfections. This episode offers listeners a deeper understanding of the intellectual foundations of American constitutional governance and reflects on what lessons we might draw from the founders' experiences as we face today's political challenges.

  --------  

  24:28

  --------

  24:28

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Consider the Constitution