Independence Day Special: Thomas Jefferson and the Founding

Guests: Matthew Spalding & Robert R. Riley We revisit two previously aired interviews for this special Independence Day episode. Host Scot Bertram talks with Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale in D.C., about Thomas Jefferson's influence on the Declaration of Independence. And Robert R. Reilly, director of the Westminster Institute, gives a defense of the intellectual foundations of the American Founding as laid out in his book America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Smith, dean of the humanities and professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the themes of freedom, education, and leadership in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar, “The Art of Teaching: Upper School Literature” in February 2025. The Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, an outreach of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, offers educators the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge and refine their skills in the classroom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the Federalist's arguments against the Anti-Federalists before introducing Dr. Ronald J. Pestritto. In a republic, every citizen has a duty to understand their government. The Federalist is the greatest exposition of representative government and the institutional structure of the Constitution. It explains how the Constitution established a government strong enough to secure the rights of citizens and safe enough to wield that power. This course will examine how Publius understood human nature and good government, and why he argued that the only true safeguard of liberty lies in the vigilance of the American people. Publius argues that the Constitution incorporates many improvements to the science of politics, including a larger territory from which to draw the best talents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel and the United States' successful operations in Iran, the U.S. Supreme Court's critiques of nationwide injunctions, and the stakes of New York City's upcoming mayoral election. Dr. Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues. Release date: 30 June 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guests: Bradley Watson & Michael Walsh  Host Scot Bertram talks with Bradley Watson, associate professor of government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale in D.C., about progressive jurisprudence and the growing crisis of constitutionalism. And Michael Walsh, journalist and screenwriter, discusses the nature of warfare and his new book A Rage to Conquer: Twelve Battles That Changed the Course of Western History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Mills, Title I coordinator at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, delivers a lecture on the importance of phonics as the foundation of literacy. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar, “The Art of Teaching: Reading and Writing” in March 2025. The Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, an outreach of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, offers educators the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge and refine their skills in the classroom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the arguments of the Anti-Federalists before introducing Dr. Ronald J. Pestritto. In a republic, every citizen has a duty to understand their government. The Federalist is the greatest exposition of representative government and the institutional structure of the Constitution. It explains how the Constitution established a government strong enough to secure the rights of citizens and safe enough to wield that power. This course will examine how Publius understood human nature and good government, and why he argued that the only true safeguard of liberty lies in the vigilance of the American people. The Anti-Federalists opposed ratification of the Constitution because they feared a large, centralized government. They lost the immediate debate but succeeded in securing a Bill of Rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week: The military parade in Washington, D.C., the history of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, and the strange circumstances surrounding The Olive Branch Petition. Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of Hillsdale in D.C.’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues. Release date: 20 June 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Foat, dean of upper school at Treasure Coast Classical Academy in Stuart, Florida, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime literature instruction, how to encourage students to read over the summer, and how leisure activities can supplement that reading. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues for his series on "Churchill the Writer." On this episode, Dr. Arnn and Hugh continue their discussion of My Early Life, which covers Winston Churchill’s life from 1874-1904.Release date: 6 June 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.