Federalism Matters

The Democratic Socialists of America have become an increasingly visible force within the Democratic Party, but what does their vision for governing actually entail? In July, the DSA released a new platform calling for major reforms to American political and governmental institutions. In this episode of Federalism Matters, host Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) is joined by CSF President John Kincaid (Lafayette College) to examine what those proposals could mean for American federalism. Together, they explore how the platform’s institutional reforms might reshape the balance of power among the federal government, states, and localities, and what that could mean for the future practice of federalism in the United States.

What did the Supreme Court say about the balance of power between the federal government and the states during its 2025–26 Term? In this episode, host Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) is joined by CSF Fellow John Dinan (Wake Forest University) to break down the Court's most important federalism decisions. Their discussion covers cases involving the federal use of the National Guard, elections and redistricting, LGBTQ rights, gun rights, and other major constitutional controversies. Whether you're a student, educator, or anyone interested in constitutional law and American politics, this episode offers an accessible analysis of the Court's latest rulings and their impact on the American system of federalism.

This episode explores how federalism plays a part in the public policy issues discussed in the first presidential debate of 2024 between President Joseph Biden and former President Donald Trump. Host Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) is joined by CSF Fellows John Dinan (Wake Forest University) and John Kincaid (Lafayette College).

This episode explores issues related to American federalism in President Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address. Host Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) is joined by CSF Fellows John Kincaid (Lafayette College) and Troy Smith (BYU-Hawaii). 

This episode explores the recent Supreme Court decision, Trump v. Anderson. Host Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) talks with John Kincaid (Lafayette College) about the decision that prevents states from disqualifying former President Trump from the ballot under the Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

This episode explores why the United States chooses its president through the Electoral College. Host Dr. Wesley Leckrone (Widener University) is joined by CSF Fellow Troy Smith (BYU-Hawaii), to discuss how the Electoral College combines democracy and federalism, and its practical effects on presidential elections.

This episode explores the redistricting process and why it can be a controversial and contentious process. Federalism is a factor as states redraw legislative boundaries, but are subject to federal restrictions. The episode is co-hosted by CSF Fellows Dr. Joseph Marbach (Georgian Court University) and Dr. J. Wesley Leckrone (Widener University), who discuss their Federalism Digest on the topic. 

This episode explores the way federalism is affecting the issues discussed in the 2024 presidential race in the United States, particularly in the first Republican Presidential Debate in Milwaukee on August 23. Host Dr. Wesley Leckrone is joined by CSF Fellows John Kincaid (Lafayette College) and Troy Smith (BYU-Hawaii). 

The topic for today’s Federalism Matters podcast is James Madison. James Madison is often referred to as the Father of the Constitution, for his contributions to the constitution and for co-authoring the Federalist Papers, which advocated for ratification of the new constitution. Today we examine the contributions of James Madison to American government by revisiting Gordon Henderson’s entry on the 4th president of the United States in the Encyclopedia of American Federalism. For more information on this, and other topics related to federalism, please visit us at federalism.org.