Civics 101

By: NHPR
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  • Summary

  • How do landmark Supreme Court decisions affect our lives? What does the 2nd Amendment really say? Why does the Senate have so much power? Civics 101 is the podcast about how our democracy works…or is supposed to work, anyway.
    New Hampshire Public Radio
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Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences World
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Episodes
  • What is the Rule of Law?

    What is the Rule of Law?
    Apr 22 2025

    What is the rule of law? It's certainly not the same as the rule of men.

    This episode was recorded live at the John J. Moakley Courthouse in Boston. It features the voices of Justice Patricia Alverez and Justice Gustavo A. Gelpí.

    • CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!
    • To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.
    • Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast, Outside/In - we think you'll love it!
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    31 mins
  • Efficiency v. Democracy

    Efficiency v. Democracy
    Apr 15 2025

    Today we were going to explore how "big tech" has woven itself into the fabric of the Trump administration. But after a conversation with Allison Stanger, professor at Middlebury College, we decided to focus exclusively on Elon Musk and his relationship with Donald Trump.

    What is DOGE, the "Department of Governmental Efficiency?" And while we're at it, what is efficiency anyways? Has DOGE saved Americans any money? What information of ours are they trying to access? And is there any chance they've already succeeded?

    • CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!
    • To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.
    • Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast, Outside/In - we think you'll love it!
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • Why do we have the National Weather Service?

    Why do we have the National Weather Service?
    Apr 10 2025

    Most Americans can look down at their phone and see a prediction of the future. How is that even possible?

    Well, we'll tell you. Today it's all about the weather; from early predictive methods and almanacs to the National Weather Service's modern-day practices of collecting, analyzing, and sharing a staggering amount of data. First we talked with Kris Harper, a professor of history and philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, and then with Felicia Bowser, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida.

    • CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!
    • To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.
    • Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast, Outside/In - we think you'll love it!
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
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Profile Image for Anonymous User

My Fav Podcast!!!

It is hard to wait every week for a new episode! Fun to listen to, and on my favorite subject - american democracy. I appreciate how you guys break it down, even people who aren't nerds like me will be interested. My favorite episode is probably the first treason trial in the U.S. it really seems to include alot of founding fathers in a weird way... hope there are more federal case episodes to come. I appreciate the effort you guys put into educating.

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Profile Image for Sonja Cassandra Perdue

Well done.

Good learning experience. Clear and concise.
I am definitely motivated to continue listening and learning.

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Profile Image for Joseph B.

Three Cheers!

Entertaining, energetic, and essential. Put this on your list of audible listens! Share it with your friends. Lack of Civics knowledge is starving the republic … here is food for life!!

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Profile Image for HGYIII

Marxism

If you are a Make America Great Again republican, leave this alone. From chapter one, they call us radicals because we put America ahead of the world. It's a disgusting left-wing podcast. There is NOTHING educational about partisanship.

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Profile Image for Todd C.

Was hoping for an even civics discussion but it devolved into a liberal leftist slant.

Wanted a legal and an academic discussion of civics. They can’t help themselves to slant with a leftist viewpoint.

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Profile Image for Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Leftist historians are trash.

Christopher Columbus is the reason that the United States exists. There would be no such thing as a “Latino” without Christopher Columbus. He was the first European explorer to establish a trade route here in at least 10,000 years. Nobody cares that he was an unsavory character. You are all lost.

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