Friends & Fellow Citizens

Hollywood is arguably the most recognizable brand of American movies. But in the last couple of decades, something else has increasingly dominated American domination of the movie industry: the Chinese Communist Party. How can America reclaim American-made Hollywood movies? Chris Fenton, a former Hollywood film producer of 21 films grossing a total of more than $2 billion, shares insight into the...

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE! Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America! Hope you all enjoy the Independence Day weekend! 250 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by 56 brave signers. While everyone can agree on the significance of that day, 'division' seems to describe all of American politics these days. Just like much of American history, ev...

As the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll made strong stances on the role of public service. How did he handle ad hominem attacks from a prominent Loyalist? Learn how Carroll's stance on religion and public office and his choice of argumentative style made him a prominent Marylander. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-...

Sports are important activities that teach life skills to countless people every day. But when politics enters the arena, the integrity of sports is in the balance. In recent years, there have been instances of biological men self-identifying as female, prompting many to be concerned about the future of female sports. This episode is an opportunity to hear from two young volleyball players, Kendal...

The history of free speech in American history can be told in many ways. But perhaps none as crazy as this one, which happened while George Washington was alive. Hear how Matthew Lyon's story can teach us about free speech and why restrictions on free speech can truly backfire. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop o...

Thank you to all our listeners and supporters for getting F&FC to 200 episodes! We are proud of the work done and are looking forward to much more content! Stay tuned! China's grand strategy to reshape supply chains, ideological dominance, and the larger world order can be traced to strategies like Made in China 2025. How much of a wake-up call is this for the U.S.? Emily de la Bruyère, S...

While little is known about Thomas Stone, learn more about his dedication to preventing war and care for his ill wife that compelled him to leave public office. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE...

Policies like DEI, affirmative action, and other race-based policies claim to embrace diversity. The Jussie Smollett case initially made people aware of racial issues, but the event turned out to be a highly publicized hate crime hoax. Why do race-based policies fail to realistically achieve success in solving social issues?  Dr. Wilfred Reilly, professor at Kentucky State University, shares how r...

Washington's Farewell Address is very much a speech reflecting on the first President's successes and failures. Edmund Randolph, the first Attorney General, looked promising for a cabinet member but caused headaches for the new administration. How did Washington handle an embarrassing moment for the Secretary of State? Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for o...

Anyone looking through polarized lenses sees everything darker. How and why have Americans disliked "the other side" more and chosen new, uncompromising political identities? What can be done to "remove" these polarized lenses? Dr. Samara Klar (Professor of Political Science, University of Arizona) and Dr. David Hopkins (Professor of Political Science, Boston College) discuss t...

With multiple favorite U.S. presidents to choose from, few if any stand out like Theodore Roosevelt. What made the 26th POTUS uniquely interested in nature? How will North Dakota play an important role later in July 2026 to finally preserve his legacy? Dr. Michael Patrick Cullinane, Chair of Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University and Public Historian at the Theodore Roosevelt Association,...

One of only two Signers of Italian descent, William Paca was a successful lawyer and was heavily involved in the formation of our system of government. What can we learn from his opposition to "energetic government?" Can civic energy come from such a position? Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things...

Watch the video episode HERE ! As we reflect again later this month on Washington's Birthday, religion and religious freedom are indisputably central to the American experiment. How do the Founders' ideas on religion relate to our debates today? And where does faith fit in with our country?  This episode's special guest is Dr. Vincent Phillip Muñoz, who is Professor of Political Sci...

Concepts are rarely defined and understood by those involved in politics. What are the consequences of using the term 'gender?' Dr. Alex Byrne, Professor of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT, provides explanations about how these concepts should be used. He also previews his work on a 2025 report revealing very weak evidence and weak medical ethics for treatment of pediatric gender dysph...

Henry Wilson was one of the most important abolitionists and a savvy politician who thought well ahead of his time. How did he discuss patriotic causes in the abolitionist cause? Hear how an 1857 (in the wake of the Dred Scott decision) speech highlights ways we can relate to the pillar of patriotism. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is...

Click here to watch the video version on Youtube! America is a quilt of immigration stories, and among those is one that is unimaginable for any child. As an orphan who moved from Ukraine to America just 12 years ago, Anna Leah Jolly is living out her life-changing American Dream. As we celebrate another winter holiday season, learn how she went from a childhood amidst abuse and neglect in Ukraine...

Statement from Friends & Fellow Citizens re: tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife and Trump's Truth Social post. The podcast does not support individuals turning tragedies into political opportunism and celebration. Our country is better than this. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends &...

Not all signers were universally well-regarded as calm moderates. Hear how Samuel Chase, a lawyer and a bunch of other "jobs," was known as an "extremely irregular" signer. He would serve as Supreme Court Justice and get caught up in one of the most partisan episodes in early American history. Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay "Deck the Halls" by Xylote...

Click here to watch the video version on Youtube! Amid all the political noise about ideologues on the right and left, political moderates are unique in our democracy. What makes moderation so essential for robust democracies? Dr. Aurelian Craiutu, Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Indiana University Bloomington, shares about the array of faces and virtues of moderation th...

Click here to watch on Youtube! Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and it may also mean honoring those who have given. Kristin Strobel, who was our guest in Ep. 90, joins our show again to discuss her latest project about a statue honoring one of the most famous Americans: Thomas Edison! Hear about the journey from idea to voting, statuary to statue. You can visit this magnificent Edison's...

"Populism" is a term thrown around by many in politics, but what kind of populists used to be prominent? Is populism only for those who claim to be populist? Hear an 1892 excerpt from James Weaver, a prominent Populist Party leader, and the ways he portrayed a long-standing issue (as old as the country) that applied to the 1890s and applies to this day in 2025 and beyond. Support the sho...

Since the founding of the U.S., generations of Americans have strived to achieve democratic governance and self-government. How can Americans improve our system of democratic governance? Dr. Archon Fung, professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, shares how public participation, deliberation, and transparency play important role...

State government is a key aspect of our federalist system in the U.S. But what is it like to represent a state capital's constituents in a state capitol? For this year's inaugural Nevada Day Special, PK O'Neill shares what it is like serving as Assemblyman for District 40 that includes Carson City (the state capital), Storey County, and some parts of Washoe County. He discusses his...

The Founders collectively voted for independence, but did everyone who vote actually support it? Perhaps after this episode, George Read may be categorized as one of the more unique Signers of the Declaration. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute...

Many Americans on both sides of the political aisle agree polarization is a major problem. But do many Americans on either side truly understand the other side's world view and contributions? Dr. John Iceland, Sociology and Demography professor at Penn State, shares how in this American democracy, we can understand the social justice and social order perspectives and the value of respecting o...