Friends & Fellow Citizens

Almost any DC straphanger knows the Metro stop called "McPherson Square, " but who is the namesake of this public park and busy subway station? In honor of Memorial Day, learn more about the emotional legacy that Union Major General James B. McPherson left to his West Point classmates and superiors on both sides of the bitterly divided country. SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the latest...

As technology continues to modernize in record time, public trust in media has yet to thrive in the modern era. What sort of models or ideas can improve credibility in information dissemination? Leigh Munsil, Editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Report and former Politico journalist, shares her thoughts on how local journalism has grown in the ever-growing San Antonio metro area and what readers and...

William Williams may not have the most original name, but his creative ways to support the Patriot cause was evident in his service to Connecticut. Learn how this Signer's family connection with a Royal Governor ultimately formed the foundations of a new state called Connecticut and the new United States of America. SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the latest news and updates from Friends &am...

Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill is often credited with the phrase "all politics is local," and it may be more relevant to this day and age than ever in recent memory. But to what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic made politics more local, and how can Americans work together to serve at local and state levels? A governmental affairs professional with extensive experience in local and...

Over the past two years of COVID-19 relief-related spending packages, we have probably heard the word "trillion" more often than ever. Most people would call it a large number with 12 zero's, but words alone can't explain this huge number, especially when it comes to money and fiscal responsibility (or lack of it) in our country's politics. Learn what $1 trillion and a who...

Few of us can be as good as Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson in the boxing ring. But there is a much more participatory arena for those who wish to make their voices heard via the ballot box and protect the American right to vote. An author and civic leader, Lucy Santora shares her unique story growing up in a progressive household living in a conservative town, analysis of the 2016 and 2020 presidentia...

With a calm and cordial nature, Samuel Huntington may have served as a "first President of the United States." Learn how this early leader from Connecticut helped solve the more territorial disputes of the fledgling nation. SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the latest news and updates from Friends & Fellow Citizens! Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for o...

The global standing of the U.S. is evolving as adversarial nations create new ways to fight with information warfare and discourse power. Cybersecurity expert and freelancer Alicia Fawcett joins us to discuss how the CCP's discourse power is shaping Chinese foreign policy, global implications on security and America's standing in the world, and what the U.S. can do to mitigate these thre...

Sometimes, a random selection in a historical newspaper can turn into a podcast episode. While researching more about Horace Mann and the history of American education, Sherman decided to pick a page at random and see what happens. This episode covers an interesting piece from a school teacher who may remind us the essence of education for children. Link to pgs. 286 and 287 written by Ms. Emily R....

Amid mass polarization and politicization, the fabric of American civics has been shaped and eroded by the mainstream news industry for decades. Now, even former journalists are speaking out and calling for much-needed change. Former MSNBC producer Ariana Pekary discusses why she left the mass media industry, consequences of contemporary financial incentives in that industry, and what we can do to...

As a delegate who spoke almost 150 times during the Constitutional Convention, Roger Sherman was no stranger to the major political debates that shaped American history forever. Learn how this Connecticut delegate worked to ensure that compromise would be an imperfect but necessary vehicle for positive change in America. SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the latest news and updates from Friends &am...

Listen to Part I HERE What would George Washington and the Founders think about the Hot Crazy Matrix? Find out more in Part 2! Original video link (share with your friends & family!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_H85PH2gtw&t=32s Check out the following links for more mentions of the Universal Hot Crazy Matrix! Article: The Tennesseean  - Alderman's 'hot crazy' female matrix goe...

From Leonardo da Vinci to George Washington , Mary Shelley to Albert Einstein, the spectrum of geniuses is endless. A 7-minute video from 2014 with over 300 million views (and counting), the "Universal Hot Crazy Matrix" has been a favorite for countless people around the world. In this two-part grab bag episode like no other, the mastermind of the hyper viral video Dana McLendon joins us...

In this episode, we delve into how the Senate maverick Daniel Webster may help explain the state of mindlessness in our society today. Most importantly, this week marks a big announcement that will greatly enhance the listener experience in our interview episodes soon! Stay tuned! SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the latest news and updates from Friends & Fellow Citizens! Support the show Visi...

What if one Facebook message could change a man's path in life? In early 2017, one message from a complete stranger sparked an unlikely partnership and friendship that transcended across the Atlantic. Ben Taylor, the creator of the popular Youtube channel Pleasant Green that informs people about contemporary scams, joins our show this week to share his insight as a content creator. He also te...

Just several episodes into this series, we have seen how multiple Signers were already well ahead of their times on making the United States of America a better haven for freedom, opportunity, and justice. The second and final delegate from Rhode Island, William Ellery helped establish an Ivy League institution and offer hope for a nation that he believed could end slavery and liberate countless f...

Born and raised in Communist Albania, Dr. Elida Dakoli overcame unprecedented political persecution from the regime run by Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour of Albania. In Part 1 of this remarkable journey, she shares the origins of her extraordinary family story and some of her first-hand experiences in harsh living circumstances under a cruel communist dictatorship. Click HERE for Part II! Lea...

In Part 2 of this remarkable journey, Dr. Elida Dakoli shares her journey from Albania to America, how she cultivated her entrepreneurial spirit and musical talent in the U.S., and the value of protecting freedom and opportunity in our society. Click HERE to listen to Part 1 of this episode. Learn more about Elida's story and work on her website: elidadakoli.com ! SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list...

Interestingly, the name of the upcoming President's Day holiday reminds us that it is not a celebration of a specific president's birthday or even the performance of a particular president. Rather, it is a holiday that celebrates the office and those who have had the enormous responsibility to hold it, whether we approve or disapprove the administration of any President. This week, we le...

COVID-19 has exposed and created new challenges that have stretched the American political fabric thin. With polarization exacerbated during the past two challenging years, civility and common sense are two of the most effective treatments that have been lacking for too long. Dr. Christine Blackburn,  Assistant Professor of Security Studies at Sam Houston State University, joins us this week for a...

While many of the Signers were young men who had just recently rose to prominence in politics, some already had critical experience studying and fighting for the rights of the original 13 colonies. Stephen Hopkins, a former governor and Chief Justice from Rhode Island, sowed some of the seeds of independence that eventually grew to fruition decades later. SUBSCRIBE to our e-mail list for the lates...

As the Indo-Pacific security threat landscape evolves, so does U.S. military strategy. But how should a military branch like the USMC confront and mitigate complex threats to U.S. national security in the vast Indo-Pacific region? In this week's fascinating episode, Marine Corps Col. James "Bullet" McGinley shares how the USMC can and should adapt to the ever-changing threats from C...

Earlier this week, many Americans reflected on the state of the country one year after the tragic 1/6 Capitol riots that left multiple people dead and a wound in our national politics. As some listeners may know, I was a congressional intern who was in lockdown with Members of Congress and staffers on that awful day. This week, I share some of my personal experiences on that day, the challenges th...

When our nation called, countless men and women of our armed forces dutifully responded with their sacrifices and livelihoods. To this day, there are still numerous challenges of getting our troops reintegrated into civil society after they serve their deployments. Kylie Blakely, a dedicated advocate for stopping soldier suicide, speaks about the challenges that veterans face upon their return to...

Few Founders have been more influential in promoting strong government and protection of civil liberties than Elbridge Gerry. Learn how this Signer from Massachusetts not only became a namesake for partisan-driven redistricting, but also a Founding Father who believed in constructive dialogue as a pillar of American public service. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up fo...