A Modern Reader's Guide to a Besieged Constitution

About this episode

Melissa Murray discusses her book on the U.S. Constitution and the current Supreme Court Justices' interpretations.

Leading SCOTUS scholar Melissa Murray joins Harry to discuss her new book on the constitution and her concerns about the Justices now tasked with interpreting it. Melissa guides Harry through key points from her book—"The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader"—from the fears of slave rebellion that shaped the 2nd amendment to the expansive promise of liberty that has been gradually erased from the 14th. The two close with a closer look at the Justices, including why Melissa sees John Roberts as the "Victor Frankenstein of American government."Mentioned in this episode: Melissa’s new book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-U-S-Constitution/Melissa-Murray/9781668221938New York Times reporting on the origins of the shadow docket: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/supreme-court-shadow-docket.htmlNoah Feldman’s book “Scorpions”: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/books/review/ACohen-t.htmlCarol Anderon’s book “The Second”: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/books/review/the-second-carol-anderson.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Harry Litman

Guest: Melissa Murray

Topics covered

• U.S. Constitution
• Supreme Court
• legal interpretation
• civil liberties
• judicial concerns

Keywords

• Constitution
• Supreme Court
• Melissa Murray
• John Roberts
• civil rights
• 2nd amendment
• 14th amendment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times

Books & works: The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, Scorpions, The Second

More episodes of Talking Feds

• Inside the DOJ’s Downward Spiral · June 11, 2026 · 45 min
• The Start of Trump’s Long Slide? · June 8, 2026 · 57 min
• David Frum’s Unified Thesis of Trump’s Failings · June 4, 2026 · 34 min
• Purges, Payoffs, and Paxton · June 1, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Patrick Radden Keefe’s “London Falling” and Death in the Time of Oligarchs · May 28, 2026 · 41 min
• Orange Slush (Special DOJ Episode) · May 25, 2026 · 1h 5m