Our Kidnapped Constitution: Madiba Dennie
July 3rd, 2025
“The goal of originalism is basically to turn back time.”
We discuss Inclusive Constitutionalism, a fresh way to interpret the Constitution that makes inclusive democracy real. By contrast, originalism interprets the meaning of the Constitution as fixed in time in the 1800s and ignores the constitutional amendments during reconstruction that were designed to foster a multiracial democracy.
Madiba Dennie is Deputy Editor and Senior Contributor at the critical legal commentary outlet Balls and Strikes. Her debut book is The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We The People Can Take it Back.
Your civic action toolkit recommendations from Madiba are:
Join or form a local union!
Pay attention to state and local courts.
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Credits:
Host: Mila Atmos
Guest: Madiba Dennie
Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
Producer: Zack Travis