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Civics 101

Civics 101

By: NHPR
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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 Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • A country with no kings

    A country with no kings
    Jul 15 2025

    As subjects of the British king, the very idea of criticizing monarchy -- or King George III himself -- was a dangerous one. So how did we become a country where "no kings" is a guiding principle? Something we take for granted?

    Holly Brewer is our guide to the resistance, risk and eventual revolution that transformed a British colony into a democratic country that would have no king.

    • WIN A NEW CAR OR 25K IN CASH DURING NHPR'S SUMMER RAFFLE! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
    • 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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    37 mins
  • How are tariffs affecting American businesses?

    How are tariffs affecting American businesses?
    Jul 14 2025

    Today on Civics 101, we answer listener questions about tariffs. And then, we look at how they've affected one American Industry. It's not a game, but these companies do make them, and they've been hit hard by President Trump's ever-changing tariff policies.

    NOTE - This episode was republished because of a technical issue .

    Click here to check out our 2024 episode on how tariffs work.

    • WIN A NEW CAR OR 25K IN CASH DURING NHPR'S SUMMER RAFFLE! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
    • 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
    29 mins
  • Civics lessons from Karen Read's retrial

    Civics lessons from Karen Read's retrial
    Jul 11 2025

    The team delves into some of the many civics lessons the public got while watching Karen Read’s retrial, which ended with her acquittal on all major charges in June. Topics include the First Amendment, judicial discretion, courtroom tactics, and more. Our expert for this episode is Colin Miller, blogger, podcaster, and professor at University of South Carolina School of Law.

    Read Vanity Fair's extensive reporting on this case.

    • WIN A NEW CAR OR 25K IN CASH DURING NHPR'S SUMMER RAFFLE! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
    • 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
    51 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
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.

My Fav Podcast!!!

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

Well done.

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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!!

Three Cheers!

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

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

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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.

Marxism

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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.

Leftist historians are trash.

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