Civics 101

Federal Courts: Espionage and the Rosenbergs

Listen Later

Since its passage after World War I, thousands of people have been investigated for violating the Espionage Act, including Julian Assange, Daniel Ellsberg, and Donald Trump. However, only two people have been executed for violating it during peacetime; Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. 

This episode features Anne Sebba, author of Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy, and Jake Kobrick, Associate Historian at the Federal Judicial Center. It explains the Espionage Act of 1917, the accusations against the Rosenbergs, the twists and turns of their trial, and their execution in 1953. 

Like our work? Click this link to support it with a donation today. 

  • 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!

    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Civics 101By NHPR
    • 4.2
    • 4.2
    • 4.2
    • 4.2
    • 4.2

    4.2

    2,523 ratings

    More shows like Civics 101

    View all
    The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

    The NPR Politics Podcast

    26,043 Listeners

    On the Media by WNYC Studios

    On the Media

    9,230 Listeners

    Left, Right & Center by KCRW

    Left, Right & Center

    5,136 Listeners

    Here & Now Anytime by NPR

    Here & Now Anytime

    1,020 Listeners

    Outside/In by NHPR

    Outside/In

    1,481 Listeners

    Something Wild by Dave Anderson, Grace McCulloch

    Something Wild

    123 Listeners

    10 Minute Writer's Workshop by New Hampshire Public Radio

    10 Minute Writer's Workshop

    138 Listeners

    We the People by National Constitution Center

    We the People

    1,110 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    113,468 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,962 Listeners

    What Next | Daily News and Analysis by Slate Podcasts

    What Next | Daily News and Analysis

    2,408 Listeners

    Bear Brook by NHPR

    Bear Brook

    15,289 Listeners

    Post Reports by The Washington Post

    Post Reports

    5,223 Listeners

    Throughline by NPR

    Throughline

    16,503 Listeners

    Document by NHPR

    Document

    815 Listeners

    Strict Scrutiny by Strict Scrutiny

    Strict Scrutiny

    5,851 Listeners

    Patient Zero by NHPR

    Patient Zero

    1,360 Listeners

    Stranglehold by NHPR

    Stranglehold

    327 Listeners

    Consider This from NPR by NPR

    Consider This from NPR

    6,466 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,554 Listeners

    The 13th Step by New Hampshire Public Radio

    The 13th Step

    996 Listeners

    Writers On A New England Stage by NHPR

    Writers On A New England Stage

    8 Listeners

    N.H. News Recap by NHPR

    N.H. News Recap

    6 Listeners

    The Youth Development Center by NHPR

    The Youth Development Center

    284 Listeners

    Check This Out by New Hampshire Public Radio

    Check This Out

    5 Listeners

    The Final Days of Sgt. Tibbs by NHPR

    The Final Days of Sgt. Tibbs

    128 Listeners

    Death Resulting by NHPR

    Death Resulting

    43 Listeners

    Homegrown NH by New Hampshire Public Radio

    Homegrown NH

    0 Listeners

    Sources & Methods by NPR

    Sources & Methods

    873 Listeners

    Operation Night Cat by New Hampshire Public Radio

    Operation Night Cat

    123 Listeners

    Safe to Drink by NHPR

    Safe to Drink

    20 Listeners