More Perfect

The First Amendments with They Might Be Giants


Listen Later

Let's get started. If we're talking about the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, it only feels right to start at the beginning. The First and Second Amendments are arguably the most ferociously contentious amendments of them all, and the Third Amendment is the underdog that everyone underestimates but (maybe) shouldn’t.

With that in mind, we dive into the poetic dream behind the First Amendment. This is the amendment that reflects the kind of country the Founding Fathers hoped we would be. Next, we examine the fiercely debated words of the Second Amendment, words that often feel like they divide our nation in two. And finally, we question whether the seemingly irrelevant Third Amendment might actually be the key to figuring out where our country is going.

And when you're done with the episode, take a listen to the songs by Joey Stylez, Cherry Glazerr, Sateen, Flor de Toloache, Michael Richard Klics, Palehound, and They Might be Giants inspired by Amendments One, Two and Three on "27: The Most Perfect Album."

In Season three, More Perfect is taking our camera lens off the Supreme Court and zooming in on the words of the people: the 27 amendments that We The People have made to our Constitution. We're taking on these 27 amendments both in song and in story. This episode is best listened to alongside "27: The Most Perfect Album," an entire album (an ALBUM!) and digital experience of original music and art inspired by the 27 Amendments. Think of these episodes as the audio liner notes.

You can listen to all of the songs on "27: The Most Perfect Album" on YouTube and watch music videos from the album.

Follow us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook @moreperfectpodcast, and X (Twitter) @moreperfect.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

More PerfectBy WNYC Studios

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

14,407 ratings


More shows like More Perfect

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,050 Listeners

On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,106 Listeners

The Brian Lehrer Show by WNYC

The Brian Lehrer Show

1,535 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,614 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,911 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,648 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,878 Listeners

the memory palace by Nate DiMeo

the memory palace

6,846 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,227 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,138 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,711 Listeners

Invisibilia by NPR

Invisibilia

21,662 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,623 Listeners

Revisionist History by Pushkin Industries

Revisionist History

59,313 Listeners

Spooked by KQED and Snap Studios

Spooked

16,334 Listeners

The Anthropocene Reviewed by Complexly, John Green

The Anthropocene Reviewed

9,296 Listeners

Decoder Ring by Slate Podcasts

Decoder Ring

2,088 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,956 Listeners

Dolly Parton's America by WNYC Studios & OSM Audio

Dolly Parton's America

16,347 Listeners

Radiolab for Kids by WNYC

Radiolab for Kids

1,017 Listeners

The Last Archive by Pushkin Industries

The Last Archive

1,828 Listeners

The Experiment by The Atlantic and WNYC Studios

The Experiment

2,827 Listeners

Search Engine by PJ Vogt

Search Engine

4,280 Listeners