Think Twice: Reading the Constitution with Justice Stephen G. Breyer
Streaming now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and OpentoDebate.org.
Topics: Law
Public Release Date: July 4, 2025
As an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court for almost three decades, Stephen Breyer was no stranger to hearing arguments for cases, whether landmark, federal, or otherwise, that reached the highest court in the land. As an organization focused on the merits of debate, we wanted to know how the Justices engaged in this practice behind closed doors — and how their debates around interpreting the Constitution helped shape the Court’s decisions.
In this episode, our moderator-in-chief, John Donvan, and Chief Content Officer, Lia Matthow, interview Justice Breyer, discuss his book “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, not Textualism,” and talk with him how he used this philosophy to guide his deliberations, the landmark cases that showcased it, and why he thinks jurists should choose this philosophy as a means of interpreting the Constitution.
OUR GUEST:
Stephen Breyer: Former United States Supreme Court Justice
GUEST MODERATOR:
Lia Matthow: Chief Content Officer of Open to Debate
MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:
John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist