On Monday, Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law Professor Amy Landers joined us for “Rage Bait and the First Amendment,” hosted by my colleague Professor Jonathan D’Silva. The discussion explored how First Amendment doctrine interacts with today’s attention economy, where platform design, algorithmic amplification, and emotionally charged content shape not only what we see, but what gets created. The conversation pushed beyond familiar “marketplace of ideas” assumptions and asked what deliberative democracy looks like in an environment optimized for engagement rather than reflection.

On Tuesday, Penn State College of the Liberal Arts Professor Rachel Shelden presented “The Political Supreme Court: Ethics, Partisanship, and Power in Early America,” hosted by my colleague Professor Jud Mathews. Drawing from her forthcoming book, Professor Shelden challenged the modern narrative of a depoliticized Court, showing how early justices openly participated in partisan life while shaping constitutional meaning. The historical account offers a useful lens for thinking about the Court’s institutional role today.

Both sessions drew strong engagement across our University Park and Carlisle communities, as well as online participants. We’re grateful to our speakers and hosts for facilitating conversations that connect doctrine, history, and contemporary challenges in such a substantive way.