About Amended! Liberty's Guide to the First Amendment
From Nazi marches to celebrity sex tapes to modern-day Satanists, Amended! unpacks the true stories that have shaped our modern understanding of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Professor, political commentator, and TV chef Liberty Vittert guides you through this deeply researched and thoroughly entertaining blend of interviews, narration, and archival audio that will leave you sharper and ready to win your next dinner table debate.
This educational and irreverent six-part series was produced by Voxtopica with the generous support of a grant from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis.
The last right enshrined in the First Amendment is perhaps the least known and the most ignored: the right to petition the government for the redress of grievances. The simple act of petitioning evolved from a royal court privilege to a primary function of the U.S. Congress.
In this final episode of the first season of Amended! digs into the history, struggles, and the surprisingly old power of petitions in shaping monarchies and American democracy — with a few sci-fi jokes thrown in for good measure.
You'll hear about the origins of petitioning, from Magna Carta to the American Revolution. You'll discover that, in colonial America and the early years of our nation, petitions were powerful, direct, and surprisingly inclusive, a tool that was available even for Native Americans and enslaved people.
You'll also find out how slavery led to rules that changed the nature of petitioning, and how, as the country grew, the sheer volume of of petitions ultimately led to the vast federal bureaucracy.
And as a bonus, learn how a simple Star Wars joke kickstarted a NASA project (Spot the Station). Just goes to show, even geeky petitions can make a big impact.
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18 Mar 2026
Legally Allowed to Be Annoying in Public
Understanding the Hidden Power of the First Amendment's Right to Assemble — And Why It Matters More Than Ever
Ever wondered why rallies, protests, and even social media blockades are the backbone of democracy? Buckle up, because we're diving into a constitutional cornerstone that’s more relevant than your Wi-Fi password.
Most of us think freedom of speech is the star of the First Amendment, but there's a behind-the-scenes hero that often gets less airtime: freedom of assembly.
Turns out, it's the secret sauce behind protests, social movements, and even how democracy keeps its mojo, yet most Americans can’t even name it. The 20th-century history of assembly is packed with stories that changed lives, from civil rights sit-ins in Mississippi to the clash of neo-Nazis and Holocaust survivors in Skokie, Illinois. Spoiler alert: when it’s about the right to rally against injustice or even defend hateful speech, the principle that all groups, no matter how unpopular, get to be heard is tested like never before.
In the digital age, Facebook, Twitter, and even the president’s tweets are mirror images of this age-old struggle. Why does it matter? Because the right of assembly isn’t just a legal abstraction; it’s the backbone of societal change.
From historic marches to online mobs, this episode explains why the right to gather is about more than just standing in a park—it’s about shaping society itself.
And remember: When you see a protest, a town hall, or a viral online rally, you're not just a bystander. You're an active participant in the ongoing experiment called American democracy. Now go forth, assemble wisely, and keep speaking your mind!
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4 Mar 2026
You Call That Journalism?
The Free Press Clause was written for a world of ink and paper. But what happens when anyone with a smartphone can be a journalist, and powerful billionaires can secretly bankroll lawsuits to silence outlets they dislike?
In this episode of Amended!, host Liberty explores one of the most urgent and unsettled questions in First Amendment law: who counts as "the press" today, and who gets the protections that come with it.
From legacy newsrooms like the New York Times to self-styled "First Amendment Auditors" testing the boundaries of public access on livestream, Liberty maps a media ecosystem that has exploded in size and splintered in legitimacy. Along the way, she unpacks the landmark legal cases that define press freedom as we know it, including:New York Times v. Sullivan — the foundational ruling that set the bar for defamation claims against public figuresBollea v. Gawker — the Hulk Hogan sex-tape case that bankrupted a major new media outlet, later revealed to have been secretly funded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel
Key questions this episode answers:What does the Free Press Clause actually protect — and what doesn't it cover?Can bloggers, citizen journalists, and livestreamers claim the same legal protections as traditional reporters?How are press freedoms being tested, eroded, and redefined right now?
Amended! is an educational, irreverent six-part podcast series produced by Voxtopica, with support from the Frick Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
18 Feb 2026
They Can't Say That, Can They?
Defining what counts as "speech" and when it can be regulated has sparked some of the most explosive cultural and legal battles in American history.
11 Feb 2026
O Your Honor, Hear My Prayer
The First Amendment’s freedom of religion clauses were the Founding Fathers' way of saying, “Hands off people’s beliefs,” but it's far more complicated.
11 Feb 2026
A Mostly Free Country
An introduction to the not-so-simple story of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
17 Jan 2026
Introducing Amended! Liberty's Guide to the First Amendment
Introducing Amended! LIberty's Guide to the First Amendment, a new show about the Constitution's most important rights.
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