As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, we are presented with an opportunity to reflect on America’s past, examine how it has evolved into its present form, and debate its future. What does it mean to be an American in the 21st century? Is America a nation of ideals or one of heritage? What path is America set to follow over the next 250 years, and is this path in the right or wrong direction according to our citizenry and founding principles? Day by day, it seems that Americans from opposing ends of the political spectrum are developing and adhering to increasingly divergent understandings of America and its founding principles. As we prepare to celebrate a landmark anniversary for America, free inquiry and rigorous, open dialogue about the essence of the American experiment have never been more important.
The Chicago Thinker is honored to bring together four extremely accomplished individuals: David Axelrod, Tom Ginsburg, John Pinheiro, and Jonathan Turley, to engage in a rigorous discussion on the panel “America 250: Origins, Evolution, and Future of the Republic,” moderated by Managing Editor Akshay Kirthi ‘27 at the Thinker’s second-ever American Identity Summit.
David Axelrod is one of America’s preeminent political strategists and served as the former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama during his historic 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. He served as the founding director of the University of Chicago’s nonpartisan Institute of Politics from 2012 to 2023 and currently serves as chair of its Board of Advisors. Axelrod is also a senior political commentator for CNN and was the host of The Axe Files, a top-rated podcast featuring in-depth conversations with public figures across the political spectrum, until its 605th and final episode in 2024.
Tom Ginsburg is a renowned legal scholar and the founding director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago, where he is also the Leo Spitz Distinguished Service Professor of International Law. During his career, Ginsburg has become one of the most frequently cited international law scholars in the country. He often works with many international development agencies and foreign governments seeking advice on legal and constitutional reform. He is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a co-host of the Entitled podcast, part of the award-winning University of Chicago Podcast Network, which focuses on human rights.
Dr. John C. Pinheiro is director of research and publications at the Acton Institute for Study of Religion and Liberty and the author or editor of five books. Formerly the assistant editor of the Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia, he was also professor of history at Aquinas College for eighteen years. His newest book, edited with Dylan Pahman, is The Christian Roots of American Liberty: A Reader. Among his books and articles are the award-winning Missionaries of Republicanism: A Religious History of the Mexican-American War and The American Experiment in Ordered Liberty. He is on X as @DrJohnPinheiro and his Substack is “Liberty & Order.”
Jonathan Turley is one of America’s most prominent legal scholars and constitutional law experts, known for his frequent commentary on high-profile cases and political controversies. He is a professor at George Washington University Law School, where he has built a distinguished academic career spanning decades. He is also a widely read columnist and the author of the popular Res Ipsa Loquitur blog, where he offers legal analysis on the intersection of law, politics, and civil liberties. He is a well-known supporter of the First Amendment, having authored The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage in 2024.
The American Identity Summit will be held at the David Rubenstein Forum from May 15-16th. This panel on America’s 250th Anniversary is scheduled for May 16th at 10:45 AM, following a keynote address from Dr. Scott Atlas titled “Leadership and the Future of American Education.” General admission tickets are free for University of Chicago students and are available here.