Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether the Trump administration’s executive order limiting who can be born an American is constitutional, and whether “all persons born or naturalized in the United States”—save for those who are here under unique circumstances, such as children of foreign dignitaries—are citizens of the union. This week on Radio Atlantic, Adam Harris is joined by Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer to explore birthright citizenship and what it means to be an American.
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#theatlantic #radioatlantic #birthrightcitizenship
00:00 Introduction
00:56 The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment Explained
01:29 Trump Order and Lawsuit
02:52 Origins in Reconstruction
05:40 Wong Kim Ark Precedent
06:24 Why Challenge it Now
08:24 Jurisdiction Clause Debate
14:04 Statelessness Explained
17:19 Credits
Atlantic on YouTube: bit.ly/subAtlanticYT
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether the Trump administration’s executive order limiting who can be born an American is constitutional, and whether “all persons born or naturalized in the United States”—save for those who are here under unique circumstances, such as children of foreign dignitaries—are citizens of the union. This week on Radio Atlantic, Adam Harris is joined by Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer to explore birthright citizenship and what it means to be an American.
Subscribe to the “Radio Atlantic” podcast on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-atlantic/id1258635512
Subscribe to the “Radio Atlantic” podcast on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/4vlgAVfHGyzoHYVmY67yFL
Follow The Atlantic on Instagram: instagram.com/theatlantic/?hl=en
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener.
#theatlantic #radioatlantic #birthrightcitizenship
00:00 Introduction
00:56 The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment Explained
01:29 Trump Order and Lawsuit
02:52 Origins in Reconstruction
05:40 Wong Kim Ark Precedent
06:24 Why Challenge it Now
08:24 Jurisdiction Clause Debate
14:04 Statelessness Explained
17:19 Credits
Atlantic on YouTube: bit.ly/subAtlanticYT
