On June 8, 2026, Jesse Wegman published his latest analysis piece, "The Supreme Court Justice Who Ended Up Behind Bars," continuing his sharp-eyed exploration of America's judicial history. This comes right as Wegman is making the media rounds to discuss his work on constitutional history and the figures who shaped the nation's founding documents.
On Fresh Air, host Dave Davies dedicated an episode to Wegman's deep dive into a neglected historical figure, James Wilson. Davies introduced the premise by asking, "what if I told you that one of the nation's founders, one of only six who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a critical voice at the Constitutional Convention, and arguably the man most responsible for the government we've had for two centuries, is someone you've never heard of? That's precisely the case made by our guest today, Jesse Wegman."
Throughout the broadcast, Davies repeatedly highlighted Wegman's book, noting that "Jesse Wegman's new book is 'The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution'." Returning from a mid-show break, Davies reintroduced the author, telling listeners, "We are speaking with Jesse Wegman. His new book is The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution."
With the Supreme Court constantly under the microscope in 2026, Wegman's dual perspective as a journalist and a historian keeps him at the center of the debate. Expect his historical insights on James Wilson to remain highly relevant as commentators continue to clash over the modern Court's legitimacy.