PODCAST · government
Toward Reconstitution
by Melissa Cosgrove
What happens when the right to be heard replaces the obligation to respond? Toward Reconstitution is a 13-episode podcast exploring the gap between what we ask of our government and what power can be made to do. Hosted by independent scholar Melissa Cosgrove, the series examines how modern institutions preserve the appearance of public participation while systematically decoupling accountability. Through contemporary cases, legal analysis, and political history, Toward Reconstitution asks what it would take to build a constitutional order bound by relational integrity—where rights place duties on those with power and harm creates an obligation to repair.
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What Is a Government For?
On June 14, 2026, a police officer in Senatobia, Mississippi fired into a car in a Walmart parking lot and killed one-year-old Kohen Wiley. His family is still waiting for a full account of what happened.Episode 1 of Toward Reconstitution begins there and asks a basic question: what is a government for? From Kohen’s death and the investigation that followed, Melissa Cosgrove introduces the framework that will guide this series: obligation, feedback, repair, and the relationships that make public power answerable to the people who live under it.Sources and further readingMississippi Today — reporting on Kohen Wiley’s death, the police response, the investigation, and the records released afterward.Mississippi Today — reporting on Senatobia Sgt. Hunter Foster, his prior civil-rights litigation, and an internal complaint concerning a racist remark made two days before Kohen’s death.Mississippi Free Press — reporting identifying Foster as one of the officers present during the June 14 shooting.Additional reporting and source materials are linked below:Family, community mourn Senatobia toddler — Mississippi TodayOfficer who shot baby Kohen Wiley was not in harm’s way, family attorney says — Mississippi TodaySenatobia police finally released internal reports — Mississippi TodaySenatobia officer involved in toddler shooting was accused of racial remark at work — Mississippi TodayDocuments identify one officer present at the shooting — Mississippi Free PressUpdate, September 2, 2026: After this episode was recorded, the Senatobia Board of Aldermen fired Police Chief Harold Vanderford amid separate reporting about racist messages attributed to him. The investigation into Kohen Wiley’s death remains ongoing.AP: Senatobia police chief fired amid controversy following Kohen Wiley shooting
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Trailer
Toward Reconstitution is a thirteen-episode podcast examining how modern institutions preserve the appearance of public participation while systematically decoupling accountability. Hosted by independent scholar Melissa Cosgrove, this series asks what it would take to build a system bound by relational integrity—one in which rights place duties on those with power, and harm creates an obligation to repair. Season begins September 2, 2026. towardreconstitution.org/podcast
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
What happens when the right to be heard replaces the obligation to respond? Toward Reconstitution is a 13-episode podcast exploring the gap between what we ask of our government and what power can be made to do. Hosted by independent scholar Melissa Cosgrove, the series examines how modern institutions preserve the appearance of public participation while systematically decoupling accountability. Through contemporary cases, legal analysis, and political history, Toward Reconstitution asks what it would take to build a constitutional order bound by relational integrity—where rights place duties on those with power and harm creates an obligation to repair.
HOSTED BY
Melissa Cosgrove
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Toward Reconstitution have?
Toward Reconstitution currently has 2 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Toward Reconstitution about?
What happens when the right to be heard replaces the obligation to respond? Toward Reconstitution is a 13-episode podcast exploring the gap between what we ask of our government and what power can be made to do. Hosted by independent scholar Melissa Cosgrove, the series examines how modern...
How often does Toward Reconstitution release new episodes?
Toward Reconstitution has 2 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Toward Reconstitution?
You can listen to Toward Reconstitution on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Toward Reconstitution?
Toward Reconstitution is created and hosted by Melissa Cosgrove.
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