Sex, Ducks and the Founding Feud

This episode of Radiolab, titled "Sex, Ducks and the Founding Feud," explores the ongoing tension between federal and state power in the United States, using the story of Carol Anne Bond, who was prosecuted under an international chemical weapons treaty for attempting to poison her husband's mistress. The podcast delves into the historical context of this power struggle, referencing the debates among the Founding Fathers and the compromises made in the Constitution. It further illustrates this conflict with the 1919 case of Missouri v. Holland, concerning the regulation of migratory birds, and discusses the implications of federal treaty power on local matters, raising questions about the balance between national and state governance in a globalized world. Ultimately, the episode highlights the enduring and often ambiguous nature of this fundamental American argument.