The Democracy Group

The Democracy Group

The Democracy Group

Welcome to The Democracy Group - a network of podcasts about democracy, civic engagement, and civil discourse. In this feed you will find a sampling of episodes from our podcasts in the Democracy Group as well recordings from our events. If you enjoy this podcast, please visit democracygroup.org to find all of our podcast shows, events, topic guides, and newsletter.

Dana Castner of Choice Tracker | New Faces of Democracy

Dana Castner of Choice Tracker | New Faces of Democracy

This episode features a conversation with Dana Castner, founder of Choice Tracker, a new and important tool in the fight for reproductive freedom. When the Supreme Court ruled in June 2022  that abortion laws must be decided by the states, that put a lot of power in the hands of our state legislators, many of whom we had never heard of, let alone knew their stances on abortion. That’s what Dana discovered and led her to start the all-volunteer group Choice Tracker just two weeks after the Dobbs

Feb 19, • 31:21

Dr. Theodore R. Johnson: If We Are Brave | Village SquareCast

Dr. Theodore R. Johnson: If We Are Brave | Village SquareCast

We claim to be a nation founded on an idea. But, especially in these times of civic rupture, are we even all talking about the same idea?Contributing Washington Post opinion writer Dr. Ted Johnson joins us again to discuss his beautiful, powerful new book “If We are Brave: Essays of Black Americana.”The program is faciliated by Dr. Nashid Madyun, Executive Director of Florida Humanities. Find the program online here.This program is part of the series in partnership with Florida Humanities — “UNU

Feb 17, • 1:34:59

Playing Defense for Democracy: Ezra Levin | Future Hindsight

Playing Defense for Democracy: Ezra Levin | Future Hindsight

We discuss what we can all do to say "no" to Project 2025, including getting Democrats to play hardball in local, city, and state offices, and to protect and win elections this year and in the midterms next year.Ezra’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Organize in your community with like-minded Americans Use your constituent power to influence the political calculus of your elected representativeEzra Levin is the Co-Executive Director of Indivisible, which he co-founded with Leah Greenb

Feb 12, • 49:11

How to Fix the Housing Crisis with New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton | An Honorable Profession

How to Fix the Housing Crisis with New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton | An Honorable Profession

In this week’s episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton, who is working alongside Governor Phil Murphy and his legislative colleagues to address the housing crisis. New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states in our union, which poses unique challenges and unique opportunities to increase housing. Ryan and Senator Singleton explore misconceptions about what affordable housing is and who it serves, and they discuss why the senator believes it's more eff

Feb 10, • 29:31

Braver Faith: Building Bridges With Respect Not Agreement. Mark Beckwith | How Do We Fix It?

Braver Faith: Building Bridges With Respect Not Agreement. Mark Beckwith | How Do We Fix It?

How Do We Fix It? raises questions about solutions to divisive topics of politics and public policy: Decidedly secular matters. In this episode we look at how religious groups and institutions can help bring people together across divides. Braver Faith is our focus. The Right Rev. Mark Beckwith is our guest.Braver Faith is one the newest and most vibrant groups within Braver Angels— America's largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement that works to push back against rigid polarization. Led b

Feb 5, • 24:51

How Pro-Democracy Patriots Can Persist in an Anti-Democratic Time | Talkin Politics & Religion

How Pro-Democracy Patriots Can Persist in an Anti-Democratic Time | Talkin Politics & Religion

In this episode, host Corey Nathan addresses the pressing issue of how pro-democracy patriots - the large coalition of folks who believe in this American experiment - can endure during times when anti-democratic tendencies are metastasizing. Drawing from personal experiences, philosophical insights, and cultural reflections, we explore ways of maintaining hope, practicing discernment, and fostering meaningful connections amid political division.What We Discuss:Strategies for practicing discernme

Feb 3, • 24:34

Pushing back against political violence | Democracy Works

Pushing back against political violence | Democracy Works

Instances of political violence around the 2024 election and vote certification on January 6, 2025 did not come to fruition the way some experts feared they would throughout last year. But that doesn't mean that we can forget about threats of political violence until it's time for the next election. In fact, political violence continues to rise in the United States and throughout western Europe.Our guests this week, Rachel Kleinfeld of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Nicole Bi

Jan 29, • 46:06

Inaugurating A New Future? | The Bully Pulpit

Inaugurating A New Future? | The Bully Pulpit

Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy welcome the Spring 2025 CPF Fellows to USC for a virtual discussion of Donald Trump’s inauguration and what a second Trump term may look like. The conversation features:   Bob Shrum (moderator) - Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Ed Goeas – Republican Pollster and Strategist Betsy Fischer Martin – Executive Director, Women & Politics Institute at American University; Former "Meet the Press" Executive Producer Jonathan Martin - Senior Political Colum

Jan 27, • 1:05:45

Introducing Democracy Determined | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Democracy Determined | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Jenny Marquez, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.In the season premiere of Democracy Determined, host Jenny Marquez delves into the crucial topic of youth involvement in democracy. Special guest Aliza Lifshitz, a coalition organizer and strategist for youth movements like Youth and Gov and Voters of Tomorrow, discusses her inspiring journey into political activism, her roles in youth-led organizations, and the unique challenges young leaders face. Aliz

Jan 15, • 20:31

Introducing Democracy on Fire | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Democracy on Fire | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Dashiell Quinn, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.In this inaugural episode of 'Democracy on Fire,' host Dashiell Quinn discusses the vulnerabilities and challenges facing democracy with special guest Mr. Hauser, an experienced lawyer and former federal prosecutor. The conversation dives into key issues such as political polarization, media manipulation, misinformation, and the integrity of politicians. Through insightful dialogue, they explore the cur

Jan 13, • 24:41

Introducing Town Hall Conversations | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Town Hall Conversations | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Sabrina Tomei Gonzalez, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.In this episode of Town Talk Conversations, Sabrina from Fairfield, Connecticut, interviews Jen Leeper, a state representative from the 132nd Connecticut district. Jen shares insights into her background, journey to office, and passion for public policy. She discusses the importance of state government, outlines the process of how a bill becomes law, and responds to questions from Sabrina's clas

Jan 8, • 39:18

Introducing Dear Government | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Dear Government | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Claire Baek, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.In this episode of Dear Government, host Claire Baek and guests from Shansley High School's newspaper, The Purple Tide, analyze and discuss the unexpected results of the 2024 presidential election. The conversation dives into the electoral and popular vote outcomes that led to President Donald Trump's victory and the reactions of young voters. They also touch on the importance of the working class, the rol

Jan 6, • 19:17

Best of 2024: City Controller Rachel Heisler Work as the City’s Watchdog | An Honorable Profession

Best of 2024: City Controller Rachel Heisler Work as the City’s Watchdog | An Honorable Profession

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Decoded podcast, with host Simone Leeper.In the end, the worst of everyone’s election fears — political violence, overt foreign interference or a razor-thin margin between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump leading to a hotly contested legal battle — did not come to pass. Instead, Donald Trump won a plurality of votes for president, and did so decisively. On January 20, 2025, he will once again become the country’s most powerf

Dec 11, 2024 • 31:01

Best of 2024: City Controller Rachel Heisler Work as the City’s Watchdog | An Honorable Profession

Best of 2024: City Controller Rachel Heisler Work as the City’s Watchdog | An Honorable Profession

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from An Honorable Profession podcast, with hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty.In this week’s episode, host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Pittsburgh, PA, City Controller Rachael Heisler. Heisler explains the role of the controller, which consists of three core functions: accounting, accounts payable, and auditing. She also discussed her role in making sure that tax dollars are used responsibly and effectively and that they are spent in acc

Dec 9, 2024 • 35:14

Best of 2024: End Climate Silence: Genevieve Guenther | Future Hindsight

Best of 2024: End Climate Silence: Genevieve Guenther | Future Hindsight

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from the Future Hindsight podcast, hosted by Mila Atmos.We discuss deepening our understanding of the climate crisis, the urgent need for decarbonization, and our role in speaking truth about phasing out fossil fuels.Genevieve Guenther is the founding director of End Climate Silence and affiliate faculty at The New School. Her most recent book is The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It.Genevieve’s civic a

Dec 4, 2024 • 58:19

Best of 2024: Ambitions for Actblue with Regina Wallace-Jones | The Great Battlefield

Best of 2024: Ambitions for Actblue with Regina Wallace-Jones | The Great Battlefield

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from The Great Battlefield podcast, with hosts Nathaniel Pearlman.Regina Wallace-Jones joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career in tech, politics and business and her current role as CEO of ActBlue, a nonprofit fundraising platform for progressives, and where she wants to take it.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Dec 2, 2024 • 1:25:55

Best of 2024: How to combat political extremism | Democracy Works

Best of 2024: How to combat political extremism | Democracy Works

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, one of America's leading experts on the far right, joins us this week to discuss what draws people to political extremism online and offline — and what we can do to combat it.Miller-Idriss is the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University and author of the book Hate i

Nov 27, 2024 • 37:52

Best of 2024: Dr. Jonathan Haidt on After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything" | Village SquareCast

Best of 2024: Dr. Jonathan Haidt on After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything" | Village SquareCast

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from the Village SquareCast podcast, hosted by the Village Square.We wanted you wonderful SquareCast listeners to know that we didn't plan for this episode to drop on Leap Day and we didn't plan on it being (we kid you not) Episode 100. But both things just happened. At the very least, we think that's a sign that you really ought to listen. Were we "the universe has a plan" maximalists, though, we'd say it means you need to quit your day job

Nov 25, 2024 • 1:43:19

Best of 2024: The Real Threat | Bad Watchdog

Best of 2024: The Real Threat | Bad Watchdog

We continue our Best of 2024 episodes with an  episode from the Bad Watchdog podcast, hosted by Maren Machles. For the past few episodes, Maren has explored the reality of immigration detention, uplifting the conditions in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) centers where thousands are held under the presumption that they may be threats to national security. In the season finale of Bad Watchdog, we return to where we started, with the DHS’s counterterrorism mission. Maren breaks down the curre

Nov 20, 2024 • 49:50

How strong is support for democracy? | Democracy Works

How strong is support for democracy? | Democracy Works

Democracy Works host Michael Berkman, director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy and professor of political science at Penn State talks with Christopher Claassen, a political scientist at the University of Glasgow, about how to measure support for democracy across countries and across generations. Claassen grew up in South Africa and was 16 when the country held its first democratic elections. His interest in democracy continued through college and into his career as a political scientis

Nov 18, 2024 • 34:33

Tangle: Independent, Non-partisan News. Isaac Saul | How Do We Fix It?

Tangle: Independent, Non-partisan News. Isaac Saul | How Do We Fix It?

Do you believe what you see in newspapers, websites and on TV? Most Americans don't trust the people who are supposed to truthfully report the news. A new Gallup poll says Americans have record-low trust in mass media. Only one-in-three adults has a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of confidence in the media to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly."More than 150,000 readers each day turn to Tangle, a website read by liberals, conservatives and independents. Every day Tangle tackles one c

Nov 13, 2024 • 25:47

Has the Senate been disrupted? | Politics in Question

Has the Senate been disrupted? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James explore the role of the Senate and the dysfunction we see today with Sean Theriault. Theriault is a Professor at the Department of Government at the University of Texas, Austin and the author of Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era (Oxford University Press, 2024).Do we need the Senate? What has caused gridlock in the Senate? What would the Senate look like during a second Trump term? These are some of the questions Sean, Lee,

Nov 11, 2024 • 48:16

Political Tribalism: Hatreds We Love | The Politics Guys

Political Tribalism: Hatreds We Love | The Politics Guys

Mike talks with Stephen J. Ducat, an author, political psychologist, psychoanalyst, and former psychology professor in the School of Humanities at New College of California. They discuss Professor Ducat’s most recent book, Hatreds We Love: The Psychology of Political Tribalism in Post-Truth America.Topics Mike and Stephen discuss include:- why tribal loyalty often overrides material self-interest- demonizing outsiders to reinforce in-group virtue- conservative disgust vs liberal disdain- the ‘ma

Nov 6, 2024 • 1:03:43

The Future American Electorate: Maria Teresa Kumar | Future Hindsight

The Future American Electorate: Maria Teresa Kumar | Future Hindsight

We discuss why American democracy should not treat the Latinx community as a monolith, what actually matters to this community, and how the strength of their engagement in U.S. democracy will play out in this year’s presidential election.Maria Teresa’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: VOTE!Share your excitement to vote with everyone you know, especially young people.Maria Teresa Kumar is the President and CEO of Voto Latino, a civic engagement organization focused on educating and empow

Nov 4, 2024 • 46:41

Navigating Election Facts in the AI Era | Democracy Decoded

Navigating Election Facts in the AI Era | Democracy Decoded

When New Hampshire voters picked up the phone earlier this year and heard what sounded like the voice of President Joe Biden asking them not to vote in that state’s primary election, the stage was set for an unprecedented election year. The call was a deepfake — and the first major instance of artificial intelligence being used in the 2024 election. With the rise of AI tools that can credibly synthesize voices, images and videos, how are voters supposed to determine what they can trust as they p

Oct 30, 2024 • 33:16

DLCC President Heather Williams on 2024 State Legislative Races | An Honorable Profession

DLCC President Heather Williams on 2024 State Legislative Races | An Honorable Profession

In today’s episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President, Heather Williams. Heather explains how the DLCC works to elect more Democrats to the House and Senate and win legislative majorities. She walks us through the DLCC’s strategy of targeting key states and legislature chambers, the opportunities she is most excited about this year, and the organization’s important work to raise awareness of legislative candidates and ensure

Oct 28, 2024 • 30:39

Braver Angels: Red and Blue Voters Together on Election Day | How Do We Fix It?

Braver Angels: Red and Blue Voters Together on Election Day | How Do We Fix It?

These final days before the election are tense times. Today’s toxic politics are hurtful and heart breaking for many of us.Maybe we all need a hope vaccine. An injection of kindness, curiosity and understanding for those who see the world differently than we do. In our latest report on the work, ideas, and people of Braver Angels, the nationwide citizen-led campaign against political polarization, we learn more about its Election Day Initiative: A volunteer-led effort to push back against politi

Oct 23, 2024 • 24:57

The Officials: Beyond the Ballot ft. Wesley Wilcox and Tonya Wichman | Democracy Fix

The Officials: Beyond the Ballot ft. Wesley Wilcox and Tonya Wichman | Democracy Fix

Election officials have always played a critical role in ensuring that our votes are cast and counted fairly. But in recent years, the landscape of election work has dramatically changed. No longer seen as a quiet, behind-the-scenes service, election officials are now on the front lines of an increasingly toxic environment, facing harassment, threats, and a flood of misinformation.In this episode of Democracy Fix, two seasoned election officials, Tonya Wichman, Director of Elections in Defiance

Oct 21, 2024 • 26:11

Mona Charen, Policy Editor at THE BULWARK, explores what it means to be conservative | Talkin Politics & Religion

Mona Charen, Policy Editor at THE BULWARK, explores what it means to be conservative | Talkin Politics & Religion

What does it mean to be a conservative? (And no, Donald Trump is not a conservative.) Can the Republican Party be redeemed? What implications does any of this have on the 2024 election and beyond?In this episode, we’re joined by Mona Charon, Policy Editor at The Bulwark and host of the podcasts Just Between Us and Beg to Differ. We explore the state of democracy, the role of media, and the evolving definitions of conservatism. Mona reflects on her experiences living in Israel, the challenges of

Oct 16, 2024 • 1:12:38

Church vs State with God Squad | Village SquareCast

Church vs State with God Squad | Village SquareCast

As we barrel toward America’s 250th, one could argue that if we crack up before we get there (some bad days we’d take even odds), it’ll have something to do with the complexity of being in charge of executing one of the founders’ biggest ideas — that the church and the state were to be separate in this new nation of theirs. (It had been so much “easier” when the king told all us peasants what religion we were.)Our framers, for the first time in history, asserted that a citizenry had “natural rig

Oct 14, 2024 • 1:05:47

How do direct primaries impact American self-government? | Politics in Question

How do direct primaries impact American self-government? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James explore America’s reliance on direct primaries in federal elections with Nick Troiano. Troiano is the Executive Director of Unite America and the author of The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes (Simon & Schuster, 2024).What are direct primaries? Why do Americans rely on them? When did they first start using direct primaries in federal elections? And what are the consequences? These are some of the questions Nic

Oct 9, 2024 • 50:42

Liberalism is a lifestyle | Democracy Works

Liberalism is a lifestyle | Democracy Works

Chris Beem talks with political theorist Alexandre Lefebvre about why liberalism is more than just a political ideas and procedures, and how abiding by liberal principles can enhance your life far beyond politics. In his book Liberalism as a Way of Life, Lefebvre argues that liberalism isn’t just a set of neutral procedures; it’s a comprehensive way of life that shapes the way we live and think and work and love in innumerable ways. He also argues that it’s a way of life worth robustly defending

Oct 7, 2024 • 39:26

Polarized by Degrees: The Diploma Divide in American Politics | The Politics Guys

Polarized by Degrees: The Diploma Divide in American Politics | The Politics Guys

Mike talks with Matt Grossmann, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University. Matt was on the show in 2019 when we talked about his book on public policy change, Artists of the Possible, and he’s back again for a discussion of his latest book, co-authored with David Hopkins, Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics.Topics Mike & Matt Discuss Include:- the educu

Oct 2, 2024 • 49:41

Attacks on Voter Registration | Democracy Decoded

Attacks on Voter Registration | Democracy Decoded

Voter registration is the number one obstacle to voting in the United States. It should be easy, accessible and secure, but too often, states are moving backwards; making voter registration more difficult and less equitable. Here, we introduce a new type of episode: an up-to-the-minute interview with an expert to help you better understand some of the most important issues affecting elections. Danielle Lang, a voting rights attorney at CLC, joins Simone to explain why major actions in Arizona an

Sep 30, 2024 • 32:05

Everybody Benefits from Public Schools: Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider | Future Hindsight

Everybody Benefits from Public Schools: Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider | Future Hindsight

We discuss the power and the promise of public schools, the universal rejection of book bans by parents across the country, and an inclusive vision for democracy.Their civic action toolkit recommendations are: Have a conversation with people with whom you disagreeRemain open-minded.Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider are co-hosts of the education podcast Have You Heard. Their new book is The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual. Follow Jennifer on X: https://x.com/BisforBerkshi

Sep 25, 2024 • 53:10

The Demise of the Middle Class with Author Thom Hartmann | The Great Battlefield

The Demise of the Middle Class with Author Thom Hartmann | The Great Battlefield

Progressive talk show host Thom Hartmann returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his latest book "The Hidden History of the American Dream: The Demise of the Middle Class―and How to Rescue Our Future".Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Sep 23, 2024 • 30:22

Building Radically Transparent and Inclusive Elections ft. Julie Wise | Democracy Fix

Building Radically Transparent and Inclusive Elections ft. Julie Wise | Democracy Fix

In this episode, hosts Carah Ong Whaley, Angelina Clapp, and Mia Minkin sit down with King County, WA Director of Elections Julie Wise for a deep dive into the county’s award-winning initiatives to ensure all voices are heard in elections. Known for her passionate advocacy for voter accessibility and election transparency, Wise discusses the critical role of trained, nonpartisan election administrators in preserving democracy.She highlights the challenges faced by election officials across the c

Sep 11, 2024 • 44:54

Road to November Series & DNC Recap | An Honorable Profession

Road to November Series & DNC Recap | An Honorable Profession

In this week's episode, producer Rachel Walsh joins co-hosts Ryan Coonery and Debbie Cox Bultan to recap the past few months of this exciting election cycle. They discuss last week's Democratic National Convention, highlighting key themes and standout moments from speakers, including many NewDEAL leaders and alumni. They also reflect on our Road to November 2024 Messaging series, which featured insights from political strategists, policy experts, and state and local elected officials. Ryan, Debb

Sep 9, 2024 • 38:38

Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian on AUTOCRACY, INC.: THE DICTATORS WHO WANT TO RUN THE WORLD | Talkin Politics & Religion

Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian on AUTOCRACY, INC.: THE DICTATORS WHO WANT TO RUN THE WORLD | Talkin Politics & Religion

In the 20th Century, we had Cold War adversaries. In the early 2000s, George W. Bush talked about the Axis of Evil. But are those frameworks the most accurate way to understand the forces attempting to undermine not just democratic nations but democratic ideas? And to what degree have these antagonists - those that are fundamentally opposed to our core principles such as the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and basic human rights - pervaded U.S. politics?In this episo

Aug 28, 2024 • 1:06:48

Trump and Harris Economic Plans, Presidential Prediction Models | The Politics Guys

Trump and Harris Economic Plans, Presidential Prediction Models | The Politics Guys

Jay, Justin, and Mike open the preview of this supporters’ midweek episode with a discussion of the recent economic speeches by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Jay is unhappy with what he’s hearing from both sides, and Mike makes the case that if you like Biden’s policies, you’ll like Harris’ even more. Justin points out that much of what we’re hearing from Trump isn’t new, but it’s the first major policy speech from Harris. As such, they spend some time debating her plans to combat ‘price gougi

Aug 26, 2024 • 15:29

Disinformation is Sabotaging America: Barbara McQuade | Future Hindsight

Disinformation is Sabotaging America: Barbara McQuade | Future Hindsight

Barbara McQuade is a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, co-host of the podcast #SistersinLaw, and a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Her first book is Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. We discuss the dangers of disinformation and how we can defeat it.Democracy depends on truth, and as Americans we should prize truth over tribe. A lot of disinformation is hiding behind the First Amendment – telling lies as a right to free speech. We are overrun wi

Aug 21, 2024 • 46:17

Why do Americans use primary elections to select candidates for office? | Politics in Question

Why do Americans use primary elections to select candidates for office? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee discusses the history of primary elections and options for reform with Robert Boatright. Boatright is professor of political science at Clark University and the world’s leading expert on the American primary system. He is also the director of research for the National Institute of Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona. His most recent book is Reform and Retrenchment: A Century of Efforts to Fix Primary Elections (Oxford University Press,

Aug 19, 2024 • 44:03

Braver Angels: Guide Across The Divide. Móni Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

Braver Angels: Guide Across The Divide. Móni Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

Toxic polarization is "the problem that eats all other problems... It's the sludge at the base of everything else," says our guest Mónica Guzmán. Think how much progress could be made on the great problems of today if politics were much more about discovering nuance than shouting slogans.This show is our second episode on the work, people, and ideas of the volunteer-led cross-partisan campaign, Braver Angels. In the coming months, we'll report on their initiatives and projects. Americans who are

Aug 14, 2024 • 25:16

Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval Inspires Better Leadership in Public Service | An Honorable Profession

Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval Inspires Better Leadership in Public Service | An Honorable Profession

In this week’s episode, host Ryan Coonerty sits down with Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, the youngest member of the Oklahoma legislature. Instead of pursuing a high-paying job as a mechanical engineer, Alonso-Sandoval decided to run for office during his senior year of college to serve the community where he grew up. Rep. Alonso-Sandoval talks about his motivation for getting into politics, ideas for drawing more young people to elected office, his advocacy for underserved communities, h

Aug 12, 2024 • 39:29

Jonathan Rauch  on Political Parties & Democracy | Talkin Politics & Religion

Jonathan Rauch on Political Parties & Democracy | Talkin Politics & Religion

What are some of the weakest arguments against Kamala Harris's candidacy for president? As our brilliant guest Jonathan Rauch put it, "There's some really stupid sh!t." At the same time, there are some more justified concerns. Let's talk about all of it! We also get into rank prognostication on who the Democratic VP pick will be, as well as how we think the 2024 presidential election will end up.But before we get into all that, we dive into Jon's two most recent pieces in THE ATLANTIC: One from

Aug 7, 2024 • 1:12:34

Biden Bows Out, The Harris Agenda, Secret Service Director Resigns | The Politics Guys

Biden Bows Out, The Harris Agenda, Secret Service Director Resigns | The Politics Guys

Mike, Ken, and Trey open with a discussion of President Biden’s decision to leave the race and the potential running mates and policies for presumptive nominee Kamala Harris. Ken argues that Biden would have done just fine against Trump and that Harris will also win in November, whereas Trey and Mike are far less bullish on her chances. They all agree that a potential Harris administration would be somewhat to the left of what we’ve seen from Joe Biden.They close the episode by looking at the Se

Aug 5, 2024 • 1:02:23

Living Constitutionally: A.J. Jacobs | Future Hindsight

Living Constitutionally: A.J. Jacobs | Future Hindsight

A.J. Jacobs is a journalist and author. His most recent book is The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning. We discuss how the Founding Fathers prized humility, experimentation, and a willingness to change their own minds. The heart of our democracy is for the community to come together and cooperate. One example is to advocate for democratic reforms, which are nonpartisan. Being apathetic or cynical helps the slide into autocracy. R

Jul 31, 2024 • 46:00

Fixing the Voter Registration Deficit with Jeremy Smith of Civitech | The Great Battlefield

Fixing the Voter Registration Deficit with Jeremy Smith of Civitech | The Great Battlefield

Jeremy Smith returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about Civitech's new product, RunningMate, software for running a political campaign and what he thinks we need to do to fix the ongoing voter registration deficit.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jul 29, 2024 • 1:26:53

Behind the Curtain | Bad Watchdog

Behind the Curtain | Bad Watchdog

Content note: This episode discusses suicide and sexual violence.After a years-long legal fight from the Department of Homeland Security, a court order finally gave Nick and other investigators access to 33 reports detailing conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. The documents showed a disturbing pattern of abuse that extended far beyond the gates of Adelanto Detention Center, spreading throughout ICE detention facilities across the United States. In this e

Jul 24, 2024 • 44:33

Illinois Representative Bob Morgan on Fostering Hope | An Honorable Profession

Illinois Representative Bob Morgan on Fostering Hope | An Honorable Profession

In this week’s episode, Ryan Coonerty sits down with Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan. They reflect on the horrific mass shooting in the representative's community of Highland Park during a 4th of July Parade in 2022 – a timely topic as he returns from a visit to the White House, as he co-chairs the Illinois House Firearm Safety Reform Working Group. Morgan shares his experience working on this crucial issue and the personal ties that ignited his passion for combating gun violence. In ad

Jul 22, 2024 • 34:27

Is American democracy in crisis? | Politics in Question

Is American democracy in crisis? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Jake Grumbach joins Lee and James to consider whether American democracy is in crisis. Grumbach is an associate professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. He studies the political economy of the United States, with interests in democratic institutions, labor, federalism, racial and economic inequality, and statistical methods. And he is the author of Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politi

Jul 17, 2024 • 1:06:53

Healthcare for All: Melanie D’Arrigo | Future Hindsight

Healthcare for All: Melanie D’Arrigo | Future Hindsight

Melanie D’Arrigo is the Executive Director of the Campaign for New York Health, which aims to win universal single-payer healthcare for all New Yorkers. We discuss the intersection of democracy and healthcare and what is necessary to create better health outcomes.The New York Health Act is a current bill in the New York State Legislature that would implement a single payer healthcare system in New York, similar to Medicare for All. Instead of accessing health insurance, this bill would provide a

Jul 15, 2024 • 50:51

The Struggle Continues | Democracy in Danger

The Struggle Continues | Democracy in Danger

At colleges across America this spring, thousands of students and many faculty called on their institutions to recognize Israel’s war in Palestine as a genocide, and to disclose their interests in arms, oil and violence. Administrators did not take kindly to the students’ demands or their tactics, and called in the police instead. Today on the show — our final episode for now — historian Lauren Lassabe Shepherd says these events fit a pattern of campus conflict going back decades to the Vietnam

Jul 10, 2024 • 42:03

Biden’s Disastrous Debate and a Bunch of Big Supreme Court Decisions | The Politics Guys

Biden’s Disastrous Debate and a Bunch of Big Supreme Court Decisions | The Politics Guys

Mike and Jay open with a discussion of President Biden’s disastrous performance in the first presidential debate. Mike was actually hoping for a worse outcome that would all but force Biden from the race, which he doesn’t think will happen, despite multiple calls for Biden to step aside. Jay wonders how Biden’s closest confidants and top advisors allowed things to get to this point. Mike suggests that Biden may still be able to handle the non-public-facing parts of the job, which Jay doubts, par

Jul 8, 2024 • 1:13:41

Renée DiResta, INVISIBLE RULERS: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality | Talkin Politics & Religion

Renée DiResta, INVISIBLE RULERS: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality | Talkin Politics & Religion

"Disinformation. Spam and Scams. Trolls." For those of us paying attention, one thing is clear: We got problems! Fortunately, Renée DiResta is helping with exactly that by studying online manipulation, and what we can do about it. And yeah, we get quite a primer on the concept of "bespoke realities."Renée DiResta is the Technical Research Manager at Stanford Internet Observatory. In this conversation we delve into the challenges of misinformation, online manipulation, and the impact of algorit

Jul 3, 2024 • 1:05:40

The Red Herring | Bad Watchdog

The Red Herring | Bad Watchdog

Established in the wake of September 11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was entrusted with protecting the U.S. from national security threats. Since then, much of the agency’s focus has been on the southern border — with tens of thousands of people held in its detention centers on a daily basis. Host Maren Machles explores how this came to be and delves into what happens to people held in immigration detention centers with the presumption that they may be national security threats. An

Jul 1, 2024 • 40:16

Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Leaders Together in the Same Room: Reverend Anne Fowler and Francis Hogan | Let's Find Common Ground

Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Leaders Together in the Same Room: Reverend Anne Fowler and Francis Hogan | Let's Find Common Ground

Abortion is one of the most passionate, divisive, and emotional issues in the 2024 election campaign. The debate is often dominated by extremes on both sides.But what if passionate pro-life and pro-choice movement leaders could get together in the same room and learn how to disagree better? That is exactly what happened in Massachusetts, beginning in the mid 1990's. Leaders on both sides held secret discussions over the course of several years . These wrenching conversations began in the mid 199

Jun 26, 2024 • 28:25

Mayor Phillip Jones on the Year of the Youth | An Honorable Profession

Mayor Phillip Jones on the Year of the Youth | An Honorable Profession

In this week’s episode, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Newport News, VA’s youngest elected mayor Philip Jones. They discuss his first State of the City Address, where he proclaimed 2024 as the Year of the Youth, thanks to his initiatives like Night Nets and the Summer Youth Employment Program, as well as investments in expanded childcare throughout his city. Debbie and Mayor Jones also talk about his journey to becoming an “Education Mayor,” his work on climate justice, and what has su

Jun 24, 2024 • 27:00

The State of Progressive Political Tech with Micah Sifry | The Great Battlefield

The State of Progressive Political Tech with Micah Sifry | The Great Battlefield

Michael Sifry returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to discuss an article he recently published called "Living with VANxiety: The Present and Future of Progressive Movement Tech".Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jun 19, 2024 • 1:08:14

Take the Constitution Back from Originalism: Madiba Dennie | Future Hindsight

Take the Constitution Back from Originalism: Madiba Dennie | Future Hindsight

Madiba Dennie is Deputy Editor and Senior Contributor at the critical legal commentary outlet Balls and Strikes. Her debut book is The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We The People Can Take it Back. We discuss a fresh way to interpret the Constitution.Inclusive Constitutionalism interprets the Constitution in a way that makes inclusive democracy real. By contrast, originalism interprets the meaning of the Constitution as fixed in time in the 1800s. However, the Re

Jun 17, 2024 • 39:50

What is the state of American Democracy? | Politics in Question

What is the state of American Democracy? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Congressman John Sarbanes, D-Md., joins Lee to talk about the health of American democracy. Sarbanes has represented Maryland’s third congressional district in the House of Representatives since 2007. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force. Sarbanes was born and raised in Baltimore and has experience working in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.What does it mean to live in a

Jun 12, 2024 • 43:05

Protests, debates, and the "meh" election | Democracy Works

Protests, debates, and the "meh" election | Democracy Works

We've reached the end of another school year and another season of Democracy Works. Before we go on summer break, Michael Berkman, Chris Beem, and Candis Watts Smith reflect on recent events and what's to come this summer. We do this by taking a look back at some of our previous episodes:The real free speech problem on campus: Penn State's Brad Vivian on the problems with "campus free speech" discourse and media coverage. We discuss how this narrative has been applied to protests about the war i

Jun 10, 2024 • 36:51

Meet the Hosts at The Democracy Group

Meet the Hosts at The Democracy Group

Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at Campaign Legal Center, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. She is the host of Democracy Decoded, a Campaign Legal Center podcast.Liz Joyner is the executive director of the Village Square, a nonprofit dedicated to reviving civic connections across divisions inside American communities. She oversees the Village SquareCast, a Vil

Jun 7, 2024 • 15:29

Introducing Uneven Grounds | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Uneven Grounds | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Maggie LeBeau, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.Using a solutions-based approach, Uneven Grounds will discuss inequalities in geography and navigate geographic social issues in each episode. Host Maggie LeBeau wants to bring attention to the many problems people across America encounter daily because of where they live with a solution to each of the issues. The first episode explores election inequality and how they are related to geography, such as t

Jun 5, 2024 • 24:34

Introducing Laws Across Borders | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Laws Across Borders | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Simran Gupta, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.With Simran Gupta’s network of friends from all over the world, Laws Across Borders will explore educational topics like the school systems, technology or academic pressure and how they vary from country to country. The first episode will talk about school environments, touching on both the technological and academic sides.Gupta is a rising high school senior in Georgia She believes that life is all about

Jun 3, 2024 • 49:27

Introducing Make America Great For Everyone | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Make America Great For Everyone | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Kayla Anderson, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.Make America Great For Everyone will take a deep dive into the American justice system through conversations with policemen, ex-prisoners and people who experienced the injustice firsthand. Host Kayla Anderson will talk about all of the different issues currently plaguing the American system that is supposed to be just, starting with a heartfelt conversation with her brother in the first episode. Anders

May 31, 2024 • 42:30

Introducing Jonesin' Around | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Jonesin' Around | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Virginia Jones, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.Virginia Jones is a student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. A few years ago, she discovered her interest in politics, particularly in political media, and decided to incorporate this passion into her education. When searching for a way to approach political issues, she found podcasts to be the best form because these dialogues helped he

May 29, 2024 • 35:17

Introducing Democracy Beyond Borders | TDG Fellowship

Introducing Democracy Beyond Borders | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Aprile Kim, one of our 2024 Podcast Fellows.Drawing from host Aprile Kim’s experience of growing up and living in Guam, Democracy Beyond Borders seeks to explore the complexities of democracy in the modern world and examine the impact of American policies beyond the country's borders. The podcast will take listeners through America's current affairs and political ideas to examine democracy starting with episode 1 where we hear about the contradictory

May 27, 2024 • 25:53

Meet Ranked Choice Voting Expert Kelly Sechrist

Meet Ranked Choice Voting Expert Kelly Sechrist

Kelly has worked in nonprofits for many years. She has served in some capacity as a volunteer, board member, or development staff member for over twenty-eight years after teaching middle schoolers in Southern Appalachia. In addition to a BS in education from Appalachian State University, she holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. While new to election administration, she is not new to elections. Kelly served on several local and state election campaigns as a volunteer,

May 24, 2024 • 8:09

The Path to Decarbonization: Bill Weir | Future Hindsight

The Path to Decarbonization: Bill Weir | Future Hindsight

Bill Weir is CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent and the author of Life As We Know It (Can Be). We discuss Carbon Godzilla, decarbonization, and the many existing and accessible technologies to mitigate climate change.Decarbonization must start with big industry, but there are many ways for individuals to make a difference, too. Clean energy can be had with tax incentives, reducing costs for consumers. Energy efficient homes – passive houses and innovations in heating and cooling – reduce or even

May 22, 2024 • 44:59

Why Trump is Popular in Small-Town America: Salena Zito | Let's Find Common Ground

Why Trump is Popular in Small-Town America: Salena Zito | Let's Find Common Ground

Unlike the vast majority of journalists who cover American politics, Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. She writes about small-town America and the parts of the country that much of the media doesn’t cover. Zito's commitment to understanding the heartland of America is evident in her frequent trips along the nation’s back roads. She drives thousands of miles, avoiding interstates and major cities, to grasp the pulse of rural and small-town AmericaHer insights about

May 20, 2024 • 27:21

30 years of democracy in South Africa | Democracy Works

30 years of democracy in South Africa | Democracy Works

Please join us in welcoming a special guest host for this episode! Cyanne Loyale is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Penn State and a Global Fellow at the Pease Research Institute Oslo. Her research focuses on transitional justice and democratic rebuilding after conflict, which makes her the perfect person to reflect on South Africa's democratic transition.One additional programming note — Chris Beem lost power during this recording so the closing segment is

May 15, 2024 • 45:13

Have You Ever Spoken to One of "Them"? (Talkin’ Israel / Palestine) | Talkin Politics & Religion

Have You Ever Spoken to One of "Them"? (Talkin’ Israel / Palestine) | Talkin Politics & Religion

We all have opinions. And there are more ways than ever to voice those opinions. But before expressing those opinions, have we really taken the time to understand the complexity of any given issue? More specifically, have we taken the time to speak with and consider the views of folks who are on the “other side” of that issue?In this edition, we’ll be looking at the widespread phenomenon of campus protests across the country and the world. The initial plan was to compare campus protesters to Jan

May 13, 2024 • 39:27

Democracy's Good News: The Role of Business in Democracy

Democracy's Good News: The Role of Business in Democracy

Host Jenna Spinelle explores the intersection between business and democracy, highlighting the crucial role of business in supporting democracy through consumer trust and solving problems. It features insights from Patrick McGinnis, who advocates for businesses to stand up for the defense of democracy. The episode also delves into Patrick's efforts with organizations like Leadership Now and BridgeUSA to drive democracy reforms and fight political division. Patrick emphasizes the importance of di

May 10, 2024 • 10:44

Can Capitalism Save the Planet? | The Politics Guys

Can Capitalism Save the Planet? | The Politics Guys

As a cross-interview with Sustainable Planet, Kimberly Weir, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Northern Kentucky University and co-host of Sustainable Planet talks with Akshat Rathi, award-winning senior reporter for Bloomberg News and the host of Zero, a climate-solutions podcast for Bloomberg Green and author of Climate Capitalism: Winning the Race to Zero Emissions and Solving the Crisis of Our Age.Topics Kimberly & Akshat discuss include:How a misinformed campaign marketing slogan a

May 8, 2024 • 31:10

Do white rural Americans pose a threat to democracy? | Politics in Question

Do white rural Americans pose a threat to democracy? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Thomas Schaller and Paul Waldman join Lee and James to discuss the urban-rural divide in American politics. Schaller is a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Waldman is a journalist and author whose writing has appeared in numerous publications, including MSNBC. Their new book is White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy (Random House, 2024).Why is Mingo County, West Virginia important? How has t

May 6, 2024 • 52:43

The Politics of Electric Vehicles: Why Have EV’s Become a Partisan Issue? | The Bully Pulpit

The Politics of Electric Vehicles: Why Have EV’s Become a Partisan Issue? | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins Albert Gore, Zero Emissions Transportation Association Executive Director, and David Schwietert, Alliance for Automotive Innovation Chief Policy Officer, for a conversation on the polarized politics of electric-powered vehicles and what polling around this big divide reveals about the future of transportation.   Featuring:Albert Gore: Executive Director, Zero Emissions Transportation AssociationDavid Schwietert: Chief Policy Officer, Alliance for Automotive Inno

May 1, 2024 • 1:00:00

Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation  | Village SquareCast

Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation | Village SquareCast

We were honored to hang out with our intellectural hero, Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a few weeks before the release of his recent book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.Unsurprisingly, since its release, it became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. If you have kids, if you know kids — heck, if you've ever seen a kid — you're just going to have to read this book. It gives us no less than a chance to rescue the coming generations fro

Apr 29, 2024 • 52:43

Diversity Is Great. DEI Isn't. Amna Khalid and Jeff Snyder | How Do We Fix It?

Diversity Is Great. DEI Isn't. Amna Khalid and Jeff Snyder | How Do We Fix It?

Diversity equity and inclusion: Sounds like a good thing in an incredibly diverse country such as ours, especially when teaching young people at American colleges and universities.But the DEI industry - or DEI Inc. — has arguably gone off the rails. There’s a big difference between the intentions behind a lot of diversity training and the results. We learn about the crucial difference between training and education, and hear the case against the Stop WOKE Act in Florida.History professors Amna K

Apr 24, 2024 • 37:01

Large Scale Voter Registration with Tom Lopach of the Voter Participation Center | The Great Battlefield

Large Scale Voter Registration with Tom Lopach of the Voter Participation Center | The Great Battlefield

Tom Lopach joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career in politics and his role as CEO at the Voter Participation Center, where they're dedicated to large scale voter registration work.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 22, 2024 • 1:16:06

The Uses and Abuses of the Modern University | The Politics Guys

The Uses and Abuses of the Modern University | The Politics Guys

Mike talks with historical anthropologist Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor of UC Berkeley from 2013-2017, about his book City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University.Topics Include:- the public’s decline of faith in higher education- if higher ed is focused on the right kind of diversity- free speech as privileging dominant views- what elite institutions are doing with their massive endowments- rising education costs and administrative bloat at universities- if public universities should t

Apr 17, 2024 • 57:49

El Loco | Democracy in Danger

El Loco | Democracy in Danger

Argentina’s new president is a libertarian populist and, by his own account, an anarcho-capitalist. To tackle his county’s deep economic troubles, Javier Milei wants to dismantle state institutions, implement severe austerity measures and strip protections for workers. He also wants to outlaw abortion. But in a country with a strong tradition of organized labor and women’s movements, so far he has sown mainly chaos. We speak with a journalist and a sociologist who say Milei’s methods are madness

Apr 15, 2024 • 39:08

Democracy's Good News: When Faith and Civics Meet to Strengthen Democracy

Democracy's Good News: When Faith and Civics Meet to Strengthen Democracy

Today we feature interviews with three religious organizations. These organizations share their current programs that promote civic duties and community engagement across the country.  Harbonim Dror Camp Galil is a summer camp in Ottsville, Pennsylvania. Executive Director David Weiss joins us to discuss their daily programs for campers aged 7-17. These programs include staging protests and holding forums to discussing any topics of their choice, which can range from a later bedtime and more muf

Apr 12, 2024 • 12:00

Cancel Student Debt: Braxton Brewington | Future Hindsight

Cancel Student Debt: Braxton Brewington | Future Hindsight

Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary of the Debt Collective. We discuss the origins of the Debt Collective in the Rolling Jubilee and its history in canceling student debt. Their example is a powerful model for canceling student debt, which continues to be important for all Americans in this election cycle and beyond.Education is a public good, yet the cost of college over the past couple of decades has risen eight times faster than the average wages. The average student debt is $30,000-$35

Apr 10, 2024 • 46:35

New Frontiers for Education Reform? | The Bully Pulpit

New Frontiers for Education Reform? | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins education experts, Pedro Noguera, Macke Raymond, and Dr. Darline Robles, for a conversation on education reform and policy. They discuss the politics of public education, the role of parental rights, why some public schools are failing, what makes some charter schools successful when others struggle, whether or not taxpayer funds should be used to provide vouchers to parents who send students to private schools or home school, and which educational reforms should be

Apr 8, 2024 • 1:01:52

Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy | The Politics Guys

Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy | The Politics Guys

Trey talks with constitutional law professor Maxwell Stearns about his new book Parliamentary America which argues the U.S. needs to adapt the U.S. House to include proportional representation. Topics Trey and Max Cover Include- how the median voter theory is inaccurate- why American parties are tending in extreme directions- proposals to double the size of the House of Representatives- proposals to transform the selection of president and vice president- proposals to change how to remove a pres

Apr 3, 2024 • 57:18

Celebrating the Country's First RCV Risk-Limiting Audit with Stephanie Gnoza | RCV Clips

Celebrating the Country's First RCV Risk-Limiting Audit with Stephanie Gnoza | RCV Clips

This month, we're joined by Stephanie Gnoza, Boulder County's Elections Director, to discuss the first ever risk-limiting audit of a ranked choice voting election! Stephanie breaks down what a risk-limiting audit is, and the steps that Boulder took to pull off this landmark achievement in election security.Resources mentioned in this episode:- 2023 Election Results Page: https://bouldercounty.gov/elections/results/- RCV RLA Tool Github Repository: https://github.com/BoulderCounty/rcv-rla/- Post-

Apr 1, 2024 • 40:37

Through the Fog with Elliot Kirschner, Emmy winning news producer, NYT bestselling author and documentary filmmaker | Talkin Politics & Religion

Through the Fog with Elliot Kirschner, Emmy winning news producer, NYT bestselling author and documentary filmmaker | Talkin Politics & Religion

How do we harness the power of communication in bridging societal divides? We spoke with Elliot Kirschner, an Emmy award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, to help us “Through the Fog…” Elliot shares his journey from CBS to his Substack “Through the Fog,” his dedication to science communication, and reflections on the role of journalism and science in democracy. We delve into his collaboration with Dan Rather, his academic pursuits in history and literature, and his current endeavors

Mar 27, 2024 • 1:19:27

Lethal Weapons | Democracy in Danger

Lethal Weapons | Democracy in Danger

Last year, there were 645 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In the latest major tragedy, at the Kansas City Super Bowl parade, one person was killed and 22 others — half of them children — suffered gunshot wounds. But here’s something you may not know: since then, there have been another 26 mass shootings. Historian Andrew McKevitt and sociologist Jennifer Carlson join Will for a conversation about the history, politics and economics of America’s deadly

Mar 25, 2024 • 29:19

The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections, Sasha Issenberg | The Great Battlefield

The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections, Sasha Issenberg | The Great Battlefield

Sasha Issenberg returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his new book "The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age".Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 20, 2024 • 1:10:25

Politics: Majority In The Middle. Shannon Watson | How Do We Fix It?

Politics: Majority In The Middle. Shannon Watson | How Do We Fix It?

News coverage of Super Tuesday and other party primaries focused mainly on base voters— Democrats and Republicans. But most Americans are actually on the political sidelines or somewhere in the middle. Many have a mix of conservative and liberal views.This episode is about them. Our guest is Shannon Watson, the Founder and Executive Director of Majority in the Middle. Her Minnesota-based non-profit group works to give voters and elected officials a place to gather outside the extremes. "We try t

Mar 18, 2024 • 30:22

Racism Renounced: A Black Man Talks With White Supremacists. Daryl Davis | Let's Find Common Ground

Racism Renounced: A Black Man Talks With White Supremacists. Daryl Davis | Let's Find Common Ground

Acclaimed musician and recording artist Daryl Davis has interviewed hundreds of KKK members and other White supremacists and influenced many of them to renounce their racist ideology.We hear his brave and remarkable story. Daryl's personal quest began many years ago, after a concert when he was in a country music band. A card-carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan praised his piano playing. Daryl recognized that he had an opportunity to ask an important question about racism: “How can you hate me w

Mar 13, 2024 • 29:19

Dr. Jonathan Haidt on After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything"  | Village SquareCast

Dr. Jonathan Haidt on After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything" | Village SquareCast

What if, at a pinnacle of our civilization’s technological achievement, everything just broke — the institutions we’ve come to rely upon in navigating a modern complex world, the shared stories that hold a large and diverse democratic republic together, and even a common language through which to navigate the rising tide of crisis.  According to renowned social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt, this describes our current reality, one that he calls “After Babel.” In this new normal, we are

Mar 11, 2024 • 1:43:29

A different take on social media and democracy | Democracy Works

A different take on social media and democracy | Democracy Works

We've talked about social media a lot on this show over the years — usually focusing on algorithms, echo chambers, polarization, and the other ways it's damaging to democracy. This week, however, we hear a different take from V Spehar, who has more than 3 million followers on the TikTok account Under the Desk News. V built a reputation providing recaps of the daily news for an audience who might not consume news anywhere else. The Under the Desk News audience is politically diverse and V talks a

Mar 6, 2024 • 37:00

Is the House broken? | Politics in Question

Is the House broken? | Politics in Question

In this week's episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James ask Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, if the House of Representatives is broken. Roy is a devoted husband and father of two, serving his third term in Congress representing Texas's 21st Congressional District. He serves on the House Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees and is the House Freedom Caucus Policy Chair. Roy previously served as First Assistant Attorney General of Texas under Ken Paxton, Chief of Staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, s

Mar 4, 2024 • 36:35

Democracy's Good News: How Teachers Are Creating Future Citizens

Democracy's Good News: How Teachers Are Creating Future Citizens

Host Jenna Spinelle highlights the positive efforts of individuals and organizations working to build a healthier democracy in our short series, Democracy's Good News.Today we feature interviews with two civics teachers, Kimberly Huffman and Allison Sheridan, recipients of the 2023 American Civic Education Teacher Award. The teachers share their experiences and perspectives on teaching civics, civil discourse, and civic engagement.Kimberly Huffman, teaching in Ohio, discusses her personal connec

Mar 1, 2024 • 7:37

Patriotism vs. Extremism: Ken Harbaugh | Future Hindsight

Patriotism vs. Extremism: Ken Harbaugh | Future Hindsight

Ken Harbaugh is the host of the Burn the Boats podcast, a former United States Navy pilot, and executive producer of Against All Enemies, a documentary film that explores the critical role of military veterans in domestic violent extremist groups.We discuss why veterans are equally sought out to work in Fortune 500 companies and to be in leadership positions of extremist groups. Most veterans make a successful transition to civilian life, but a small minority become radicalized. Anger and resent

Feb 28, 2024 • 37:14

Living Memory | Democracy in Danger

Living Memory | Democracy in Danger

Before the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949, Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists played a key role in fighting the Japanese during World War II. In the decades after, China’s role as an ally to the West was largely erased from its domestic politics — and all but forgotten everywhere else. Lately, Chinese leaders are revisiting “the Good War” and reframing that past to serve new interests. On this Season 8 debut, Harvard scholar Rana Mitter reminds us that history is always about the pres

Feb 26, 2024 • 35:34

How to combat political extremism | Democracy Works

How to combat political extremism | Democracy Works

Cynthia Miller-Idriss, one of America's leading experts on the far right, joins us this week to discuss what draws people to political extremism online and offline — and what we can do to combat it. Miller-Idriss is the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University and author of the book Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right. As you'll hear, PERIL takes a public health approach to preventing violent extremism and provides tools and

Feb 21, 2024 • 37:40

Fundraising with AI with Hillary Lehr of Quiller | The Great Battlefield

Fundraising with AI with Hillary Lehr of Quiller | The Great Battlefield

Hillary Lehr returns to the Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her time at Higher Ground Labs and then joining Quiller as CEO where they help Democratic campaigns produce fundraising emails and other content through the use of AI.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Feb 19, 2024 • 1:30:15

Are Americans democracy hypocrites? | Politics in Question

Are Americans democracy hypocrites? | Politics in Question

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James talk about Bonnie Tyler, Tina Turner, and Americans’ views of democracy. What is democracy? How do Americans view it? Do they think about democracy differently when it gets in their way? Does that make them “democracy hypocrites?” Why are Americans holding out for a hero in such moments? And does democratic self-government need another hero to make it work? These are some of the questio

Feb 14, 2024 • 38:14

Innovative Solutions For A Growing Nationwide Mental Health Crisis | Our Body Politic

Innovative Solutions For A Growing Nationwide Mental Health Crisis | Our Body Politic

Guest host Mara S. Campo, Anchor and Managing Editor at Revolt Black News, looks at the ongoing national mental health crisis and talks to people who are working outside the box to make a difference.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyOur Body Politic PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Feb 12, 2024 • 50:22

Ideas For Everyone: The Virtues of a Liberal Education. Roosevelt Montás | How Do We Fix It?

Ideas For Everyone: The Virtues of a Liberal Education. Roosevelt Montás | How Do We Fix It?

What is the point of a good education? Do we need it to learn a narrow set of skills ro help us get ahead in the workplace, or should knowledge and learning to be used over a lifetime to acquire wisdom that enables us to think more deeply about our place in the world?This question has profound resonance at a time of angry divides over American politics and moral confusion at elite American universities. The President of Harvard, Claudine Gay, resigned after months of campus unrest and controvers

Feb 7, 2024 • 31:02

Rachel Brown: The Roots of Belonging & The Risks of Othering  | Village SquareCast

Rachel Brown: The Roots of Belonging & The Risks of Othering | Village SquareCast

In this episode of SquareCast we're joined by the extraordinary Rachel Brown, the Founder of Over Zero—named in reference to the “zero sum game” that exists in sporting events, but becomes dangerous when it overtakes a society, as it has ours. Over Zero was founded to prevent identity-based violence and other forms of group-targeted harm around the world—and here at home. Rachel is one of the wisest, steadiest voices of our time in guiding us away from dangerous (but human) reactions, and toward

Feb 5, 2024 • 1:38:22

What Americans Want from Politicians— And What They're Not Getting: Sean Westwood | Let's Find Common Ground

What Americans Want from Politicians— And What They're Not Getting: Sean Westwood | Let's Find Common Ground

American politics are often dominated by the loudest voices on the left and right. In this episode, we learn the crucial difference between what Americans get from their elected representatives and what they really want to hear.Professor Sean Westwood of Dartmouth College is our guest. As Director of The Polarization Research Lab, he studies American political behavior and public opinion, examining how partisanship and information from political elites affect the behavior of citizens.  "There is

Jan 31, 2024 • 33:15

Election 2024 Breakdown with CPF Fellows | The Bully Pulpit

Election 2024 Breakdown with CPF Fellows | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Spring 2024 CPF Fellows, Douglas Brinkley, Jane Coaston, Ron Galperin, and Tim Miller for a lively discussion on the 2024 primary elections, presidential race, and campaigns.Featuring: Douglas Brinkley: Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities & Professor of History, Rice University; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political FutureJane Coaston: “The Argument” Podcast Host, The New York Times; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Politic

Jan 29, 2024 • 1:11:07

Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression discusses the coddling and canceling of the American mind | Talkin Politics & Religion

Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression discusses the coddling and canceling of the American mind | Talkin Politics & Religion

In this conversation, we're joined by Greg Lukianoff, the President of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. As illiberal tendencies are on the rise among extreme factions of our democracy, it was refreshing to speak with Greg whose organization is on the front lines of protecting the basic freedoms outlined in the First Amendment. We discussed:Greg's own background and how he came to form his views on free speech;a benchmark Supreme Court case from the late 70s when the ACL

Jan 24, 2024 • 1:14:02

How election officials are preparing for the year ahead | Democracy Works

How election officials are preparing for the year ahead | Democracy Works

The past few years haven't been easy for election officials and their teams. They had to pivot during the pandemic and face ongoing threats that have resulted in unprecedented staff turnover. This turmoil brings more scrutiny of errors that occur when people make honest mistakes. Despite these challenges, Tammy Patrick, CEO for programs at the National Association of Election Officials, is confident that the tens of thousands of people charged with election administrators across the country this

Jan 22, 2024 • 37:49

State Races Matter: Lala Wu | Future Hindsight

State Races Matter: Lala Wu | Future Hindsight

Lala Wu is the co-founder and executive director of Sister District, an organization that works to build enduring progressive power in state legislatures. We discuss how state races will continue to be important during the presidential election cycle and why the battle for redistricting will be center stage.State legislatures are where a lot of impactful policy made, such as abortion laws. They’re also critical because in most states, state legislatures control redistricting. Building progressiv

Jan 17, 2024 • 37:40

' It was an attack on democracy; it was terrorism' ft. Officer Daniel Hodges | Politics is Everything

' It was an attack on democracy; it was terrorism' ft. Officer Daniel Hodges | Politics is Everything

As we commemorate the third anniversary of the attacks on the U.S. Capitol, we talk with DC Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges. On January 6, 2021, Ofc. Hodges responded with Civil Defense Unit 42 to the attacks on the U.S. Capitol as Capitol Police units were overrun. Ofc. Hodges fought those who assaulted the Capitol on the west lawn, the west terrace, and in the tunnel leading out to the inaugural platform, sustaining many injuries in the process. While fighting in the tunnel he was cr

Jan 15, 2024 • 22:11

Introducing A Scoop of Inspiration | TDG Fellowship

Introducing A Scoop of Inspiration | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Sean Schrader, one of our 2023 Podcast Fellows.Sean Schrader is currently a final-year MBA candidate at the University of South Florida, and has been fortunate to work on social impact projects focused on tackling our most significant challenges at the local, state, and national levels. Sean is passionate about civility, and is excited to strengthen his podcasting skills in hopes to bolster civic engagement more broadly.Know a student interested in d

Jan 10, 2024 • 26:03

Introducing The Afakasi Podcast | TDG Fellowship

Introducing The Afakasi Podcast | TDG Fellowship

This week we bring you a special episode from Kabod Mauwong, one of our 2023 Podcast Fellows.KJ Mauwong is a political science major at Swarthmore College, and he studys political theory, comparative politics, and American foreign policy. He loves talking with people and engaging in conversation. Discussion is what drives democracy, and in this day and age, it's good to be able to do so civilly and productively. He wants to create an environment of growth and learning so that everyone listening

Jan 8, 2024 • 29:56

Best of 2023: What Happens When Democracy Threatens to Unravel? ft. Liz Cheney | Politics is Everything

Best of 2023: What Happens When Democracy Threatens to Unravel? ft. Liz Cheney | Politics is Everything

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from Politics is Everything, hosted by Carah Ong Whaley & Kyle Kondik.Center for Politics Professor of Practice Liz Cheney sat down with Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato and other members of our team this week for a discussion about the challenges facing American politics and democracy. She speaks out for the first time about the new Speaker of House Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) and why he is dangerous. Cheney’s forthcoming book, Oath a

Jan 1, 2024 • 31:37

Best of 2023: Better Choices, Better Elections | Democracy Decoded

Best of 2023: Better Choices, Better Elections | Democracy Decoded

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Across the country, voters are organizing to protect their right to elect candidates of their choice. In the final episode of Season 3 of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper explores the changing landscape of state and local elections, and some of the initiatives that can help ensure voters can choose candidates who truly represent their interests. This forward-looking episode offers a glimpse into innovative reforms that hold the promise of str

Dec 29, 2023 • 26:55

Best of 2023: Engaging High School Students in Politics with Jahnavi Rao of New Voters | The Great Battlefield

Best of 2023: Engaging High School Students in Politics with Jahnavi Rao of New Voters | The Great Battlefield

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from The Great Battlefield podcast, with hosts Nathaniel Pearlman.Jahnavi Rao joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her start in political activism, founding New Voters, which registers high school students to vote and now running New Voters Research Network where they use behavioral science tools to solve challenging problems.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from Th

Dec 27, 2023 • 57:24

Best of 2023: David Brooks - HOW TO KNOW A PERSON: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen | Talkin Politics & Religion

Best of 2023: David Brooks - HOW TO KNOW A PERSON: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen | Talkin Politics & Religion

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other, hosted by Corey Nathan.You might recognize David Brooks from his columns in The New York Times or his essays in The Atlantic. Perhaps you’ve seen him on PBS NewsHour or Meet the Press. He’s also a prolific author. In fact, his 2019 book The Second Mountain was a major inspiration for this program. We discuss that as well as David’s new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing

Dec 20, 2023 • 1:07:22

Best of 2023: American Polarization: Political and Personal. Mónica Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

Best of 2023: American Polarization: Political and Personal. Mónica Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the How Do We Fix It? podcast, hosted by Richard Davies and Jim Meigs. Toxic polarization is "the problem that eats all other problems... It's the sludge at the base of everything else," our guest Mónica Guzmán tells us. In this really useful repeat episode from 2022, we learn how to fight back against the confusion and heartbreak of living with rigid divides.This show is a curtain raiser for a series we are doing this fall with funding

Dec 18, 2023 • 29:40

Best of 2023: Libraries as civic spaces | When the People Decide

Best of 2023: Libraries as civic spaces | When the People Decide

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the When the People Decide podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle.Librarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that public libraries are central to democracy because they contribute to an informed citizenry. Today, the idea is gaining even more traction, and even conservative crackdowns on what’s permitted in libraries reinforce the idea that they’re more than just “book warehouses” but centers for community engagement

Dec 13, 2023 • 23:17

Best of 2023: The tensions between expertise and democracy: An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci | Democracy Matters

Best of 2023: The tensions between expertise and democracy: An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci | Democracy Matters

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Matters podcast.In this episode, we talk with Dr. Anthony Fauci about the tensions between expertise and democratic decision-making during the pandemic, and his advice for navigating apathy and misinformation during the next major public health crisis.See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode atAdditional InformationDemocracy Matters PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Dec 11, 2023 • 32:52

Best of 2023: Tim Miller on why Republicans stuck with Trump | Democracy Works

Best of 2023: Tim Miller on why Republicans stuck with Trump | Democracy Works

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman. Chris Beem talks with former Republican political operative Tim Miller about the party's loyalty to Donald Trump and where it might go in 2024 and beyond. Miller is a writer-at-large for The Bulwark and the author of the best-selling book Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell. He was previously political director for Republic

Dec 6, 2023 • 37:54

Best of 2023: Radical Acts of Justice: Jocelyn Simonson | Future Hindsight

Best of 2023: Radical Acts of Justice: Jocelyn Simonson | Future Hindsight

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the Future Hindsight podcast, hosted by Mila Atmos.Jocelyn Simonson is Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, a former public defender, and the author of Radical Acts of Justice: How Ordinary People Are Dismantling Mass Incarceration. We discuss how certain radical acts of justice challenge the legitimacy of the criminal system and form the underpinning of a new collective legal thought.The four pillars of this work comprise of court

Dec 4, 2023 • 48:15

Best of 2023: Join or Die: Why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it | Village SquareCast

Best of 2023: Join or Die: Why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it | Village SquareCast

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the Village SquareCast podcast, hosted by the Village Square.This is when you meet a living legend and get the benefit of his thinking on the topic he’s been brilliantly, prophetically right about for more than three decades: the deterioration of our connectedness with each other across almost every demographic and every aspect of our lives—our loss of social capital.  And yet here we are, painfully and tragically paying the price for o

Nov 29, 2023 • 1:37:21

Best of 2023: The Abortion Talks: They Found Respect, but not Common Ground. Frances Hogan, The Rev. Anne Fowler | Let's Find Common Ground

Best of 2023: The Abortion Talks: They Found Respect, but not Common Ground. Frances Hogan, The Rev. Anne Fowler | Let's Find Common Ground

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the Let's Find Common Ground podcast, hosted by Richard Davies & Ashley Milne-Tyte.We speak with two women from opposing sides of the bitter and often toxic debate over abortion. Frances Hogan and The Rev. Anne Fowler were involved in a series of years-long intensive, secret talks. Their candid conversations began after a gunman opened fire at two Massachusetts abortion clinics nearly thirty years ago. The attack left two women dead and

Nov 27, 2023 • 34:10

Best of 2023: Finding Common Ground on the Politics of Climate | The Bully Pulpit

Best of 2023: Finding Common Ground on the Politics of Climate | The Bully Pulpit

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the The Bully Pulpit podcast, hosted by Bob Shrum and Mike MurphyCPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Representatives Val Demings and Adam Kinzinger for a conversation on the politics of climate with the goal of finding common ground. They discuss political barriers to enacting climate action, climate legislation passed by Congress, and how environmental legislation can help achieve climate justice.   Featuring:Val Demings: Former U

Nov 22, 2023 • 1:25:41

Best of 2023: Black and Blue | Democracy in Danger

Best of 2023: Black and Blue | Democracy in Danger

We continue our Best of 2023 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy in Danger podcast, hosted by Will Hitchcock & Siva Vaidhyanathan.Law enforcement is among the most undemocratic institutions in America, says New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie. And the effect this has on communities of color is especially stark. Bouie visits Will and Siva’s class for another live recording with their students, to discuss police brutality, the country’s culture of violence, and the shifting ground of r

Nov 20, 2023 • 28:14

How Poll Workers, the Supreme Court, and Medical Biases Impact U.S. Democracy | Our Body Politic

How Poll Workers, the Supreme Court, and Medical Biases Impact U.S. Democracy | Our Body Politic

On this episode of Our Body Politic, guest host Karen Grigsby Bates talks with Virginia Kase Solomón, CEO of the League of Women Voters, about the threats and issues poll workers face protecting democracy. Karen then speaks with Melissa Murray, NYU law professor and host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny about some of the cases SCOTUS will hear this term. We round out the show with Karen discussing how to navigate medical bias with artist, author and doctor, Shirlene Obuobi.Additional InformationTh

Nov 15, 2023 • 1:03:24

Wonder Women | Democracy in Danger

Wonder Women | Democracy in Danger

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Coming at you live from Light House Studio’s Vinegar Hill Theatre in Charlottesville, our fair city: Emily and Siva welcome Jennifer Weiss-Wolf and Samhita Sunya to the stage, as part of the Karsh Institute’s Democracy360 forum. Sunya, a cinema expert, and Weiss-Wolf, a pioneering advocate for women’s rights, discuss the power of film and print media to shape global feminism. From Bollywood to Ms. magazine, we look at why the women’s movement and

Nov 13, 2023 • 42:08

Amplifying Young Voices in Politics with Jahnavi Rao & Nivea Krishnan of New Voters | TDG Partner Interview

Amplifying Young Voices in Politics with Jahnavi Rao & Nivea Krishnan of New Voters | TDG Partner Interview

The Democracy Group's Jessie Nguyen interviews Jahnavi Rao & Nivea Krishnan about New Voters, an organization that is helping the next generation of our country have their voice heard and a seat at the decision table. Jahnavi Rao is President & Founder of New Voters,  Government at Harvard University, Formerly White House, DNC, Harvard Kennedy, and UPenn. Nivea Krishnan is Executive Director of New Voters, Public Policy and Econ at USC, Student Government VP, Formerly State of Hawaii and Crooked

Nov 10, 2023 • 21:04

Engaging High School Students in Politics with Jahnavi Rao of New Voters | The Great Battlefield

Engaging High School Students in Politics with Jahnavi Rao of New Voters | The Great Battlefield

Jahnavi Rao joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her start in political activism, founding New Voters, which registers high school students to vote and now running New Voters Research Network where they use behavioral science tools to solve challenging problems.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Nov 8, 2023 • 57:23

Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions with Dr. Todd Rose  | Village SquareCast

Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions with Dr. Todd Rose | Village SquareCast

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!At the core of the deep societal divisions we navigate every day is an assumption that we share little with “those people” with whom we share a country—a belief that leaves us on dangerous ground as a nation. But author and entrepreneur Dr. Todd Rose says we’ve got that all wrong. According to Dr. Rose, not only do we agree more often than we think but we’re making terrible assumptions about what the people on our own side of the aisle think—then

Nov 6, 2023 • 1:25:05

Populism, Polarization, and Threats to Western Democracy: Rory Stewart | Let's Find Common Ground

Populism, Polarization, and Threats to Western Democracy: Rory Stewart | Let's Find Common Ground

Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan, was an elected politician, served as a senior British government minister, and was a visiting fellow at Yale University. Today he is the host of a highly successful podcast— "The Rest Is Politics"— and outgoing president and advisor of the global anti-poverty charity, GiveDirectly. By any measure, he is a man of many parts. In our podcast, Stewart raises the alarm about threats to democracy in Europe and the U.S., explains his detailed understanding of com

Nov 1, 2023 • 35:13

Combating Antisemitism and Hatred featuring Bob Shrum, Bret Stephens, and Zev Yaroslavsky | The Bully Pulpit

Combating Antisemitism and Hatred featuring Bob Shrum, Bret Stephens, and Zev Yaroslavsky | The Bully Pulpit

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!CPF's inaugural discussion of our Combating Antisemitism and Hatred Series features CPF Director Bob Shrum, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bret Stephens, and former Los Angeles elected official Zev Yaroslavksy. The series explores the struggle against antisemitism in the context of countering hate, reducing violence, promoting empathy, and nurturing civil dialogue.   Featuring: William Deverell: Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences, USC Dorn

Oct 30, 2023 • 1:11:07

AI and Politics with Tareq and Aaron of Chorus AI | The Great Battlefield

AI and Politics with Tareq and Aaron of Chorus AI | The Great Battlefield

Tareq Alani and Aaron Myran join The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about their careers in politics and founding Chorus AI, where they're applying artificial intelligence and news analysis to political communications and organizing.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Oct 25, 2023 • 51:43

Keeping an Eye on Ethics | Democracy Decoded

Keeping an Eye on Ethics | Democracy Decoded

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!When we elect representatives, we expect them to be held accountable to the people they represent and the laws they are subject to. But how can voters be sure that elected officials are acting with their best interests in mind? In this enlightening episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper explores the pivotal role that state and local ethics commissions play in safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process and dives into some of the

Oct 23, 2023 • 22:16

The Democracy Group's Jenna Spinelle & Brandon Stover on The Power of a Podcast Network | Continuing Studies

The Democracy Group's Jenna Spinelle & Brandon Stover on The Power of a Podcast Network | Continuing Studies

We're sharing a special interview of The Democracy Group founder, Jenna Spinelle, & network manager, Brandon Stover from the Continuing Studies podcast.Discover the power of a podcast network; the tremendous value that it brings to it’s member shows, and how it’s fostering democracy and civil discourse from all sides of the political landscape.  Join hosts Neil McPhedran and Jennifer Lee Gunson in conversation with Jenna Spinelle and Brandon Stover, the driving forces behind The Democracy Group,

Oct 20, 2023 • 35:30

Radical Acts of Justice: Jocelyn Simonson | Future Hindsight

Radical Acts of Justice: Jocelyn Simonson | Future Hindsight

Jocelyn Simonson is Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, a former public defender, and the author of Radical Acts of Justice: How Ordinary People Are Dismantling Mass Incarceration. We discuss how certain radical acts of justice challenge the legitimacy of the criminal system and form the underpinning of a new collective legal thought.The four pillars of this work comprise of court watching, community bail funds, participatory defense, and people’s budgets. Bail funds are pulling the rug out

Oct 18, 2023 • 48:25

Is Social Media to Blame? Professor Chris Bail | How Do We Fix It?

Is Social Media to Blame? Professor Chris Bail | How Do We Fix It?

Almost everyone has an opinion about the impact of social media on political polarization. Most of us believe that Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube and other sites have made our civic life more angry and divided. But how much of this is true? Are consumers as much to blame as the platforms themselves?15 years ago, in the very early days of social media, many Americans had a much more positive view of this new technology. It was bringing friends and families together, opening up new sources of

Oct 16, 2023 • 35:26

Does Polling Still Work? | The Bully Pulpit

Does Polling Still Work? | The Bully Pulpit

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2023 CPF Fellows Arnon Mishkin and Reince Priebus for a conversation on polling and its ability or inability to predict voting outcomes as the 2024 presidential race approaches.Featuring:Arnon Mishkin: Political Analyst and Director of the Fox News Election Decision Team; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political FutureReince Priebus: Former White House Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Re

Oct 11, 2023 • 58:33

The Way Out: Overcoming Toxic Polarization, with Dr. Peter T. Coleman | Village SquareCast

The Way Out: Overcoming Toxic Polarization, with Dr. Peter T. Coleman | Village SquareCast

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!“A remarkable combination of scientific insight, practical guidance, and grounded hope.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAINToxic polarization and conflict is exhausting. Whether it’s in your family, at work or in our perpetually acrimonious civic life, it’s like a suitcase full of big ole rocks we lug around while we try to get the usual tasks of life-y-ness done.  Our UNUM journey has brought us thinkers and leaders

Oct 9, 2023 • 1:30:08

Are state legislators really accountable to their voters? | Politics in Question

Are state legislators really accountable to their voters? | Politics in Question

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Steven Rogers joins Julia and Lee to discuss state legislatures. Rogers is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Saint Louis University, where he teaches and conducts research on elections, state legislatures, and public opinion.How many people can name their state representative? Does it matter if they have no idea who represents them in the state capital? What are the imp

Oct 4, 2023 • 51:20

We Contain Multitudes | Democracy in Danger

We Contain Multitudes | Democracy in Danger

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Poets, painters, novelists, musicians — it turns out they are as crucial to sustaining self-government as politicians and pundits. In a wide-ranging conversation, our hosts speak with English professor Steve Parks about the likes of Walt Whitman, Woody Guthrie, Sinéad O’Connor and the Malian singer Fatoumata Kouyaté. What does their art have in common? Spoiler: an affective sense of democracy. Plus, Parks shares our plans for a new segment on inte

Oct 2, 2023 • 27:49

Yascha Mounk, author THE IDENTITY TRAP ”...on democracry and its current torments...” | Talkin Politics & Religion

Yascha Mounk, author THE IDENTITY TRAP ”...on democracry and its current torments...” | Talkin Politics & Religion

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Yascha Mounk of Johns Hopkins University joined us for this conversation to discuss his latest book THE IDENTITY TRAP: A STORY OF IDEAS AND POWER IN OUR TIME. What is meant by the term “identity synthesis?” In recent years, terms like “identity politics,” “cancel culture” and being “woke” have been used to refer to the topics that are dealt with in the book. So with the urgency of fighting the dangers of right-wing authoritarianism, why address th

Sep 27, 2023 • 1:10:09

Is Reunification Still Possible? Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo on Korea | Democracy Paradox

Is Reunification Still Possible? Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo on Korea | Democracy Paradox

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Victor Cha is a professor of government at Georgetown University and holds the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He is a former director for Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. Ramon Pacheco Pardo is a professor of international relations at King’s College London and the KF-VUB Korea Chair at Free University of Brussels. They are the authors of Korea: A New History of Sout

Sep 25, 2023 • 55:16

All Politics Is Local | Democracy Decoded

All Politics Is Local | Democracy Decoded

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!Why do local and state elections matter, and how can voters be sure that their voices are being represented in the lawmaking process? We open the third season of Democracy Decoded with an overview of democracy at the state and local level, and how we can ensure that all citizens can have their voices heard.In this episode Simone talks with Jawharrah Bahar about her experience losing and then regaining her freedom  to vote, and how that inspired he

Sep 20, 2023 • 18:25

Navigating Shifting Political Landscapes ft. Grace Panetta | Politics is Everything

Navigating Shifting Political Landscapes ft. Grace Panetta | Politics is Everything

Download our free guide on 5 ways to take action!In this episode, Grace Panetta, a political reporter at The 19th, joins Kyle Kondik, Carah Ong Whaley and Kylie Holzman to discuss several key issues for the 2024 election, including media coverage of women candidates, voter turnout, dramatic shifts in election law landscape, and ongoing threats to democracy posed by election denialism. Also, in this episode, Kyle discusses his new analysis on Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball about how the most populou

Sep 18, 2023 • 32:06

How States Hold Fair Elections. Secretaries of State Michael Adams and Steve Hobbs | Let's Find Common Ground

How States Hold Fair Elections. Secretaries of State Michael Adams and Steve Hobbs | Let's Find Common Ground

Until recently most of us outside of state government didn’t know much about the role of Secretary of State, the state’s top election official. We simply didn’t think about it. But since 2020, election laws and procedures have been in the spotlight – and election officials have come under attack. In this episode of Let’s Find Common Ground, we meet Democrat Steve Hobbs, Secretary of State for Washington, and Republican Michael Adams, Secretary of State for Kentucky. Kentucky is a vote-in-person

Sep 13, 2023 • 29:08

"Democracy 2024" on the debate stage | Democracy Works

"Democracy 2024" on the debate stage | Democracy Works

We're back from summer break and diving into the 2024 election season, Donald Trump's indictments, the spread of election deniers, and more. We also welcome Michael Berkman back from sabbatical and discuss the significance of "Democracy 2024" as the backdrop for the first Republican presidential debate on August 23.For our listeners who teach American politics, we've put together a list of episodes designed to be a companion to your courses. Check it out at democracyworkspodcast.com/syllabus.Ref

Sep 11, 2023 • 33:56

Defending the Founding Principles of Our Government with Evan McMullin of Stand Up Republic | The Great Battlefield

Defending the Founding Principles of Our Government with Evan McMullin of Stand Up Republic | The Great Battlefield

Evan McMullin joins The Great Battlefield podcast to share his experience as a CIA Officer, running against Trump as an Independent in the 2016 election and how Stand Up Republic is fighting to defend the ideals that our country was founded on.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Sep 6, 2023 • 1:06:58

The Continuing Effects of Summer Heat and Student Loan Repayments | Our Body Politic

The Continuing Effects of Summer Heat and Student Loan Repayments | Our Body Politic

Fall is on the way, and school is back in session. And THIS year, the summer heat and student loans are making big headlines. On this episode of Our Body Politic, host and creator Farai Chideya speaks with Neel Dhanesha from Heatmap who discusses the underestimated yet deadliest weather crisis - HEAT. We’re also joined by climate activist Dany Sigwalt on how to build a climate movement that includes BIPOC voices. Then co-host Karen Grigsby Bates, who is a founding member of NPR’s Code Switch tea

Sep 4, 2023 • 51:08

How did Trump threaten American self-government when he was president? | Politics in Question

How did Trump threaten American self-government when he was president? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Miles Taylor joins Julia and Lee to talk about the resistance to Donald Trump when he was president. Taylor is the author of Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump. He served in the Trump administration as the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Before that, Taylor worked in Congress and served in the George W. Bush administration.How did administration officials counter the threat to American

Aug 30, 2023 • 29:37

Broken Media? Restoring Trust in News Coverage. Mark Sappenfield, Story Hinckley | Let's Find Common Ground

Broken Media? Restoring Trust in News Coverage. Mark Sappenfield, Story Hinckley | Let's Find Common Ground

The United States has one of the highest news avoidance rates in the world. Tens of millions of Americans don’t read, watch or listen to the news each day. The media is generally held in low regard. So, is there a better way to report and analyze current events that will satisfy readers’ interests?In this repeat episode, we hear from Mark Sappenfield, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, the paper's National Political Correspondent. We’re re-releasing this podcast as the

Aug 28, 2023 • 27:12

How to Be a Phenomenal Podcast Guest on Political Podcasts | TDG Podcast Media Training

How to Be a Phenomenal Podcast Guest on Political Podcasts | TDG Podcast Media Training

In this FREE training you'll learn: How to find shows with your target audience using secret podcast industry techniques. How to prepare for an interview and have the best possible answer for any question. Common conversational challenges every guest makes and how to overcome them. A powerful storytelling technique to spice up any interview and get listeners engaged. How to pitch a book, cause, or idea, without sounding salesy.   Our podcast media training helps democracy experts to sharpen thei

Aug 25, 2023 • 34:10

Marc Plattner on Democracy | Democracy Paradox

Marc Plattner on Democracy | Democracy Paradox

Marc Plattner is the founding coeditor of the Journal of Democracy and the founding codirector of the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies. Until 2016, he also served as NED’s vice president for research and studies, and from 1984 to 1989 he was NED’s director of program.  He is the author of Democracy Without Borders? Global Challenges to Liberal Democracy (2008) and of Rousseau’s State of Nature(1979). His essays and reviews on a wide range of internati

Aug 23, 2023 • 42:50

Winning campaigns through better messaging with Anat Shenker-Osorio | The Great Battlefield

Winning campaigns through better messaging with Anat Shenker-Osorio | The Great Battlefield

Anat Shenker-Osorio, Founder and Principal at ASO Communications, joins The Great Battlefield to discuss how her background in linguistics informs her work as a political messaging consultant. She shares what her research and campaign experience has taught her about how to re-frame the debate to give progressives the advantage.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Aug 21, 2023 • 54:00

Winning the democracy lottery | When the People Decide

Winning the democracy lottery | When the People Decide

When public officials embark on efforts to incorporate more civic input in city decisions, they are often hamstrung by inefficient means that favor the loudest voices in a room. But more people want a say in their local government; they just need the right opportunity. For Petaluma, California, it was something called the "democracy lottery." In this episode, we explore what that is and the power that comes from letting the community deliberate in a public way. Hear from Petaluma's city manager

Aug 16, 2023 • 20:02

Will Saletan of THE BULWARK on The Corruption of Lindsey Graham: A Case Study in the Rise of Authoritarianism | Talkin Politics & Religion

Will Saletan of THE BULWARK on The Corruption of Lindsey Graham: A Case Study in the Rise of Authoritarianism | Talkin Politics & Religion

Will Saletan returns to discuss his book, The Corruption of Lindsey Graham: A Case Study in the Rise of Authoritarianism. It's a fascinating, well-sourced study on the public record of Lindsey Graham since 2015 that helps us better understand what's happened to the Republican Party since the rise of Trump. When and why did many Republicans start capitulating to Donald Trump? We discussed how it's not just the rhetoric that changes; but the people themselves that change. As Will profoundly points

Aug 14, 2023 • 1:07:09

The Fight to Save the Town: Michelle Wilde Anderson | How Do We Fix It?

The Fight to Save the Town: Michelle Wilde Anderson | How Do We Fix It?

Globalization, technology, devastating impacts from the foreclosure crisis and the opioid addiction have wreaked havoc on communities left behind by the modern economy. Some of these discarded places are rural. Others are cities or suburbs. Some vote blue, others red. Some are the most diverse communities in America, while others are nearly all white, all Latino, or all Black. In this episode we visit four cities and towns with deep poverty and gutted public services— where entire communities ar

Aug 9, 2023 • 39:00

Open System for Democracy: Landon Mascareñaz & Doannie Tran | Future Hindsight

Open System for Democracy: Landon Mascareñaz & Doannie Tran | Future Hindsight

Landon Mascareñaz and Doannie Tran are co-authors of The Open System: Redesigning Education and Reigniting Democracy. Education is our greatest democracy-building endeavor. We discuss rebuilding trust in public education and marshaling the public will to do something great together.The democratic act is in the spark of everyday interactions with our community, such as in schools. Families and communities should be an integral part of the way that schools function. We need to practice new ways of

Aug 7, 2023 • 45:59

Where do busy people find the time to participate in democratic self-government? | Politics in Question

Where do busy people find the time to participate in democratic self-government? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Kevin Elliott joins Lee and James to talk about how busy people can make democracy work for them. Elliott is a political scientist and Lecturer in Ethics, Politics, and Economics (EP&E) at Yale University. His main research interests are in political theory, particularly democratic theory, and focus on the ethics of democratic citizenship, political epistemology, and the normative justification and design of political institutions. He is the author

Aug 2, 2023 • 49:12

A deep dive on parties and political reform | Democracy Works

A deep dive on parties and political reform | Democracy Works

Americans want electoral reforms so that they can have more choice in elections. Recent surveys show that 20 to 50 percent of Americans are open to a new electoral system, while demand for a third party has crept upward since Gallup began asking in 2003. More Americans now call themselves "independent" than identify with either of the major parties, but what happens when Americans try to reform their way out of a two-party system? In More Parties or No Parties, Jack Santucci traces the origins a

Jul 31, 2023 • 41:53

Peeling back the curtain on local government | When the People Decide

Peeling back the curtain on local government | When the People Decide

When Linda Harris began working at city hall in her hometown of Decatur, Georgia, she noticed that the relationship between local government leaders and their constituents was often tense, or nonexistent. City workers were used to residents interacting with them when they had a complaint, for example. She came up with an idea: a straightforward class open to anyone in Decatur to learn about how their city government worked. Thus began Decatur 101, now a long-standing institution that even the ma

Jul 26, 2023 • 25:20

For the Love of Cities. Peter Kageyama | How Do We Fix It?

For the Love of Cities. Peter Kageyama | How Do We Fix It?

Why do we connect emotionally with some places and not others? Why does that matter? What does loving the place you live in have to do with healing the partisan divide? We explore these questions and hear about solutions from author, researcher and speaker Peter Kageyama.This shared episode is an edited version of a podcast released earlier this year by "Village Squarecast". Our show includes extracts from a speech delivered at a special meeting of The Village Square in Tallahassee, Florida.Pete

Jul 24, 2023 • 27:12

Todd Rose - Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions | Talkin Politics & Religion

Todd Rose - Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions | Talkin Politics & Religion

First, can we talk about polling? Todd Rose can! Todd and his team at Populace are figuring out how to do better surveys to get more accurate information. No, really. It’s all about methodology. And wow, do they have some surprising and encouraging takeaways! In particular, WE’RE NOT REALLY AS DIVIDED SO MUCH AS WE THINK WE’RE DIVIDED. So how much are the loudest, most extreme voices driving the conversation in public spaces? And how many of the rest of us are self-silencing? What about COLLECTI

Jul 19, 2023 • 1:07:09

Hal Brands Thinks China is a Declining Power... Here's Why that's a Problem | Democracy Paradox

Hal Brands Thinks China is a Declining Power... Here's Why that's a Problem | Democracy Paradox

Hal Brands is the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is the coauthor (with Michael Beckley) of Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China and the author of The Twilight Struggle: What the Cold War Teaches Us About Great-Power Rivalry Today.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:43Peaking Power Theory - 3:12The Original Cold War - 22:28China as a Peaking Power - 31:14American Policy Toward China - 41:56Key LinksD

Jul 17, 2023 • 54:26

Citizens and Their Obligations: Richard Haass | Future Hindsight

Citizens and Their Obligations: Richard Haass | Future Hindsight

Dr. Richard Haass is the President of the Council on Foreign Relations and the author of The Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens. We discuss how we, as citizens, can fulfill our role in the social contract.The United States is a country founded on an idea about equality, about opportunity, and about freedom. Rights alone will not guarantee the smooth functioning of a society, but must be coupled with obligations. These include being informed, getting involved, civic education, and r

Jul 12, 2023 • 53:01

The Big Challenge of Common Ground Politics: Tulsa, Oklahoma Mayor G.T. Bynum | Let's Find Common Ground

The Big Challenge of Common Ground Politics: Tulsa, Oklahoma Mayor G.T. Bynum | Let's Find Common Ground

Working across party divides is the best way to bring people together and make progress, says our guest, Tulsa Mayor, G.T. Bynum. But he also points out that common ground is “the least valued political real estate in America today”.Overwhelmingly reelected to office as a nonpartisan in a deep-red state, Mayor Bynum calls himself a moderate and tells us that his administration is a test case for “the belief that people of diverse beliefs can still work together to solve great challenges.”Two yea

Jul 10, 2023 • 32:56

Transpolitics 101 | Our Body Politic

Transpolitics 101 | Our Body Politic

Transgender rights are increasingly under attack in the United States, despite studies showing that the majority of Americans don’t want laws limiting transgender rights. But politicians on the right, who have long used gender and family issues to appeal to conservative voters, are now trying to reach broader audiences with anti-trans rhetoric. In this episode of “Our Body Politic,” guest host Imara Jones, founder and CEO of TransLash Media and host of the investigative series podcast, the Anti-

Jul 5, 2023 • 59:25

Peter Wehner and Jonathan Rauch on ”Morality Is for Trump What Colors Are to the Color-Blind” | Talkin Politics & Religion

Peter Wehner and Jonathan Rauch on ”Morality Is for Trump What Colors Are to the Color-Blind” | Talkin Politics & Religion

Jonathan Rauch and Pete Wehner both return to the TP&R pod. Only this time we get them together! For a little background, Jon and Pete have a number of fundamental differences (eg. Jon is an atheist and Pete is a devout Christian); yet, they also happen to be good friends. So the conversation was flowing before we even hit record. We were discussing Pete's recent essay in THE ATLANTIC "Morality Is for Trump What Colors Are to the Color-Blind." We discussed pervasive cognitive dissonance, specifi

Jul 3, 2023 • 1:32:58

How Congress Is Addressing the Harmful Effects of A.I. ft. Anna Lenhart | Politics is Everything

How Congress Is Addressing the Harmful Effects of A.I. ft. Anna Lenhart | Politics is Everything

In response to a false narrative perpetuated by mainstream media suggesting that Congress has yet to propose legislation “to protect individuals or thwart the development of A.I.’s potentially dangerous aspects,” Anna Lenhart shows in a new report that Congress is working to address the harms of Artificial Intelligence. She joins us to discuss A.I., data, privacy, transparency and accountability, and the many legislative proposals Congress has introduced to address harmful content. Anna Lenhart

Jun 28, 2023 • 28:28

Facebook and Politics with Crystal Patterson of FSB Public Affairs | The Great Battlefield

Facebook and Politics with Crystal Patterson of FSB Public Affairs | The Great Battlefield

Crystal Patterson joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career in politics, working at Facebook's political arm, working on the internet presence of Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, and her current role at FSB Public Affairs.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jun 26, 2023 • 1:32:05

Can podcasts save America? | Politics in Question

Can podcasts save America? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode, Mila Atmos joins Julia and James to discuss how podcasts can save American politics. Atmos is the producer and host of Future Hindsight, a weekly podcast that aims to spark civic engagement through in-depth conversations with citizen change-makers. She combines life experiences from living in multiple cultures ranging from Indonesia to Germany to the rural U.S., with her knowledge base in history, economics, and international affairs (B.A. & M.I.A. Columbia University) in

Jun 21, 2023 • 33:26

Isabel Kershner on Israel and its Divisions | Democracy Paradox

Isabel Kershner on Israel and its Divisions | Democracy Paradox

Isabel Kershner is a reporter at The New York Times and the author of a new book called The Land of Hope and Fear: Israel's Battle for Its Inner Soul.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:37Mizrahi and Askenazi - 5:31Immigration - 18:08Ultra-Orthodox - 28:12Netanyahu's Judiciary Proposal - 39:27Key LinksThe Land of Hope and Fear: Israel's Battle for Its Inner Soul by Isabel KershnerRead more from Isabel Kershner at The New York TimesFollow Isabel Kershner on Twitter @IKershner Additional InformationThe

Jun 19, 2023 • 51:37

Layoffs, Shutdowns, and Cancellations: The Latest News About the News | Our Body Politic

Layoffs, Shutdowns, and Cancellations: The Latest News About the News | Our Body Politic

Between layoffs, show cancellations, downsizing and network shut-downs, some are calling the recent news about the news an all out “media massacre.” Will this disintegration of outlets cause increased polarization? The people who get the platform to tell the news – and how they tell it – will matter more than ever before.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyOur Body Politic PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jun 14, 2023 • 54:50

Bob Cusack, Editor in Chief at THE HILL | Talkin Politics & Religion

Bob Cusack, Editor in Chief at THE HILL | Talkin Politics & Religion

Journalistic integrity. How can individual reporters and news outlets uphold their professional ethics? Is it possible in today's environment? How can a journalist get a coveted interview, yet be fair without it becoming a hit job or a puff piece? Is it any different now than 5 or 10 or 25+ years ago, when our guest Bob Cusack of THE HILL first entered the business? What is it like interviewing Donald Trump (which Bob has done 4 times)? How can reporters be equipped to deal with attacks from a s

Jun 12, 2023 • 56:41

A Braver Story: The Braver Angels Story of American Citizenship | Village SquareCast

A Braver Story: The Braver Angels Story of American Citizenship | Village SquareCast

The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. —Abraham Lincoln.This episodes tells the story of one group of people who have risen.Built by patriotic volunteers, Braver Angels is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide, equally balanced between conservatives and progressives at every level of leadership. They work in communities, on college campuses, in the media, and in the halls of political power. We’ll offer up a behind the scenes view of this extr

Jun 7, 2023 • 1:35:58

AI Revolution: Disaster or Great Leap Forward? Nathanael Fast | How Do We Fix It?

AI Revolution: Disaster or Great Leap Forward? Nathanael Fast | How Do We Fix It?

Generative Artificial Intelligence has the power to transform lives and change our jobs. In this episode, we discuss the potential for good and bad from large, creative AI models such as ChatGPT.Our guest is Nathanael Fast, who serves as Director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making and Co-Director of the Psychology of Technology Institute. Professor Fast teaches in the MBA, Ph.D., and Executive Education programs at USC Marshall in Los Angeles.ChatGPT reached over 100

Jun 5, 2023 • 30:31

Saving Democracy from & with AI ft. Nathan Sanders | Politics is Everything

Saving Democracy from & with AI ft. Nathan Sanders | Politics is Everything

In this episode, Nathan Sanders joins us to discuss how Artificial Intelligence technologies are impacting political processes in complex ways, including increasing disruptive risks to legislative processes but also providing enforcement mechanisms. Sanders also addresses what regulatory frameworks and Codes of Ethics should include. Nathan Sanders is a data scientist and an Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University where he is focused on creating open technology to help vulner

May 31, 2023 • 33:54

People Power and AI: Chris Wiggins & Matt Jones | Future Hindsight

People Power and AI: Chris Wiggins & Matt Jones | Future Hindsight

Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones are co-authors of How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms. Chris is an associate professor of applied mathematics at Columbia University and the New York Times’s chief data scientist and Matt is a professor of history at Columbia. Together, they taught a course called “Data: Past, Present, and Future," and their book is an extension thereof. We discuss the history of how data is made; the relationship between data and truth;

May 29, 2023 • 42:34

Gen Z's fight for democracy | Democracy Works

Gen Z's fight for democracy | Democracy Works

We've talked about generational politics on the show before with episodes on Millennials and Baby Boomers. This week, we turn our focus to Gen Z, those born from the late 1990s to early 2000s. This generation's formative experiences include school shootings, a global pandemic, and reckonings with racial and economic inequality. In his book Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America, John Della Volpe argues that Gen Z has not buckled under the weight of the events that

May 24, 2023 • 47:55

The Abortion Talks: They Found Respect, but not Common Ground. Frances Hogan, The Rev. Anne Fowler | Let's Find Common Ground

The Abortion Talks: They Found Respect, but not Common Ground. Frances Hogan, The Rev. Anne Fowler | Let's Find Common Ground

We speak with two women from opposing sides of the bitter and often toxic debate over abortion. Frances Hogan and The Rev. Anne Fowler were involved in a series of years-long intensive, secret talks. Their candid conversations began after a gunman opened fire at two Massachusetts abortion clinics nearly thirty years ago. The attack left two women dead and five people injured.  In this episode, we learn the extraordinary story of how Anne and Francis gained a much deeper understanding and respect

May 22, 2023 • 34:09

The Politics of Globalization with Gordon Brown | The Bully Pulpit

The Politics of Globalization with Gordon Brown | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on the politics of globalization. They discuss the war in Ukraine, challenges from China, the 2008 global financial crisis, and America’s role in globalization. Featuring: Gordon Brown: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education; World Health Organization (WHO) Ambassador for Global Health FinancingBob Shrum: Director, Center for the Politic

May 17, 2023 • 1:04:10

Twitter Pill | Democracy in Danger

Twitter Pill | Democracy in Danger

After Elon Musk bought Twitter and fired most of its staff, the platform seems to be floundering, if not imploding. Traffic is flagging, major news outlets have abandoned their handles, hate speech is on the rise. And yet, Twitter remains one of the easiest ways to speak out in public. Media scholar Meredith Clark doesn’t know if Twitter will survive, but she does know it’s a repository for a remarkable history of antiracist activism. Hear how she is working to preserve that archive, and why.Add

May 15, 2023 • 33:24

Is Joe Biden's approval too weak for him to win the 2024 presidential election? | Politics is Everything

Is Joe Biden's approval too weak for him to win the 2024 presidential election? | Politics is Everything

Across more than 230 years of American history, 26 presidents have run for re-election after a full term and only 10 have lost. A mere four have lost in the past century - Herbert Hoover in 1932, Jimmy Carter in 1980, George Bush in 1992 and Donald J. Trump in 2020. Based on recent history, a key question for Biden is whether a president can win reelection with an approval rating in the low-to-mid 40s. Links in this episode: Is Biden’s Approval Rating Too Weak for Him to Win?Additional Informati

May 10, 2023 • 20:39

A Slow Civil War?: Jeff Sharlet | Future Hindsight

A Slow Civil War?: Jeff Sharlet | Future Hindsight

Jeff Sharlet is a journalist, best-selling author, and longtime observer and investigator of the Christian right. His latest book is The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. We discuss America's democratic bankruptcy, the martyrdom of Ashli Babbit, and the rightward shift of the mainstream. The notion of civil war was a fringe idea, but in recent years it has become mainstream.  It was just a question of time and for some, it was already happening. Fascism does not respond to logic but relies

May 8, 2023 • 43:44

Between democracy and autocracy | Democracy Works

Between democracy and autocracy | Democracy Works

Between democracy and autocracy is an anocracy, defined by political scientists as a country that has elements of both forms of government — usually one that's on the way up to becoming a full democracy or on the way down to full autocracy. This messy middle is the state when civil wars are most likely to start and the one that requires the most diligence from that country's citizens to prevent a civil war from breaking out.Barbara F. Walter, author of How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them

May 3, 2023 • 47:09

Solutions to the campus free speech woes: An interview with ALL IN Democracy Challenge's Stephanie King and JMU Debate | Democracy Matters

Solutions to the campus free speech woes: An interview with ALL IN Democracy Challenge's Stephanie King and JMU Debate | Democracy Matters

It feels like free speech has become the number one issue confronting higher education today. Campuses are now hotbeds of discontent. Students are sitting in, protesting questionable speakers on campus. State elected officials are dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programming. So what is being done to address the campus free speech woes? Stephanie King, senior director of strategic initiatives for the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and Dannise Brown and Adonis Ortiz, members of the

May 1, 2023 • 42:46

Broken News with Chris Stirewalt | Village SquareCast

Broken News with Chris Stirewalt | Village SquareCast

Don’t miss this warm, funny professional’s guided tour of an industry that is failing us—the "Broken News." You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll know a thing or two to do to fix it.Our very special guest, Chris Stirewalt—a former Fox News political editor— gives us an inside view of the rage-driven political environment we’ve found ourselves plunged into: “Rage revenue-addicted news companies are plagued by shoddy reporting, sensationalism, groupthink, and brain-dead partisan tribalism. Newsrooms re

Apr 26, 2023 • 1:28:21

High Conflict vs. Good Conflict: The Vital Difference. Amanda Ripley | Let's Find Common Ground

High Conflict vs. Good Conflict: The Vital Difference. Amanda Ripley | Let's Find Common Ground

Every day we are bombarded with negative news and polarizing opinions from politicians, pundits, and others who seek attention, power, and money by escalating division. Our guest, Amanda Ripley, calls them "conflict entrepreneurs."In this podcast, Amanda explains why she believes the problem we face in America isn't too much conflict. Instead, it’s the type of disagreement we are having. We hear about the crucial differences between constructive conflict, where different sides seek to find commo

Apr 24, 2023 • 26:22

Ballot Blues | Democracy in Danger

Ballot Blues | Democracy in Danger

The civil rights movement was a huge leap forward for voting rights, yet one group of the electorate remains largely on the sidelines: the poor. Legal scholar Bertrall Ross calls low turnout among the bottom 20 percent of American earners an insidious form of voter suppression, all but guaranteeing their interests won’t be served. And he offers some ideas on how to get political campaigns to court new voters. We also speak to Nevada’s new secretary of state, who defeated an election denier.Addit

Apr 19, 2023 • 38:47

Let's Rebuild Local News: Anna Brugmann | How Do We Fix It?

Let's Rebuild Local News: Anna Brugmann | How Do We Fix It?

In much of the country local news has collapsed, threatening civic pride and a sense of community for countless towns and cities. This dramatic change has also deepened America's divides.As our guest, journalist and public policy researcher Anna Brugmann explains in this episode, "the internet disrupted the local journalism model". Newspaper advertising revenue fell 80% since 2000. Thousands of local and regional publications closed. Most surviving newsrooms faced drastic cutbacks. Coverage of a

Apr 17, 2023 • 28:32

Status of the European Union and United States Relationship with Stavros Lambrinidis | The Bully Pulpit

Status of the European Union and United States Relationship with Stavros Lambrinidis | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union Ambassador to the U.S., for a conversation on the history and current status of the European Union and United States relationship. They discuss EU support for Ukraine, the latest on the post-Brexit Windsor Framework, important human rights issues, and advice for young people who want to get involved in public service.Featuring:Stavros Lambrinidis: European Union Ambassador to the United StatesKamy Akhavan: Executive Di

Apr 12, 2023 • 52:46

Is America too polarized or too fragmented? | Politics in Question

Is America too polarized or too fragmented? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Rick Pildes joins Lee and James to consider two different explanations for America’s present political dysfunction. Pildes is the Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at the New York University School of Law. His work explores legal and policy issues concerning the structure of democratic elections and institutions, such as the role of money in politics, the design of election districts, the regulation of political parties, the structure o

Apr 10, 2023 • 57:13

Josh Chin on China's Surveillance State | Democracy Paradox

Josh Chin on China's Surveillance State | Democracy Paradox

Josh Chin is the Deputy Bureau Chief for China at the Wall Street Journal and the coauthor with Liza Lin of the book Surveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:38Describing Xinjiang - 2:38Social Engineering - 11:21Privacy in China - 19:08AI in China - 28:23Key LinksSurveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control by Josh Chin and Liza LinRead more from Josh Chin in the Wall Street Journal"The Mandari

Apr 5, 2023 • 41:23

The State of America Summit: How Storytelling and Civic Engagement Go Hand-in-Hand | Our Body Politic

The State of America Summit: How Storytelling and Civic Engagement Go Hand-in-Hand | Our Body Politic

This week, we share a panel from the 92nd Street Y’s State of America Summit. Host Farai Chideya asks: who defines America’s Values? We discuss the power of storytelling and civil society with Bird Runningwater, CEO of Cloud Women Media, award-winning author and Harvard Professor Suketu Mehta, author Anna Malaika Tubbs, and Washington Post Contributing Columnist Danielle Allen.Additional InformationOur Body Politic PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 3, 2023 • 50:45

The Road Past Roe | Democracy in Danger

The Road Past Roe | Democracy in Danger

The end of federal protection for abortion rights has led to a patchwork of state and local laws banning and even criminalizing healthcare choices that women continue to make every day. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health, visits Will and Siva’s class to discuss the implications of these developments for her work, as she combats a culture of shame and stigma around abortion. She says it’s time to look for change beyond the judiciary — and to get men caring about reproduc

Mar 29, 2023 • 33:22

Advocating for Workers with Andy Stern of the Economic Security Project, formerly of SEIU | The Great Battlefield

Advocating for Workers with Andy Stern of the Economic Security Project, formerly of SEIU | The Great Battlefield

Andy Stern joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career, being the President of the SEIU, fighting for workers rights and now a fellow at the Economic Security Project where they're advocating for a universal basic income.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 27, 2023 • 1:18:43

Srdja Popovic on Dilemma Actions | Democracy Paradox

Srdja Popovic on Dilemma Actions | Democracy Paradox

Srdja Popovic is the co-founder of CANVAS, and was a founding member of the Otpor! (“Resistance!”) a movement that had a crucial part in bringing down the Milosevic regime in Serbia. He recently coauthored an article in the Journal of Democracy with Sophia McClennen and Joe Wright called, “How to Sharpen a Nonviolent Movement.”Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:27What are Dilemma Actions? 2:24Different Types of Dilemma Actions - 18:53Effectiveness - 33:01Strategies and Tactics - 38:37Key Links"How t

Mar 22, 2023 • 51:44

Jenna Spinelle and Brandon Stover: Helping listeners understand what’s broken in our democracy and how to work together to fix it | Talkin Politics & Religion

Jenna Spinelle and Brandon Stover: Helping listeners understand what’s broken in our democracy and how to work together to fix it | Talkin Politics & Religion

What are the most pressing concerns about the future of the American experiment and Democracy around the world? How can one person impact the many complex systems going on in the world? How can we better understand what's broken in our democracy? How can we work together to fix it? In what ways can we use the emerging medium of podcasting to explore these questions and help come up with solutions? The Democracy Group is a network of podcasts that is united around the goal of answering these ques

Mar 20, 2023 • 1:11:09

At What Age Can Children Become Democratic Citizens? | Democracy Matters

At What Age Can Children Become Democratic Citizens? | Democracy Matters

March 6-10th is National Civics Education Week and on this episode of Democracy Matters, we're exploring youth civic education. We talk with Dr. Stacie Molnar-Main, research associate in civic education and deliberative pedagogy with the Kettering Foundation, and a school climate consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Education about her research into elementary school's integrating deliberative democracy into the classrooms.Additional InformationDemocracy Matters PodcastMore shows from T

Mar 15, 2023 • 42:45

Civic learning amid the culture wars | Democracy Works

Civic learning amid the culture wars | Democracy Works

More than ever, civic learning is needed to ensure each and every person across this country has the necessary tools to engage as members of our self-governing society. However, schools are also a growing part of the culture wars. According to a 2022 National Education Association Survey, nearly half of schools reported challenges teaching about race and racism and practices related to LGBTQ students in the classroom. As we've discussed before on the show, book bans, funding cuts, and teacher sh

Mar 13, 2023 • 46:01

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom | The Bully Pulpit

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on how the United Kingdom Parliament operates and the special relationship between the United States and the UK. They discuss the powers of the Speaker of the House of Commons, how elections and political parties work in the UK, and advice to students who want to get involved in politics.   Featuring:Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP: Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kin

Mar 8, 2023 • 1:09:33

Ukraine and the Wider Conflict. Values at Stake: Jacob Mchangama | How Do We Fix It?

Ukraine and the Wider Conflict. Values at Stake: Jacob Mchangama | How Do We Fix It?

By any measure this has been a momentous week for global politics. President Biden’s surprise trip to Kyiv, his “freedom” speech in Warsaw, the visit of China’s top diplomat to Moscow, and Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend Russian participation in the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. are all signs of deepening big-power tensions. This coincides with the first anniversary of the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two. In the early hours of February 24 last year Putin’

Mar 6, 2023 • 27:43

Hate, Undone. With Daryl Davis | Village SquareCast

Hate, Undone. With Daryl Davis | Village SquareCast

"WHEN TWO ENEMIES ARE TALKING, THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING."When Daryl Davis was ten, he didn’t understand hate yet. But then he was the only black scout in a parade to honor Paul Revere’s ride to Concord, when he began getting hit by bottles. It was then that he formed a question in his mind that he’s spent much of a lifetime answering: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Failing to find his answer in books and history, as an adult and an accomplished musician, he realized who better to

Mar 1, 2023 • 1:37:07

Try Before You Buy! Primaries, Primaries and More Primaries ft. Kyle Kondik | Politics is Everything

Try Before You Buy! Primaries, Primaries and More Primaries ft. Kyle Kondik | Politics is Everything

Why has it been over a decade since an incumbent senator was successfully primaried in a regularly-scheduled election? Which Senators might be vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2024? What are the primaries that merit watching? How will changes in the Democratic presidential primary schedule play out? How should the Republican Party consider changes it might make to the way it nominates presidential candidates? Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball addresses these questions and

Feb 27, 2023 • 33:37

Create Responsive Government: Octavia Abell | Future Hindsight

Create Responsive Government: Octavia Abell | Future Hindsight

Octavia Abell is the co-founder and CEO of Govern For America, which describes its mission as bridging the gap between governments and emerging leaders to build a pipeline of diverse and dynamic public sector talent. We discuss the power of public sector workers to be agents of change, whether that's public policy on climate or streamlining the process of getting a birth certificate.Government can deliver public policy that improves our daily lives. For example, civil servants are hard at work r

Feb 22, 2023 • 37:52

Disunion Runs Deep | Democracy in Danger

Disunion Runs Deep | Democracy in Danger

America’s Constitution was meant to unify the new nation and help avert a civil war over the thorniest of divisions: slavery. Oops! In retrospect, that charter proved much too ambiguous, lending itself to both proslavery and abolitionist causes. In this season’s premiere, historian Liz Varon discusses the deep roots of polarization in the United States — with Will, Siva and an auditorium full of their students. The Union may have survived, Varon tells us, but its bloodiest war still echoes.Addit

Feb 20, 2023 • 31:00

How do extraordinary ordinary people change the world? | Politics in Question

How do extraordinary ordinary people change the world? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Rachel Lears joins Julia and James to discuss how filmmaking can help us understand how people make political change happen. Lears is an award-winning documentary director, producer, and cinematographer. Her film Knock Down the House (Netflix) won the U.S. Documentary Audience award and the Festival Favorite award at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Knock Down the House was shortlisted for an Oscar and nominated for an Emmy in 2020. Lears’ latest f

Feb 15, 2023 • 43:21

The Growing Crisis of U.S. Gun Violence | Our Body Politic

The Growing Crisis of U.S. Gun Violence | Our Body Politic

Farai interviews senior news writer and founding staffer at The Trace, Jennifer Mascia on the recent shootings in California, and what's going wrong with gun regulations in the US. Then, she speaks with the President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Thema Bryant on how to identify individuals who are prone to committing acts of domestic terrorism, as well as how affected communities can heal from gun violence.Content Advisory: Mentions of various types of gun violence and suicide.A

Feb 13, 2023 • 34:56

Why We Misunderstand Independent Voters | Let's Find Common Ground

Why We Misunderstand Independent Voters | Let's Find Common Ground

Independent voters make up more than 40 percent of the voting public. But you wouldn’t know that from media coverage, which focuses almost exclusively on red versus blue. Independents are often overlooked or seen as wishy-washy. Our guests on this episode say that’s a big misconception. In this show we look at a group of voters, including many young people, that is making up a growing slice of the US population.  Our guests are Jackie Salit and John Opdycke. Jackie is the author of Independents

Feb 8, 2023 • 29:29

What’s the Public’s Role in Upholding a Broken Criminal Justice System? | 70 Million

What’s the Public’s Role in Upholding a Broken Criminal Justice System? | 70 Million

Currently, over 7 million people are under some form of carceral supervision in the United States–from custody to bail to probation. For our final episode, 70 Million reporter Mark Betancourt moderates a conversation about the role we, the public, play in creating and sustaining the matrix of incarceration as it exists today. He’s joined by Cornell professor Peter K. Enns, author of the book Incarceration Nation: How the United States Became the Most Punitive Democracy in the World, and Insha Ra

Feb 6, 2023 • 29:34

Separating news from noise | Democracy Works

Separating news from noise | Democracy Works

How much news is too much? Or not enough? News Over Noise, the new podcast from Penn State's News Literacy Initiative explores that question and offers guidance on how to consume news that enhances your participation in our democracy without becoming overwhelmed by all the noise on social media and the 24/7 news cycle. News Over Noise co-hosts Matt Jordan and Leah Dajches join us this week to discuss how the news impacts our mental health, the future of media literacy education, and more. Jordan

Feb 1, 2023 • 47:13

Michael Walzer on Liberal as an Adjective | Democracy Paradox

Michael Walzer on Liberal as an Adjective | Democracy Paradox

Michael Walzer is an emeritus professor at the Institute for Advanced Study. He was also a longtime editor of Dissent. He is the author of many books including the classic of political philosophy Spheres of Justice. His most recent book is called The Struggle for a Decent Politics: On “Liberal” as an Adjective.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:45What is Liberalism? 3:53Liberal Democracy - 11:47Liberal Nationalism - 17:35How Does Liberalism Change? 22:14Key LinksThe Struggle for a Decent Politics: O

Jan 30, 2023 • 26:21

What does the House Speaker election say about the Republican Party? | Politics in Question

What does the House Speaker election say about the Republican Party? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia and Lee kick off a new year by considering what the House Speaker election says about the Republican Party. What is going on with the GOP? Is the Speaker's race an example of healthy factional fighting? Or is it a sign of Republican disarray? How does the Republican infighting differ from recent debates within the Democratic Party? And what is Lee’s terrible pun? These are some of the questions Julia and Lee ask in this week’s episode.Additio

Jan 25, 2023 • 35:49

Local Common Ground: Dinner and a Fight. Simon Miontlake, Ted Wetzel, Tom Hach | Let's Find Common Ground

Local Common Ground: Dinner and a Fight. Simon Miontlake, Ted Wetzel, Tom Hach | Let's Find Common Ground

Want to know one of the most exciting and innovative ways to find common ground? Get people out of their political bunkers and move them beyond rigid polarization in our divided nation. Consider local grassroots efforts, such as the one we profile in this podcast episode.Journalist Simon Montlake of The Christian Science Monitor tells us about his reporting on a lively grassroots effort in northeast Ohio to help people of all political stripes disagree constructively. Participants meet first ove

Jan 23, 2023 • 31:59

How to Spot – and Stop – the Makings of a Civil War | Our Body Politic

How to Spot – and Stop – the Makings of a Civil War | Our Body Politic

Two years after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Farai interviews Dr. Barbara F. Walter, Rohr Professor of Pacific International Relations at the University of California, San Diego, and author of the New York Times bestseller, How Civil Wars Start, on the serious threat factionalism poses to American democracy. Then, Farai talks to former FBI agent, counterterrorism expert, and Associate Senior Vice President of Homeland Security, Dr. Erroll G. Southers, who details how and why homegrown violent

Jan 18, 2023 • 49:55

‘Our democracy is really at risk’ ft. Sandra Garza | Politics is Everything

‘Our democracy is really at risk’ ft. Sandra Garza | Politics is Everything

For the second anniversary of the violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol, we spoke with Sandra Garza, a clinical social worker, veteran, and partner of Private First Class Brian Sicknick, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died of injuries sustained during the insurrection on January 6th, 2021. Ms. Garza shares her experiences attending the House Select Committee hearings and what more needs to be done to achieve justice and accountability. She says everybody has a responsibility to ensure this neve

Jan 16, 2023 • 29:20

Winning the Civil War: Steve Phillips | Future Hindsight

Winning the Civil War: Steve Phillips | Future Hindsight

Steve Phillips is the host of the Democracy in Color podcast and the author of How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good. We start off a new year of civic engagement and fighting for democracy with a conversation about his political leadership, thought leadership, and coalition building.The Confederate Battle plan of never giving an inch, ruthlessly rewriting the rules, distorting public opinion, silently sanctioning terrorism, and playing the

Jan 11, 2023 • 51:03

Who Stole the American Dream? | Village SquareCast

Who Stole the American Dream? | Village SquareCast

Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and editor and Emmy award-winning producer/correspondent, has established himself over the past 50 years as one of America’s premier journalists. His best-seller, “Who Stole the American Dream” is a startling and revealing portrait of the past 30 years of U.S. political and economic history, hailed both for its compelling stories and ”brilliant analysis.”In 26 years with The New York Times, Smith served in Saigon, Cairo, Paris,

Jan 9, 2023 • 1:18:09

Cuban Politics in Florida with Ana Sofia Palaez of the Miami Freedom Project | The Great Battlefield

Cuban Politics in Florida with Ana Sofia Palaez of the Miami Freedom Project | The Great Battlefield

Ana Sofia Palaez joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career as a food and culture writer and co-founding the Miami Freedom Project where they are working to organize the Cuban community in Miami.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jan 4, 2023 • 45:17

What Will We Fix in 2023? Jim & Richard's Predictions | How Do We Fix It?

What Will We Fix in 2023? Jim & Richard's Predictions | How Do We Fix It?

2022 was another year of COVID-induced anxiety with widespread worries about democracy, polarization, climate change and threats to democracy. But in this new year special Richard and Jim say we have reached peak fear. America may well be calming down and headed towards a new sense of normal. Our co-hosts throw caution to the wind with a series of fresh outside-the-box forecasts for the twelve months to come.We make predictions about the retreat of COVID, the outlook for inflation, and the migra

Jan 2, 2023 • 30:53

Best of 2022: What happens when the people decide? | When the People Decide

Best of 2022: What happens when the people decide? | When the People Decide

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the When the People Decide podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle.Learn about the basics of the ballot initiative, the history of how it caught on in the United States, and the pros and cons that she will explore throughout the series.A campaign in Michigan to end partisan gerrymandering in 2018 is part of a legacy of ballot initiatives dating back to the 1800s. After becoming disillusioned with the results of the 2016 election, Katie Fahey

Dec 28, 2022 • 33:19

Best of 2022: Majority Minority with Dr. Justin Gest | Village SquareCast

Best of 2022: Majority Minority with Dr. Justin Gest | Village SquareCast

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the Village SquareCast podcast, hosted by the Village Square.How do societies respond to great demographic change? This question lingers over the contemporary politics of the United States and other countries where persistent immigration has altered populations and may soon produce a majority minority milestone. Or where the original ethnic or religious majority loses its numerical advantage to one or more foreign-origin minority groups

Dec 26, 2022 • 1:26:01

Best of 2022: How’s Biden Doing? What about the GOP? | The Bully Pulpit

Best of 2022: How’s Biden Doing? What about the GOP? | The Bully Pulpit

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the The Bully Pulpit podcast, hosted by Bob Shrum and Mike MurphyFor the 2022 Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy have a balanced and witty conversation about the latest political headlines. They discuss Joe Biden's administration, the state of the Democratic and Republican parties, and the midterm election and what it means for the 2024 general election.Additional Informat

Dec 21, 2022 • 50:59

Best of 2022: Celebrating 100 Episodes: Past, Present and Future | Our Body Politic

Best of 2022: Celebrating 100 Episodes: Past, Present and Future | Our Body Politic

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the Our Body Politic podcast, hosted by Farai Chideya.Our Body Politic celebrates its 100th episode. Host Farai Chideya reflects on some of the show’s most impactful moments of news and political coverage over the past two years with OBP regular contributors Karen Attiah, columnist for the Washington Post and Tiffany Jeffers, associate professor at Georgetown University Law Center. The trio examines the current political atmosphere, its

Dec 19, 2022 • 51:38

Best of 2022: Kim Lane Scheppele on Hungary, Viktor Orbán, and its Democratic Decline | Democracy Paradox

Best of 2022: Kim Lane Scheppele on Hungary, Viktor Orbán, and its Democratic Decline | Democracy Paradox

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Paradox podcast, hosted by Justin Kempf.So, I came back from that trip and said to one of my good friends back in Budapest, ‘I think I've met the most dangerous person I've ever met personally.’ And she said, ‘Oh Viktor, he's nothing. He's like a kid. He's in his thirties.’ I mean, he was an aspiring politician at this point. His party was at the bottom of the polls. It didn't look like he had any future. And I said, ‘No,

Dec 14, 2022 • 49:29

Best of 2022: Grand Juries, the Black Box of Justice Reform? | 70 Million

Best of 2022: Grand Juries, the Black Box of Justice Reform? | 70 Million

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the 70 Million podcast, a documentary podcast about criminal justice reform from LWC Studios.Grand juries are supposed to safeguard against the government charging people with a crime when it lacks sufficient evidence. But because prosecutors control what happens in grand jury proceedings, they almost always get an indictment. That is, unless the accused is a police officer. Reporter Mark Betancourt explores a case of police brutality i

Dec 12, 2022 • 43:00

Best of 2022: Francis Fukuyama on the promise and peril of liberalism | Democracy Works

Best of 2022: Francis Fukuyama on the promise and peril of liberalism | Democracy Works

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman. Can liberal democracy withstand the challenges its currently facing? Francis Fukuyama is one of America's leading scholars on liberalism and joins us this week for a discussion about the threats its faces and how we might overcome them.It's no secret that liberalism didn't always live up to its own ideals. In America, many people were denied equali

Dec 7, 2022 • 43:25

Best of 2022: How the NRA Radicalized America: Ryan Busse | Future Hindsight

Best of 2022: How the NRA Radicalized America: Ryan Busse | Future Hindsight

We continue our Best of 2022 episodes with an  episode from the the Future Hindsight podcast, hosted by Mila Atmos.“Democracy cannot exist at the barrel of a gun.”Ryan Busse is a former firearms executive, Senior Policy Advisor to Giffords, and author of Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry That Radicalized America. We discuss how guns are intricately interwoven through our democratic division and radicalization in our everyday lives and in our politics.The assault weapons ban helped codify

Dec 5, 2022 • 43:02

Unsafe Harbor | Democracy in Danger

Unsafe Harbor | Democracy in Danger

The United States hasn’t overhauled immigration policy since the 1990s, even though most Americans agree the system is failing. And for thousands fleeing violence in Latin America, the consequences of inaction in Washington are treacherous. Will and our colleague Debbie Kang speak this time with a scholar fighting for asylum cases to get a fair shake, especially for women and LGBTQ applicants facing gender violence. With a backlog of nearly 2 million petitions, it’s a mammoth task.Additional Inf

Nov 30, 2022 • 31:08

Growing Political Startups with David Slifka of Bluem Ventures | The Great Battlefield

Growing Political Startups with David Slifka of Bluem Ventures | The Great Battlefield

David Slifka joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career and running Bluem Ventures where they find progressive political projects that have traction and help them to grow.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Nov 28, 2022 • 1:11:16

Lessons From the 2022 Midterm Elections | Let's Find Common Ground

Lessons From the 2022 Midterm Elections | Let's Find Common Ground

Democrats feared and Republicans expected a "red wave" election, but it didn’t happen. Why was the outcome such a surprise?  Who gets the credit and blame? How do results impact the near-term future?What are the prospects for finding common ground in Congress where both the Senate and House will have razor-thin majorities? We discuss these questions with two of America’s most experienced political thinkers: Democratic consultant Bob Shrum and Republican strategists Mike Murphy. Both men serve as

Nov 23, 2022 • 31:39

This is a war on democracy and democratic principles | Politics is Everything

This is a war on democracy and democratic principles | Politics is Everything

“This is a war on democracy and democratic principles,” Dr. Yuna Potomkina, Advisor to Ukraine Minister of Defense tells us.  Armed conflict has been raging in Ukraine since early 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. On February 24, 2022, during a last-ditch UN Security Council effort to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine, Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale land, sea, and air invasion of Ukraine targeting Ukrainian military assets and cities across the country. S

Nov 21, 2022 • 28:36

Jason Brownlee Believes We Underestimate Democratic Resilience | Democracy Paradox

Jason Brownlee Believes We Underestimate Democratic Resilience | Democracy Paradox

71% of Americans are concerned about democracy. And apparently that number, roughly 71%, holds for both parties. So, if listeners are concerned about democracy, they can expect that there's someone from the other party who's also concerned about democracy from a different perspective.Jason BrownleeCheck out the podcast EntitledA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Jason Brownlee is a professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Along with Kenny Miao, he is t

Nov 16, 2022 • 40:54

States united for democracy | Democracy Works

States united for democracy | Democracy Works

With hundreds of elections deniers running in the midterms, democracy is on the ballot this fall. The team at the States United Democracy Center is at the forefront of efforts to ensure free, fair, and secure elections in 2022, 2024, and beyond. Cofounders Norman Eisen, Joanna Lydgate, and Christine Todd Whitman join us this week to talk about how they're doing it in states across the country and how everyone can support their efforts.Through legal, policy, and communications work, States United

Nov 14, 2022 • 40:22

Abortion and the Supreme Court: Politics Over Law? Or Law Over Politics? | The Bully Pulpit

Abortion and the Supreme Court: Politics Over Law? Or Law Over Politics? | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins an all-star panel discussion on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the politics of Supreme Court decisions. They discuss the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the impact of Roe v. Wade on voters and the midterm election, the upcoming Supreme Court cases, and if Roe can be restored. Featuring:Lee Epstein: Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law, USC Gould School of LawJessica Lall: President and CEO, Central City Association

Nov 9, 2022 • 55:15

How Guilty Pleas Fastrack and Derail Justice | 70 Million

How Guilty Pleas Fastrack and Derail Justice | 70 Million

The US Constitution guarantees a right to trial to anyone accused of a crime, but less than 3 percent of criminal defendants get a trial. Instead, they’re regularly cornered into pleading guilty, sometimes admitting to a crime they didn’t commit. Reporter Mark Betancourt retraces one innocent man’s legal ordeal to explain why this happens. Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.Additional Information70 Million PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Nov 7, 2022 • 41:25

Homecoming: The Case for a Post-Global World with Rana Foroohar | How Do We Fix It?

Homecoming: The Case for a Post-Global World with Rana Foroohar | How Do We Fix It?

For much of the past fifty years, American political leaders of both parties have assumed that globalization and free trade would lead to more opportunity, higher living standards and increased business efficiency.But our guest, author and Financial Times columnist, Rana Foroohar, argues that with supply chain disruptions and growing economic insecurity in much of the world, the long reign of globalization is coming to end. A shift to more resilient and local businesses is now at hand. We discus

Nov 2, 2022 • 31:25

Brazilian Nail-Biter | Democracy in Danger

Brazilian Nail-Biter | Democracy in Danger

Pollsters in Brazil had Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the comeback candidate, leading by as many as 14 percentage points in the presidential election. But neither top nominee won a majority this month, sending citizens back to the polls for a historic runoff. And democracy itself is on the line. Incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro has waged war on reality, sowed division on social media and attacked the press. We check in with one of his targets, journalist Patrícia Campos Mello, ahead of the Oct. 3

Oct 31, 2022 • 33:57

What can we learn from political polls? | Politics in Question

What can we learn from political polls? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Elliott Morris joins Julia and Lee to discuss political polling. Morris is a data journalist and US correspondent at The Economist, where he writes on American politics, elections, and public opinion. Morris previously worked for an elections returns start-up and the Pew Research Center and has contributed articles to the New York Times. He is the author of Strength in Numbers: How Polls Work and Why We Need Them.How does polling work? Can polls te

Oct 26, 2022 • 42:03

Combating Disinformation with Tara McGowan of Courier Newsroom | The Great Battlefield

Combating Disinformation with Tara McGowan of Courier Newsroom | The Great Battlefield

Tara McGowan returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about founding Courier Newsroom, where they're working in 8 battleground states to fight back against disinformation by publishing good information.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Oct 24, 2022 • 1:02:31

What Should Centers for Civic Engagement Do For Higher Education? An Interview with David Kirkpatrick and Kara Dillard | Democracy Matters

What Should Centers for Civic Engagement Do For Higher Education? An Interview with David Kirkpatrick and Kara Dillard | Democracy Matters

In this episode, Madison Center for Civic Engagement Democracy Fellow Leia Surovell interviews the new interim Executive Director, Dr. David Kirkpatrick and the new interim Associate Director Dr. Kara Dillard about their vision for the Madison Center and their views for what campus Centers for Civic Engagement should do for higher education.See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://www.jmu.edu/civic/podcast/index.shtmlAdditional InformationDemocracy Matters PodcastMore s

Oct 19, 2022 • 27:14

Bridging Divides on College Campuses: Clare Ashcraft and Jackson Richter | Let's Find Common Ground

Bridging Divides on College Campuses: Clare Ashcraft and Jackson Richter | Let's Find Common Ground

Rigid polarization and political division are among the biggest challenges facing our country. Young people often feel that tribalism is better than unity and that conversations across political and cultural divides are impossible.College students Clare Ashcraft, who comes from a conservative background, and Jackson Spencer Richter, who calls himself a committed liberal, are active members of BridgeUSA, a national movement of students working to emphasize the importance of empathy, understanding

Oct 17, 2022 • 28:19

Stop Banning Books: Jonathan Friedman | Future Hindsight

Stop Banning Books: Jonathan Friedman | Future Hindsight

Jonathan Friedman is the director of free expression and education programs at PEN America. He oversees research, advocacy, and education related to academic freedom, educational gag orders, book bans, and general free expression in schools, colleges, and universities. We discuss the driving forces behind campaigns to ban books and silence teachers.Education has always been political and a part of the culture war. We’re currently experiencing an eruption of citizen anger against schools, books,

Oct 12, 2022 • 47:27

Congressman Ro Khanna: “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us” | The Bully Pulpit

Congressman Ro Khanna: “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us” | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) to discuss his new book “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us,” which is a roadmap to facing America’s digital divide and offering greater economic prosperity to all. They also discuss the digital economy, technological innovation, progressive capitalism, and the future of American democracy. Featuring:Ro Khanna - U.S. Representative (D-CA) for California’s 17th Congressional DistrictBob Shrum - Director, Center for

Oct 10, 2022 • 59:58

How Corporate Cash May Influence the Midterms with Craig Holman | TDG Twitter Spaces

How Corporate Cash May Influence the Midterms with Craig Holman | TDG Twitter Spaces

A recording from our Twitter Space Event with Public CitizenHostsJustin Kempf, Host of Democracy ParadoxGuestsCraig Holman, Public Citizen’s Capitol Hill lobbyistIf you would like to listen and ask questions live, follow us @GroupDemocracy or subscribe to our newsletter are democracygroup.org/newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Oct 7, 2022 • 28:57

Sarah Cook on China's Expanding Global Media Influence | Democracy Paradox

Sarah Cook on China's Expanding Global Media Influence | Democracy Paradox

In country after country - we've counted over 130 news outlets of 30 countries that were republishing content that was produced by Chinese state media outlets or the Chinese embassy. So, these state media outlets are actually formally under the control of the Communist Party's propaganda department.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Sarah Cook is the Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House. She also directs their China Media Bulletin and author

Oct 5, 2022 • 40:36

When should the states decide? | Democracy Works

When should the states decide? | Democracy Works

Following the Dobbs  v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision, reproductive rights are heading to ballots in states across the country this fall. Are states the right venue for this and other issues? Our guest this week says yes and makes the case that state courts and constitutions are more democratic than their counterparts at the federal level.In Who Decides? State as Laboratories of Constitutional Experimentation, U.S. Appellate Court Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton focuses on t

Oct 3, 2022 • 47:03

Making Complex News Clear ft. Robert Costa | Politics is Everything

Making Complex News Clear ft. Robert Costa | Politics is Everything

Robert Costa, chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS News and a scholar at the Center for Politics this academic year, shares his approach to covering campaigns, elections and politics to help the public make sense of the complex issues facing the nation. “It can become a blizzard that's hard to follow," says Costa, "You have to report deeply and you want to break news...Unless it's breaking ground on the biggest players, it's important, but not THE story."Links in this episode: Peril

Sep 28, 2022 • 35:42

Women of Color Mobilizing Before the Midterms and The Passing of Queen Elizabeth II | Our Body Politic

Women of Color Mobilizing Before the Midterms and The Passing of Queen Elizabeth II | Our Body Politic

This week, Farai interviews Dr. Sayu Bhojwani, civic entrepreneur and founder of Women’s Democracy Lab, about what it takes to create a more inclusive democracy and what current intraparty tensions reveal about the election field ahead of the midterms. Then, we re-air a conversation from “One With Farai” featuring Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry and her 2011 book “Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America.” And in this week’s segment of ‘Sippin’ the Political Tea’, Farai interviews

Sep 26, 2022 • 51:10

The Power of Crisis: Ian Bremmer | Future Hindsight

The Power of Crisis: Ian Bremmer | Future Hindsight

Ian Bremmer is a political scientist and he’s the founder and president of the research and consulting firm Eurasia Group. We discuss his latest book, The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats -- and Our Response -- Will Change the World. He argues that the major challenges humanity is facing are spurring us to create a new world order that works against these common threats.The climate crisis, disruptive technologies, and pandemics are existential threats to humanity. These crises are truly global

Sep 21, 2022 • 1:02:17

Is there a generation gap in American politics? | Politics in Question

Is there a generation gap in American politics? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Kevin Munger joins Lee to discuss the generation gap in American politics. Munger is the Jeffrey L. Hyde and Sharon D. Hyde and Political Science Board of Visitors Early Career Professor of Political Science and Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Data Analytics at Penn State University. His research has appeared in leading journals like the American Journal of Political Science, Political Behavior, Political Communication, and Poli

Sep 19, 2022 • 43:09

Primaries and Polarization: Is The Whole System Broken? | Let's Find Common Ground

Primaries and Polarization: Is The Whole System Broken? | Let's Find Common Ground

The primary election season in this midterm election year is now over in most states. Turnout was often very low— less than 20% of registered voters showed up in many places— while the partisan divide was as wide as ever. In this episode, we hear from leading political strategists, scholars, authors, and journalists about the American system for choosing candidates who will face each other in November's election. We hear criticisms of closed party primaries and look at other ways to pick candida

Sep 14, 2022 • 23:33

Our Stone-Age Brains, with Maren Urner | On Opinion

Our Stone-Age Brains, with Maren Urner | On Opinion

“We have mental mechanisms that have been there since the Stone Age and no longer function in this environment”Short-term thinking, lazy reasoning and stereotyping, and too much focus on what’s bad (the ‘negativity bias’)… all are throw-backs to our last major evolutionary stage, when humans lived in a world of scarcity, danger and constant tribal fighting.In today’s more clement environment where resources are plentiful and the likelihood of being murdered minimal, those mental models no longer

Sep 12, 2022 • 39:46

The Good Gamble | Democracy in Danger

The Good Gamble | Democracy in Danger

We’re back! Legal scholar Jedediah Purdy joins Will and Siva to help launch a new season focused on democracy, law and the people. Can Americans transcend gross inequality, neoliberal ideology, and the “politics of nihilism” taking root among their leaders? Looking to Frederick Douglass for inspiration, Purdy thinks so. His new book urges readers to reimagine and rebuild their body politic — to rule themselves at last. It may be a crapshoot, but it’s one a free people can’t afford to pass up.Add

Sep 7, 2022 • 33:55

Laura Gamboa on Opposition Strategies to Resist Democratic Erosion | Democracy Paradox

Laura Gamboa on Opposition Strategies to Resist Democratic Erosion | Democracy Paradox

There's always another set of elections. So, let's set up for elections. Let's figure out how to mobilize people. Let's figure out how to engage them and answer the question, ‘Why they elected this person? What did we miss? What do we need to build? Which kind of program.’ I think using the streets is great, but definitely you need training… A lot of training.This is a long-term effort. It's not about calling you on Facebook for a demonstration and that's it.Laura GamboaSupport Democracy Paradox

Sep 5, 2022 • 40:32

Can We Fix the Rage Machine? Ft. Tim Miller | Politics is Everything

Can We Fix the Rage Machine? Ft. Tim Miller | Politics is Everything

Tim Miller is an MSNBC analyst, writer-at-large at The Bulwark, and the host of "Not My Party" on Snapchat. Tim was communications director for Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign and spokesman for the Republican National Committee during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. He has since left the GOP and become one of the leaders of the “Never Trump” movement. He is author of Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell that aims to explain why Washington DC politicos who knew better w

Aug 31, 2022 • 46:19

Millennial Politicians on Finding Common Ground: Jillian Gilchrest and Devin Carney | Let's Find Common Ground

Millennial Politicians on Finding Common Ground: Jillian Gilchrest and Devin Carney | Let's Find Common Ground

In US politics bipartisanship is now the exception, not the rule. But the Millennial Action Project is pushing back: it trains young leaders to bridge the partisan divide and work together to solve America’s problems. In this episode, we meet two members of the Millennial Action Project from opposite sides of the aisle. They are state representatives from Connecticut, Republican Devin Carney and Democrat Jillian Gilchrest.They discuss the joys and challenges of being a local politician at a time

Aug 29, 2022 • 30:12

Fighting for Democracy & Freedom with Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag & RDI | TDG Twitter Spaces

Fighting for Democracy & Freedom with Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag & RDI | TDG Twitter Spaces

A recording from our Twitter Space Event with Renew Democracy InitiativeHostsJustin Kempf, Host of Democracy ParadoxGuestsEvan Mawarire, founder of #TheFlag movementIf you would like to listen and ask questions live, follow us @GroupDemocracy or subscribe to our newsletter are democracygroup.org/newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Aug 26, 2022 • 42:32

Corey Nathan interviews hosts Liz Joyner and Vanessa Rowse | Village SquareCast

Corey Nathan interviews hosts Liz Joyner and Vanessa Rowse | Village SquareCast

Join us as podcast host Corey Nathan of Talkin’ Politics and Religion without Killin’ Each Other flips the switch by interviewing The Village Square's Liz Joyner and Vanessa Rowse about how we make pigs fly.  We were fast friends with Corey right from the start because of our shared goal to have constructive and respectful conversations about those taboo topics of politics and religion.Corey started TP&R to take back some of the airspace from the screamers who feed off our divisions. He says pol

Aug 24, 2022 • 1:12:35

How We Value Black Women’s Health in the US and Abroad | Our Body Politic

How We Value Black Women’s Health in the US and Abroad | Our Body Politic

This week, host Farai Chideya interviews longtime TV and film producer and now co-director of the Sundance award-winning documentary Aftershock, Tonya Lewis Lee and one of the film’s featured subjects, reproductive justice advocate Shawnee Benton-Gibson. Benton-Gibson’s daughter died in October 2019 after giving birth – one more fatality in a long epidemic of Black maternal mortality. Farai also speaks to Lewis Lee one-on-one about how her work in media and experience as a children’s author led

Aug 22, 2022 • 50:51

Framing Is Vital For Survival. Kenneth Cukier and Francis de Véricourt | How Do We Fix It?

Framing Is Vital For Survival. Kenneth Cukier and Francis de Véricourt | How Do We Fix It?

From pandemics, populism and climate change, AI and ISIS, inflation and growing tensions with China and Russia, we are faced with enormous challenges— some of which threaten our existence.In this episode we discuss how we are all influenced by our personal perspectives and prejudices— our frames— and how we can use mental models to see patterns, solve problems and go beyond a narrow lens of red vs. blue or "us" vs. "them."Our guests are Kenneth Cukier, deputy executive editor of "The Economist"

Aug 17, 2022 • 27:37

Ballot initiatives in 2022 and beyond | When the People Decide

Ballot initiatives in 2022 and beyond | When the People Decide

Amanda Renteria the CEO of Code for America, an organization of people-centered problem solvers working to improve government in a meaningful way. We discuss making government work better for everyday people by design.The first season of When the People Decide has officially ended, but we have a few bonus episodes for you that we’ll be sharing over the next few weeks. This first is a conversation with Kelly Hall, Executive Director of The Fairness Project.We mentioned The Fairness Project briefl

Aug 15, 2022 • 33:23

Making Government Work: Amanda Renteria | Future Hindsight

Making Government Work: Amanda Renteria | Future Hindsight

Amanda Renteria the CEO of Code for America, an organization of people-centered problem solvers working to improve government in a meaningful way. We discuss making government work better for everyday people by design.Good governance starts with getting the basics right, such as delivering clean water to all communities. Making government simple and accessible is also key. Currently it’s so complicated that many people have lost trust in the government's ability to respond to crises. Modernizing

Aug 10, 2022 • 44:37

A new approach to breaking our media silos | Democracy Works

A new approach to breaking our media silos | Democracy Works

It's no secret that there's a partisan divide in the media, but thus far, solutions to bridge that divide have been few and far between. Our guest this week had an idea that seems to be taking hold and building a readership across the political spectrum.Isaac Saul is the founder and publisher of Tangle, a non-partisan news and politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on one issue each day. He a politics reporter who grew up in Bucks County, Pennsy

Aug 8, 2022 • 29:14

Is it time to rethink how we understand political parties? | Politics in Question

Is it time to rethink how we understand political parties? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Hans Noel joins Julia and James to talk about political parties. Noel is an associate professor in the Department of Government at Georgetown University, where he conducts research on political coalitions, political parties, and ideology. He is the author of Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America, and a co-author of The Party Decides: Presidential Nominations Before and After Reform. Noel also blogs on political parties at Mischiefs

Aug 3, 2022 • 41:17

Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine | Democracy Paradox

Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine | Democracy Paradox

There are a lot of people quietly who are deeply frustrated with this war. Every rich person in Russia with one or two exceptions are frustrated with this war. I think many of the so-called liberal technocratic elites in the government are frustrated with this war. Lots of regional leaders are frustrated with this war. It's not just the vocal opposition. I think there's a quiet minority and maybe even majority that is exhausted with what Putin has done.Michael McFaulSupport Democracy Paradox on

Aug 1, 2022 • 35:09

2022 Primaries and How to Improve Them feat. FairVote | TDG Twitter Spaces

2022 Primaries and How to Improve Them feat. FairVote | TDG Twitter Spaces

A recording from our Twitter Space Event with FairVoteHostsJustin Kempf, Host of Democracy ParadoxGuestsDavid Daley and Deb Otis from FairVoteIf you would like to listen and ask questions live, follow us @GroupDemocracy or subscribe to our newsletter are democracygroup.org/newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Jul 29, 2022 • 38:34

Defunding Disinformation with Claire Atkin of Check My Ads | The Great Battlefield

Defunding Disinformation with Claire Atkin of Check My Ads | The Great Battlefield

Claire Atkin joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career and how Check My Ads is working to defund purveyors of disinformation.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Jul 27, 2022 • 50:50

Climate Action: A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground. Bill McKibben and Bob Inglis | Let's Find Common Ground

Climate Action: A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground. Bill McKibben and Bob Inglis | Let's Find Common Ground

Environmental activist and author Bill McKibben warned the public about the perils of climate change and the damage human activity is causing more than forty years ago. Former South Carolina Republican Congressman Bob Inglis became a climate activist much later, but he is no less passionate. Both differ on politics and who to vote for, but they agree on the goal of sharply reducing carbon emissions as soon as possible.Inglis and McKibben join us for this episode of "Let's Find Common Ground". Th

Jul 25, 2022 • 28:12

Inflation! Recession? Untangling the Economy. Megan McArdle | How Do We Fix It?

Inflation! Recession? Untangling the Economy. Megan McArdle | How Do We Fix It?

Inflation is through the roof. Stocks are through the floor. Most economists say that a recession is likely to hit soon or is already here. Add to this the economic impact of the Ukraine invasion, an entitlements crisis with the possible bankruptcy of Medicare and Social Security trust funds in the coming years, and today's weird housing market. In this episode, we discuss all these, plus the tough choices now facing the Federal Reserve, political dysfunction in Washington, disruption of global

Jul 20, 2022 • 31:34

"Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future" with Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns | The Bully Pulpit

"Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future" with Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns | The Bully Pulpit

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join journalists Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns to discuss their latest book and the degree to which the two-party system has been strained to the point of disintegration.Featuring:Jonathan Martin - Co-Author, "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future"; National Political Correspondent, New York TimesAlexander Burns - Co Author, "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future"; National Corresp

Jul 18, 2022 • 47:52

The Crucial Role of Centrists: Will Hurd | Let's Find Common Ground

The Crucial Role of Centrists: Will Hurd | Let's Find Common Ground

We live in a world of political extremes, with the far right and far left denigrating each other on a regular basis. But could the future lie with politicians who appeal to everyone else? Our guest on this show says yes. Former CIA agent and Republican congressman Will Hurd of San Antonio won three terms representing Texas’s 23rd district. He was told he could never it because it was bright blue, while he was red.Hurd says he succeeded by engaging with everyone, not just voters who shared all hi

Jul 13, 2022 • 31:15

How positive and negative freedoms shape democracy | Democracy Works

How positive and negative freedoms shape democracy | Democracy Works

From COVID-19 policies to reproductive rights, conversations about freedom and liberty seem to be front and center in politics and the culture wars. This week, we take a deep dive into the philosophical underpinnings of these concepts and how different interpretations of them impact our ability to sustain a democracy. We also examine how bringing  the idea of freedom into political debates can obscure what's really at stake and make it difficult to come to meaningful resolution.Democracy Works h

Jul 11, 2022 • 33:20

Breaking Down the Jan 6 Hearings with Jill Wine-Banks | Our Body Politic

Breaking Down the Jan 6 Hearings with Jill Wine-Banks | Our Body Politic

This week, Our Body Politic presents a special episode where Farai exclusively speaks to former Watergate prosecutor, legal expert and MSNBC analyst Jill Wine-Banks about the House Select Committee’s investigation into the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Wine-Banks offers insight into the shocking evidence that is coming out of the ongoing public hearings, the real life harm election officials are facing across the country due to disinformation, and answers OBP listeners questions surrounding the

Jul 6, 2022 • 51:16

Is the Supreme Court's legitimacy at risk? | Politics in Question

Is the Supreme Court's legitimacy at risk? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss the Supreme Court and democratic legitimacy in front of a live audience at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. How does public opinion influence the Supreme Court? What role does the Court play in the federal government? Is it the ultimate arbiter of controversial policy questions? And should it be reformed? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode.Additional Informatio

Jul 4, 2022 • 43:03

Your Political Influence as a Consumer | TDG Twitter Spaces

Your Political Influence as a Consumer | TDG Twitter Spaces

A recording from our Twitter Space Event with Voting Smarter.HostsJustin Kempf, Host of Democracy ParadoxGuests Terry Crandall, Founder of Voting SmarterIf you would like to listen and ask questions live, follow us @GroupDemocracy or subscribe to our newsletter are democracygroup.org/newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Jul 1, 2022 • 36:41

Past, Present, Future | Democracy in Danger

Past, Present, Future | Democracy in Danger

Coming to you live this week from the American Political History conference at Purdue University, it’s Democracy in Danger's season finale. Will and Siva speak with three historians — Liette Gidlow, Derek Musgrove and Thomas Zimmer — about the past, present and future of government by the people. Our guests ponder the Jan. 6 hearings, D.C. statehood, social mobilization and the structural problems of the Constitution itself. Did America’s founders sign democracy’s death warrant at its birth?Addi

Jun 29, 2022 • 42:43

The Asian-American Vote: Sung Yeon Choimorrow | Future Hindsight

The Asian-American Vote: Sung Yeon Choimorrow | Future Hindsight

Sung Yeon Choimorrow is the executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, whose mission is to elevate AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States. We discuss age-old and hardened stereotypes, changing the narrative about who Asian-Americans are, and activating Asian communities to take civic action.The term model minority was coined by a white sociologist to pit Japanese Americans against Black Americans. Many Asian-Americans ha

Jun 27, 2022 • 41:12

Evan Lieberman on South Africa. Democracy in Hard Places | Democracy Paradox

Evan Lieberman on South Africa. Democracy in Hard Places | Democracy Paradox

When you hear people talk in such disparaging tones, that everything is broken, that nothing is possible, you need to ask yourself, is that right? When you look around, the answer is no. There are these examples where things do go right, where people work together and create a neighborhood or a community for themselves in which they can be prosperous and build better lives. And that's really what the democratic project is all about.Evan LiebermanA full transcript is available at www.democracypar

Jun 22, 2022 • 48:33

January 6th Committee Hearing Debrief with Former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt | Swamp Stories

January 6th Committee Hearing Debrief with Former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt | Swamp Stories

Over the next few weeks, the bipartisan House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is holding a series of historic hearings to shed light on the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021.During the hearings,  “Swamp Stories” is having a special series to bring listeners in-depth analysis by some of the country’s leading political experts on what we are learning and how the country is reacting.In the first episode of the series, host Weston Wamp sp

Jun 20, 2022 • 18:53

Introducing: When the People Decide

Introducing: When the People Decide

In this reported series, Jenna Spinelle tells the stories of activists, legislators, academics, and average citizens who changed their cities, states, and the country by taking important issues directly to votes — like Medicaid expansion in Idaho, sentencing reform in California, and LGBTQ workplace protections in Ohio.  From The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State, When the People Decide explores the pros and cons of this largely overlooked tool of government and its impact in the

Jun 17, 2022 • 1:26

We're Less Divided Than We Think: Tony Woodlief | Let's Find Common Ground

We're Less Divided Than We Think: Tony Woodlief | Let's Find Common Ground

Every day on social media and cable TV, in newspapers and magazines, we're told that we live in a red-versus-blue world of rigid divides. Our podcast guest, Tony Woodlief, begs to differ."In reality, most people fall somewhere in the middle, or else have a complex blend of views from both sides of the aisle, Tony tells us. His new book "I, Citizen" uses polling data, political history, and on-the-ground reporting to make the case that party activists and partisans are attempting to undermine the

Jun 15, 2022 • 27:25

Can American democracy have nice things? | Democracy Works

Can American democracy have nice things? | Democracy Works

In 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting, E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport argue that all members of a democracy must participate in elections. Universal voting would be the surest way to protect against voter suppression and the active disenfranchisement of a large share of our citizens. And it would create a system true to the Declaration of Independence's aspirations by calling for a government based on the consent of all of the governed.The system works in Australia, but can it work in

Jun 13, 2022 • 43:34

No Labels, Polarization, and Reform with Bill Galston | Another Way

No Labels, Polarization, and Reform with Bill Galston | Another Way

After a hiatus, Another Way is back! In this episode, Larry Lessig speaks with Bill Galson, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Co-Founder of No Labels. The two discuss the origins of No Labels, the rise of political polarization in Congress and whether democracy reform is needed to combat it, and if and how the filibuster should be reformed. Lessig and Galson also tackle the infamous No Label phone call leak and in what ways reform organizations should spend their money in the poli

Jun 8, 2022 • 1:04:26

Majority Minority with Dr. Justin Gest | Village SquareCast

Majority Minority with Dr. Justin Gest | Village SquareCast

How do societies respond to great demographic change? This question lingers over the contemporary politics of the United States and other countries where persistent immigration has altered populations and may soon produce a majority minority milestone. Or where the original ethnic or religious majority loses its numerical advantage to one or more foreign-origin minority groups. Until now, most of our knowledge about large-scale responses to demographic change has been based on studies of individ

Jun 6, 2022 • 1:26:04

Scott Radnitz on Why Conspiracy Theories Thrive in Both Democracies and Autocracies | Democracy Paradox

Scott Radnitz on Why Conspiracy Theories Thrive in Both Democracies and Autocracies | Democracy Paradox

There's something natural and organic about perceiving that the people in power are out to advance their own interests. It's in part because it’s often true. Governments actually do keep secrets from the public. Politicians engage in scandals. There often is corruption at high levels. So, we don't want citizens in a democracy to be too trusting of their politicians. It's healthy to be skeptical of the state and its real abuses and tendencies towards secrecy. The danger is when this distrust gets

Jun 1, 2022 • 51:01

Building a New Software and Data Hub for Organizing with Evan Burfield of Helm | The Great Battlefield

Building a New Software and Data Hub for Organizing with Evan Burfield of Helm | The Great Battlefield

Evan Burfield joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career as an entrepreneur, investor and author. And his work co-founding Helm, where with co-founder Emma Bloomberg, he has 90 people working to provide pro-democracy organizers and education and other advocates and activists with data, tools and software.Additional InformationThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

May 30, 2022 • 1:37:46

Criminal Laws | Democracy in Danger

Criminal Laws | Democracy in Danger

Entering the United States without permission is a crime. But should it be? This time on the show, we hear from a couple of lawyers who have been fighting to decriminalize unauthorized immigration. They say federal law unfairly targets Latin Americans — locking up hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross America’s southern border, costing billions of dollars each year. Plus, Will speaks with a University of Virginia historian who has helped make the case that those laws have patently racist o

May 25, 2022 • 34:30

Patriot and Diplomat: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch | Future Hindsight

Patriot and Diplomat: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch | Future Hindsight

Marie Yovanovitch is the former Ambassador to Ukraine and best-selling author of her memoir, Lessons from the Edge. In a live event for Big Tent USA, we discuss the powers of diplomacy, the corrosive effects of corruption, and the war in Ukraine.Her memoir details her illustrious career, her courage and integrity, and her patriotic dedication and service to the United States. She exemplifies how career diplomats – public servants – serve their country, Republican or Democratic administrations al

May 23, 2022 • 46:56

Women in (and out of) Politics | Science of Politics

Women in (and out of) Politics | Science of Politics

Women are underrepresented in American political institutions, despite the positive track record of women in office and the willingness of voters to support women candidates. Gender differences in political ambition originate in childhood and are difficult to counteract. Mirya Holman finds that girls tend to think of politicians as men and politics as a man’s world—and those perceptions build over time to reduce intended political involvement. In this conversational addition, Holman also talks a

May 18, 2022 • 45:02

What 100 Coffees can teach us about being human | Village SquareCast

What 100 Coffees can teach us about being human | Village SquareCast

100 Coffees.  Coffee and people are two of the joys of Alex Workman’s life. He has a long-standing goal of trying to have coffee with someone he’s never met (or doesn’t know very well) once a week. In 2021, Alex embarked on a challenge to meet 100 people for coffee – he reached his goal by May and kept right on going. 163 coffees later he tells us what he learned. We think it will change your life.Countless dinner guests.  Alex and Chelsea Workman are a husband-and-wife creative team in Tallahas

May 16, 2022 • 52:03

Investing for Democracy ft. Ian Simmons | Democracy Matters

Investing for Democracy ft. Ian Simmons | Democracy Matters

What role can and should investors play in strengthening democracy? Ian Simmons, Co-Founder and Principal of Blue Haven Initiative, discusses impact investing, universal voting, foreign money in U.S. politics, the so-called wealth tax and more.See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/04-26-democracy-matters-episode-103.shtmlAdditional InformationDemocracy Matters PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

May 11, 2022 • 25:03

The Politics of Energy and Climate Change | The Bully Pulpit

The Politics of Energy and Climate Change | The Bully Pulpit

Center Director Bob Shrum joins a panel of energy experts and industry leaders to discuss the latest national policies advancing cleaner energy and curbing the effects of climate change, in commemoration of Earth Day.Featuring:Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC DornsifeTed Bardacke - CEO, Clean Power Alliance Ivan Penn - Energy Correspondent, New York TimesJason Rondou - Director of Resource Planning, Development & Programs at Los Ang

May 9, 2022 • 1:03:49

Gun Rights and Gun Control: A Former Industry Insider Speaks Out | Let's Find Common Ground

Gun Rights and Gun Control: A Former Industry Insider Speaks Out | Let's Find Common Ground

The recent mass shootings in Sacramento, California, and at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York have prompted renewed calls for action on gun control. In this podcast episode, we gain a unique perspective on the raging debate with a former gun industry executive who says the NRA and its supporters have gone too far.Our guest, Ryan Busse grew up around guns— hunting and shooting with his father. He is a proud gun owner, hunter, and an avid outdoorsman, who lives in Montana. But today, Busse sa

May 4, 2022 • 26:21

Leveraging Financial Power to Build Equity; A Brief History of Black Education in America; PLUS Restorative Economics Creating Pathways to Prosperity | Our Body Politic

Leveraging Financial Power to Build Equity; A Brief History of Black Education in America; PLUS Restorative Economics Creating Pathways to Prosperity | Our Body Politic

How do you harness the power of money for the greater good? This week, Farai speaks to philanthropist Mona Sinha, founder and CEO of the Insight Circle Fund, about what it means to make an impact as a woman of color in the worlds of finance and of giving. In the series “Our Body Politic Presents…” Aimée Eubanks Davis, host and creator of the podcast After 1954 speaks to author of Black Teachers on Teaching, researcher and professor Michele Foster about the rich past of Black education in the Uni

May 2, 2022 • 51:55

Successful Conversations Across Difficult Divides. Mónica Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

Successful Conversations Across Difficult Divides. Mónica Guzmán | How Do We Fix It?

Partisanship is up, trust is down and social media encourages us to believe we're right and everyone else is either ignorant, stupid or evil. But avoiding difficult conversations with those we disagree with is a big reason why our nation is so bitterly divided.Journalist Mónica Guzmán set out to discover what was blinding us and learned that the best tool we have we're not using: Our own curiosity. In this episode we learn about her personal story as the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigr

Apr 27, 2022 • 33:00

Making Outrage Addictive | Swamp Stories

Making Outrage Addictive | Swamp Stories

Social media has become a part of our daily lives, as we scroll endlessly through curated feeds. But it’s clear that these platforms are having a negative impact on our lives and our society in ways we never imagined.Platforms that were once a way to connect people have become a place where disinformation flows freely, controversy and division turns a profit, and people are pushed into echo chambers where everyone believes the same things and get fed disinformation that amps up their views.In ep

Apr 25, 2022 • 16:00

Dark Money: The Convergence of Political & Economic Inequalities | TDG Twitter Spaces

Dark Money: The Convergence of Political & Economic Inequalities | TDG Twitter Spaces

A recording from our Twitter Space Event with Campaign Legal Center.HostsJustin Kempf, Host of Democracy ParadoxSimone Leeper, Legal Counsel for Campaign Legal Center, Host of Democracy DecodedGuestsTrevor Potter, President, Campaign Legal CenterAdiv Noti, Vice President & Legal Director, Campaign Legal CenterIf you would like to listen and ask questions live, follow us @GroupDemocracy or subscribe to our newsletter are democracygroup.org/newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Apr 22, 2022 • 34:30

What if things happened differently? | Politics in Question

What if things happened differently? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider what could have been if things happened differently at key moments in American political history. What would politics look like today if Richard Nixon defeated John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election? Would Barack Obama’s defeat in the 2012 presidential election alter the trajectory of American politics over the last ten years? What impact do individuals have on politics? Do events matter? Or is politics det

Apr 20, 2022 • 39:47

A Conversation with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) | The Bully Pulpit

A Conversation with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) | The Bully Pulpit

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to discuss her decades-long efforts to bridge partisan divides and promote sustainability efforts, and her thoughts on Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.Featuring:Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC DornsifeLisa Murkowski - U.S. Senator (R-AK)Additional InformationThe Bully Pulpit PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 18, 2022 • 38:01

Healing Conversations Across Dangerous Divides: Mónica Guzmán | Let's Find Common Ground

Healing Conversations Across Dangerous Divides: Mónica Guzmán | Let's Find Common Ground

Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who strongly support Donald Trump. We hear her warm personal story of how Mónica set out to understand what divides America and discovered ways to overcome divisions that hurt our relationships and society.In this episode of "Let's Find Common Ground", we discuss ways to use our own sense of curiosity to have rewarding cross-partisan conversations with colleagues, friends, and family. Mónica Guzmán is the author of the new book,

Apr 13, 2022 • 27:58

Protecting Our Neighbors | Swamp Stories

Protecting Our Neighbors | Swamp Stories

Elections across the country are run by dedicated full-time elected officials and by a huge and diverse group of citizens who serve as poll workers — people who might very well be your neighbors, your teacher, or your child’s baseball coach.These folks are the backbone of our elections system, and are the reason that the 2020 election went so smoothly and was called the “most secure election in American history” with the highest turnout in over a century. But since Election Day in 2020 — and bec

Apr 11, 2022 • 15:01

Ukraine Series: Russia Invasion of Ukraine - Causes and Consequences | Democracy Matters

Ukraine Series: Russia Invasion of Ukraine - Causes and Consequences | Democracy Matters

Daniel Beers, Colleen Moore, John Hulsey and Bernie Kaussler join us to provide historical and political context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/01-news.shtmlAdditional InformationDemocracy Matters PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 6, 2022 • 1:10:04

Ukraine Series: Putin’s War and Personalist Authoritarianism | Science of Politics

Ukraine Series: Putin’s War and Personalist Authoritarianism | Science of Politics

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows how the incentives and views of dangerous leaders drive world events. The efficacy of the international community’s response depends on how regimes like Russia’s work. Erica Frantz finds that personalist regimes like Russia are more likely to initiate conflicts and suffer from misperceptions in a close inner circle. Putin’s actions follow authoritarian patterns elsewhere. This conversational edition features research and commentary on the war, the sanctions, th

Apr 4, 2022 • 39:05

Ukraine Series: Russia and Ukraine - How we got here | Democracy Works

Ukraine Series: Russia and Ukraine - How we got here | Democracy Works

Was the war in Ukraine inevitable? What is Vladimir Putin trying to achieve? What does the conflict say about Ukraine as a democracy? Those are just a few of the questions Michael Berkman explores this week with Donna Bahry, professor emerita of political science at Penn State and an expert in  Soviet and post-Soviet politics and democratization. Donna has studied Russia and the Soviet Union for decades and traveled to the country dozes of time from late Gorbachev era through 2018. She also talk

Mar 30, 2022 • 35:38

Ukraine Series: Revisiting Pipeline Protests, A Sacred Family Heirloom, and Discrimination During War | Our Body Politic

Ukraine Series: Revisiting Pipeline Protests, A Sacred Family Heirloom, and Discrimination During War | Our Body Politic

This week on Our Body Politic, Farai looks back on the 2016-2017 Dakota Access Pipeline protests with investigative journalist Jenni Monet to discuss activism among indegeonous peoples in America and across the globe. Farai also talks with MacArthur Grant Award winner, Harvard professor and author Tiya Miles about one family heirloom from the enslavement period that remarkably stood the test of time. Then in our weekly segment "Sippin' the Political Tea" Farai is joined by Christina Greer, polit

Mar 28, 2022 • 51:46

Featuring: Democracy Paradox's Patreon

Featuring: Democracy Paradox's Patreon

This week we bring you an episode from  Democracy Paradox's Patreon. You can subscribe for more content like this at https://www.patreon.com/demparadoxFeatured guest: Liz Joyner, CEO of the Village Square

Mar 25, 2022 • 26:23

Ukraine Series: Empathy in the Age of Schadenfreude with the God Squad  | Village SquareCast

Ukraine Series: Empathy in the Age of Schadenfreude with the God Squad | Village SquareCast

As the political landscape has devolved into a Mad Max hellscape of blame and retribution (and sometimes even worse), can we find a way to wrestle up a little empathy for our fellow human, even the ones who we don’t agree with — liberal or conservative; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist; black, white or brown and everyone in between? Is it possible to find humanity amidst the age of political ruin? We’ll find out.We’ll be joined by God Squad originals Pastor Betsy Ouellette Zierden of St. Georg

Mar 23, 2022 • 53:46

Ukraine Series: Sarah Repucci from Freedom House with an Update on Freedom in the World | Democracy Paradox

Ukraine Series: Sarah Repucci from Freedom House with an Update on Freedom in the World | Democracy Paradox

A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a short review of Freedom in the World 2022: The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule  here.Sarah Repucci is the Vice President of Research and Analysis at Freedom House. She coauthored (along with Amy Slipowitz) Freedom in the World 2022: The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule.Key HighlightsGlobal freedom has declined for 16 consecutive yearsHow Russia's invasion of Ukraine is part of a broader expansion of authoritarianismMyan

Mar 21, 2022 • 41:00

Featuring: The Purple Principle

Featuring: The Purple Principle

This week we bring you an episode from  The Purple Principle podcast.The Purple Principle kicks off its extended Season Three series on state level polarization with a mini-series on the great state of Texas. And who better to discuss Texas politics than the co-hosts of the artfully named podcast, Y’all-itics: Jason Wheeler (Senior News Reporter) and Jason Whitely (News Anchor) of the ABC Dallas affiliate, WFAA. Both Jasons concur that polarization has been eating away at that powerful Texas ide

Mar 18, 2022 • 28:35

Ukraine Series: Defending democracy at home and abroad | Democracy Works

Ukraine Series: Defending democracy at home and abroad | Democracy Works

Robert Kagan is a foreign policy expert who turned his focus to the United States last fall in a Washington Post column titled "Our Constitutional Crisis Is Already Here" that became one of the Post's most-read pieces of 2021. We're lucky to have Kagan with us this week to discuss the ongoing crises of democracy at home and abroad as Russia's war on Ukraine continues to unfold.Kagan has argued that there was nothing inevitable about the relatively peaceful liberal democratic order that followed

Mar 16, 2022 • 43:10

Ukraine Series: Understanding Ukraine. Unity, Defiance, Resistance: Marci Shore | How Do We Fix It?

Ukraine Series: Understanding Ukraine. Unity, Defiance, Resistance: Marci Shore | How Do We Fix It?

The war in Ukraine and the global response to Russia's invasion are dominating the news. But missing in much of the coverage is a sense of the country and its people. In this historic moment, we hear a riveting account of the country's recent political awakening and why Ukrainians are prepared to resist and fight.In the past century, Ukraine suffered massively during two world wars, Nazi occupation, famine, and the Chernobyl disaster. Eight years ago, during the "Revolution of Dignity", Ukranian

Mar 14, 2022 • 44:11

Ukraine Series: War Come to Ukraine | Democracy in Danger

Ukraine Series: War Come to Ukraine | Democracy in Danger

Jane Lytvynenko hasn’t slept much in two weeks. From her home in Toronto, she is watching Russian troops invade and bombard her native Ukraine, threatening loved ones and friends. And it’s rattling her nerves. But through all that, Lytvynenko, a freelance journalist, remains hopeful. Siva speaks with her about the failures of world leaders to stand up to Vladimir Putin. Plus, we revisit a couple of interviews from last year that help add context to the conflict.Additional InformationDemocracy in

Mar 9, 2022 • 34:59

Ukraine Series: Remembering Sandy Hook; Coping With Inflation; and War in Ukraine | Our Body Politic

Ukraine Series: Remembering Sandy Hook; Coping With Inflation; and War in Ukraine | Our Body Politic

This week on Our Body Politic, Farai talks with the parent of one of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. It’s been ten years since the tragedy, and the healing continues for families of the victims. Then, lighter wallets. Everyone's wallets are a little less full these days as inflation hits record highs - so what do we do? Farai talks about money strategies with personal finance guru Michelle Singletary. And finally, in our weekly segment ‘Sippin’ the Political Tea’, Farai talks

Mar 7, 2022 • 51:01

Freedom and Racism: Neil Roberts | Future Hindsight

Freedom and Racism: Neil Roberts | Future Hindsight

Neil Roberts is Professor of Africana Studies and Faculty Affiliate in Political Science and Religion at Williams College. He’s working on a new book titled How To Live Free in an Age of Pessimism. We discuss the legacy of Charles Mills’ scholarship on the racial contract, freedom, and transforming society from the bottom up. Racial Contract White supremacy has shaped modern society in ways that may not be immediately obvious. Charles Mills proposes in the Racial Contract that we’ve operated und

Mar 2, 2022 • 35:45

Living Up To the Ideals of Democracy Through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation | Democracy Matters

Living Up To the Ideals of Democracy Through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation | Democracy Matters

"If we start creating compassionate ways of understanding and connecting with one another, then we will have the permanent motivation to live up to our espoused and aspirational ideals as a democracy," says Dr. Gail Christopher, author of the new book RX Racial Healing. Dr. Christopher joins us to discuss how we can approach addressing the effects of racism and reimagine more just and equitable economies, societies and democracies.See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https:

Feb 28, 2022 • 32:44

When a State Treats Drug Addiction Like a Health Issue, Not a Crime | 70 Million

When a State Treats Drug Addiction Like a Health Issue, Not a Crime | 70 Million

Oregon became the first state to decriminalize drug possession. The goal is to reverse some of the negative impacts of the War on Drugs by approaching drug use from a health-centered basis. We visit an addiction and recovery center in Portland that’s gearing up for what they hope will be an influx of people seeking treatment. Reported by Cecilia Brown.Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.Additional Information70 Million PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Feb 23, 2022 • 37:30

Regrets are Good for Us! Daniel Pink | How Do We Fix It?

Regrets are Good for Us! Daniel Pink | How Do We Fix It?

Best-selling author Daniel Pink admits he's pedaling against the wind. His new book, "The Power of Regret" takes on the longstanding and deeply ingrained doctrine that paying attention to our regrets is foolish. In this episode, we ask him why this notion is wrong."No regrets" is the name or theme of countless books and popular songs. Bob Dylan, Angelina Jolie, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg all advised us to live without regrets. "We think that it's courageous to say I have no regrets, but it's not,"

Feb 21, 2022 • 34:00

Citizen Superhero: The Power of One Vote | TDG Event Series

Citizen Superhero: The Power of One Vote | TDG Event Series

Many years each voter typically has 2 or more opportunities to have their voice heard and hold their elected officials accountable. But in non-presidential elections participation in some municipalities can be as low as 10%. "Decisions are made by those who show up." We'll talk about the power of each citizen to effect change and have their voice heard in their democracy!The Democracy Group and ActiVote present a panel discussion with:Mila Atmos, Host of Future HindsightDebi Lombardi, Program di

Feb 18, 2022 • 55:02

Understanding Poverty: Mark Rank | Future Hindsight

Understanding Poverty: Mark Rank | Future Hindsight

We’re revisiting our conversation with Mark Rank, a poverty expert, professor, and author of Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong About Poverty. We discuss the true causes and systemic nature of poverty, and poverty reduction as being both moral and smart public policy.Musical ChairsAmerican poverty is a bit like a game of musical chairs. The US only has good opportunities for 8 out of 10 Americans, meaning 2 people always lose. Instead of adding new opportunities or chairs, we shuffle the

Feb 16, 2022 • 36:19

Florida’s Latino Vote and Biden’s SCOTUS Pick | Our Body Politic

Florida’s Latino Vote and Biden’s SCOTUS Pick | Our Body Politic

On this week's show, Host Farai Chideya talks with Politico’s Sabrina Rodriguez and pollster Fernand Amandi about how the Latino vote in Florida could shape this year’s elections. Award-winning journalist and author Celeste Headlee explores structural change around race in public media, and how everyone can have conversations about race that matter. Executive Coach Caroline Kim Oh talks about coaching BIPOC and women leaders, and the power of intentional time. And Farai sips the Political Tea ab

Feb 14, 2022 • 51:30

Exhausted with Politics? | Village SquareCast

Exhausted with Politics? | Village SquareCast

This program is part of the Created Equal and Breathing Free podcast series presented in partnership with Florida Humanities.Find this event online at The Village Square.A year-long project by More in Common came up with a description of most of America that a lot of us relate to: “the exhausted majority.” Everything has become political, high conflict, and seemingly inescapable as the electromagnetic suck of angry politics forces us to be either “us” or “them,” when most of us would rather do n

Feb 9, 2022 • 1:03:57

The Politics of the Supreme Court: From RBG to Amy Coney Barrett | The Bully Pulpit

The Politics of the Supreme Court: From RBG to Amy Coney Barrett | The Bully Pulpit

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join the Spring 2022 CPF Fellows to unpack the latest SCOTUS headlines and trends. They discuss everything from the Supreme Court’s denial of President Trump's executive privilege over the January 6 insurrection to their upholding Texas' abortion law to their blocking Biden’s federal vaccine mandate. They also explore what the growing division among the Justices means for the future of the majority conservative court.Additional InformationThe Bully P

Feb 7, 2022 • 59:54

Spiritualism Today with Jules Evans | On Opinion

Spiritualism Today with Jules Evans | On Opinion

“A lot of those who’ve left the church tend to be younger people, who nonetheless still consider themselves spiritual. They’ve been turned off by churches, but they haven’t necessarily gone full atheist, materialist…”Religion is declining around the world. Even in America, the great outlier of the post-Christian West, half the population doesn’t believe in organised religion any more.But the loss of our traditional beliefs has given rise to a growing number of ‘spiritualist’ alternatives. They r

Feb 2, 2022 • 1:00:41

When religion and democracy collide | Democracy Works

When religion and democracy collide | Democracy Works

Around the world, religion is being used to fuel "us vs. them" narratives and undermine the foundations of democracy. This week, we dive into what this means and how people of faith can chart a different path forward.Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy highlights the use of religious identity to fuel the rise of illiberal, nationalist, and populist democracy.  It examines the ways religious identity is weaponized to fuel populist revolts against a political, social, and econo

Jan 31, 2022 • 38:38

What will American politics look like in 2022? | Politics in Question

What will American politics look like in 2022? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider what American politics will look like in 2022. Is American democracy in decline? What do we mean by democracy? Do Americans focus too much on elections and not enough on what happens in-between elections? What will come out of Congress over the coming year? Do Americans want major policy change to happen? And what will happen in the 2022 midterm elections? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in t

Jan 26, 2022 • 41:17

U.S. Democratic Decline in Comparative Perspective | Science of Politics

U.S. Democratic Decline in Comparative Perspective | Science of Politics

The anniversary of January 6th recentered concerns about U.S. democratic backsliding. Talk of election-related violence, insurrection, civil unrest, and irregular transitions has Americans asking where their democracy stands relative to those of other nations. Comparative political science has long seen U.S. trends as part of liberal democracy’s global problems. Pippa Norris joins the Science of Politics for a special wide-ranging conversation with Matt Grossmann about where America stands out f

Jan 24, 2022 • 1:02:11

The State of Polarization: 2022. Christa Case Bryant and Story Hinckley | Let's Find Common Ground

The State of Polarization: 2022. Christa Case Bryant and Story Hinckley | Let's Find Common Ground

One year after the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol, we take a close look at America's political divide with two journalists who covered the calamitous events on that day and the responses to them. Our guests are Christa Case Bryant, Congressional correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, the Monitor's National political correspondent. We discuss whether America is more polarized than it was one year ago and the prospects for finding common ground in Congress an

Jan 21, 2022 • 29:30

Saving Democracy | Democracy Matters

Saving Democracy | Democracy Matters

In this episode, we talk with Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, JMU Health Sciences '05, about his experiences fighting for democracy on January 6, 2021. "These people were minutes, seconds, feet away from hanging the Vice President. Just sit with that," says Officer Dunn. He is speaking out for justice and accountability because, "People are trying to rewrite history right in front of us...Terrorism is what they did that day. In my mind, they're coming back. We have to hold them accountable."A

Jan 19, 2022 • 36:19

Insurrection Reflection | Democracy in Danger

Insurrection Reflection | Democracy in Danger

Jamelle Bouie and Nicole Hemmer return to the show this week for a special conversation looking back on the siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — and looking forward at the prospects for democracy in the post-Trump era. Both the country’s political leaders and the media, our guests say, have been reluctant to embrace a rhetoric of emergency to define the moment. And as lawmakers investigate the attack, the window is closing on enacting genuine reforms to ensure voting rights and fair elect

Jan 17, 2022 • 32:13

Dialogue, Polarization, & the Future of the American Experiment | TDG Event Series

Dialogue, Polarization, & the Future of the American Experiment | TDG Event Series

For nearly 250 years, America has served as a test case for a social experiment that few could have ever conceived of — a constitutional federal republic. However, when one considers our history of massacres, slavery, civil war, and battles waged over voting rights, among other injustices, one can easily find reason to be doubtful of this experiment’s success. Given current levels of political polarization, it can seem naïve to think of America as a “done deal”. But, before we acquiesce to a fai

Jan 14, 2022 • 1:00:05

Trading the Public's Trust | Swamp Stories

Trading the Public's Trust | Swamp Stories

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed into law the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, otherwise known as the STOCK Act. The intent was to ban insider trading from members of Congress — a subject that gained national media attention on both sides of the aisle in the months and years after the financial crisis.But the law did not do what it was supposed to.Weston unpacks the STOCK Act and where it falls short and talks with one of the members of Congress who’s leading a bipartisan effor

Jan 12, 2022 • 13:53

Robert Lieberman, Kenneth Roberts, and David Bateman on Democratic Resilience and Political Polarization in the United States | Democracy Paradox

Robert Lieberman, Kenneth Roberts, and David Bateman on Democratic Resilience and Political Polarization in the United States | Democracy Paradox

Robert C. Lieberman is the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. Kenneth M. Roberts is the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government and Binenkorb Director of Latin American Studies at Cornell University. David A. Bateman is an associate professor in the Government Department at Cornell University. Robert and Kenneth (along with Suzanne Mettler) coedited the book Democratic Resilience: Can the United States Withstand Rising Polarization?  David is a con

Jan 10, 2022 • 57:08

Best of 2021: Anne Applebaum on why democracy is not inevitable | Democracy Works

Best of 2021: Anne Applebaum on why democracy is not inevitable | Democracy Works

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman. Anne Applebaum is a staff writer at The Atlantic, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, and a senior fellow at The Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. She joined the McCourtney Institute for Democracy for a virtual event on February 17, 2021 to discuss her most recent book, Twilight of Democracy: The

Dec 29, 2021 • 44:49

Best of 2021: Public-Private Paradox: Colin Jerolmack | Future Hindsight

Best of 2021: Public-Private Paradox: Colin Jerolmack | Future Hindsight

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the the Future Hindsight podcast, hosted by Mila Atmos.Colin Jerolmack is an environmental sociologist and author of Up to Heaven and Down to Hell: Fracking, Freedom, and Community in an American Town. We discuss the public-private paradox and the tragedy of the commons, as well as the undemocratic aspects of American property rights.Public-Private ParadoxAmerica has clearly delineated public and private domains: the public domain is re

Dec 27, 2021 • 34:48

Best of 2021: The 26th Amendment at 50: Racial Justice and Youth Political Power | Democracy Matters

Best of 2021: The 26th Amendment at 50: Racial Justice and Youth Political Power | Democracy Matters

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Matters podcast.For Constitution Day 2021 and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, we talk with Carolyn Quilloin Coleman who started her activism work as a teenager protesting segregation in Savannah, Georgia. In April 1969, she organized the NAACP-sponsored Youth Mobilization conference in Washington, D.C. The gathering brought together 2,000 young people from 33 sta

Dec 22, 2021 • 41:22

Best of 2021: Good Conflict Vs. High Conflict. Amanda Ripley | How Do We Fix It?

Best of 2021: Good Conflict Vs. High Conflict. Amanda Ripley | How Do We Fix It?

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the How Do We Fix It? podcast, hosted by Richard Davies and Jim Meigs. What's the greatest crisis facing America today? — Racism and hate crimes, exploding government debt, climate change, or the mess at the border?It may be none of these. America and many other countries are trapped in high conflict. Both sides are paralyzed by fear and anger as they demonize the other. The national narrative of "us versus them" is a threat to democrac

Dec 20, 2021 • 32:39

Best of 2021: The Power of Investing in Women Entrepreneurs, and a New Way to Grasp the Meaning of Work | Our Body Politic

Best of 2021: The Power of Investing in Women Entrepreneurs, and a New Way to Grasp the Meaning of Work | Our Body Politic

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the Our Body Politic podcast, hosted by Farai Chideya.Farai Chideya and her guests dissect political news across the country, from the Senate races in Georgia to the violence in our nation’s capital. And we welcome new contributor and legal analyst Tiffany Jeffers. Impact investor Nathalie Molina Niño takes on the exclusion of women of color in finance. Business reporter Ruth Umoh takes stock of corporations’ promises to invest in racia

Dec 15, 2021 • 52:38

Best of 2021: Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley on the Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico | Democracy Paradox

Best of 2021: Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley on the Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico | Democracy Paradox

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the Democracy Paradox podcast, hosted by Justin Kempf.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a brief primer on Mexican politics here.Guillermo Trejo is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame. Sandra Ley is an Assistant Professor at CIDE’s Political Studies Division in Mexico City. They are the authors of Votes, Drugs, and Violence: The Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico. Key Highlights Incl

Dec 13, 2021 • 54:00

Best of 2021: Why COVID-19 Goes from Jails to Communities | 70 Million

Best of 2021: Why COVID-19 Goes from Jails to Communities | 70 Million

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the 70 Million podcast, a documentary podcast about criminal justice reform from LWC Studios.This special roundtable of experts looks at how policing and incarceration practices are impacting COVID-19 rates in BIPOC communities around the country. Because being jailed means an increased risk of getting COVID-19, those released might unknowingly bring the virus home, putting their loved ones and communities at risk. Our editor, Jen Chien

Dec 8, 2021 • 36:54

Best of 2021: Voting Rights and Voting Wrongs | The Bully Pulpit

Best of 2021: Voting Rights and Voting Wrongs | The Bully Pulpit

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the The Bully Pulpit podcast, hosted by Bob Shrum and Mike MurphyCenter Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by Linda Chavez, Pete Peterson, Theodore Johnson, and Ralph Neas to dive into the pros and cons of voting processes nationwide and explore common sense solutions.Featuring:Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC DornsifeMike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for

Dec 6, 2021 • 58:50

Best of 2021: Bittersweet Dreams | Democracy in Danger

Best of 2021: Bittersweet Dreams | Democracy in Danger

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an episode from the Democracy in Danger podcast, with hosts Will Hitchcock and Siva Vaidhyanathan.Citizenship determines who is in and who is out, who has a voice in a democracy and who doesn’t. But for the one million young people who have grown up in the United States undocumented, feeling like they really belong here remains a dream deferred. This time, we hear from two of them living in limbo. Plus, legal scholar Amanda Frost unearths the unsettling

Dec 1, 2021 • 49:30

Best of 2021: How To Take Direct Action Against Hate | Let's Find Common Ground

Best of 2021: How To Take Direct Action Against Hate | Let's Find Common Ground

We continue our Best of 2021 episodes with an  episode from the Let's Find Common Ground podcast, hosted by Richard Davies & Ashley Milne-Tyte.What steps are needed to cause people to leave white supremacist and other hate groups of their own volition? In this deeply personal podcast episode, we explore the tactics and commitment needed to be successful in this work.Daryl Davis, an award-winning Black musician, race reconciliator, and renowned lecturer, has used the power of human connection to

Nov 29, 2021 • 29:36

Introducing our Best of 2021!

Introducing our Best of 2021!

Welcome to our Best of 2021 Episodes!

Nov 29, 2021 • 0:32

Featuring: To Build A Bridge

Featuring: To Build A Bridge

This week we bring you an episode from  the To Build a Bridge Podcast and our partners at the Bridge Alliance, an organization dedicated to providing resources to non profits involved in democracy reform.Being Right-of-Center in the era of social justice has become unpopular and suppressive. All too often, the right wing is labeled as prejudiced, hateful and uneducated conductors of national misinformation. This unfortunately discourages many from openly sharing their outlook which is a direct c

Nov 24, 2021 • 36:12

The Challenge to Define Accountability in the Criminal Justice System, Anti-racism in Media, and What’s Really Going On with Facebook | Our Body Politic

The Challenge to Define Accountability in the Criminal Justice System, Anti-racism in Media, and What’s Really Going On with Facebook | Our Body Politic

Host Farai Chideya talks with MacArthur Fellow, poet Reginald Dwayne Betts, about why we struggle to articulate exactly how we want to change the prison system in the U.S. OB-GYN Dr. Jamila Perritt explains why she dreams of exercising her medical practice without the interference of politics. Gwen Ifill Award winner Sisi Wei of OpenNews examines the transition from focusing on diversity in newsrooms, to doing impactful anti-racist work in the media industry. And on Sippin’ the Political Tea, Mu

Nov 22, 2021 • 51:19

Contract for the Climate: Keya Chatterjee | Future Hindsight

Contract for the Climate: Keya Chatterjee | Future Hindsight

Racial Injustice in the Climate CrisisEconomic and racial injustices are at the center of the climate crisis. White communities have largely avoided things like polluting power plants and detrimental pipelines in their neighborhoods. Instead, communities of color have faced that burden. The willingness to sacrifice communities of color has made it easier for governments to tolerate climate chaos.Aiding Youth ActivismSuccessful social movements often start with activism by young people, and in fa

Nov 17, 2021 • 39:44

Climate: Changing the Conversation. Katharine Hayhoe | How Do We Fix It?

Climate: Changing the Conversation. Katharine Hayhoe | How Do We Fix It?

As world leaders discuss the planet's future at COP26 in Glasgow, climate change remains a massive challenge and a source of fierce debate. While two-thirds of Americans think that the government should be doing more, it's tempting to throw our hands up in despair and think: "There's nothing I can do."Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe begs to differ. She says the most important thing is to talk about it—and she wants to teach us how. In this episode, we discuss her hopeful, passionate case for

Nov 15, 2021 • 30:16

Democracy's Struggle Against Itself featuring Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora | Democracy Matters

Democracy's Struggle Against Itself featuring Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora | Democracy Matters

The challenges facing democracy around the world are daunting, especially as global conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the erosion of civil liberties, the postponement of elections and the spread of disinformation campaigns. Despite global democratic erosion, Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA, says “the explosion of civic activism globally in traditionally inhospitable places” is good news.Until recently, Dr. Casas-Zamora was a member of Costa Rica’s Pr

Nov 10, 2021 • 34:07

Can Democrats Design Social Programs that Survive? | Science of Politics

Can Democrats Design Social Programs that Survive? | Science of Politics

Democrats are deciding how to trim their reconciliation bill, considering expiring programs, means testing eligibility, and using tax credits rather than spending. To make these new social programs last after Democrats lose power, today’s program design decisions are critical. Eric Patashnik finds that sustainable programs require incentivizing actors to see reforms through and not letting policy opponents re-organize to win at later stages. Stuart Kasdin finds that using the tax code and entitl

Nov 8, 2021 • 42:20

Deepening Connection at the Thanksgiving Table | TDG Event Series

Deepening Connection at the Thanksgiving Table | TDG Event Series

The family can often be a microcosm of America – divided and torn – wanting to heal and not knowing how. In honor of Thanksgiving, join The Democracy Group, Braver Angels, and Culture Shift Agency in this structured conversation exploring how to move from a divided table to one where everyone feels more nourished.Each guest for this panel has unique experience that informs their understanding of the complex prism of democracy. We will have a discussion that connects that understanding to the eve

Nov 5, 2021 • 54:28

What issues should Democrats emphasize ahead of the 2022 midterm elections? | Politics in Question

What issues should Democrats emphasize ahead of the 2022 midterm elections? | Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss David Shor’s recent controversy-provoking advice for Democrats. What does Shor advise Democrats to do ahead of next year’s midterm elections? Why is his advice controversial? And what does the race-versus-economics debate that Shor’s advice sparked reveal about American politics more broadly and why our political institutions are dysfunctional? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this

Nov 3, 2021 • 52:47

Fighting for democracy in the GOP | Democracy Works

Fighting for democracy in the GOP | Democracy Works

As another election cycle approaches, moderates in the Republican Party have some choices to make. Will they continue to fight Trumpism from within? Or break out to form a new political party, perhaps in coalition with moderate Democrats who feel alienated by the party's leftward turn? Miles Taylor and Charlie Dent are two Republicans at the forefront of addressing that question through the Renew America, a movement to deepen America’s pro-democracy bench.By working together across party lines,

Nov 1, 2021 • 36:33

Tom Ginsburg Shares his Thoughts on Democracy and International Law | Democracy Paradox

Tom Ginsburg Shares his Thoughts on Democracy and International Law | Democracy Paradox

At the end of the day, I am optimistic despite all the evidence. First of all, I think there are a lot of resources that democracies can use. A lot of areas of law, where as long as we recognize what it is we're fighting for, democracy is worth fighting for and have a common view as to what that means that we can advance it in many places, not just here but abroad. And this might sound a little hokey, but there really is a genuine human demand for freedom and that's not going away.Tom GinsburgA

Oct 27, 2021 • 52:00

An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable | 70 Million

An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable | 70 Million

A legal matrix that incentivizes criminal convictions can motivate unethical prosecutors to bend or break the rules. In New York, a group of law professors is trying to curb that by pushing the system to discipline its own. Reported by Nina Sparling.Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.Additional Information70 Million PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Oct 25, 2021 • 32:58

The Rising Impact of the Hispanic Electorate | The Bully Pulpit

The Rising Impact of the Hispanic Electorate | The Bully Pulpit

Center Fellow Gloria Molina is joined by Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, strategist Cesar Martinez, and USC Professor Mindy Romero to discuss the growing impact of Latino voters and assess how political parties are reaching them, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.Featuring:Gloria Molina - Fall 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future; Former LA County Supervisor and CA AssemblymemberCesar Martinez - Media strategist for Jeb Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt

Oct 20, 2021 • 1:00:06

The Other 97% of Congress | Swamp Stories

The Other 97% of Congress | Swamp Stories

Much of the time when we talk and think about Congress, we don’t consider all the work that happens behind the scenes. Without the congressional staffers who constitute 97% of the legislative branch, legislating would be impossible. But, their ability to do this job is often hobbled by extremely low pay, leading to poor staff retention, low diversity, and ultimately, preventing Congress from fulfilling its oversight role. In episode 32, Weston explores the money allocated to members of Congress

Oct 18, 2021 • 15:56

Racism on Virginia Campuses: A Visual Study | Democracy Matters

Racism on Virginia Campuses: A Visual Study | Democracy Matters

Trigger Warning: This episode and associated images contain information regarding violence and hate aimed against Black Americans. In this episode, Stephen C. Poulson, Professor of Sociology at James Madison University, discusses his new book Racism on Campus: A Visual History of Prominent Virginia Colleges and Howard University (New York: Routledge Press, 2021). Racism on Campus provides a systemic exploration of yearbooks as means for capturing institutional norms and changes associated with r

Oct 13, 2021 • 1:01:24

What can Congress’s present dysfunction teach us about our politics and how to make it better? | Politics in Question

What can Congress’s present dysfunction teach us about our politics and how to make it better? | Politics in Question

In the season four opener of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James unpack the rampant dysfunction on Capitol Hill. Why did Congress wait until the last minute to fund the government and raise the debt limit? What is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., endgame? And will Democratic divisions prevent Congress from passing President Joe Biden’s agenda moving forward? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode.Additional InformationPolitic

Oct 11, 2021 • 36:57

Political Predisposition with John Hibbing | On Opinion

Political Predisposition with John Hibbing | On Opinion

“40% of the variance observed in political attitudes can be attributed to genetics”Twin studies have suggested that one third of our political orientation can be traced to our genes. But does that mean our politics are predisposed?John Hibbing is one of the greats of Political Psychology in the US. His work spans decades and has broken ground across multiple disciplines - from polling and representation, to the biology of political differences. John believes that knowledge of of this genetic inf

Oct 6, 2021 • 55:16

A love letter to democratic institutions | Democracy Works

A love letter to democratic institutions | Democracy Works

The problems of disinformation, conspiracies, and cancel culture are probably familiar to many of our listeners. But they're usually talked about separately, including on this show. In his new book, The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, Jonathan Rauch ties these threads together and shows how they contribute to a larger problem of a departure from facts and truth in favor of feelings and falsehoods. The book reaches back to the parallel eighteenth-century developments of liberal dem

Oct 4, 2021 • 42:49

Connection and Collaboration Through Podcasting | TDG Event Series

Connection and Collaboration Through Podcasting | TDG Event Series

Have you ever considered hosting or producing a podcast to advance your work or address an issue? Podcasts are a great way to raise awareness and make connections with listeners in your own community and around the world. However, it takes a lot of work to create, maintain, and promote a podcast to keep listeners regularly tuning in.In this event for the National Conference on Citizenship, The Democracy Group's founder Jenna Spinelle and network manager Brandon Stover review what goes into creat

Oct 1, 2021 • 47:41

Legislating for Change: Jessica González-Rojas | Future Hindsight

Legislating for Change: Jessica González-Rojas | Future Hindsight

IntersectionalityAs an Assemblymember, González-Rojas works to address a variety of intersectional issues facing her community, ranging from housing to healthcare. Her prior experience as a reproductive justice advocate has trained her well for intersectional lawmaking, which is often siloed by the political process. This approach serves the people most marginalized and helps create dynamic bills that tackle multiple areas of injustice to help constituents.Excluded Workers’ RightsExcluded worker

Sep 29, 2021 • 34:17

The January Insurrection According to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, What Families Need to Know about Covid in Kids, and Our Roundtable Debates AOC’s Met Gala Moment | Our Body Politic

The January Insurrection According to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, What Families Need to Know about Covid in Kids, and Our Roundtable Debates AOC’s Met Gala Moment | Our Body Politic

Farai Chideya talks with Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington about her decision to have an abortion years ago, and her experience of the January 6th insurrection. Our Body Politic’s new economics analyst Jamila Michener of Cornell University discusses important policy changes that could benefit workers. Public health contributor Dr. Kavita Trivedi gives practical advice for families with unvaccinated children as kids go back to school. On Sippin’ the Political Tea, Errin Haines and Jess

Sep 27, 2021 • 51:25

Afghanistan, Part I: Red Pill | Democracy in Danger

Afghanistan, Part I: Red Pill | Democracy in Danger

The forever war claimed 243,000 lives and cost $2.3 billion over two decades, before coming to a chaotic end with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan last month. But what about the costs you can’t tally? In this first of a series on lessons learned from America’s longest conflict, Will and Siva speak with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Spencer Ackerman about the fallout on the home front. Ackerman says the war on terror — and the lies it was built on — utterly disfigured our politi

Sep 22, 2021 • 39:09

Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Teens Hanging Out | 70 Million

Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Teens Hanging Out | 70 Million

There’s a place in rural St. Johns, Arizona, where teens who have encounters with officers of the law can play pool, make music, and get mentored instead of going to jail. It’s called The Loft, and it’s the brainchild of a judge who wanted to save the county hundreds of millions of dollars and divert young people towards the support many were not getting at home. Reported by Ruxandra Guidi.Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.Additional Information70 Million Podcast

Sep 20, 2021 • 29:20

Hey, Journalists. Does the Public Trust You? Joy Mayer | How Do We Fix It?

Hey, Journalists. Does the Public Trust You? Joy Mayer | How Do We Fix It?

Only four in 10 Americans say they have a lot of trust in the news media. That's a big problem for our democracy. While journalists are supposed to tell the truth and get the story right, just 35 percent of right-of-center voters have some trust in what they see in the news.Democrats and independents are much more likely to trust journalists, but Americans of almost all shades of opinion are skeptical toward the news media, questioning not only the quality of journalists’ work but their intentio

Sep 15, 2021 • 26:33

How the Media Economy Drives Political News | Science of Politics

How the Media Economy Drives Political News | Science of Politics

Local news is losing out to online, nationalized, and more polarized outlets. How do the economics of news production and the contributors who write it affect the political content that Americans see? Nikki Usher finds that local newspapers are losing staff, but declines are not concentrated in Red small towns. Nick Hagar finds that contributors to online media are an insular group, with conservative outlets disconnected from the rest. Both the producers of news and their dominant consumers are

Sep 13, 2021 • 45:37

Kathryn Stoner on Russia’s Economy, Politics, and Foreign Policy | Democracy Paradox

Kathryn Stoner on Russia’s Economy, Politics, and Foreign Policy | Democracy Paradox

Biden's current policy is, you know, we want Putin to calm down, be stable for awhile and turn our focus to restraining China. I don't think that's going to happen. That's not in his interest to do that. So, I think taking our eye off Russia, underestimating it, is the biggest concern for the U.S. currently.Kathryn StonerA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a brief primer on Russia here.Kathryn Stoner is a professor of political science at Stanford University. Her new bo

Sep 8, 2021 • 38:56

American Foreign Policy: Challenges, Threats, Opportunities. Ned Temko and Scott Peterson | Let's Find Common Ground

American Foreign Policy: Challenges, Threats, Opportunities. Ned Temko and Scott Peterson | Let's Find Common Ground

The takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan; a more aggressive China and Russia; a newly-elected hardline President in Iran: All are all major challenges facing President Joe Biden and his Administration. Our podcast guests are Ned Temko, who writes the weekly international affairs column “Patterns” for The Christian Science Monitor, and Scott Peterson, the Monitor's Middle East bureau chief. Both are highly experienced and well-traveled foreign correspondents, who bring depth and expertise to co

Sep 6, 2021 • 30:12

Emotional Politics, with Omar Kholeif and Jonathan Sklar | On Opinion

Emotional Politics, with Omar Kholeif and Jonathan Sklar | On Opinion

“The world that we live in today is fuelled by heightened emotion…”Over the course of two seasons of On Opinion, we’ve looked at opinions through the lens of philosophy, psychology, social science, anthropology and evolution. But one area we’ve missed is that of feeling.Omar Kholeif and Jonathan Sklar take very different approaches to understand the world we live in, but both see emotion as something that can affect individuals and collective groups.Jonathan feels that you can transpose psychoan

Sep 1, 2021 • 43:55

How much conflict is too much conflict in politics? | Politics in Question

How much conflict is too much conflict in politics? | Politics in Question

In this episode of Politics In Question, Amanda Ripley joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss political conflict. Ripley is an investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book is High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out (Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2021). Ripley's writing has appeared in the Atlantic Magazine, Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, Politico, the Guardian, and The Times of London.What is

Aug 30, 2021 • 41:13

9/11 at 20 Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran | Democracy Matters

9/11 at 20 Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran | Democracy Matters

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United states and explored the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have parterened to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran shares his experiences with the JMU ROTC program and the impact it has, w

Aug 25, 2021 • 47:30

The Gerrymandering Deadline with Michael Li | Another Way

The Gerrymandering Deadline with Michael Li | Another Way

In this episode, Adam Eichen speaks to Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. The two discuss gerrymandering, what the For The People Act would do to stop it, and the meaning of the upcoming Census deadline.Note: When the episode was recorded, the Census Bureau planned to release its data on August 16th. Since then, the date was moved to August 12th.Michael’s Washington Post article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/02/voting-fix-that-cannot-wait-st

Aug 23, 2021 • 44:15

Education Reimagined with Becky Pringle and Gisele Huff | Let's Find Common Ground

Education Reimagined with Becky Pringle and Gisele Huff | Let's Find Common Ground

Everyone wants the best education for their children. But parents and teachers don't always agree on how to get there.In this episode, we hear from two education leaders whose views clashed when they first met. Gisele Huff is a philanthropist and longtime proponent of school choice, including charter schools. Becky Pringle spent her career in public education. A science teacher for three decades, she is now President of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union. After

Aug 18, 2021 • 25:29

Making the Most of College, Books that Educate and Empower, and Two New Models of Community-based Journalism | Our Body Politic

Making the Most of College, Books that Educate and Empower, and Two New Models of Community-based Journalism | Our Body Politic

Farai Chideya talks with Dr. Angel Pérez of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling about how students can access the resources they need for a successful college experience. Luvvie Ajayi Jones shares lessons from her book on facing your fears. Latinx author Carmen Maria Machado addresses criticism of her memoir from a school district in Texas, and why it matters to share her story. Social media maven Omehabiba Khan tells the origin story of her successful Instagram dating sit

Aug 16, 2021 • 51:44

Swindled and Scammed | Swamp Stories

Swindled and Scammed | Swamp Stories

There is an emerging trend in the world of political fundraising — grifters preying on the elderly and others with fake campaigns.The worst part? There are barely any laws on the books to stop them.In this episode, Weston chats with Daily Beast reporter Roger Sollenberger about “scam PACs” and how they have been used to con unsuspecting Americans into contributing to fake causes and campaigns.

Aug 11, 2021 • 12:53

Diverse Women in Politics: Kelly Dittmar | Future Hindsight

Diverse Women in Politics: Kelly Dittmar | Future Hindsight

Kelly Dittmar is the Director of Research at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. She explains why diversity among women serving in public office enhances our democracy, and how we can support more women to run and win elections.Motivations and PerspectivesThe goal of promoting women to run for office is not simply to achieve parity in Congress or in State legislatures. Rather, it should be to recognize that women offer a variety of perspectives and lived experiences

Aug 9, 2021 • 36:05

Mallory SoRelle on the Politics of Consumer Credit | Democracy Paradox

Mallory SoRelle on the Politics of Consumer Credit | Democracy Paradox

Mallory SoRelle joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss the politics of consumer credit. She is an assistant professor of public policy at Duke University. She is the author of Democracy Declined: The Failed Politics of Consumer Financial Protection.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Key Highlights IncludeHow the American economy depends on creditA brief history of consumer credit in AmericaDetails why consumer debt is a systemic problemWhy financial consumers do not polit

Aug 4, 2021 • 50:25

The Role of Political Science in American Public Life | Science of Politics

The Role of Political Science in American Public Life | Science of Politics

For a special edition celebrating the 100th episode of the Science of Politics, Matt talks with Ezra Klein about how well political science informs American politics and public policy. They discuss how political science has changed in the age of Twitter and the era of Trump and the roles of scholars and journalists using research in debates on climate, COVID, and race.Additional InformationScience of Politics PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Aug 2, 2021 • 56:46

A different take on local news and democracy | Democracy Works

A different take on local news and democracy | Democracy Works

Local news and democracy have been intertwined since the days of Alexis de Tocqueville. As we've discussed on this show before, news outlets are one way that people who live in a city or town keep up on what's happening in their local government. However, our guest this week argues the "watchdog" effect of local journalism might be overstated, along with the correlation between local news consumption and political participation.Nikki Usher is an associate professor in the College of Media at the

Jul 28, 2021 • 36:05

Defending The Constitution of Knowledge: Jonathan Rauch | How Do We Fix It?

Defending The Constitution of Knowledge: Jonathan Rauch | How Do We Fix It?

Democracies around the world are under threat from populist movements, demagogues and dogmatic extremists who use disinformation, conspiracy theories, shaming, cancel culture and other tactics to weaponize social media and challenge our ability to distinguish fact from fiction and truth from falsehood.In his new book, our guest, best-selling author, journalist, scholar, and public intellectual, Jonathan Rauch, offers a stirring defense of the constitution of knowledge— our social system of check

Jul 26, 2021 • 34:43

Democracy's Crises and Failure of Imagination | TDG Event Series

Democracy's Crises and Failure of Imagination | TDG Event Series

A recording and transcripts of this event are available at democracygroup.org.HostJenna SpinelleFounder, The Democracy GroupGuestsLee DrutmanCo-Host, Politics in QuestionTuri MuntheHost, On OpinionCarah Ong WhaleyCo-Host, Democracy Matters

Jul 23, 2021 • 57:01

The People Who Choose the President

The People Who Choose the President

Democracy Works podcast host and producer Jenna Spinelle leads a discussion with:Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School, founder of Equal Citizens, and host of  the podcast Another Way by Lawrence Lessig. Lessig and Equal Citizens Executive Director Jason Harrow argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the electors in Washington and Colorado.Meredith McGehee, executive director of Issue One and one of the nation’s foremost experts on Congress and

Jul 27, 2020 • 42:10

Civic Engagement, Social Distancing, and Democracy Reform

Civic Engagement, Social Distancing, and Democracy Reform

“COVID, the pandemic … has really brought to bear not just the inequities and the inequalities, but also the necessity to have a much more active sense of democracy as a verb — democracy as an action that we can all be part of.”-Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, 70 MillionHostRichard DaviesCo-host, How Do We Fix It?@DaviesNowGuestsMila AtmosHost, Future Hindsight@milaatmosJuleyka Lantigua-Williams, Founder and CEO of Lantigua-Williams and Co.Creator and Executive Producer, 70 Million@JuleykaLantiguaCar

Jul 27, 2020 • 37:28

National and International Implications of COVID-19

National and International Implications of COVID-19

HostJenna SpinelleCommunications Specialist at the McCourtney Institute for DemocracyHost, Democracy Works@JennaSpinelleGuestsLuke Knittig, Senior Director of Communications at the McCain InstituteHost, In The Arena@LukeKnittigJeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Professor in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas AustinHost, This is Democracy@JeremiSuriRachel Tausenfreund, Editorial Director at the German Marshall Fund of the United StatesHost, Out of Order@thousandfriendW

Jul 27, 2020 • 54:34

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