If your number one goal is to survive 2024 without too many regrets about what you did to help save democracy, this podcast is for you.

Melissa Walker is the Head of Giving Circles at the States Project. She makes a powerful case that the best way for individual citizens to make the best use of their time, energy, and resources to avoid regret is by focusing on America's statehouses.

And she believes the best way to do that is through Giving Circles, where you engage your friends and family to elect majority-making candidates who will shift the balance of power in a state legislature.

AND she has the stats to back up how focusing on the right races at the right time can make massive differences to tens of millions of Americans, like the 63 votes that helped shift the Pennsylvania House and elect the first Black Speaker of the House in the state's history.

¡AND! she makes a convincing case that by supporting top-notch down ballot candidates who are properly funded and guided to research-backed best practices, like knocking on doors instead of ringing up out-of-state-donors, you can also help elect great candidates at all levels of government in the nation's tipping point states, while possibly helping prevent Donald Trump from stealing the presidency.

She's so convincing that we've started our own Giving Circle "Flipping Arizona" to help win the four seats that will create a Democratic trifecta in the Grand Canyon state. You're welcome to join us there. Please do. We need your help.

Or, if you want to really burn off some regrets, start your own Giving Circle. The democracy you save may be your own.

Catch up on all the episodes of "How are you feeling about democracy?" here. If you want to back this podcast, please join the earlyworm society – free or paid, your support matters.

Inside Thune's health care decision day

The Daily Punch

Henry Cuellar’s return to appropriations post

The AI-powered Podcast Player