Holiday Best-Of: Democratic Socialism; Joyce Vance, Teaching; Rail-to-Trail & More

Dec 30, 2025

Guest

Peter Harnik

Guest

Carlo Invernizzi Accetti

In this discussion, Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, a political philosopher, dissects the complexities of democratic socialism through the lens of NYC's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Joyce Vance offers insights on the critical importance of the rule of law in safeguarding democracy. Education consultant Jared Fox promotes experiential learning, emphasizing the need for community engagement in science education. Randi Weingarten highlights the essential role of teachers in nurturing democratic values amidst current challenges, while Peter Harnik shares the evolution of rail-trail conservation.

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ADVICE

Act Before Gradual Threats Become Normal

Joyce Vance warns against slow, incremental erosion of rights and urges timely citizen action before changes become normalized.
She urges vigilance to spot gradual threats and respond before they calcify into new norms.

ADVICE

Join Local Civic Efforts To Defend Democracy

Joyce Vance tells listeners to join civic efforts like poll working, League of Women Voters, or arts activism to protect democracy.
She emphasizes finding a role that fits individuals' skills and engaging locally to defend elections and rights.

INSIGHT

Civil Suits Could Circumvent Court Limits

Vance warns the Supreme Court has sometimes failed to act as a check and that civil suits may be an alternate accountability path.
She sees upcoming civil cases as crucial tests of presidential limits under Article II.

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New York City's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani defines himself as a democratic socialist, yet his critics have seized on his leftist identity to paint him as an extremist. Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), explains the core principles of the various strains of thought on the left to paint a clearer picture of what Mamdani believes in and how he'll govern as mayor.
Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025), talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.
Jared Fox, education consultant, former NYC secondary science teacher and the author of Learning Environment: Inspirational Actions, Approaches, and Stories from the Science Classroom (Beacon Press, 2025), guides teachers in taking science education out of the classroom, drawing on his experience teaching science in Washington Heights.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy.
Peter Harnik, co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land and executive producer of the documentary "From Rails to Trails", talks about his work spearheading the movement to convert abandoned railbeds into multi-use trails, 26,000 miles so far, and the new documentary about it, plus listener suggestions for the best places to bike outside the city.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

What is Zohran Mamdani's Political Ideology? (Nov 14, 2025)

A Democratic Manifesto (Oct 27, 2025)

Reimagining Teaching Science (Nov 11, 2025)

Fighting Fascism with Education (Sep 26, 2025)

From Railroad to Rail-Trail (Oct 7, 2025) and The Best Places to Bike Outside the City (Oct 8, 2025)