The Good Fight

Are America's Institutions Broken?

Jun 4, 2022

Sam Koppelman, a Democratic strategist and co-author of "Our Unfinished March," dives into pressing topics with Yascha Mounk. They unravel the history of voting rights and discuss the need for reforming the electoral college and primaries. Koppelman highlights the challenges the Democratic Party faces heading into the midterms and 2024 and critiques voter suppression laws that threaten civic participation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of accessible voting and the urgency for structural changes to restore trust in American democracy.

01:07:57

Episode guests

Sam Koppelman

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

Strengthening Democracy Through Connection

8min

Exploring the Threats to Voting Rights and Civic Participation

2min

The Burden of Voter Suppression

7min

Exploring Structural Inequities in American Democracy

3min

The Distortion of Democracy: Examining Gerrymandering's Impact

5min

Rethinking Democracy: Primaries and Electoral Reform

17min

Navigating Political Reform Ahead of 2024

18min

Sam Koppelman is a Democratic strategist who served as director of surrogate speechwriting on the Biden campaign. He is the author, with former Attorney General Eric Holder, of Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote—a History, a Crisis, a Plan.

In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Sam Koppelman discuss the history of voting rights, how and whether to reform institutions from the electoral college to primary elections, and why Democrats are in such a weak position as they head into the midterms and 2024.

This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

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Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry

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