Civility Won't Save America: Reed Galen

30 years ago this month the Berlin Wall came down, and Richard was there, reporting the story for ABC News. In those heady days of November, 1989, there was tremendous hope for the future of liberal democracy. In the next few years, most of Eastern Europe would emerge from the shackles of totalitarian communism.

But today, populism and nativism are on the rise in much of the world. Democratic institutions, civic norms, and a free press are all facing new challenges.

We speak with public affairs and political consultant Reed Galen, and look at whether the case for greater civility is overshadowed by the need to push back hard against the populists, and those who sneer at compromise, tolerance, reason, flexibility and other vital pillars of a functioning democracy.

"The Democrats are playing chess and Trump's eating the pieces," says Reed, who resigned from the Republican Party in 2016. "He will take your civility and squash you with it."

Further thoughts from Reed on civility here.

With this episode we start a new feature: Jim and Richard Recommend. We lift the curtain on what we're listening to, reading and watching. 

- Music: Singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle.

- Movie: "Parasite" by Korean director Joon Ho Bong.

- Books: "Ill Winds: Saving Democracy From Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition and American Complacency by Larry Diamond, and "Golden Rice: The Imperiled Birth of a GMO Superfood" by Ed Regis.

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