Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content
#384 - Stress Testing Our Democracy
Sep 23, 2024
Barton Gellman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Senior Advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins to discuss election integrity and the future of democracy. They explore the alarming potential for authoritarianism, the implications of voter ID laws, and the impact of partisan manipulation in election processes. Gellman shares insights from crisis simulations designed to safeguard democracy and examines public unrest post-election. The conversation also touches on the risks surrounding Trumpism and the essential role of civic engagement in preserving democratic values.
01:27:07
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast highlights the necessity of understanding threats to American democracy through simulated war games reflecting authoritarian challenges and responses.
- A focus on the distinction between laws and norms reveals that democratic safeguards often exist in a fragile gray area, requiring ongoing vigilance.
Deep dives
The Role of Democracy Futures Project
The Democracy Futures Project focuses on understanding the threats faced by American democracy, particularly through tabletop exercises designed to simulate various scenarios. This project involved former officials and leaders from different sectors who participated in war games to explore how an authoritarian president might exert control and how pro-democracy advocates could respond to such actions. Notably, participants role-played both sides, aiming to replicate possible future challenges. This approach revealed not just concerns about potential abuses of power but also emphasized the need for proactive measures to safeguard democracy.
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