James Marriott, a columnist and author exploring culture and politics, joins Adam Garfinkel, a public policy expert, to discuss the alarming decline in reading. They argue that this trend threatens democracy, linking reduced literacy to the rise of populism and emotional political messaging. Marriott traces mass literacy's history and its role in challenging power, while Garfinkel highlights how superficial engagement erodes deep literacy. Together, they ponder if new media can adapt to support democratic values amidst growing pessimism.
