This is the third episode in a three-part series about how to have difficult conversations with people who see the world differently, how to have better debates about contentious issues, and how to ethically and scientifically persuade one another about things that matter – in short, this is a three-part series about How Minds Change (which is also the title of my new book).There seems to be a movement afoot, a new wave of nonfiction about how to reduce all this argumentative madness and epistemic chaos. I want to boost everyone’s signal on this issue, so I thought it would be nice to collaborate instead of compete, since that’s part of what we are all proselytizing with these books.So this episode’s guest is Anand Giridharadas, the author of The Persuaders – a book about activists, politicians, educators, and everyday citizens who are on the ground working to change minds, bridge divisions, and fight for democracy.-   How Minds Change-   David McRaney’s Twitter-   YANSS Twitter-   Show Notes-   NewsletterAnand's TwitterThe Persuaders

Sean Illing is joined by Anand Giridharadas, author of The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy. Together they discuss how polarity is a threat to our democracy, the organizing efforts that are effective, and why there's hope for a less divisive future in America.Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray AreaGuest: Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites), author References:  The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy by Anand Giridharadas (Penguin Random House, 202) Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World (Penguin Random House, 2022) Amanda Marcotte “Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine” by Taylor Lorenz (The Washington Post, Apr. 19th, 2022)  Anat Shenker-Osorio People’s Action Institute  Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcastsThis episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“How can there be anything wrong with trying to do good?” asks Anand Giridharadas in his new book, Winners Take All. “The answer may be: when the good is an accomplice to even greater, if more invisible, harm.” Giridharadas has done his time in elite circles. His education took him through Oxford and Harvard, he spent years as a New York Times columnist, he's a regular on Morning Joe, he’s a TED talker. And so when he mounted the stage at the Aspen Institute and told his fellow fellows that their pretensions of doing good were just that — pretensions — and that they were more the problem than the solution, it caused some controversy. Giridharadas’s new book will make a lot of people angry. It’s about the difference between generosity and justice, the problems with only looking for win-win solutions, the ways the corporate world has come to dominate the discourse of change, and the fact that elite networks change the people who are part of them. But for all the power of Giridharadas’s critique of elite do-goodery, does he have better answers to the problems they’re trying to solve? And what of the very real problems that have left so many disillusioned with government, or the very real accomplishments that exist in the systems we’ve built? If we are pursuing change wrong, then what needs to be changed to pursue it better? Recommended books: There Will Be No Miracles Here by Casey Gerald (forthcoming) The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment by Francis Fukuyama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guest host William D. Cohan joins Kara to discuss the latest developments in the Twitter saga: banned accounts will return! Apple could ban Twitter from the App Store! Elon drinks caffeine-free Diet Coke?! Also, protests in China could disrupt Apple. Friend of Pivot Anand Giridharadas joins to discuss his latest book, "The Persuaders," and how clear, concise messaging could help save democracy.Suggested reading:"Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon" by @williamcohan"The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy" by Anand Giridharadas. You can follow Anand at @anandwrites.Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Author Anand Giridharadas discusses the financial crisis, Covid, and democracy. They explore the influence of wealthy donors on academia and media, the manipulation of tax-exempt deductions for political influence, and the emotionally charged battleground of politics. An insightful conversation about the state of American democracy.

Exploring the power of conversations in addressing climate change, bridging gaps through understanding differing viewpoints, using persuasion for societal change, navigating inclusivity in advocacy, countering climate misinformation, spotting misinformation through critical thinking, and challenging climate change denial with truthful messaging.

Revisit:When the Profit Motive Kills, with Anand Giridharadas, on Capitalisn'tWhy the US Government Buys Overpriced Services From McKinsey, by Matt Stoller in ProMarket

Kamala Harris, the current Vice President and a former prosecutor, discusses the media's contrasting treatment of her and Donald Trump, the former President known for his controversial stances. They delve into critical issues like immigration, abortion rights, and the potential risks to democratic values as the election approaches. Charlie Sykes and Anand Giridharadas contribute insights on the impact of divisive rhetoric in politics and emphasize the urgency for citizens to recognize the stakes of upcoming elections.

Anand Giridharadas, author of The Persuaders, discusses the unique nature of the American experiment and the risk of failure we are all facing. Topics include recent election results, Virginia politics, seeking justice for Tracy Raquel Burns, navigating power shifts, a toddler framed for murder, existential dread, delicious snacks, and the fight for hearts and minds.