John Sarbanes

John Sarbanes, a former Congressman focused on campaign finance reform, joins writer Robert Draper, ethics expert Meredith McGehee, and elections analyst Nathaniel Rakich to dissect the mass exodus of congressional members. They explore the reasons behind this significant trend, highlighting a growing disillusionment with political culture. The group discusses the impact on future governance and upcoming elections, while also reflecting on the challenges of achieving bipartisan consensus amid rising partisanship and the implications of losing experienced leaders.

John Sarbanes, an important architect of democracy reform in Congress today, discusses the For the People Act and the challenges of passing it. They also explore the broken campaign finance system, the relationship between democratic agency and mental health, and the importance of comprehensive democracy reform. The speaker expresses concern about voter suppression and gerrymandering, and hopes for a fix before democracy goes off a cliff.