Richard Gephardt, a former U.S. Congressman and advocate for democracy, joins the discussion on the fragility of democratic systems amid rising polarization. He emphasizes the importance of civility and mutual respect in political discourse. Gephardt highlights the transformative effect of social media on democracy, detailing how misinformation threatens engagement. The conversation also addresses the need for citizen participation and potential reforms like ranked choice voting to restore trust, ultimately envisioning a hopeful future built on bipartisanship and civic engagement.