Politics in Question

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, James, Julia, and Lee discuss political dysfunction and how our perceptions of politics influence our views. They discuss Lee’s Substack piece We Need More (and Better) Parties and Julia’s Substack piece The Odds vs. The Stakes: In 2024, They Don't Seem to Be Related.How should media cover elections? In what ways is power being used to shape policy? Should we build political parties through existing social networks? These are some of the questions James, Julia, and Lee explore in this week’s episode.Note: This episode was recorded in September 2024.

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and Julia talk with Zack Beauchamp about how we make sense of democratic threats. Beauchamp is a senior correspondent at Vox and author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024).What are the risks to American democracy? How do social and economic hierarchies influence the functioning of democracy? Who defines democratic values? These are some of the questions Lee and Julia explore in this week’s episode.Note: This episode was recorded in August 2024. 

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee talks with Kevin Morris about demographics, voting rights, and elections. Morris, a Senior Research Fellow and Voting Policy Scholar at the Brennan Center, is the co-author of the report Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022.How have voting rights laws, policies, and practices evolved over time? How has the Shelby County v. Holder decision impacted voting laws within states? Is there a correlation between state laws and voter turnout among communities of color? These are some of the questions Lee explores in this week’s episode.Note: This episode was recorded in July 2024.

Scott Mainwaring, the Eugene and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame, dives into the concept of multiparty presidentialism and its potential to revitalize U.S. democracy. He discusses how coalition fluidity can enhance representation and critiques current dysfunction in American politics. By comparing the U.S. with Latin American political systems, he reveals lessons on diversity and governance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of populism and the interplay between presidentialism and racial polarization, emphasizing the need for inclusive politics.

Sam Rosenfeld, an associate professor at Colgate University, and Daniel Schlozman, a political science expert at Johns Hopkins, delve into the complexities of American political parties. They explore the concept of 'party hollowness' and how it contributes to polarization. The duo discusses Biden's chaotic 2020 nomination, reflecting on the fragmentation within both parties. Historical shifts, including the impact of single-issue movements and neoliberalism, reveal the evolving dynamics. Through this analysis, they emphasize the need for revitalized political infrastructure.

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and Julia talk with Chloe Nicol Thurston and Emily Zackin about the United State’s relationship to debt and debtors. Thurston is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and Zackin is an Associate Professor of Political Science at John Hopkins University. They are the authors of The Political Development of American Debt Relief (Chicago University Press, 2024).What role has race played in the United States' history of debt relief? How has debtor activism contributed to state-building? How has debt relief been connected to contemporary issues? These are some of the questions Lee and Julia ask in this week’s episode.

Dive into how biases like negativity and nostalgia shape perceptions of democracy. Explore the interplay of emotion, identity, and community in political engagement. The speakers analyze the importance of clear messaging for the upcoming election, reflecting on historical challenges. Delve into the complexities of political messaging and the need for diverse perspectives in decision-making. Unpack the growing discontent with current leadership and the implications for a multiracial democracy amid polarization and confusion.

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question Lee talks with Jocelyn Kiley to discuss the Pew Report, Changing Partisan Coalitions in a Politically Divided Nation. Kiley is a Senior Associate Director of Research at Pew Research Center.What are the most important demographic groups within each party? What is the correlation between age and partisanship? How are partisan divisions reinforced by demographic differences? These are some of the questions Lee and Jocelyn ask in this week’s episode.

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James explore the role of the Senate and the dysfunction we see today with Sean Theriault. Theriault is a Professor at the Department of Government at the University of Texas, Austin and the author of Disruption?: The Senate During the Trump Era (Oxford University Press, 2024).Do we need the Senate? What has caused gridlock in the Senate? What would the Senate look like during a second Trump term? These are some of the questions Sean, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode.

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James explore America’s reliance on direct primaries in federal elections with Nick Troiano. Troiano is the Executive Director of Unite America and the author of The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes (Simon & Schuster, 2024).What are direct primaries? Why do Americans rely on them? When did they first start using direct primaries in federal elections? And what are the consequences? These are some of the questions Nick, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode.