This is Democracy

Today, Jeremi talks with author James K. Boyce about climate change, carbon emissions, and the ways in which our society addresses these issues. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Chasing Windmills." James K. Boyce is an author and senior fellow at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His most recent books are The Case for Carbon Dividends (published by Polity Press in 2019) and Economics for People and the Planet: Inequality in the Era of Climate Change (published by Anthem Press, also in 2019).

Today, Jeremi talks with Professor Richard Reddick about the lasting legacy of the Civil War, diving into the implications of Confederate statues and monuments that are being torn down around the country today. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Today the Pedestals are Empty." Professor Richard J. Reddick is the inaugural associate dean for equity, community engagement, and outreach for the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a professor in the Program in Higher Education Leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP) at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has served as a faculty member since 2007. Additionally, Dr. Reddick serves as the Assistant Director of the Plan II Honors Program in the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Reddick is a faculty member by courtesy in the Department for African and African Diaspora Studies, the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, and a fellow at the Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis. Dr. Reddick co-chairs the Council for Racial and Ethnic Equity and Diversity (CREED), serves on the Signature Course Advisory Committee (SCAC), and was named to the inaugural cohort of the Provost's Distinguished Service Academy.

Today, Jeremi talks with John McWilliams about the history of race in our schools and institutions, and namely how we as citizens can push the conversation of racism forward to produce positive change in the world. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Soiled.” John McWilliams is the Head of School at Montgomery Academy, in Montgomery, Alabama. The Montgomery Academy is a K–12, co-ed, nonsectarian day school serving the River Region community since 1959. John graduated from Montgomery Academy in 1996 and he is the first alumnus to lead the school. He received his B.A. degree in history from Yale University, and he also holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from Dartmouth College. Upon his graduation from Yale, John returned to Montgomery Academy to teach in the history department and coach Speech & Debate before becoming Middle School Director in 2011. He has acted in various capacities since then, including Associate Head of School, Acting Interim Head of School, and Upper School Director.

Today, Jeremi talks with Paul Edgar about the complex and evolving relationship between the US Armed Forces and the citizens it aims to protect. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “They Were Supposed to be Us, We Were Supposed to be Them.” Paul Edgar is the Associate Director of the William P. Clements, Jr. Center for National Security at the University of Texas-Austin. He holds a PhD in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures from the University of Texas at Austin. Before entering academia, Paul served more than 22 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. Among many other missions, Paul deployed to Iraq during the 2006-2007 surge, serving as an infantry battalion operations and executive officer, conducting counterinsurgency and combat operations in both Fallujah and South Babil Province. In 2008-2009, as an infantry brigade operations officer, he deployed to Afghanistan and conducted counterinsurgency operations in Paktika, Paktia, and Khost provinces. After returning from Afghanistan, Paul served as the executive assistant to the commander of the Kingdom of Jordan’s Special Operations Command. He then commanded the 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry in The Old Guard where he supported official ceremonies and provided security for the President of the United States and other senior civilian, military, and foreign officials. In his final assignment for the Army, Paul was the political advisor for Israeli affairs to the United States Security Coordinator in Jerusalem. Paul is fluent in Modern Israeli Hebrew and is trained to read and conduct research in Akkadian, Hittite, Middle Egyptian, Classical Hebrew, Ugaritic, Aramaic, Syriac, Sumerian, and German.

Jeremi and Zachary Suri celebrate 100 episodes of This is Democracy by revisiting its foundations in President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speeches. Zachary opens with his poem, "The Better Angels."

Jeremi speaks with Richard R. John about the role that the post office has served American Democracy Zachary sets the scene with his poem, ” Delivering Freedom, Save the Post Office.” Richard R. John is a professor of history and communications at Columbia University, where he teaches in the Ph. D. program in communications at the Columbia School of Journalism. He teaches courses in the history of communications since 1450, networks, and the history of capitalism. His publications include Network Nation: Inventing American Telecommunications (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2010; paperback, 2015 forthcoming) and Spreading the News: The American Postal System from Franklin to Morse (Harvard University Press, 1995; paperback, 1998).  

Jeremi talks with Ken Greenberg about urban planning and cities. They touch on various topics including the power within cities and the difficulties faced during and after a pandemic. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Actualizing Emerald City.” Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, and former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto. For over four decades he has played a pivotal role on public and private assignments in urban settings throughout North America and Europe. He is the author of two influential books: Walking Home: The Life and Lessons of a City Builder and Toronto Reborn: Design Successes and Challenges. You can read more about his work at: https://www.kengreenberg.ca. See also, “Density Done Right:” https://www.citybuildinginstitute.ca/portfolio/density-done-right/.

Jeremi and Yong Suk Lee discuss North Korea and its relationship with the United States. Zachary presents his scene-setting poem, “Painting Ourselves Green.” Yong Suk Lee is an East Asia specialist with 22 years of service in the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Lee started his career in 1997 as an analyst and served in multiple leadership roles as a Senior Intelligence Service officer, including as a briefer on the President’s Daily Briefing staff from 2007 to 2009. His last assignment was as CIA’s Deputy Assistant Director for the Korea Mission Center from 2017 to 2019.

Jeremi meets with Dr. Peniel Joseph to discuss the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on minority communities and how the virus exposes the racial disparities that society has yet to face. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Since ’65.” Peniel Joseph holds a joint professorship appointment at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts and is Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the founding director of the LBJ School’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy.

Jeremi meets with Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller and Dr. Robert Citino to discuss lessons and legacies on the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “And to Dust, We Shall Return.” Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller is a distinguished historian and former Vice-Chancellor at the University of New Orleans. He was the Founding President and CEO of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Dr. Robert Citino is Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, and the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the National WWII Museum. Dr. Citino is an award-winning military historian and scholar who has published ten books including: The Wehrmacht Retreats: Fighting a Lost War; Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942; and The German Way of War: From the Thirty Years’ War to the Third Reich.