Another Way, by Lawrence Lessig

Dive into the troubling role of Super PACs in undermining democracy, where a few wealthy donors shape political influence. Explore the damaging disconnect between rising productivity and stagnant wages, fueled by harmful government policies. Uncover how economic inequality is politically manipulated, with tax systems favoring the rich. The conversation also emphasizes the need for community mobilization to combat Super PAC dominance and restore fairness in the democratic process.

Lawrence Lessig, renowned legal scholar and campaign finance reform advocate, dives into the intricate legal landscape of campaign finance. He breaks down the pivotal Citizens United ruling and its effects on corporate speech. Lessig explains how this decision paved the way for Super PACs, dissecting the misconceptions surrounding it. He emphasizes the urgent need for reforms to combat the growing influence of money in politics and calls for a reassessment of existing regulations to mitigate corruption.

Discover Maine's bold initiative to abolish SuperPACs and reshape political funding. A compelling personal encounter at a polling station reveals the potential for unity amid division. Explore the legal framework aimed at capping contributions to independent committees, highlighting grassroots activism and community mobilization. The conversation underscores the implications for democracy and the hope for a favorable Supreme Court ruling. Tune in for a deeper understanding of how local movements can challenge money's influence in politics.

For this final episode of Season 5, Lessig speaks to TedX Berlin about AI, democracy, and the future. You can watch a video recording of this TedX talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zYHqg1PwoQ

An exploration of a global citizen assembly addressing climate crises through innovative methods, diverse representation, and collaborative decision-making. The podcast delves into the challenges and successes of forming a diverse assembly, developing proposals for a sustainable future, and empowering global citizens to take climate action. Reflecting on personal histories and environmental data, the conversation reimagines governance and democracy for a global future.

David Farrell, an academic who has studied the Irish example of citizen assemblies addressing national issues in a new and edifying way, talks with Lawrence Lessig about the success of citizen assemblies in Ireland, the impact of deliberation on attitudes, constructing and organizing a citizen assembly room, the use of citizen's assemblies in addressing various topics, the development and success of Belgian citizen assemblies, and the lack of innovation and implementation of democratic processes in the United States.

Lawyer and troublemaker Katrín Oddsdóttir, founding mother of the still-not-ratified Iceland Constitution, discusses the extraordinary story of drafting a new constitution in Iceland. The podcast covers the financial crisis that led to grassroots movements for reform, women's advocacy efforts, the fight for control over natural resources, campaigning to stop whaling, creating a new statute, and the court ruling exempting people from paying their debts.

Social entrepreneur Claudia Chwalisz discusses the potential of citizen assemblies to transform democracy, comparing them to deliberative polling. She explores their use in the Mongolian constitutional process and highlights the importance of public opinion in modern democracies. The episode concludes with reflections on the fluid nature of democracy and the work of Democracy Next.

In this episode, Lawrence Lessig talks to Kim Polese, career launcher of transformative technologies. They discuss how AI can support democracy, cognitive diversity in decision-making, addressing community issues, and different models of deliberation. They also explore an exciting AI project that aims to revive democracy.

David Van Reybrouck, author of Against Elections, discusses the origin and potential of citizen assemblies. They explore alternative models for representative democracy, the challenges and deterioration of politics and governance, and the diagnosis and solutions to democratic fatigue syndrome. They also discuss implementing remedies for improving democracy, including citizen assemblies, and express the need for change in governance.