

The Democracy Group
The Democracy Group
Welcome to The Democracy Group - a network of podcasts about democracy, civic engagement, and civil discourse. In this feed you will find a sampling of episodes from our podcasts in the Democracy Group as well recordings from our events. If you enjoy this podcast, please visit democracygroup.org to find all of our podcast shows, events, topic guides, and newsletter.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 12, 2024 • 12min
Democracy's Good News: When Faith and Civics Meet to Strengthen Democracy
Today we feature interviews with three religious organizations. These organizations share their current programs that promote civic duties and community engagement across the country. Harbonim Dror Camp Galil is a summer camp in Ottsville, Pennsylvania. Executive Director David Weiss joins us to discuss their daily programs for campers aged 7-17. These programs include staging protests and holding forums to discussing any topics of their choice, which can range from a later bedtime and more muffins to climate change and gender imbalance.The Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom has been a part of Reading, Pennsylvania for nearly 160 years. Rabbi Brian Michelson talks about the decision to maintain a polling site on their campus throughout the Passover holiday in Jewish beliefs. He emphasizes the importance of religious observance but also celebrates the American right to express freedom through voting.The Mormon Women for Ethical Government has a two-part mission, to advocate for ethical governance and empower women to be independent, ethical, and political actors. Co-Executive Director Jennifer Thomas touches on their faith-based values that have guided thousands of members in MWEG’s local chapters across 49 states to serve their local communities one way or another.These organizations express a commitment to empowering voters, children, and women and encourage involvement in local communities through spiritual values. Timestamps:0:00 Democracy's Good News1:34 David Weiss, the executive director of Camp Galil3:52 Rabbi Brian, Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom7:08 Director Jennifer Thomas, Mormon Women for Ethical GovernmentHear more at democracygroup.org

Apr 10, 2024 • 47min
Cancel Student Debt: Braxton Brewington | Future Hindsight
Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary of the Debt Collective. We discuss the origins of the Debt Collective in the Rolling Jubilee and its history in canceling student debt. Their example is a powerful model for canceling student debt, which continues to be important for all Americans in this election cycle and beyond.Education is a public good, yet the cost of college over the past couple of decades has risen eight times faster than the average wages. The average student debt is $30,000-$35,000. Two thirds of student debt is owed by women, and a large number of student loan borrowers don't have a college degree. This means that they are paying down student debt on non-college degree wages. The Debt Collective started out as the Rolling Jubilee, which canceled tens of millions of dollars of debt and gave instant relief to borrowers. Canceling student debt creates millions of jobs, boosts the economy, and advances racial and gender justice. Although the Biden administration has canceled billions in student debt, it is only making a small dent in over $1.7 trillion worth of student loans. Follow Ken on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Team_HarbaughFollow Mila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/milaatmosAdditional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyFuture Hindsight PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 8, 2024 • 1h 2min
New Frontiers for Education Reform? | The Bully Pulpit
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins education experts, Pedro Noguera, Macke Raymond, and Dr. Darline Robles, for a conversation on education reform and policy. They discuss the politics of public education, the role of parental rights, why some public schools are failing, what makes some charter schools successful when others struggle, whether or not taxpayer funds should be used to provide vouchers to parents who send students to private schools or home school, and which educational reforms should be supported, studied, or rejected. In partnership with USC Rossier School of Education, USC Price Center for Inclusive Democracy, USC Political Union (a Bridge USA chapter), and USC Political Student Assembly. Featuring: Pedro Noguera: Dean, USC Rossier School of EducationMargaret “Macke” Raymond: Director, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford UniversityDr. Darline P. Robles: Professor of Clinical Education, USC Rossier School of Education; USC Associate Dean for Equity and Community Engagement; Former Superintendent, Los Angeles County Office of EducationBob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC DornsifeAdditional InformationThe Bully Pulpit PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 3, 2024 • 57min
Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy | The Politics Guys
Trey talks with constitutional law professor Maxwell Stearns about his new book Parliamentary America which argues the U.S. needs to adapt the U.S. House to include proportional representation. Topics Trey and Max Cover Include- how the median voter theory is inaccurate- why American parties are tending in extreme directions- proposals to double the size of the House of Representatives- proposals to transform the selection of president and vice president- proposals to change how to remove a president- the historic necessity of convincing relevant actors to agree to these changes. Follow Max on X, and check out Parliamentary AmericaAdditional InformationThe Politics Guys PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Apr 1, 2024 • 41min
Celebrating the Country's First RCV Risk-Limiting Audit with Stephanie Gnoza | RCV Clips
This month, we're joined by Stephanie Gnoza, Boulder County's Elections Director, to discuss the first ever risk-limiting audit of a ranked choice voting election! Stephanie breaks down what a risk-limiting audit is, and the steps that Boulder took to pull off this landmark achievement in election security.Resources mentioned in this episode:- 2023 Election Results Page: https://bouldercounty.gov/elections/results/- RCV RLA Tool Github Repository: https://github.com/BoulderCounty/rcv-rla/- Post-Election Press Release: https://bouldercounty.gov/news/official-results-for-2023-coordinated-election-posted-following-successful-risk-limiting-audit/- Canvass + RLA Report: https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023C-Canvass-Documents.pdf- Podcast listener survey: https://form-usa.keela.co/rcv-clips-podcast-listener-survey-2023Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyRCV Clips PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 27, 2024 • 1h 19min
Through the Fog with Elliot Kirschner, Emmy winning news producer, NYT bestselling author and documentary filmmaker | Talkin Politics & Religion
How do we harness the power of communication in bridging societal divides? We spoke with Elliot Kirschner, an Emmy award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, to help us “Through the Fog…” Elliot shares his journey from CBS to his Substack “Through the Fog,” his dedication to science communication, and reflections on the role of journalism and science in democracy. We delve into his collaboration with Dan Rather, his academic pursuits in history and literature, and his current endeavors that strive to make science accessible to the public. Elliot also espouses the transformative potential of national service programs, science communication, and storytelling in healing our divisions, underlining the power of optimism and collaborative efforts in facilitating dialogue and understanding.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyTalkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 25, 2024 • 29min
Lethal Weapons | Democracy in Danger
Last year, there were 645 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In the latest major tragedy, at the Kansas City Super Bowl parade, one person was killed and 22 others — half of them children — suffered gunshot wounds. But here’s something you may not know: since then, there have been another 26 mass shootings. Historian Andrew McKevitt and sociologist Jennifer Carlson join Will for a conversation about the history, politics and economics of America’s deadly gun culture.Additional InformationDemocracy in Danger PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 20, 2024 • 1h 10min
The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections, Sasha Issenberg | The Great Battlefield
Sasha Issenberg returns to The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his new book "The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age".Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyThe Great Battlefield PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 18, 2024 • 30min
Politics: Majority In The Middle. Shannon Watson | How Do We Fix It?
News coverage of Super Tuesday and other party primaries focused mainly on base voters— Democrats and Republicans. But most Americans are actually on the political sidelines or somewhere in the middle. Many have a mix of conservative and liberal views.This episode is about them. Our guest is Shannon Watson, the Founder and Executive Director of Majority in the Middle. Her Minnesota-based non-profit group works to give voters and elected officials a place to gather outside the extremes. "We try to elevate the people who are demonstrating the behavior we want to see", Shannon tells us. "When it's only the rabble-rousers who get the coverage then there is an incentive to be one of them." Majority in the Middle also promotes structural changes in governing that will remove barriers to cooperation across the political aisle. While the two parties have a stranglehold on many aspects of elections and governance, record numbers of Americans no longer register as Republican or Democrat. They prefer the label "independent". At the same time, the right and left have changed. Among pro-Trump conservatives, we see a decline in support for free trade and military spending to help traditional allies. The former president has also resisted calls to limit spending on Medicare and social security.Younger Democrats are much less likely to support Israel. The rise of identity politics has also pushed the party to the left.While we've always had partisan division the level of vitriol can obscure the fact that Americans are much more closely aligned on issues such as gun rights, abortion, and immigration than we are led to believe."Not all Democrats agree with all Democrats, and not all Republicans agree with all Republicans," says Shannon Watson.Our podcast conversation mentions the Political Typology Quiz, conducted by Pew Research Center. Polling of more than 10,000 U.S. adults showed that while partisan polarization remains a dominant fact of political life, "the gulf that separates Republicans and Democrats sometimes obscures the divisions and diversity of views that exist within both partisan coalitions – and the fact that many Americans do not fit easily into either one."You can take the Typology Quiz here and see your personal views fit in with nine broad categories of left and right. Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyHow Do We Fix It? PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group

Mar 13, 2024 • 29min
Racism Renounced: A Black Man Talks With White Supremacists. Daryl Davis | Let's Find Common Ground
Acclaimed musician and recording artist Daryl Davis has interviewed hundreds of KKK members and other White supremacists and influenced many of them to renounce their racist ideology.We hear his brave and remarkable story. Daryl's personal quest began many years ago, after a concert when he was in a country music band. A card-carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan praised his piano playing. Daryl recognized that he had an opportunity to ask an important question about racism: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Daryl Davis is the author of "Klan-Destine Relationships"— the first book written about the Ku Klux Klan by a Black writer. His work in race relations has been highlighted in speaker series across the country. His documentary film, "Accidental Courtesy", features his process of conversation and understanding to bridge differences and promote racial reconciliation.Additional InformationThe Democracy Group listener surveyLet's Find Common Ground PodcastMore shows from The Democracy Group