PODCAST

Democracy Nerd

"Democracy Nerd" is a podcast that asks the question "How do we ensure a more perfect union?" This podcast shines a light on hidden and overt threats facing American democracy. Policy proposals and people-powered movements that help ensure a healthy democracy will be celebrated.

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All Episodes

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Approval Voting w/ Aaron Hamlin

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/07/20

There are potential democracy reform models that exist which would be more representative than our current "winner takes all" approach. As the Executive Director for the Center of Election Science, Aaron Hamlin is an advocate for "approval voting." Aaron joins Democracy Nerd to explain approval voting, and how it measures up to compare and contrast against other models of democracy reform.

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The Limits of Party w/ James Curry and Frances E. Lee

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/07/13

Congressional party cohesion--on both sides of the aisle--is at its highest level in decades. Does this have any impact Congress's ability to pass legislation, or have no impact at all? Professors James Curry and Frances E. Lee join Democracy Nerd to discuss their book "The Limits of Party: Congress and Lawmaking in a Polarized Era," pointing out that contrary to popular belief, Congress actually operates in a bipartisan fashion.

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3866609520:00

The Roberts Court, the Most Activist SCOTUS in...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/07/05

The Supreme Court ended its term with a series of radical decisions with cataclysmic consequences, including the rolling back of rights enjoyed by previous generations. Law professor Andrew Koppelman discusses the various decisions on abortion rights, guns, and public prayer, explaining how the Roberts Court is the most activist court in the 230+ year history of the Supreme Court.

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Mitch McConnell, "The Architect of Division" w/ Ira...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/06/27

Longtime Capitol Hill vet and author Ira Shapiro joins the podcast to discuss how Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans have thumbed their nose at institutional norms and reneged on their duty as public servants to help create our current bitterly divided United States of America.

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How The People Can Push Back Against the Backsliding...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/06/20

With electoral rights and bodily autonomy being degraded, democracy is experiencing a backsliding in the United States. How can organizations push back against this backsliding? After leading a campaign to pass independent redistricting in the state of Michigan, Katie Fahey is the Executive Director of The People, an organization committed to the pursuit of shared American values. Katie joins the podcast to talk about The People, and explain what role her organization will play

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How Democracies Thrive w/ Lee Drutman

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/06/06

If a country backslides from democracy, is there no future hope for democracy. Lee Drutman from New America believes it's possible for democracy to revive itself in countries that otherwise preferred authoritarianism. Drutman describes what a potential revival of American democracy would look like, and also offers his policy proposal to save American democracy.

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3593136240:00

Can Millionaires Save Democracy? w/ Morris Pearl

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/05/02

Billionaires increasingly control online shopping, access to news, and even "the world's town square" with Elon Musk's recent purchase of Twitter. Is there any other way to push back against this amassed capital--and its influence on our daily lives--then with a countervailing pushback from other capital? Morris Pearl is the chair of Patriotic Millionaires, formed in 2010 to roll back George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. Morris joins the podcast to discuss Patriotic

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3752224560:00

Discussions on Democracy w/ Justin Kempf

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/04/18

Episode 54 - Justin Kempf, host of the "Democracy Paradox" podcast joins Democracy Nerd to discuss various theories about democracy, how to make democracy more engaging, and practical efforts to prevent the backsliding of global democracy.

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Episode 53: Democracy in Real Time: An Update on...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/04/15

At a time when global democracy is backsliding into authoritarianism, Chile is currently engaged in the process to draft a new constitution, one that is more representative of indigenous people and other marginalized communities. Very rarely do we get to see "democracy operate in real time." Returning to the podcast to provide an update on the drafting of Chile's new Constitution are noted Latin American experts Jennifer Piscopo, Professor at Occidental College, and Peter

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3921664380:00

Democracy in Real Time: An Updte on Chile's New...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/04/11

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Episode 52: The Rise of Illberalism w/ Thomas Maine

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/03/14

Democracy Book Club! Thomas Maine, Professor of Politics at Baruch College, joins Democracy Nerd to discuss his new book "The Rise of Illiberalism." Professor Maine describes the defining characteristics of various illiberal movements, explains how illiberal ideology drives mainstream politics, and shows how when the mask of illiberalism is revealed, actions such as the January 6th insurrection and Putin's invasion of Ukraine occur as a result.

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Episode 51: From Harding to Biden - 100 Years of...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/02/22

100 years ago, the United States was reeling from the Spanish Flu and World War I. Similar circumstances fact the country today. How did American Presidents respond to the adversity they face? Which Presidents did the most to expand democracy, both home and abroad? Ronald Gruner, author of "We the Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century" joins the podcast to discuss the last 100 years of American presidencies, including which recent presidencies could be

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Episode 50: Americans are "awful" at spotting fake...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/02/07

Heading into the second decade of wide-spread use of social media, and its impact on democracy is less than ideal. Originally applauded as a way around legacy media "gate keepers" but instead acts as an amplifier of extremist voices. Jonathan Nagler, co-director of NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics joins the podcast to discuss social media's impact on democracy, the fallout of the Facebook Papers, and explains why Americans are just so awful at identifying fake news.

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Episode 49: Generation Z are more like "hardened...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/01/25

Impacted by a number of crises--ranging from 9/11 to the Great Recession to the COVID outbreak--Generation Z has been impacted like no other previous generation. According to John Della Volpe--Director of Polling at Harvard's Institute of Politics and author of "Fight: How Gen-Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America"--this makes Gen-Z voters more like "hardened diamonds" and shouldn't be dismissed as "snowflakes." John joins the podcast to discuss his new book

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How Martin Luther King Jr. Practiced Critical Race...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/01/22

To honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., here is a re-airing of a November interview with Reginal C. Oh, professor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, who explains how MLK was one of the first practitioners of critical race theory.

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How Martin Luther King Jr. practiced Critical Race...

Democracy Nerd ·

2022/01/17

To honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., here is a re-airing of November's interview with Reginald C. Oh, Professor of Law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, who explains how Dr. King was one of the earliest practitioners of what is now considered "Critical Race Theory."

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Episode 48: 2021 Year in Review w/ Amanda Marcotte

Democracy Nerd ·

2021/12/28

Amanda Marcotte, senior politics writer at Salon, joins the podcast to offer her take on 2021's top political stories--and gives a peek ahead at what's in store for 2022.

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Episode 47: Political Cleavages & Social Inequalities...

Democracy Nerd ·

2021/12/06

How are winning coalitions formed in democracies? Do the same variables apply, or does each democracy have its own unique circumstances that form along political cleavages to create a winning majority? How do these political cleavages worsen or mitigate social inequality? Amory Gethin, manager of the World Political Cleavages and Social Inequality Database and co-author of the exhaustive new volume "Political Cleavages and Social Inequalities: A Study of 50 Democracies,

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Episode 46: How Critical Race Theory Became the GOP's...

Democracy Nerd ·

2021/11/23

What is Critical Race Theory? And why does Fox News hate it so much? Law professor Reginald C. Oh joins the podcast to explain how Critical Race Theory went from an obscure legal academic theory to the latest tactic exploited by the Republican Party for political gain.

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Episode 45: The High Price of Zero Corporate Taxes w/...

Democracy Nerd ·

2021/11/15

Did you buy a cup of coffee this morning? Congratulations. You paid more than 55 corporations pay in taxes. And what are these corporations doing with these savings? Funding the campaigns of candidates who will continue to keep their status quo zero-tax burden. This is according to "The Price of Zero" report issued by consumer advocate organization Public Citizen. Susan Harley, Managing Director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch division, joins the podcast to discuss the

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