Notes from America

In this episode, Public Agenda president Will Friedman discusses why it is important to highlight the things on which Americans can agree, how to pave the way for a discussion that doesn’t feel loaded from the beginning, and why his organization started Hidden Common Ground, a project exploring where Americans agree or disagree on solutions for issues from economic opportunities and equity to immigration or law enforcement. This is part 2 of a 4 part series about division and common ground in the

In this episode of Notes from America, social psychologist Dr. Samantha Moore-Berg will discuss what might cause division in the United States and beyond, how accepting division can lead to a breakdown in democracy, and what helps people find common ground. This is part 1 of a 4 part series about division and common ground in the U.S.Guest: Dr. Samantha Moore Berg - social psychologist and researcher at the Peace and Conflict Neuroscience Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Useful links: You’ll

Interview guest Dr. Carolyn Finney helps us explore the complicated relationship between land, race and belonging in the United States. She explains what representation means in national parks and other outdoor spaces, talks about "The Perils of Being Black in Public", which she recently wrote for the "Guardian", and how organizations as well as individuals could develop greater cultural competency. This is part 2 of a mini series about the Great American Outdoors. We recorded the interview in

In this episode of Notes From America, Navajo hiking guide Angel Tadytin and I discuss her deep connection with the land of red sand and deep canyons. She explains why walking in national parks makes her both upset and grateful, what differs hiking with a women group from hiking with men, and what we all can do to help keep the most beautiful U.S. landscapes, well, beautiful. This is part 1 of a mini series about the Great American Outdoors. We recorded the interview in early

In this episode of Notes From America, voting rights expert Kat Calvin and I will discuss through how many hoops Americans have to jump in order to vote, what her organization Spread The Vote does, and we'll also examine the context and history of voter suppression to finally answer the question: Why is this happening? This is part 2 of a mini series about the upcoming U.S. election. We recorded the interview in late July. Guest:Kat Calvin, lawyer, voting rights expert and founder of Spread The

In this episode of Notes From America, Elaine Kamarck, a Brookings Institution expert on electoral politics, discusses her research on how to vote safely during a pandemic, what else might keep U.S. citizens from voting on November 3rd, and what you can do about that. This is part 1 of 2 of a mini series about the upcoming U.S. election. We recorded the interview in mid-July. Guest:Elaine Kamarck, expert on electoral politics and Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the