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

6005124840:00

Behind the White House Curtain w/ Steven L. Herman

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/06/11

In this episode of "Democracy Nerd", host Jefferson Smith interviews Steven L. Herman--the Chief National Correspondent for Voice of America and the author of "Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist's Story of Covering the President--and Why It Matters"--about the importance of unbiased information to ensure a healthy and peaceful democracy. Jefferson and Steven discuss the history and importance of Voice of America, a government-funded international

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7980202740:00

How the American Media Has Failed Democracy w/ Andrea...

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/05/27

In this episode of "Democracy Nerd," Jefferson is joined by Andrea Grimes, an independent journalist whose writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Texas Observer, and DAME Magazine. The episode includes an in-depth discussion about the current state of American media and its role in safeguarding democracy, sparked by a recent statement from New York Times' Executive Editor Joe Kahn, who asserted that threats to democracy are "one" of the issues the Times will

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6677870640:00

Disinformation and the 2024 Presidential Election w/...

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/05/20

In this episode of "Democracy Nerd," host Jefferson Smith is joined by David Gilbert, a senior reporter for WIRED magazine specializing in disinformation and online extremism. As the 2024 presidential election looms, their conversation delves into the profound implications of disinformation and misinformation on democratic processes worldwide. Gilbert explains the core differences between disinformation (deliberately false information spread to deceive) and misinformation

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5862579660:00

How Insurers Helped Build America w/ Hannah Farber

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/05/06

In this episode of "Democracy Nerd," host Jefferson Smith discuses the intersection of insurance, entrepreneurship, and the American founding with guest Hannah Farber, a history professor at Columbia University and author of the book "Underwriters of the United States: How Insurance Shaped the American Founding." Farber discusses how early American entrepreneurs, armed with a keen understanding of risk and opportunity, played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's

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4324873500:00

Protecting Access to the Ballot w/ Campaign Legal Center

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/02/18

In this episode of "Democracy Nerd," host Jefferson Smith engages in a crucial discussion with Paul Smith, the Senior Vice President at the Campaign Legal Center, shedding light on the mounting legal challenges surrounding ballot access heading into the 2024 election year. The conversation begins with the recent federal court action in North Dakota, where a judge dismissed a challenge regarding the validity of counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day. Smith

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6190480380:00

Freedom of Speech w/ Eliza Jane Schneider

Democracy Nerd ·

2024/01/04

In the latest episode of the Democracy Nerd podcast, host Jefferson Smith engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Eliza Jane Schneider, a renowned dialect coach and operator of the Internet Dialect Database. The focal point of their discussion revolves around the intricate concept of freedom of speech and its implications in contemporary American society. Drawing from her extensive experience in the field of dialect coaching, Eliza sheds light on how Americans grapple

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5147036400:00

Undecided Voters: Who Are They & What Do They Want w/...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/12/11

In this episode, Jefferson is joined with Oscar Pocasangre, Senior Data Analyst for New America, to discuss the outsized impact of undecided voters on elections. Besides distinguishing undecided voters from swing or independent voters, Oscar explores the shared perspectives (if any) that might connect undecided voters as a cohesive group. The discussion highlights the significant impact undecided voters play every two to four years, depending on the election cycle. Oscar points

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4488985680:00

History of Citizenship Stripping in the United States...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/12/04

Amanda Frost, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and author of "You Are Not American: Citizenship Stripping from Dred Scott to the Dreamers" joins Democracy Nerd to discuss with Jefferson the history of citizenship stripping in the United States. The discussion delves into the intricate history of citizenship stripping, unraveling key legislative acts and Supreme Court cases that have shaped this complex narrative. Along with the landmark Dred Scott

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6832113360:00

What is Going on in Washington? w/ David Smith

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/10/09

David Smith, D.C. Bureau Chief of The Guardian newspaper, joins Democracy Nerd to discuss recent events in Washington D.C. Topics covered include the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker, an event that sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Smith reflects on the steps that led to the first-ever motion to vacate a sitting House Speaker by members of his own party. The move to vacate Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker has highlighted the deep divisions within

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4731313560:00

Making Voting Fun? There's an App for That w/ Sara...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/09/25

Sara Gifford, the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of ActiVote, joins Democracy Nerd to discuss how the app offers a new way to engage people with the democratic process. ActiVote's mission is to make voting not just a civic duty but also an enjoyable and accessible experience, ultimately resulting in more engaged and informed voters. ActiVote was born out of the persistent challenge of low voter turnout and the disconnect many citizens feel from the political

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6115635180:00

The Role of Local Newsrooms in Democracy w/ Sarah...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/09/18

Sarah Alvarez, founder of Detroit-based Outlier Media, and Chris Fitzsimon, publisher of States Newsroom, a national consortium of local newsrooms, join Democracy Nerd for a compelling conversation about how local newsrooms serve as community watchdogs, holding those in power accountable while helping make informed citizens. Local newsrooms are more than just news outlets; they are community builders. They celebrate local successes, cover events, and create spaces for

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5806666860:00

Reviewing the Supreme Court's 2023 Term w/ Joshua...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/09/05

Joshua Douglas, law professor at University of Kentucky and author of the forthcoming "The Voters v. The Court," joins the podcast to shed light on the significant developments and controversies surrounding the Supreme Court's 2023 term, touching on key decisions related to affirmative action, private business discrimination, and democracy. The contentious Students for Fair Admissions decision overturning affirmative action precedent for higher education admissions marks

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4185680880:00

The Intersection Between Emerging Tech and Politics...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/08/28

What role should technology play in our political system? Is the Cambridge Analytica data mining scandal from the 2016 the cynical model that immediately comes to mind when tech and politics is discussed? Or should there be efforts to recapture Barack Obama's spirited use of social media in 2008 to unite a large coalition of disparate activists and voters? And with the recent emergence of AI, what sort of guardrails are needed to ensure the sanctity of our electoral

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8328969720:00

What Do We Owe the Other Side? w/ Robert Talisse

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/08/14

Robert Talisse, professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University and the author of "Sustaining Democracy: What We Owe to the Other Side," joins the podcast to delve into the vital topic of accepting opposing political views as a cornerstone of a strong democracy. Talisse underscores the significance of open dialogue and constructive discourse in a democratic society. A democracy thrives when it fosters an environment where citizens recognize the legitimacy of diverse

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4742573400:00

How Women Will Impact the 2024 Election w/ Lauren Leader

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/07/17

The 2022 midterm elections was the first after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision tossed aside protections for reproductive rights under Roe v. Wade. As a result, women voters decidedly rejected Republican candidates, helping turn a long-assumed projected "red wave" into a "red trickle." As we head into the 2024 presidential election, not much has changed. And according to Lauren Leader, co-founder and CEO of All In Together, women voters are still galvanized and looking

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4575658020:00

How Women Will Impact the 2024 Election w/ Lauren Leader

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/07/17

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4575658020:00

Moore v Harper Democracy is Saved (For Now) w/ Eliza...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/07/10

With its 6-3 ruling in Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court has ruled that the (fringe? debunked?) Independent State Legislature Theory is dead. Eliza Sweren-Becker, Senior Counsel in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, explains how this decision preserves democracy in the United States--at least for now.

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7601177400:00

Felix Frankfurter: "The Most Dangerous Man" in...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/06/12

Recorded on the day that the Supreme Court issued its Allen v. Milligan decision, Brad Snyder, Professor of Law at Georgetown University, joins the podcast to discuss his book "Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court, and the Making of the Liberal Establishment" and explains how the Supreme Court has *always* been "small c" conservative, Justice Frankfurter's commitment to judicial restraint, and also explains why J. Edgar Hoover once called Felix

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6418106760:00

How the Supreme Court Divided America w/ Michael Waldman

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/06/05

Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, discusses his new book "The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America" and explains how the Roberts Supreme Court--instead of serving as a bastion of democracy--has undermined democratic principles through its reactionary and regressive decisions.

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3115668240:00

Know Your Shadowy Cabal: The Council for National...

Democracy Nerd ·

2023/05/15

Anne Nelson, an award-winning journalist, author, and playwright, joins Democracy Nerd to discuss the Council for National Policy, which she initially featured in her 2019 book "Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right." You haven't heard of the Council for National Policy, and have no idea how it impacts your life on a daily basis? Anne Nelson thinks you need to know more about this shadowy cabal--and how it's desperately pulling out all

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