Preserving Democracy: Pursuing a More Perfect Union
Follow the pursuit of democracy from the Revolutionary War through recurring cycles of civil rights progress and backlash, the 2021 Capitol riot and beyond. Explore the impact of voter rights and a civics curriculum on engaged and informed citizens.
Vibes:
Welcome to States of Democracy!
In this new podcast brought to you by PBS/WNET's Preserving Democracy initiative, join host Molly Enking as she speaks with public media reporters in each of our fifty states about local politics, voting measures, and elections.
In this new podcast brought to you by PBS/WNET's Preserving Democracy initiative, join host Molly Enking as she speaks with public media reporters in each of our fifty states about local politics, voting measures, and elections.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Discusses Jan. 6, 2021
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Discusses January 6, 2021 with Margaret Hoover, host of PBS' "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover." He explains that in the days before the deadly riot at the United States Capitol, he was getting death threats and other threatening messages that directly targeted him.
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Discusses January 6, 2021 with Margaret Hoover, host of PBS' "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover." He explains that in the days before the deadly riot at the United States Capitol, he was getting death threats and other threatening messages that directly targeted him.
Democracy is a lot more fragile than many thought
The January 6 Capitol Riots revealed that democracy is more fragile than many realized. Historian Joanne Freeman and journalist Jelani Cobb discuss the ongoing conflicts American democracy faces in the aftermath of those riots.
The January 6 Capitol Riots revealed that democracy is more fragile than many realized. Historian Joanne Freeman and journalist Jelani Cobb discuss the ongoing conflicts American democracy faces in the aftermath of those riots.
American Democracy's “Achilles Heel”
Experts discuss one of American democracy’s biggest vulnerabilities: race relations. This isn’t solely a contemporary tension within our democracy; it’s been present since the founding of the country, then a young nation deeply invested in the slave trade. Racial divisions were written into American laws; racial violence
Experts discuss one of American democracy’s biggest vulnerabilities: race relations. This isn’t solely a contemporary tension within our democracy; it’s been present since the founding of the country, then a young nation deeply invested in the slave trade. Racial divisions were written into American laws; racial violence
“We don't want just the veneer of a democracy”
The U.S. wasn’t the first democracy, nor is it the first nation to have issues with it. Struggles are inherent to the democratic process, experts explain, and America is at a critical turning point. “Very few countries have had stable democratic rule for a long time,” says Princeton
The U.S. wasn’t the first democracy, nor is it the first nation to have issues with it. Struggles are inherent to the democratic process, experts explain, and America is at a critical turning point. “Very few countries have had stable democratic rule for a long time,” says Princeton
America’s long, bitter fight for equal voting rights
Experts discuss the extraordinary tool of accountability voting can be. But for a long time in America, that right was only available to a select group of people—and this was by design. The ability to vote was and is one of the most powerful non-violent tools citizens can use
Experts discuss the extraordinary tool of accountability voting can be. But for a long time in America, that right was only available to a select group of people—and this was by design. The ability to vote was and is one of the most powerful non-violent tools citizens can use
Political violence throughout American history
“Mobs trying to overturn democratic elections are not necessarily new in American history, but it has happened enough that we have to realize it's a symbol of a problem with democracy,” says Columbia University Eric Foner. “Or, a problem with people accepting the legitimacy of everybody having a
“Mobs trying to overturn democratic elections are not necessarily new in American history, but it has happened enough that we have to realize it's a symbol of a problem with democracy,” says Columbia University Eric Foner. “Or, a problem with people accepting the legitimacy of everybody having a
How the two major U.S. political parties formed
President George Washington famously warned against forming political parties, cautioning the nation in his farewell speech as he left office. He predicted that they would sew divisions within America that foreign enemies could manipulate or take advantage of. Today, experts warn of the increasing danger of political parties not immediately
President George Washington famously warned against forming political parties, cautioning the nation in his farewell speech as he left office. He predicted that they would sew divisions within America that foreign enemies could manipulate or take advantage of. Today, experts warn of the increasing danger of political parties not immediately
“Most democracies die at the ballot box”
India, Brazil, Poland, Hungary, Hong Kong, and other states throughout the world have in recent years seen an erosion of democracy as populist leaders take control of countries, both through elections or sometimes through violent coups. “You've seen countries that had tentatively reached towards democracy after the fall
India, Brazil, Poland, Hungary, Hong Kong, and other states throughout the world have in recent years seen an erosion of democracy as populist leaders take control of countries, both through elections or sometimes through violent coups. “You've seen countries that had tentatively reached towards democracy after the fall
Democracy’s strange compromise
Experts discuss how the American Revolution united the states against the common enemy of the British monarchy, versus how Abraham Lincoln’s election and the Civil War brought our democracy and the nation to its brink. “They didn't claim that Lincoln hadn't really won and had
Experts discuss how the American Revolution united the states against the common enemy of the British monarchy, versus how Abraham Lincoln’s election and the Civil War brought our democracy and the nation to its brink. “They didn't claim that Lincoln hadn't really won and had
The “hall of mirrors” of social media and misinformation
As new levels of connectivity impact and distort political conversations and participation, experts examine how new media and social media are changing politics and journalism as we know it. “Conflict and upheaval and even violence, I think, go hand in hand with a kind of lawless informational space where people
As new levels of connectivity impact and distort political conversations and participation, experts examine how new media and social media are changing politics and journalism as we know it. “Conflict and upheaval and even violence, I think, go hand in hand with a kind of lawless informational space where people
Moore v. Harper and 'independent state legislature theory':
A professor from Columbia Law School explains the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Moore v. Harper, a 2023 case that brought a fringe legal theory, the 'independent state legislature theory,' to the nation's highest court. A positive ruling would have had far-reaching implications
A professor from Columbia Law School explains the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Moore v. Harper, a 2023 case that brought a fringe legal theory, the 'independent state legislature theory,' to the nation's highest court. A positive ruling would have had far-reaching implications
What the 2022 midterms say about the state of U.S. democracy
Why do some Americans feel the U.S. political system isn't working for them? Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Dr. Archon Fung joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how to restore faith in our electoral system, what questions the media should ask voters and politicians during election
Why do some Americans feel the U.S. political system isn't working for them? Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Dr. Archon Fung joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how to restore faith in our electoral system, what questions the media should ask voters and politicians during election
What do the Jan. 6th attacks tell us about our democracy?
On the two year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, Yale historian Joanne Freeman reflects on the enduring legacy left behind by the attack on the Capitol, and what it means for our democracy now: "What the lying did, what the erosion of faith in the democratic process did,
On the two year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, Yale historian Joanne Freeman reflects on the enduring legacy left behind by the attack on the Capitol, and what it means for our democracy now: "What the lying did, what the erosion of faith in the democratic process did,
How can American democracy work better for "Busy People"?
We sit down with Kevin Elliot, professor at Yale University and author of the new book "Democracy for Busy People," to discuss possible fixes to make our democracy more inclusive and accessible for all voters. From large-scale concepts like mandatory voting in Australia or ranked-choice voting in Alaska
We sit down with Kevin Elliot, professor at Yale University and author of the new book "Democracy for Busy People," to discuss possible fixes to make our democracy more inclusive and accessible for all voters. From large-scale concepts like mandatory voting in Australia or ranked-choice voting in Alaska