Democracy Nerd

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 Steve...

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 Jo...

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 betwee...

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 k...

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 re...

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 experi...

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...

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 Cou...

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 t...

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...

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 build...

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 Admission...

In this episode, the intersection between emerging technology and the world of politics is explored. Matt Krayton, owner and principal of Publitics consulting firm, guides us through the implications, both positive and negative, of technology's evolving role in shaping political landscapes. As technology continues to evolve, so does the complexity of its impact. Krayton raises concerns about t...

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...

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...

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.

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&#39...

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.

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...

Have you ever thought "Maybe *I* should run for office?" If so, then Amanda Litman has some advice for you: do it. Amanda co-founded Run For Something on Trump's inauguration day in 2017, with a goal to help progressive candidates get elected into office. Amanda joins the program to discuss the history of the organization and offer key advice to first-time candidates.

Author Paul Street joins the podcast to discuss his tenth book, "This Happened Here: Amerikaners, Neoloberals and the Trumping of America." Although those who warned that Trump would usher in an era of acceptable fascism were met with scorn or ridicule, Paul points out that they were correct. And may require a people-powered movement beyond the ballot box to ensure that Trump-branded fas...

In this excerpt as guest host of the Thom Hartmann Show, Jefferson speaks with Professor Nolan Higdon, author of "The Anatomy of Fake News" and "Let's Agree to Disagree: A Critical Thinking Guide to Communication, Conflict Management, and Critical Media Literacy," about historic examples of fake news, how to take steps to spot and resist fake news, and why four minutes take...

Francisco Perez, Associate Professor Economics at the University of Utah, joins the podcast to discuss his essay "How Do We Build Back Black Wealth? Understanding the Limits of Black Capitalism," pointing out that a racially-diverse oligarchy is not the ideal end result for the purposes of economic and racial justice.

In this segment filling in as guest host for the Thom Hartmann Program, Jefferson speaks with Adam Berinsky, the director of MIT's Political Experiments Research Lab, who provides a primer on political disinformation & misinformation, including how each term is defined and also what (if anything) can be done to stop the spread of political disinformation & misinformation.

Filling in as guest host for The Thom Hartmann Program, Jefferson speaks with Grace Adcox, Polling Analyst for Data for Progress, who parses the data showing bipartisan support from voters for President Biden's legislative agenda, including the protection--even expansion--of Social Security. Little wonder Ron DeSantis keeps talking about "stopping woke," whatever that means.