The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner

Oregon Health & Science University emergency physician and professor Dr. Esther Choo discusses the required transformation of medical care during the pandemic to improve American public health. 

University of Texas School of Law professor Stephen Vladeck discusses the legitimacy crisis of an extremist Supreme Court out of step with the public and longstanding precedent. 

Civil Rights leader and MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton discusses the mobilization of Black voters and systemic inequity as a closing campaign argument. 

New York NOW host Dan Clark discusses the failure of election reform to ensure early absentee/mail vote counting and the looming election chaos, pandemic resurgence, and economic disaster. 

Democracy Journal editor Michael Tomasky discusses Trump's violation of democratic values and the potential civil unrest during the vote counting and presidential transition.

People's Action director George Goehl discusses the convictions and economic conditions of rural voters in Michigan, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Indiana.

University of Pittsburgh professor and doctor Utibe Essien discusses inequity in the pandemic.

Axios White House correspondent Alayna Treene discusses covering a pandemic-infected White House. 

The New Yorker's Masha Gessen discusses the decline of American democracy and the rise of authoritarianism.

CNN’s Brian Stelter discusses the danger of disinformation on Election Night, Week, and Month.

National Popular Vote founder and chair Dr. John Koza discusses NPV's campaigns in states around the country and how to avoid the undemocratic outcomes of 2016 and 2000 in the future. 

Portland State University Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science dean Richard Corsi discusses the newest developments in our understanding of airborne COVID transmission.

Physician-scientist and author Eric Topol discusses the radical steps required to contain and eliminate the pandemic in the United States.

Kent State University epidemiologist Tara Smith discusses the pandemic and the condition of the public's scientific illiteracy and distrust.

BallotTrax president Steve Olsen discusses his service to help authenticate, track, and confirm receipt of absentee ballots.

Sarah Kendzior and Harry Siegel discuss the first Biden-Trump presidential debate and whether democratic norms can be restored in the United States. 

Resolve to Save Lives CEO Dr. Tom Frieden discusses the short and long-term measures required to defeat the pandemic and enhance the U.S. public health infrastructure.

Yale University immunologist Akiko Iwasaki discusses the science of antibodies and creating an efficacious COVID vaccine. 

The Nevada Independent editor Jon Ralston discusses the 2020 race, the campaign for its six Electoral College votes, and the attempt to delegitimize its voting process.  

Georgetown University McCourt Chair Donald Moynihan discusses Trump's refusal to unblock Twitter users, the repercussions of anti-fact policymaking in the judiciary, and the future of truth and reconciliation for the United States. 

COVID tracker Rebekah Jones discusses Florida's manipulation of pandemic data and the exhaustion of the public. 

Doctor and medical leader Ranu Dhillon discusses responding to the pandemic in its current phase as we anticipate flu season. 

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières executive director Avril Benoit discusses the role of her organization in confronting a worldwide pandemic. 

Former Senate staffer Adam Jentleson discusses how to preserve equilibrium on the Supreme Court and American Democracy.

Election security advocate Jennifer Cohn discusses the importance of a handmarked paper trail, independent election oversight, and being watchful of an authoritarian president and corrupt companies that would steal votes.