This is Democracy

In this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary talk with Ilan Stavans about our Southern border and how our society, language, and culture are formed at the divide of the United States and Mexico. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, entitled "Where the River Once Unfurled." Ilan Stavans is one of today’s preeminent essayists, cultural critics, and translators. He is Lewis-Sebring Profe...

Today, Jeremi talks with Professor Michelle Nickerson about the historical and ideological roots of Sunbelt politics in the United States. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, entitled "Sonnet for the Sunbelt." Michelle Nickerson is associate professor of history at Loyola University of Chicago.  She teaches the history of American politics, women and gender, cities, and religion.  Nick...

Today, Jeremi talks with author James K. Boyce about climate change, carbon emissions, and the ways in which our society addresses these issues. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Chasing Windmills." James K. Boyce is an author and senior fellow at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His most recent books are The Case for Carbon Dividends (publi...

Today, Jeremi talks with Professor Richard Reddick about the lasting legacy of the Civil War, diving into the implications of Confederate statues and monuments that are being torn down around the country today. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Today the Pedestals are Empty." Professor Richard J. Reddick is the inaugural associate dean for equity, community engagement, and outreach for the Co...

Today, Jeremi talks with John McWilliams about the history of race in our schools and institutions, and namely how we as citizens can push the conversation of racism forward to produce positive change in the world. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Soiled.” John McWilliams is the Head of School at Montgomery Academy, in Montgomery, Alabama. The Montgomery Academy is a K–12, co-ed,...

Today, Jeremi talks with Paul Edgar about the complex and evolving relationship between the US Armed Forces and the citizens it aims to protect. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “They Were Supposed to be Us, We Were Supposed to be Them.” Paul Edgar is the Associate Director of the William P. Clements, Jr. Center for National Security at the University of Texas-Austin. He holds a P...

Jeremi and Zachary Suri celebrate 100 episodes of This is Democracy by revisiting its foundations in President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speeches. Zachary opens with his poem, "The Better Angels."

Jeremi speaks with Richard R. John about the role that the post office has served American Democracy Zachary sets the scene with his poem, ” Delivering Freedom, Save the Post Office.” Richard R. John is a professor of history and communications at Columbia University, where he teaches in the Ph. D. program in communications at the Columbia School of Journalism. He teaches courses in th...

Jeremi talks with Ken Greenberg about urban planning and cities. They touch on various topics including the power within cities and the difficulties faced during and after a pandemic. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Actualizing Emerald City.” Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, and former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto. For ove...

Jeremi and Yong Suk Lee discuss North Korea and its relationship with the United States. Zachary presents his scene-setting poem, “Painting Ourselves Green.” Yong Suk Lee is an East Asia specialist with 22 years of service in the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Lee started his career in 1997 as an analyst and served in multiple leadership roles as a Senior Intelligence Service officer...

Jeremi meets with Dr. Peniel Joseph to discuss the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on minority communities and how the virus exposes the racial disparities that society has yet to face. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Since ’65.” Peniel Joseph holds a joint professorship appointment at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Libera...

Jeremi meets with Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller and Dr. Robert Citino to discuss lessons and legacies on the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “And to Dust, We Shall Return.” Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller is a distinguished historian and former Vice-Chancellor at the University of New Orleans. He was the Founding President and CE...

Jeremi talks with Sheena Greitens about US and China relations in regards to how China’s surveillance technologies, open market, and patriotic nationalism influence foreign policy today. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “A Superpower Scorned.” Sheena Chestnut Greitens will join the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Clements Center for National Security at the University o...

Jeremi talks with Samuel J. Abrams about his new article, and how his research is pointing to a camaraderie across multiple generations of Americans against the pandemic. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Noticing Each Other.” Samuel J. Abrams is a professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Most recently, he is the...

Jeremi meets with Lawrence Wright to discuss the parallels between the pandemic and his new book. They also find an inspired, positive perspective on how the youth can see this situation as a moment for monumental change. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Where did the books go?” Lawrence Wright is one of the leading writers in America today, and the author of a major new novel ab...

Jeremi sits down with Dr. Stephen M. Sonnenberg to discuss how to deal with and maintain mental health in unprecedented times. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “For the Healers.” Dr. Stephen M. Sonnenberg is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Dell Medical School and a Professor of Instruction at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and the School of Undergraduate Studies at the Uni...

Jeremi sits down with Abraham Newman and Henry Farrell to talk about the effects of COVID-19 on our global world and how it will potentially change our democracy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Linked.” Abraham Newman is Professor of Government in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  He is the Director of the Mortara Center for Internati...

Jeremi and Lieutenant Richard Mack discuss what it’s like for those who work in the front lines responding to and helping citizens in dealing with this current pandemic Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Silence and Sound.” Richard Mack is a lieutenant in the New York Police Department, where he has served for almost twenty-five years. He is currently a Platoon Commander in the Strategic Respo...

Jeremi sits down with Dr. Paul von Hippel to talk about education equality in the strange online reality we currently live in. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Hologram Semester.” Dr. Paul von Hippel is an associate professor of public policy, sociology, statistics and data science at the University of Texas at Austin, best known for his work on summer learning, summer weight gai...

Jeremi and Zachary have a chat on the web with Neta Crawford and Catherine Lutz about the government’s response to Covid-19 pandemic. What are the effects and repercussions of treating the coronavirus like a war enemy to generate awareness, collect responsibility and resources to fight the ongoing pandemic? Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Carpet Bombing Disease.” Neta C. C...

Jeremi and Zachary have a chat on the web with Dr. Miha Vindis and Lance McNeill about crowdsourcing. What are the positives and negatives of the power to raise funds through social media at lightning speed? Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “The Pockets of the People.” Miha Vindis is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin where he teaches graduate and undergraduate cours...

Jeremi sits down with Adam Tooze to discuss the affects of Coronavirus on the global and U.S. economy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Fallen.” Adam Tooze is the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History at Columbia University. He is a leading economic historian and expert on the contemporary global economy. He is the author of numerous prize-winning book: Statis...

Jeremi sits down with Deborah Grayson Riegel to discuss our varying relationships with humor and how humor helps us in tragedy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “The Ones Who Live.” Deborah Grayson Riegel is an executive coach, speaker, instructor, and writer who helps leaders and teams communicate and present more effectively. She has served as an instructor of Management Communi...

Zachary and Jeremi sit down to discuss the current and future economic impacts of the novel coronavirus. Zachary kicks it off with his original poem, “The Pestilence Depression.”

Recording live from the Suri household in Austin, TX on Monday, March 16 to discuss what history may teach us about how to handle the COVID-19 outbreak in a responsible, humane way. Poetry by Zachary, “Invisible Fires.”