This is Democracy

This week Jeremi and Zachary sit down for an extended discussion on gun violence in America with two guests, Hilary Rand Whitfield and Ed Scruggs. Zachary’s poem for the week is simply titled, “So Many.” Hilary Rand Whitfield is a volunteer state leader for the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Stay-at-home mother of 2 (16yo boy and 13yo girl), and Aus...

Jeremi sits down in an English pub with Professor Charlie Laderman to discuss British-American relations and their effects on the two democracies. Dr. Charlie Laderman is a lecturer in international history at King’s College, London. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Cambridge, and his new book is: Sharing the Burden: Armenia, Humanitarian Intervention and the Search for an Anglo-Ameri...

Zachary sits down with Jeremi and Natalie to discuss the Bombing of Guernica. The trio touch on Picasso’s Guernica and other related pieces of history.

Zachary sits down with Jeremi to discuss George Orwell’s 1938 memoir, Homage to Catalonia , and its accounts of the Spanish Civil War, particularly those in Barcelona.

Jeremi sits down with Zachary and Natalie Suri first in Siena and then Florence, Italy to discuss the Renaissance and republicanism in these historic former city-states.

Jeremi sits down with Alessia Morigi in Rome, Italy, to discuss the origins of democracy and its influences into democracy today. Professor Alessia Morigi is an Associate Professor in Greek and Roman Archeology at the University of Parma, Italy.

Jeremi speaks with Carl Forsberg on how the evolution of foreign policy in Iran affects its relationship with the United States. As always, Zachari sets the scene with his poem, “So Wrong.” Carl Forsberg is an expert on the Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy. He is completing a Ph. D. dissertation at the University of Texas at Austin on the evolution of foreign policy in the region si...

Jeremi sits down with Stephen Ciullo to discuss how citizens with disabilities interact with our democracy and educational system. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Work to Be Done.” Stephen Ciullo (Ph. D.) is an Associate Professor of Special Education at Texas State University. Before joining the faculty at Texas State, Stephen taught special education in Binghamton, NY. He then...

Jeremi sits down with Renee Gadsden on diversity and other ethical issues surrounding college admission in the US. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Knowledge.” Renee Gadsden has been a leader in higher education for nearly a decade. She has worked in admissions for three different private liberal arts colleges, directing and implementing recruitment initiatives and college access...

Jeremi sits down with Robert Campbell to discuss the role of free enterprise in shaping our democracy. As always, Zachary kicks things off with his scene-setting poem, “Ambitions and Reality.” Bob Campbell is a friend and business leader who has effectively straddled the public and private sectors in the US for over 45 years.  Close to home for me, Bob was a very early graduate of the...

In this episode, Jeremi speaks with Patrick Iber about democracy in Latin America. Zachary presents his poem, ” Who Are You.” Patrick Iber is an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Neither Peace nor Freedom: The Cultural Cold War in Latin America, which was published by Harvard University Press in October 2015 and won the 2017 Luci...

What does it mean to have a democracy that is friendly and open to a true diversity of religious beliefs/experiences? Today, Jeremi speaks with Ashlyn Hand, a Ph. D. candidate in the LBJ School, to discuss religion in foreign and domestic politics. This week Zachary recites a poem titled “Life and Death.” Ashlyn is an expert on religion and politics in the United States. She is current...

Today, Jeremi speaks with Professor Peniel Joseph and Celso Baez, III to talk about contemporary segregation in American society, voting and the school system. As always, Zachary recites an original poem, this week is “Overdue.” Celso Baez, III is the Assistant Director of Community Engagement and External Communications for the Austin Independent School District. Professor Peniel Jose...

What are the Lessons for Democracy Today? Jeremi sits down with Professors Tatjana Lichtenstein and Michael Stoff to talk about World War II and its lasting implications on our democracy. As always, Zachary kicks things off with his poem, “Jerusalem.” Tatjana Lichtenstein holds degrees from the University of Toronto (Ph. D.), Brandeis University (MA), and the University of Copenhagen (...

How will this new generation improve American democracy? Zachary presents his poem, “Waiting Room.” Today’s guest is Steven Olikara, Founder and President of the Millennial Action Project. Internationally, Steven has advised two multi-platinum recording artists on youth issues and sustainable energy efforts, including the Akon Lighting Africa initiative that has electrified over...

Anti-Semitism: Where does it come from? What can we do about it? Zachary's poem today is, "Can't feel the raindrops, a song for Pittsburgh 10/27/18." Today's guest on the podcast is Renee Lafair, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League in Austin, Texas. As Director of the Austin regional office of the ADL, Renee Lafair consistently reaches out to diverse populations within Austin to build...

Jeremi sits down with Professor Sumit Guha of University of Texas at Austin to discuss the upcoming democratic elections in India, and the culture of the world's largest democracy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Indian Soul." From 1996 to 1999 Sumit Guha was Professor in the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and moved to the USA in 2000 as S.P. Das Distinguished Professor at Brown Un...

What constitutes a human right? Jeremi has a conversation with Michael Cotey Morgan about human rights on a global scale. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Dream." Michael Cotey Morgan specializes in modern international and global history. His first book, The Final Act: The Helsinki Accords and the Transformation of the Cold War (Princeton University Press, 2018), examines the origins an...

Jeremi talks about the lasting effects of communism and Soviet influence on former Soviet countries and democracy with students, Maya Patel, Matt Maldonado, and Lauren Nyquist. As always, Zachary kicks things off with his poem entitled, "Song of a Post Cold War Child." Maya Patel is working to create a civically engaged campus as the President of TX Votes and the Chair of the Campus Vote Project's...

Where does it come from and what can we do? Jeremi sits down with Augusta Dell'Omo to talk about white supremacy and what it means for our democracy. As always, Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Torches Burning." Augusta Dell’Omo is a doctoral student in History at the University of Texas at Austin. She specializes in U.S. foreign policy during the late Cold War, with a particular focus on U....

How do Americans interact with the wider world? What are the enduring strengths and weaknesses of US foreign policy? Jeremi sits down with Dr. Charles Edel to discuss US foreign policy in a historical context. Zachary kicks it off with his poem entitled, "An Old Forgotten Song." Dr. Edel is the co-author (with Hal Brands) of a major new book, The Lessons of Tragedy: Statecraft and World Order. He...

Dr. Jeremi Suri calls up his colleague Dr. David Fields, a scholar and expert on North Korea to take an even-handed look at the state of the country and how the rest of the world can understand a society that seems so very different from our lives in America, Europe and elsewhere. How do we understand this society and its leadership? What can Americans do to improve relations with North Korea? Wha...

Uses and Abuses by Young People Jeremi sits down with Aurin Bagchi and Lexi Marie Seay to discuss social media and its good and bad effects on young people. Zachary kicks it off with his poem, "A Social Species." Aurin Bagchi is a student at the University of Texas at Austin and is enrolled in Jeremi's History of the United States Since 1865 course. Lexi Marie Seay is a student at Texas State Univ...

New Approaches to Prevention and Prosecution — How can we do better? Hanna Senko is a sexual assault survivor whose case was closed via exceptional clearance by the Austin Police Department. She now serves as a survivor speaker, writer, and advocate fighting for change in the understanding, reporting, and handling of sex crimes. Alison Alter was elected in 2016 as the City Council representative f...

What is it? How are people pursuing it today? This week, Jeremi discusses the American Dream with Professor Samuel J. Abrams. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "After the Dreams." Samuel J. Abrams is professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of a recent study on the topic of the American dream, summarized in the...