This is Democracy

Clarence Moses-El was wrongfully convicted and served 28 years in prison. Clarence will discuss his experiences in the criminal justice system — his imprisonment and his efforts to seek justice; Eric Klein will discuss his role as an attorney for the wrongfully accused. Zachary recites, "So Long."

This week, Paul Stekler returns to the podcast to discuss the government shutdown and the media's response to it. Zachary delights with his absurdist poem, "Golden Toilet Sank the Titanic." Paul Stekler is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and founder of the Center for Politics and Governance at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. His film work includes “George Wallace: Set...

How Do We Get Them to Vote and Participate More?  Jeremi sits down with Pam Bixby to discuss the issue of getting young people to the polls. Zachary recites his poem entitled, "If Not For Tomorrow." Pam Bixby is a communications professional whose current job as the Director of External Relations for the National Trauma Institute pays the bills. A passionate volunteer and nonprofit leader, she has...

What are the problems with the current system and how can we reform it? Jeremi talks prison reform with Michele Deitch and how the current system can be improved. Zachary kicks off the episode with his poem, "Roll Me Away." Michele Deitch is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience working on criminal justice and juvenile justice policy issues with state and local government off...

What are the challenges for prospective politicians in 2019? What are the opportunities for change? Jeremi sits down with Bryan Jones and discusses what 2019 has in store for our democracy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Reflections on the New Year, 2019." Bryan Jones, an entrepreneur and technologist, has started several companies and been issued multiple technology-based patents. In addi...

This episode reprises many of the voices on our podcast from 2018 to emphasize the vibrance, diversity, resilience, and idealism of our democracy today. We are on the cusp of a moment of democratic renewal, and our podcast guests exemplify the bright future of reform in front of us. As Franklin Roosevelt advised in a prior moment of democratic renewal, our young citizens are writing the new chapte...

This week Jeremi sits down in conversation with Ann Howard, Executive Director of Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) to discuss homelessness. How do we understand the problem? What can we do as a society? Zachary Suri's original poem, "Trees, Sleep and a Cold Christmas" sets the scene. Ann Howard is the first Executive Director of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition in Aus...

What have we learned about health care policy? What are reform pathways forward? Dr. Suri discusses with Dr. Stephen Sonnenberg how a healthy society makes for a healthy democracy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Dear Doctor." Stephen Sonnenberg has served as clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine, adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry at Corn...

How are communities and democracies affected by the changing global environment? Dr. Suri talks with professor Sheila Olmstead on the lasting effects climate change will have on government policies, and human lives around the world. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “So Fluorescently Away.” Sheila Olmstead is a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The Univer...

What are the historical challenges of democratization in the Middle East? What are the possibilities? Dr. Suri, and Ph. D. candidate Emily Whalen, discuss why global perceptions can be damaging, and how the countries that comprise the Middle East could move towards a true democracy. Zachary sets up the conversation with his poem, “The Last Time I Cried For The Middle East.” Emily Whale...

What are the legacies of the Great War for our world today? How can we avoid another terrible war in the 21st century? Dr. Suri talks with University of Texas history professor Michael Stoff about World War I, and what United States citizens should do to stay informed and care for its veterans. This episode opens with a reading of T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men” by Tom O’Bedl...

What did the 2018 elections mean? What are the results and why do they matter? Dr. Suri sits down with Bryan Jones and James Henson to deconstruct the results, bring context to them and look forward to 2019 and beyond. Bryan Jones, an entrepreneur and technologist, has started several companies and been issued multiple technology-based patents. In addiction to being the founder and CEO of Str...

This week, Jeremi meets with UT freshman Juliet Suarez and first time voter Jillian B. Smith. They discuss the importance of voting in the midterm elections, and how the right to vote could extend further to all U.S. residents in the future. Zachary sets up the interview with his poem, “Vote for Me.” Juliet Suarez is a Mexican citizen who has lived in Texas for the past 10 years. She i...

How has Congress changed in the last few decades? How can new, young leaders (hopefully elected this November) reform Congress to serve our democracy better? This week, Jeremi talks to domestic policy specialist and LBJ School professor, Ruth Ellen Wasem. They discuss how Congress could adapt to a changing political climate, and if it truly represents U.S. voters. Zachary sets up the interview wit...

How has media coverage of politics changed in the last 30 years? How can it change for better in the future? Jeremi Suri sits down with renowned film producer Paul Stekler to get an expert opinion about how drastically American media has changed over the past decades – but also in many ways how it has remained the same. Zachary Suri sets up the interview with his poem, “Seasons of Knowing.&#...

This week’s topic covers the Supreme Court and Democracy. How has the the Supreme Court contributed to and detracted from American democracy? What are the prospects for the coming years? Zachary begins with a scene-setting poem, “Closing the Tab.” Sanford Levinson, who holds the W. St. John Garwood and W. St. John Garwood, Jr. Centennial Chair in Law, joined the University of Tex...

Dr. Suri spends today’s episode with Sean Hassan and Alison Tate discussing Catholicism, Islam, and how to represent communities of minority faiths – particularly in Texas, where leadership roles are usually held by people of the majority holding traditional Christian beliefs. Zachary Suri recites his poem “An American Jew.” Alison Tate serves the Catholic Church in twenty-five c...

Jeremi sits down with Professor Aaron O’Connell to discuss the evolving identity of America’s military from 1776 to the present day. Zachary Suri reads an original poem, “America.” Aaron O’Connell joined the faculty of UT Austin from Washington D.C., where he served in the Obama Administration as Director for Defense Policy & Strategy on the National Security Council. P...

Dr. Jeremi Suri speaks with Augusta Dell’Omo and Chris Rose of the University of Texas at Austin about gender. As always, Zachary Suri reads an original poem, “A Rochester Summer.” 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.S.-South African re...

Dr. Suri has an extended conversation this week with Dr. Peniel Jospeh about race, Black Lives Matter, the post-Civil Rights era, and how to remain optimistic. Zachary Suri reads an original poem, “Vicksburg to Montgomery to Chapel Hill.” Peniel Joseph holds a joint professorship appointment at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal A...

Natalie Suri joins Jeremi in the studio today to discuss the role of athletes, sports and competition in the realm of democracy. In the wake of Kaepernick’s Nike advertising deal, Naomi Osaka’s victory over Serena Williams at the US Open, and Lebron James’ criticism of the Trump Administration, a national conversation has opened up about the role of sports in politics. The two al...

This week Dr. Suri speaks Sophie Wysocki and Meena Anderson to discuss the importance for young citizens to be politically aware and engage in democratic resolution. Zachary Suri reads an original poem, “If I’m Lost.” Sophie Wysocki is a senior at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. She’s been involved in a variety of different activities throughout her l...

This week Dr. Suri speaks with Amber Pleasant and Melissa Scheinfeld to discuss educating citizenship. Zachary Suri also reads his original poem, “With Every Breath.” Amber Pleasant is an Austin educator. She spent nine years teaching 3rd-8th grade in local public schools. For the past four years, Amber worked for Austin ISD as a Social and Emotional Learning Specialist. She is the cur...

How should young citizens blend their traditional spiritual values with their strong commitments to progressive change in a time when our polarized politics demand that they choose one or the other? How can young, talented, patriotic citizens make a difference in national policy as they pursue ideas for reform? We will discuss these difficult and important questions with a young woman who is worki...

In this inaugural episode of This is Democracy, Dr. Jeremi Suri sits down with his son, Zachary Suri, to lay out the groundwork for what this podcast hopes to achieve. They begin by reviewing President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s November 2, 1940 speech in Cleveland, Ohio. Roosevelt declares that, “We Americans of today—all of us—we are characters in this living book of democracy.” J...