This is Democracy

Jeremi, Zachary, and Dr. Garret J. Martin discuss the recent German election of chancellor Olaf Scholz last November. What could Germany's new, center-left government mean for global democracy? Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Not Just Us". Dr. Garret J. Martin is a Senior Professorial Lecturer and the Co-Director of the Transatlantic Policy Center in the School of International Service at A...

Today on This is Democracy , Jeremi and Zachary talk with Dr. Michael Kimmage about the current crisis between Russia and the Ukraine and how it will influence US politics. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Most Careful Stalemate." Dr. Michael Kimmage is a professor of history at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is also a fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and chai...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with Dr. Sarah Coleman about the history of United States immigration policy in the 20th century and onwards. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "To the Immigrant that Waits at the Border Station." Sarah Coleman is a historian of 20th century America at Texas State University. Her research is focused on immigration, race, and rights in the United States....

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Dr. Andrew Waxman to discuss the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled " As if Looking Backwards Through a Telescope ". Andrew Waxman is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. His research examines...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Renee Lafair and Dr. Alison Alter to discuss Anit-Semitism and other forms of hate in response to the arson attempt that occurred at Congregation Beth Israel Halloween night. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled " Our Knots ". Renee Lafair is the Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Austin, Texas.  Dr. Alison Alter repr...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Dr. Nelson Lichtenstein to discuss the history of work and labor organization in the United States. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled " Soon to be But Not Yet " Nelson Lichtenstein is Distinguished Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There he directs the Center for the Study of Work, Labor, and Democracy...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guest Dr. Mark Moffett about human biology and how it affects the development of societies. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled " You Don't Really Wish You Were on a Mountainside " Called “the Indiana Jones of entomology” by the National Geographic Society, Dr. Mark Moffett is a modern-day explorer with more than a little luck on his...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guest Dr. Mark Atwood Lawrence about the Vietnam War and its continuing legacies in American society, global policy, as well as recent similar conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “It is Hard to Build Utopias”. Mark Atwood Lawrence is Director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas. Until...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guests Dyana Limon-Mercado, and Sarah Wheat about how women are responding to the latest abortion restrictions in Texas. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “About Freedom”. Dyana Limon-Mercado is Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. Sarah Wheat is Chief External Affairs Officer at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas. This ep...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guest, Dr. Sheila Olmstead about climate change, the environment, and how the pandemic has exacerbated and changed our policies in handling it. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Fuelless”. Dr. Sheila Olmstead is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, a University Fellow at Resources for the Future...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guests, Dr. James Goldgeier and Dr. Joshua Shifrinson, about NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and discuss why the alliance exists, the roll it has played, and how we should think about the alliance's future. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Transatlantic Elegy”. James Goldgeier is a Professor of International Relations and serve...

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary talk with special guest, Jeffrey Rathke, about the upcoming elections in Germany and what implications they could have for politics within Germany, the European Union, and the United States. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, “Something We Should Remember Having Done.” Jeffrey Rathke is the President of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies a...

In today's episode, Jeremi and Zachary have the opportunity to talk with special guests Steven Nadler and Lawrence Sharpiro. They discuss their exciting new book:  When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People as well as the topic of moving towards a more open, evidence based, and logical form of thinking in society. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Apparition". Steven Nadler is Vilas Researc...

Jeremi and Zachary, with special guest, Professor Stephen Vladeck, discuss the Shadow Docket in response to the recent controversial Texas Law that largely restricts access to Abortion. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Right to Choose". Stephen I. Vladeck holds the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law and is a nationally recognized expert o...

Jeremi and Zachary, with special guest, Prof. B. Venkat Mani, discuss the refugee crisis in reaction to recent events in Afghanistan Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Airplane With the City Clinging to its Wheels". B. Venkat Mani is a Professor of German and World Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is also a Senior Fellow in Race, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity. He wa...

Jeremi and Zachary, with special guest, Steven Pedigo, discuss the results of the recently published U.S. Census and what it means for society. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "It Is A True Sonnet". Steven Pedigo is a Professor of Practice at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and the inaugural director of the LBJ Urban Lab. Pedigo has advise...

Jeremi and Zachary, with their guest Steve Sonnenberg, discuss the topic of mental health during the global pandemic. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "In the Park with the Wide Fountain".  Steve Sonnenberg, MD, is a psychiatrist and medical humanities and ethics scholar. He serves as professor and associate chair for education in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at D...

Jeremi and Zachary, with their guest Shoshana Krieger discuss the challenges in finding affordable rent in big cities. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "They Say a House is Just a Metaphor".  Shoshana Krieger is the Project Director of Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. BASTA organizes Austin renters to work with their neighbors to ensure that...

Jeremi and Zachary, with guest Dr. Christopher McKnight Nichols, draw upon perceptions of historical pandemics to learn how our nation can move beyond COVID-19. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "This Peaceful Dawn". Christopher McKnight Nichols is Director of the Center for the Humanities and the Sandy and Elva Sanders Eminent Professor in the Honors College at Oregon State University, where...

Jeremi and Zachary, with guest Alan McPherson, discuss what we can learn from the long history of democratic efforts in Cuba, and how many of them were caused by America's foreign policy. Zachary sets the scene with his poem titled "Certainly Probable". Alan McPherson is Professor of History and Director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy at Temple University. He has written and ed...

Jeremi, Zachary, and guests Drs. Robert Edelman and David McDonald discuss the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, and the politics attached to the international sports competition. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "They say that sport unites the world". Robert Edelman is Professor of Russian History and the History of Sport at the University of California, San Diego. He has written four books including...

This week, Jeremi and Zachary talk with Wendy Davis and Eric Cervini about their perspective on voter intimidation, and their lived experience with the "Trump Train" incident in 2020. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "I Knew We Had Arrived". Wendy Davis represented the 10th district in the Texas Senate from 2009 to 2015. She was previously on the Fort Worth City Council. Wendy Davis was servi...

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with their guest, Nataliya Gumenyuk about the challenges, struggles, and opportunity for democracy in the Ukraine. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Peace; the Privilege, the Chore". Nataliya Gumenyuk is a Ukrainian author, documentary filmmaker, and journalist. She specializes in conflict reporting, human rights, and foreign affairs. Gumenyuk is a founder...

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with Dr. Allison Gill about democracy activism and her efforts in exposing lies and keeping people updated in ongoing news while preserving the facts. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Mi Chamocha." Allison Gill is a veteran, a Ph. D., a former federal government executive, a comedian, an author, and a staunch advocate for the democratic resistance. Her mis...

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with Dr. Lorinc Redei about the change that has occured within the European Union. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "What Becomes of a Continent." Dr. Lorinc Redei is a professor at the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin, where he serves as the graduate advisor for the Global Policy Studies Program. He previously served as a press officer in th...