This is Democracy

Jeremi and Zachary, with guest Dr. Vaneesa Cook, discuss the Port Huron Statement, and the shifting ideals of democracy in America. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Port Huron Revisited." Vaneesa Cook received her PhD in US history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015. She is the author of Spiritual Socialists: Religion and the American Left. Her articles on the history of social...

Jeremi and Zachary speak with Augusta Dell’Omo about right wing extremism and right wing militias in American society. Zachary sets the scene with his poem titled, "Aron Gridinger and I survived." Augusta Dell'Omo is a Ph. D. candidate in history at the University of Texas at Austin. She specializes in U.S. foreign policy and race in international relations from the late Cold War to the present. F...

Jeremi and Zachary speak with Ruth Hargrove about deportations of asylum seekers coming into the U.S. Zachary sets the scene with his poem titled, “Anius Meanwhile, Climbs the Rock”. Ruth Hargrove is a professor at California Western School of Law. She runs a pro bono practice representing domestic violence victims, students in disciplinary matters, and tenants in landlord/tenant claims. She retir...

Jeremi and Zachary speak with Jillian Smith and Eli Alter about what it's like for first-time voters during the presidential election and what role voting plays as our society continues to evolve. Zachary sets the scene with his poem "I Remember when I was Four". Jillian Smith is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin. Eli Alter is a senior at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

Jeremi and Zachary speak with Professor Paul Stekler about the way media has covered the U.S. 2020 Election as well as prior election seasons and how the history of media coverage has played a role in the way it is done in this election season. Zachary first sets the scene with his poem titled "Water Balloons". Professor Paul Stekler holds the Wofford Denius Chair in Entertainment Studies at the U...

Jeremi and Zachary speak with Dr. Susan Neiman about the role of historical memory in addressing past injustices. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Herbst ich erinnere mich", or "Fall I Remember". Susan Neiman is Director of the Einstein Forum in Berin, Germany. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Neiman studied philosophy at Harvard and the Freie Universität Berlin, and was professor of philosophy at...

Jeremi and Zachary discuss the role of dissent, specifically whistleblowers, in US national security and defense, with Hannah Gurman and Kaeten Mistry. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Cross of Gold". Hannah Gurman teaches U.S. history and American Studies at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She is the author of The Dissent Papers: The Voices of Diplomats in the Cold War and Be...

Jeremi, Zachary, and guest Ali Soufan, discuss the effectiveness of the FBI's interrogation techniques from before and after the war in Iraq. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Do Not Turn from the Bruises that We Bare." Ali Soufan is a former FBI special agent and lead investigator on some of the world’s most complex international terrorism cases. He is the chairman and CEO of The Soufan Grou...

Jeremi, Zachary, and guest Lata N. Reddy, discuss the intersection between business and social justice, as well as the need for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Dream." Lata N. Reddy is senior vice president of  Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial and chair of The Prudential Foundation. In these roles, Reddy harnesses the power of capital...

Jeremi and Zachary, with Stephen Vladeck, discuss the current nomination controversies in the Supreme Court, and the relevance of the courts to the youth today. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "By Allergy and Allegory." 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 on the federal courts,...

Jeremi hosts a roundtable discussion about the protests in Belarus Zachary sets the scene with his poem, ”Speaking of the Hurricane.” Nataly (Natalia) Yagur, born and raised in Belarus, has been a US resident since 2010. She holds a BS in Economics from Belarusian State University and an MS in Statistics from Texas A&M University. She has been the Community Coordinator for Belarusians in Austi...

Jeremi and Zachary meet with Fredrik Logevall to learn how President JFK's legacy influences our politics today. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Ghost of JFK." Fredrik Logevall is the Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and Professor of History, Harvard University. Logevall is the author or editor of ten books, most recently...

On this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi speaks with guest Dr. Nicole Hemmer on the growing right-wing voices in mainstream American media. Zachary sets the stage with his poem, "The Wise Man Addresses the Masses." Nicole Hemmer is an associate research scholar with the Obama Presidency Oral History project. A political historian specializing in media, conservatism, and the far-right, Hemmer i...

On this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi speaks with guest Steven Olikara on the role of race in the politics of the Midwest as it relates to the current political climate Steven Olikara is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the Founder and President of the Millennial Action Project. Internationally, Steven has advised two multi-platinum recording artists on youth issues and sustainable e...

On this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi brings on guest Ian Buruma to discuss the lasting legacy of Winston Churchill as it relates to our current political climate. To set the scene, Zachary reads his poem entitled, "The Greeks have Seceded from the Continent." Ian Buruma is a leading writer about recent history, politics, human rights, democracy, and international affairs. He is a prolific...

To honor the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, Jeremi brings on Dr. Lisa Tetrault to discuss the untold history and the memory of the intersectional struggle for women's suffrage that continues in the form of voter disenfranchisement today. To set the scene, Zachary reads his poem entitled, "The Pained Footsteps." Dr. Lisa Tetrault is an associate professor of history at Carnegie Mellon Uni...

Jeremi and Zachary host a panel of historians Don Carleton, Michael Stoff, and Ben Wright, to discuss the lasting effects of the United States' atomic bombings on Japan in WWII. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Awaiting the Apocalypse." Don Carleton is a historian and founding director of the Briscoe Center for American History at UT-Austin. He is the author of 12 books, including Red Scare,...

In episode 109 of This is Democracy, Jeremi brings on Michele Deitch to discuss criminal justice and prison reform in light of BLM protests and COVID-19. To set the scene, Zachary shares his poem entitled, "The Difference Between the One and the Other." Michele Deitch is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience working on criminal justice and juvenile justice policy issues with state and...

In this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary talk with professor in law Stephen Vladeck about federalism and the recent focus on protests and law enforcement in Portland. Zachary sets the scene with his poem, entitled "Still." Stephen I. Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) is the A. Dalton Cross Professor in Law at the University of Texas School of Law and a nationally recognized expert on the fe...

On episode 107 of This is Democracy, Jeremi brings on Dr. Julian Zelizer to discuss the divisive partisanship in politics and the some of the roots of today's radical conservative movement. To set the scene, Zachary reads his poem entitled, "The Sour Grapes." Julian E. Zelizer is one of the leading experts on modern American political history. He is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Prof...

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,...