Claim OwnershipDemocracy Deciphered
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© Shannon Lynch, New America
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Welcome to Democracy Deciphered, the podcast that untangles the complex threads of today's political landscape. Presented by New America, each episode delivers real-time and historical analysis of the biggest stories shaping our democracy. We dive deep into the systems that govern us—like the electoral college, political parties, and more—breaking them down to reveal how they affect the decisions you care about.
16 Episodes
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How did government shutdowns become such a recurring feature of American politics? Why do they happen, and what can history teach us about the latest one? New America's Mark Schmitt shares his insight.
Data can expose injustice, but it can also be turned into a tool of control. How do we know when data collection is helpful and when it becomes surveillance? In this episode, Sydney Saubestre of New America discusses the risks and benefits of data, lessons from history, and their implications for democracy today.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are on the table. To understand what’s at stake, we need to look not just at today’s negotiations but also at the long and tangled history behind these two countries. New America’s Candace Rondeaux and Ben Dalton explain how we got here and what it means for the talks unfolding now.
How do ordinary citizens get legislative measures on the ballot? What threats are being made to the process? Maresa Strano of New America and Chris Melody Fields Figueredo from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center share a breakdown. Learn more by reading New America's report Expanding Citizen-Led Policymaking in the Twenty-First Century.
Where is AI already shaping government decisions, and how might it be used in the future? Lilian Coral of New America and Amen Ra Mashariki of the Bezos Earth Fund explore the past, present, and future of how governments use AI.
How have our shared visions of American ideals influenced the meaning of patriotism? How has this definition evolved over time? Ted Johnson from New America delves into the complexities of American patriotism.The archival audio at the top of the episode is from the National Archives catalog.
Juneteenth is a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the US. What's the origin story behind the holiday? And how has the media shaped Americans' understanding of Juneteenth? New America's Maika Moulite and Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber from the University of the District of Columbia share their expertise.
Do you have student loan debt? Do you or someone you love plan to go to college in the future? If so, you may want to pay attention to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which could fundamentally change how Americans afford college. New America's Antoinette Flores breaks it all down.Flores is the Director of Higher Education Accountability and Quality in the Higher Education initiative at New America, where she works to advance federal policies to increase accountability, quality, and equity in higher education.
What actions did the Trump administration take regarding tech policy in its first 100 days? Lilian Coral (New America), Cody Venzke (ACLU), Neil Chilson (Abundance Institute), and Shane Tews (American Enterprise Institute) discuss.
Over 4 million American adults cannot vote due to a felony record. How did these laws come to be? And how do we see their widespread effects on our government? Keri Blakinger and Blair Bowie discuss.Learn more and get resources from the Campaign Legal Center.
Where does gerrymandering come from? How has the Supreme Court ruled on this matter? And what attempts have been made to change the practice of gerrymandering?One Person, One Vote: A Surprising History of Gerrymandering in America, breaks down the history and future of partisan redistricting.
Over the past half-century, we've seen a significant re-alignment among working-class voters. How did we get here? And who were the players behind the scenes? Tim Shenk, author of Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics, joins New America's Mark Schmitt to discuss.
In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington warned his fellow countrymen of the dangers of political parties. Almost 230 years later, the two-party system steers nearly every aspect of our government. How did we get here? New America's Lee Drutman and Stanford's Didi Kuo join us to discuss the history of political parties and where they may be headed in years to come.
A month after Election Day, New America's Maresa Strano (Deputy Director of the Political Reform program) and Mark Schmitt (director of the Political Reform program) share insights on recently-decided races, Trump's cabinet picks, and money in politics.
What exactly is the Electoral College, and how has this unpopular system survived for centuries? Alexander Keyssar from Harvard and Oscar Pocasangre from New America explain the history and future of the system we use to elect our presidents.
Welcome to New America's new podcast, Democracy Deciphered. This series will untangle the complex threads of today's political landscape through real-time and historical analysis.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 election, New America's Maresa Strano and Mark Schmitt share their insights on the results. Mark is the Director of the Political Reform program and Maresa is the Deputy Director.
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