Widespread disinformation, the outsized influence of wealth, anti-immigrant biases stoked by those vying for power, and the allure of so-called “strong” leaders have coalesced in an era of U.S. politics where the core of our democracy feels under threat. Does history agree that democracy is at risk now more than ever? And if so, how can we move forward with hope in our institutions and a belief that the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded are worth saving? In the fifth and final episode of our podcast miniseries, “Democracy and Its Discontents,” host Lindsay Shingler is joined Emilie Hafner-Burton and Christina Schneider, who reflect on the state of American democracy and why it is worth protecting.
This episode was recorded on August 27, 2024. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.
