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Imagine a new kind of democracy — one that puts governance back in the hands of the people. This is the idea behind political theorist Hélène Landemore's book "Open Democracy." Contemporary representative democracies, like in the United States, are broken, she says, so why not reinvent popular rule? In a conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic,...
We continue to navigate the world and its challenging circumstances using a form of democracy relatively unchanged since the end of the 18th century. Well into the 21st, how can we modernize the way we govern ourselves? Might we put more trust in those that are governed to do the governing, and attempt to transform our democracy into something that is more representative?...
White working-class voters without a college education are most vulnerable to diseases of despair — suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related liver disease — and they are also most likely to have voted for President Trump. This population is deeply concerned about rising health care costs, according to focus groups conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, and more lik...
Since 2016, we’ve watched women rack up unprecedented wins.
Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says serving in city council is the best job in politics.
Donald Trump’s America First philosophy and his retreat from international alliances led pundits to dub Germany’s Angela Merkel the new leader of the free world, but today’s global leadership appears more muddled than ever, especially as Brexit and unrest in Italy threatens the integrity of the European Union. Across the Pacific and Africa, countries are being forced to re...
Health care never stops engendering political debate. Ten states have asked the federal government for the right to impose work requirements on some individuals receiving Medicaid, insurance premiums are expected to rise again this year, and the Affordable Care Act continues to provoke legislative and judicial action. How will all of that influence the upcoming election? L...
Ever wonder what decisions go into the making of a political ad? We’ll talk about the things you see, hear, and read in campaign commercials and think about the way all the elements come together to nudge viewers toward inferences that help—or hurt—candidates. Do political ads really work? Which ones are working in 2016, and why?
Robert Reich live at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Institutions and communities across America are divided over politics, culture, identity, and the overall direction of the country. Are religious congregations any different? How do religious leaders today navigate deeply divisive issues — like the “Muslim ban” and terrorism, new American actions in the Middle East, gay marriage, abortion, the administration’s handling of...
Trust in civic, religious, and academic institutions is at an all-time low in America.
Stephen Colbert says, "Everybody should listen to the Slate 'Political Gabfest.'" Featuring Slate's Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, the Gabfest is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks. Join the show that iTunes listeners voted Favorite Political Podcast, live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, for the...
Whether it's their views on immigration, gun laws, or climate change, young people today are changing the face of politics. Are millennials and post-millennials becoming more progressive, or will they "grow into" conservative views? How might they change the Democratic 2020 primary? And how has their support for Trump changed since 2016? Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican...
Since 2016, we’ve watched women rack up unprecedented wins in statehouses, city halls, and even Congress — and thousands more are throwing their hats into the ring. How did factors like Donald Trump’s win and #MeToo influence this wave, and why does the movement seem to be taking hold now? We’ll take a look at the different governing styles and priorities women exhibit com...
Clint Smith and Reginald Dwayne Betts work at the crossroads of multiple disciplines. Both men have pursued graduate degrees in the Ivy League: Smith is working toward his PhD at Harvard and Betts recently obtained his JD at Yale. But they also stay true to their creative lives, publishing and performing poetry in which they grapple with issues such as politics, inequality...
Since the dawn of the Olympics, sports have been a contest of global powers. Today, how are sports used as a means of conducting foreign policy — for better and for worse?
In just over a decade, John Hickenlooper has gone from a craft-brew entrepreneur to mayor of Denver to governor of Colorado. In conversation with Jane Harman about his new book, The Opposite of Woe, the maverick—and very funny—statesman tells his story of determination and daring. From bouncing back after personal loss to launching a remarkably successful business to landi...
The designers of our democratic republic created a political system and institutions intended to avoid concentrated power, mob rule, and to defuse factions. Is the America we live in today so different from theirs that only fundamental reform can fix what ails us?