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2020

November 20 -- Election Reflections 2020

This episode was pre-recorded on November 19. No listener calls were taken.

“There's no such thing as a vote that doesn't matter." Barack Obama

We will talk about the November 3 general election, what just happened here in Maine and around the country, what went right, what went wrong, and what it says about the future of our democracy.

Special Guests:

Shelly Crosby, Orono Town Clerk and the President of the Maine Town and City Clerks Association
Matt Dunlap, Maine Secretary of State
Amy Fried, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine
Jill Goldthwait, Award-winning columnist for the Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander, and former independent Maine State Senator
Meg McCormick, Maine Director & New England Coordinator, Campus Election Engagement Project.

Key Topics:

What went right; what went wrong in Maine?
Were there any surprises?
What about turnout? Was overall participation high? Were there any changes in who showed up?
What was the effect of COVID on turnout and operations? Do you think some of those changes are here to stay?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Half of Americans Don’t Vote. What Are They Thinking? Colin Woodard in Politico, February 2020
College Students, Voting and the COVID-19 Election, Knight Foundation, August 2020
The 100 Million Project: The Untold Story of American Non-Voters, Knight Foundation
Polarization and the Politics of Personal Responsibility. Jeffrey M. Stonecash and Mark D. Brewer 2015
In Suspense: Donald Trump’s Efforts to Undermine Public Trust in Democracy, Amy Fried and Donald B. Harris, October, 2020.

October 16 -- Who's Showing Up to Vote in November?

This new episode was pre-recorded on October 14. No listener calls were taken, but comments may be emailed to news@weru.org with Democracy Forum on the subject line.

“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” Larry Sabato, Center for Politics at UVA, Pendulum Swing

We will talk about research into voter motivation; how new information can affect the way people form political opinions, make political choices and, ultimately, take political actions; and how research into voter motivation might be relevant in the 2020 General Election.

Special Guests:

Shelly Crosby, Orono Town Clerk and the President of the Maine Town and City Clerks Association
Yanna Krupnikov, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stony Brook University
Meg McCormick, Maine Director & New England Coordinator, Campus Election Engagement Project

Key Topics:

What does the research show about why so many people don't vote in high-stakes elections?
What factors, if any, are likely to motivate people to vote this year, this late in the election season?
To what extent are people making a rational decision not to vote: calculating correctly that it really doesn’t make much difference on the issues that are acutely important to them?
What affect do "October surprises" actually have on election outcomes?
What are the most effective methods of engaging reluctant voters?
What messages or information can voter engagement activists still use effectively in the GOTV efforts?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Half of Americans Don’t Vote. What Are They Thinking? Colin Woodard in Politico, February 2020
College Students, Voting and the COVID-19 Election, Knight Foundation, August 2020
The 100 Million Project: The Untold Story of American Non-Voters, Knight Foundation
Maine watchdog may probe shadowy poll aimed at Democratic legislative hopeful, Bangor Daily News, September 2020
Opinion | Is America Hopelessly Polarized, or Just Allergic to Politics? (Published 2019), Samara Klar, Yanna Krupnikov and John Barry Ryan, New York Times, April 2019
Independent Politics: How American Disdain for Parties Leads to Political Inaction, Samara Klar and Yanna Krupnikov, 2016

September 18 -- Who Votes, Who Can't, and Who Won't

This new episode will be pre-recorded on September 16. No listener calls were taken, but comments may be emailed to news@weru.org with Democracy Forum on the subject line.

“We must protest peacefully, demand persistently, and fight politically. But most of all, we must vote in November.” -- Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP

We'll talk about voter participation in marginalized communities: structural/ systemic/ institutional barriers to voting, and motivational barriers to voting.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation Ambassador
Michael Kebede, Policy Counsel, ACLU of Maine
Chryl Laird, Assistant Professor of Government, Bowdoin College

Key Topics:

In Maine, given that our laws are pretty inclusive, what obstacles to voting do people in marginalized communities still face?
What about the motivational barriers that people face?
To what extent are people making a rational decision not to vote: calculating correctly that it really doesn’t make much difference on the issues that are acutely important to them?
Maine does not exist in a bubble democracy. Can we get the public policy we want if other states or the federal government are skewed by voter suppression?
What special issues arise for indigenous people? Has voting for the tribes been complicated by issues of sovereignty?
What can citizens do here in Maine?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

How Shelby County v. Holder Broke America, Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, July 2018
America's Relentless Suppression of Black Voters, Lawrence Goldstone, The New Republic, October 2018.
Young Black Americans not sold on Biden, the Democrats or voting, David C. Barker and Sam Fulwood III, The Conversation, August 2020
Systematic Inequality and American Democracy, Danyelle Solomon, Connor Maxwell, and Abril Castro, Center for American Progress, August 2019
Why So Many Black Voters Are Democrats, Even When They Aren’t Liberal, Cheryl N. Laird, Ismail K. White, FiveThirtyEight, February 2020
Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior, Cheryl N. Laird, Ismail K. White, February 2020
Maine: State of our Democracy, a report from the League of Women Voters of Maine, April 2020
FRRC is one of several nonprofits that are raising money to help returning citizen pay find and fee in Florida, as mentioned on the show.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond, 2016

July 17 -- Election Reflections: July 14, 2020

Our live programming at WERU is a casualty of the ongoing civil defense against COVID-19. Our loyal partners at WERU have taken steps to limit exposure for their volunteers and staff. We were on the air as scheduled, Friday, July 17, at 4:00 p.m. with a new episode pre-recorded on July 16. No listener calls were taken, but comments could be emailed to news@weru.org with Democracy Forum on the subject line.

"Let’s do this another way. Let’s stop thinking that our voice don’t matter and vote. Educate yourself and know who you’re voting for. And that’s how we gonna hit 'em. Because it’s a lot of us. It’s a lot of us. It’s a lot of us." -- Terrence Floyd

We'll talk about who won the Maine primaries and why. How did Maine elections work under COVID restrictions? What does it all mean for the high-stakes election in November?

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Matt Dunlap, Maine Secretary of State
Amy Fried, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine
Jill Goldthwait, award-winning columnist for the Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander.

Key Topics:

How did it go overall?
How much absentee voting, how much on Election Day?
What was turnout overall compared to other non-gubernatorial primaries?
Were there any problems?
What adjustments does this suggest for November?

How did Election Day go for you? Let us know by filling out the survey that applies to you. These surveys will be used by voter advocacy groups to improve processes for the November election.

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

As November Looms, So Does the Most Litigious Election Ever, New York Times, July 7, 2020
Election results not expected to be delayed in Maine despite virus changes, Bangor Daily News, July 8, 2020
Poll gives Dale Crafts edge in GOP primary in Maine’s 2nd District, Bangor Daily News, July 8, 2020
Clerks report record absentee ballots for July 14 election, Portland Press Herald, July 2, 2020
What Went Wrong in the Wisconsin Election, and What We Can Learn From It Before November, Time, April 2020
After record primary turnout, Iowa Senate Republicans try to limit vote-by-mail in presidential election, Fortune, June 2020
New York candidates left on hold as primary results trickle in, The Hill, July 2020
Georgia Primary Issues Sow Concerns About General Election, NPR, June 2020
How The Elections In Nebraska And Wisconsin Managed Amid The Pandemic, FiveThirtyEight, May 2020

June 19 -- One Person, One Vote: The Electoral College and the NPV

Our live programming at WERU is a casualty of the ongoing civil defense against COVID-19. Our loyal partners at WERU have taken steps to limit exposure for their volunteers and staff. We will be on the air as scheduled, Friday, June 19, at 4:00 p.m. with a new episode pre-recorded on June 17. No listener calls will be taken, but comments may be emailed to news@weru.org with Democracy Forum on the subject line.

"So you have these battleground state voters who have all of the power and you have flyover state voters who have none of the power… I think this is leading to a corrupt and toxic body politic ...” Saul Azunis from a speech given at the Suncoast Tiger Club Luncheon on 9/19/19

We will talk about the Electoral College, is it working as intended—and by the way, what was intended?—what issues have emerged over time, is Popular Election of the President a solution, and where does the National Popular Vote Compact fit in.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive.

Special Guests:

Saul Anuznis, principal and managing partner of Coast to Coast Strategies
Mark Brewer, professor of political science at the University of Maine - Orono
Eileen Reavey, national grassroots director at National Popular Vote

Key Topics:

What was the founders' intent for the Electoral College?
How has the Electoral College functioned historically?
What demographic and political changes are altering the landscape in modern America?
What reform proposals are being considered?
How would the National Popular Vote work?
Why is it a good idea—or not—for Maine?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

"National Popular Vote: Bipartisan Reform to Presidential Elections," Patrick Rosenstiel and Scott Drexel in RealClear Politics, January 2020.
"Want to Fix Presidential Elections? Here’s the Quickest Way," Tim Foley, Politico, May, 2019
“Steve Vladeck: Is democracy rigged? The debate over Senate representation ignores a much more plausible reform,” NBC News, October, 2018
“Don’t Believe the Myths about the National Popular Vote”, Saul Anuzis, The Hill, May, 2018
“The Electoral College badly distorts the vote. And it’s going to get worse,” Katy Collin, Washington Post, November, 2016.

May 15 -- Ranked Choice Voting: How's It Working in 2020

This show will be pre-recorded on May 13 for broadcast on May 15. No listener calls will be taken, but comments may be emailed to news@weru.org with Democracy Forum on the subject line.

We will talk about ranked choice voting (RCV) in the upcoming July and November elections in Maine, developments in other states, the possible effect of a people's veto and a pending law suit, and more.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

John Brautigam, Esq., Senior Advisor & Counsel, League of Women Voters of Maine
Hon. Marc Roberts, 4th term Republican State Legislator from Utah

Key Topics:

Is RCV a partisan issue? Why does it seem partisan?
What has been Utah's experience with RCV? Why do Utah Republicans support it?
What races will use RCV in Maine in July? How is RCV affecting those races?
What races will use RCV in Maine in November? How is RCV affecting those races?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Maine Republicans seek to repeal ranked-choice voting in presidential elections. Portland Press Herald, February 4, 2020
Maine Voices: Ranked-choice presidential primaries would give boost to moderates, Sandy Maisel Op-ed in the Portland Press Herald, March 3, 2020
Portland voters approve expansion of ranked-choice voting, Bangor Daily News, March 3, 2020
Ranked-choice voting backers file suit seeking to block Maine GOP people’s veto effort
Bangor Daily News, April 16, 2020

April 17 -- Voting in a Pandemic: The Upcoming Primary Election in Maine

We will talk about how the continuing COVID-19 emergency might change voting procedures in Maine's upcoming primary election and what steps are being taken to protect the election, election workers, and the voting public.

Special Guests:

Alison Beyea, Executive Director, ACLU Maine
Matt Dunlap, Maine Secretary of State

Key Topics:

How will COVID-19 affect the June primary?
What decisions have already been made?
What would advocates like to see change for the primary election?
What other ideas are being discussed?
What can ordinary citizens do to help?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Our View: COVID-19 will change Maine Election Day traditions, Portland Press Herald editorial, April 5, 2020.
A Primary? In a Pandemic?, The Atlantic, March, 2020
Voting in the time of the coronavirus, Sue Halperin, The New Yorker, March, 2020
'It's Madness.' Wisconsin's Election Amid Coronavirus Sparks Anger, NPR, April, 2020
"The Lessons of the Election of 1918," New York Times, March, 2020

February 21 -- Super Tuesday Comes to Maine March 3

We will talk about Maine's first presidential primary in two decades. How is the presidential primary going to work, how will delegates to national conventions be apportioned and selected, what role will municipal caucuses continue to play, what will be the differences among the parties. We'll take listener questions during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Kenneth Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Maine
Lisa Roberts, Executive Director of the Maine Democratic Party
Richard Rosen, former Republican State Legislator and former Commissioner of the Maine State Department of Administrative and Financial Services

Key Topics:

What is the history of primaries and caucuses in Maine?
Why did we make the change back to primaries for this year?
How will the parties' nominees be chosen? How does the Maine primary feed into that selection?
Will we still have municipal caucuses? What will they do?
Who can participate?
What are the key dates for people to remember?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

"The Primary Versus the Caucus," PBS Newshour, 2003
"Primaries v caucuses: a handy primer," Harry J Enten in The Guardian, 2012.
League of Women Voters of Maine, "Study Guide on Primary Elections," 2018.
"Maine switched to a presidential primary in 2020. Here’s why parties are still caucusing," Bangor Daily News, February 9, 2020.
"The U.S. Presidential Nominating Process," The Council on Foreign Relations, January, 2020.
What to Know About the Iowa Caucuses, Pew Research Center, January, 2020
Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know about How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates 4th Edition, Elaine C. Kamarck, Brookings Institution Press, November, 2018

Read about and listen to past programs from the League archive.

January 17-- Census 2020: Everyone Counts

We'll talk about the upcoming decennial census, how it's going to work, problems on the horizon, and the consequences for Maine and the nation. We'll take listener questions during the second half of the show. talk about ,

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Margo Anderson is a Distinguished Professor Emerita from UW-Milwaukee and an expert on the history of the census.
Matt Dunlap is the Maine Secretary of State and Chair of the State's Complete Count Committee.

Key Topics:

What is the history of the U.S. Census? How will it be different this year?
What are the important uses of census data nationwide and here in Maine?
What is being planned for 2020? Are there problems on the horizon?
Specifically, how important is this for Maine? Could Maine lose a congressional district?
How is it going to work logistically this year? Is the risk of an undercount a serious problem?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

The American Census: A Social History, by Margo J. Anderson 2015.
"The 2020 Census may be wildly inaccurate--and it matters more than you think," Robert Shapiro for the Brookings Institution, August, 2017
"Special Report: 2020 U.S. census plagued by hacking threats, cost overruns," Nick Brown for Reuters, December, 2019
Robert Frost poem, "The Census Taker"
Tina Fey and Betty White in a 2010 Census skit on SNL
Census Bureau outreach page with map
Fact Sheets from the Census Bureau
- The 2020 Questionnaire
- The Census at a Glance
More Information from the Census Bureau

Read about and listen to past programs from the League archive.

2019

November 15 - Is Government Doing Good: Policy Feedback Effects and the Civic Divide

“There's a tremendous gap between public opinion and public policy.” Noam Chomsky

We'll talk about new political science research into policy feedback effects and how public policy design affects people's sense of themselves as citizens and their propensity to participate. We'll take listener questions during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Amy Fried, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine
Don Moynihan, the McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University

Key Topics:

The study of policy feedback effects seems to be a new area of political science research. Give us an overview of what people are talking about and what the research is teaching us.
How does this reflect on the political behavior of the America electorate?
Give us some examples on both sides, positive and negative feedbacks.
What are the implications for lawmakers? The practical applications?
How can this research be harnessed to create more effective public policy and more engaged citizens?
Is there a role for ordinary citizens and advocates in making new laws better?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Administrative Burden: Policymaking by Other Means, Pamela Herd and Donald P. Moynihan, December 2018
“Citizens feel disconnected from government. If they knew what government did for them, they wouldn’t.” Interview with Susan Mettler, Washington Post, November 2018
Reforms at Risk: What Happens After Major Policy Changes Are Enacted , Eric M. Patashnik, 2009
Soldiers to Citizens: The G.I. Bill and the Making of the Greatest Generation by Suzanne Mettler, 2005
Citizens By Degree: Higher Education Policy and the Changing Gender Dynamics of American Citizenship, by Deondra Rose, 2018
Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics by Jamila Michener, 2018
“The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Voter Participation: Evidence from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment,” by Katherin Baicker and Amy Finkelstein in the Quarterly Journal of Political Science, 2019

October 18 - Hate and Fear in Politics: How Fear and Anger Endanger Democracy

“...The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror...” Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address

We'll talk about hate and fear in politics and whether they undermine democracy: how panic and fear make space for abandoning the rule of law and the regular order; how when we demonize the opposition, it makes room for extraordinary measures to stop them. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Joanne Freeman, Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University
Steve Wessler, Maine human rights educator, trainer, and advocate specializing in conflict resolution

Key Topics:

How is the present moment in American politics different from others in our history? Or is it?
What does the current moment of extreme polarization have in common with other times in our history?
Are hate and fear related? And then what role does race and ethnicity play?
What role does the rapid and destabilizing pace of change play?
To the extent that fear is tool for political mobilization, is it one that works symmetrically for liberals and conservatives?
How can we get past this moment? How did we get past it before?
What can ordinary citizens do -- if they want to?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

"Trump and the Politics of Fear," Molly Ball in The Atlantic, September, 2016.
"America Descends into the Politics of Rage," Joanne Freeman in The Atlantic, October, 2018.
"The Upside of Anger," Isaac Chotiner interviews Martha C. Nussbaum for Slate, August, 2018.
"The Flight 93 Election," blog post by Publius Decius Mus, September, 2016, that was recognized with a 2016 Sidney Award from David Brooks.

September 20 - Black, White, and Blue Lies: Lies that Divide, Lies that Unite

“P.T. Barnum taught us to love spectacle, fake news, and a good hoax. A century and a half later the show has escaped the tent.” -- James Parker, staff writer for The Atlantic

We'll talk about the lies in politics and the politics of lying, historical examples, current practice, and the consequences for democracy. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Dallas G. Denery II, Professor of History at Bowdoin College. He wrote the book, The Devil Wins: A History of Lying from the Garden of Eden to the Enlightenment.
Nancy L. Rosenblum, the Harvard University Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita. With Russell Muirhead, she is co-author of the book, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy.

Key Topics:

How is the present moment in American politics different from others in our history? Or is it?
Remember the old riddle about the truthful Whitefoot and the lying Blackfoot? How can people know who to trust?
How does trust in government -- or distrust -- play into this? What is the recent history of trust in government in America?
What characterizes white lies, black lies, and blue lies? Where do conspiracy theories fit and how do they work?
How much of this is because of the rapidly changing media paradigm? Did we have similar examples from the dawn of the broadcast age? What responsibility does the media have to combat disinformation and lying?
What can ordinary citizens do to protect themselves -- if they want to?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

"How the Science of “Blue Lies” May Explain Trump’s Support," guest blog at the Scientific American by Jeremy Adam Smith, March 2017.
"Trump’s lies corrode democracy," James Pfiffner for Brookings, April 2018.
"A Behavioral Science Solution to Lies in Politics," blogpost at Psychology Today by Gleb Tsipursky, June 2017.
"Conspiracy Without the Theory," by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum in The Atlantic,
April, 2019.

July 19 - Town Government: Take 2. Listeners have spoken!

I'll take the problems of small town politics over Washington chaos any day. -- Roger Bowen, former Gouldsboro Selectman.

Back by popular demand. We'll talk more about practicing politics and democracy at the most personal level, in local government. What are the characteristics of the towns that have the most civic participation? How can community members help create a culture of inclusion and civic engagement in their own towns? What can go right; and what can go wrong? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Susan Clark, author and facilitator focusing on community sustainability and citizen participation. She serves as Town Moderator of Middlesex, Vermont.
Susan Lessard, Bucksport Town Manager.
Dick Thompson, moderator for Towns of Palermo, China, Vassalboro, and others, Dick conducts moderator training for the Maine Municipal Association.

Key Topics:

Regaining lost democracy: is local activism the "new frontier" for civic engagement?
How's it working? Who participates? Is it now, has it always been an insider's game?
Is local politics as uncivil and sharply divided as national politics?
What characterizes the towns with the most community engagement?
How can you find out what you need to know to get involved and be effective?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home , Susan Clark and Woden Teachout, 2012.
Managing Town Hall meetings so that everyone benefits (and relatively few are miserable), Della Rucker in Creating a Wise Economy, May, 2015.
Citizen's Guide to Town Meeting, Maine Municipal Association.
For the People, by the People: What I saw when I participated in one of the truest forms of democracy, Amy Crawford in Slate May, 2013.
Americans Aren't Practicing Democracy Anymore: As participation in civic life has dwindled, so has public faith in the country's system of government, Yoni Applebaum in The Atlantic October, 2018.
We all should care more about local elections, editorial in the Bangor Daily News, July 6, 2019.
I'll take the problems of local politics over the Washington chaos any day, Roger Bowen op-ed in the BDN, May 21, 2018.
More citizen education from the Maine Municipal Assocation here and tips on how to get involved in local government here.

June 2019 - Town Meeting: "Doing Democracy" in Your Town

Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it into the people's reach. -- Alexis de Tocqueville.

We will talk about practicing politics and democracy at the most personal level, in local government, and the unusual experience we enjoy in the form of the New England town meeting. Does the town meeting still work? Is participation up or down? Is partisanship creeping in? Is money "from away" taking more of an interest? If you've never been, what do you need to know? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Susan Clark, author and facilitator focusing on community sustainability and citizen participation. She serves as Town Moderator of Middlesex, Vermont.
Susan Lessard, Bucksport Town Manager.
Dick Thompson, moderator for Towns of Palermo, China, Vassalboro, and others, Dick conducts moderator training for the Maine Municipal Association.

Key Topics:

What's the history of the town meeting in New England?
How's it working? Who participates? Is it now, has it always been an insider's game?
Is local politics as uncivil and sharply divided as national politics?
Which towns have town meeting? What are the alternatives? How do the alternatives stack up?
Regaining lost democracy: is local activism the "new frontier" for civic engagement?
If you've never gone, how can you find out what you need to know?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home , Susan Clark and Woden Teachout, 2012.
Managing Town Hall meetings so that everyone benefits (and relatively few are miserable), Della Rucker in Creating a Wise Economy, May, 2015.
Citizen's Guide to Town Meeting, Maine Municipal Association.
For the People, by the People: What I saw when I participated in one of the truest forms of democracy, Amy Crawford in Slate May, 2013.
Americans Aren't Practicing Democracy Anymore: As participation in civic life has dwindled, so has public faith in the country's system of government, Yoni Applebaum in The Atlantic October, 2018.
More citizen education from the Maine Municipal Assocation here.

May 2019 - Democracy vs. Republic: Why Should We Care?

"Our Founding Fathers who created this republic did not believe in democracy. When did we come to worship this idol?" Pat Buchanan, September, 2012

We will talk about whether we live in a democracy or a republic. What do people mean when they say, "We're not a democracy; we're a republic," in the context of different policy debates. Is there a particular subtext implicating minority rights, even minority rule, and possibly states' rights and federalism? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Lance Dutson, a principal of Red Hill Strategies, a Republican communications consultant, and a columnist for the Bangor Daily News.
Joseph R. Reisert, Harriet S. and George C. Wiswell Jr. Assistant Professor of American Constitutional Law in the Department of Government at Colby College.

Key Topics:

What do the words mean: "republic" and "democracy"?
What were the founders' fears and intent?
Is this debate as old as the republic? Why does it keep flaring up?
How has that played out? What do we have now?
Why are these trigger words right now?
Are these two diametrically opposed or mutually exclusive? Or is it a false dichotomy?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Democracy or Republic?, Jay Cost in National Review September, 2018.
Sorry, Liberals, But America Is Not A Democracy, And It's Better That Way,, Clifford Humphrey in The Federalist February, 2018.
Is the U.S. a Democracy? A Social Studies Battle Turns on the Nation's Values Dana Goldstein in The New York Times April, 2019.
Is the United States of America a republic or a democracy? Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy, at The Washington Post May, 2015.
You Say Democracy, I Say Republic, Jonathan Bernstein in Bloomberg April, 2019.
Ayn Rand, Rand Paul, and More YouTube

April 2019 - Citizen Initiatives: The Devil's in the Details

"Just vote us in, we'll take care of the rest. (Or, don't worry your pretty little heads about it.)" Starr Gilmartin, League of Women Voters, Downeast. March 28, 2019.

We will explore the historical origins of the initiative provisions, how initiatives actually work in Maine, our contemporary experience with them, their effect on politics and elections, the tension between direct and representative democracy, and proposals for reform, many of which are being debated in the Maine State Legislature right now.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Joshua J. Dyck, Associate Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the Center for Public Opinion at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Michael Franz, Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College.

Key Topics:

When did citizen initiatives get added to the Maine State Constitution and why?
Are these provision a good institutional check on the legislature or do they undermine representative government?
When do they work, and what can go wrong?
What has been Maine's historical experience?
Can initiatives be used for other strategic purposes? How does that work?
What reform proposals are being considered in Maine right now?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Initiatives without Engagement A Realistic Appraisal of Direct Democracy's Secondary Effects, Joshua J. Dyck and Edward L. Lascher, Jr., 2019
Ballot Questions in Maine, Polling Edition, Michael Franz, April, 2019.
Miller-Rose Initiative Database at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, Claremont McKenna College.
Seizing the Initiative: A Short History of Direct Democracy in America Nick Johnson, April, 2018.
American Voters Are Turning to Direct Democracy, Vann Newkirk, Atlantic April 2018.

March 2019 - The Electoral College: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

"...You win some, you lose some. And then there's that little-known third category." Al Gore, 2004

We'll talk about the electoral college, its historical origins and the founders' intent, the practical implications for modern American politics, and proposals for reform, including the National Popular Vote (NPV). The Maine legislature is currently debating whether Maine should join the NPV compact.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Mark Brewer, Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, Professor Law at American University Washington College of Law and a U.S. Congressman representing Maryland's 8th District.
Pat Rosenstiel, CEO of Ainsley Shea, a Minneapolis-based public relations firm working to advance the National Popular Vote.

Key Topics:

What was the founders' intent for the Electoral College?
How has the Electoral College functioned historically?
What demographic and political changes are altering the landscape in modern America?
What reform proposals are being considered for the Electoral College or in the states' selection of electors?
How would the National Popular Vote work? Why is it a good idea--or not--for Maine?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

As American as Apple Pie? The Rural Vote's Disproportionate Slice of Power Emily Badger in The New York Times, November, 2016.
The real reason we have an Electoral College: to protect slave states Sean Illing interviews Akhil Reed Amar in Vox, November, 2016.
The Electoral College badly distorts the vote. And it's going to get worse. Katy Collin in The Washington Post, November, 2016.
Don't Believe the Myths about the National Popular Vote, Saul Anuzis, The Hill, May, 2018.
Constitutional Law Professor Drops Bombshell on `Forgotten Americans' at Democrats' Electoral College Meeting, Jamie Raskin, Alternet December, 2016.
An Idea for Electoral College Reform That Both Parties Might Actually Like, Edward B. Foley, Politico January, 2019.
Alternative view: National Popular Vote would amplify Maine voices and empower small states, Patrick Rosenstiel in the Maine Wire, March 10, 2019.

February 2019 -- The Free Press and a Functioning Democracy

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every [one] should receive those papers & be capable of reading them." -- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Edward Carrington, 1787

We'll talk about democracy, journalism, the state of play in American news. Can fact-based journalism survive? Can democracy survive otherwise? We'll take listener questions by email at info@weru.org with "Democracy Forum" in the subject line. This program is being produced with support from the Maine Humanities Council.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Earl Brechlin was the founding editor of the award-winning weekly newspaper, the Mount Desert Islander, and former editor of the Bar Harbor Times.
Burt Neuborne is the Norman Dorsen Professor of Civil Liberties and founding Legal Director of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School.
Judy Woodruff is the anchor and managing editor of the PBS Newshour.

Key Topics:

What was the founders' conception of the first amendment? Why did they put it first? And why was it important to protect the free press?
What business, cultural, and technological changes are altering the journalistic landscape in the 21st century?
Disinformation campaigns and yellow journalism go back to the founding of democracy. Is it different now or more dangerous?
What can ordinary citizens do?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

More Important But Less Robust? Five Things Everybody Needs to Know about the Future of Journalism Reuters Institute Report, January, 2019
Does Journalism have a Future? Jill Lepore in The New Yorker, January 28, 2019
Is journalism's `pivot to dust' arriving? Megan McArdle in the Washington Post, January 26, 2019
How We Know Journalism is Good for Democracy, Josh Stearns, posted at Medium, a publication of PACE: Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, June 26, 2018
Local newspapers have already been gutted. There's nothing left to cut. Steve Cavendish, the Washington Post, January 25, 2019.
Madison's Music: On Reading the First Amendment, Burt Neuborne, 2015.

January 2019 -- Cyber Attacks on Democracy: Social Media, Fake News, and Voter Responsibility

"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true Liberty. " -- James Madison

We'll talk about cyber attacks on elections, weaponizing misinformation, social media, and disinformation. Is this the new normal? Can democracy survive? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication, the Walter and Leonore Director of the university's Annenberg Public Policy Center, and Program Director of the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands.
Jamie McKown, Faculty, Government & Polity at the College of the Atlantic and James Russell Wiggins Chair in Government and Polity.

Key Topics:

What about Prof. Jamieson's new book, Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect A President?
What do we know? What don't we know? And what may we never know?
By what means and to what extent did this affect the outcome of the election?
Disinformation campaigns go back to the founding of democracy. Is this different or more dangerous?
Are domestic campaign organizations adopting similar tactics? Will this be the new normal?
If it's war, what can ordinary citizens do to help de-escalate?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

NewsFeed Defenders
FlackCheck.org
Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy?, Evan Osnos in The New Yorker, September, 2018.
Machine Politics, Fred Turner in Harpers Magazine, January, 2019.
Secret campaign to use Russian-inspired tactics in 2017 Ala. election stirs anxiety for Democrats, Washington Post, January, 2019.
New Report on Russian Disinformation Prepared for the Senate shows the Operations Scale and Sweep, Washington Post, December, 2018.
New Studies Show Pundits Are Wrong About Russian Social-Media Involvement in US Politics, Aaron Mate, The Nation, December, 2018.
The most underplayed story of the 2016 election is voter suppression, Rachelle Hampton, The New Republic, January, 2019.
How campaigns can protect themselves from deepfakes, disinformation, and social media manipulation, Lisa Kaplan, Brookings, January 10, 2019.

2018

November 2018 -- Election 2018: What Happened and What Does It Mean?

"Every election matters. ...[E]very election provides lessons worth learning." -- Chuck Todd, Meet the Press

We'll talk about who won in Maine and why. How do the election outcomes in Maine reflect national trends--or not--along the dimensions of party majorities, women and minority candidates, voter turnout, demographics, and voter suppression? What does it all mean for governing in the biennium ahead? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

John Baughman, Associate Professor of Politics, Bates College
Jill Goldthwait, Award-winning columnist for the Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander, retired nurse and former independent Maine State Senator.

Key Topics:

Who won in Maine and why?
How does that reflect national trends?
What were the trends among women running for office and in voter turnout among women?
Was voter turnout a factor? How did turnout compare to prior mid-term elections?
Was voter suppression a factor?
What role did ranked choice voting play?
What are the opportunities for citizens to have an effect on federal and state policy for the next two to four years?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

2018: Another 'Year of the Woman' Brookings, November 8, 2018.
Americans will head to the polls in a week. Here's why some won't. Washington Post, October 30, 2018.
Maine's toss-up 2nd District appears headed to a ranked-choice count, Bangor Daily News, November 7, 2018.
Brian Kemp's Lead in Georgia Needs an Asterisk, The Atlantic, November 7, 2018.
2018 exit polls show greater white support for Democrats, Brookings, November 8, 2018.

October 2018 -- Political Polls: Can We Ever Trust Them Again?

"Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right? - " -- Robert Orben, comedy writer and one time magician

We'll talk about the state of the art in political polling, why polls sometimes get it wrong, the emerging challenges for pollsters, and what citizens need to know about who and what to believe. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Amy Fried, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine
Courtney Kennedy, Director, Survey Research, Pew Research Center.

Key Topics:

Polls and pollsters are not all created equal. How can ordinary people judge what they're hearing?
What are some of the emerging challenges in polling now?
Can media reporting on polls affect voter behavior and election turnout?
Are there sources of polling information that people can generally trust? Or should ordinary people just ignore them?
What can citizens do to become smarter consumers of polling information?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

Can we still trust polls? by Courtney Kennedy, May, 2018, from FactTank: News in Numbers at the Pew Research Center.
Why Polling Can Be So Hard by Nate Cohn, September, 2018, from TheUpshot at the New York Times.
You can trust the polls in 2018, if you read them carefully by Josh Pasek and Michael Traugott for The Conversation.
Pathways to Polling: Crisis, Cooperation and the Making of Public Opinion Professions, Amy Fried, 2011.

September 2018 -- Elections in Maine: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day. -- David Byrne, Talking Heads

We'll talk about what citizens need to know about the conduct of elections in Maine: what are the opportunities for citizen participation and observation; what aspects are conducted by the State with regard to the security and integrity of the process and the electronic components; what role do the town clerks play in making sure things run smoothly, etc. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Patti Dubois, Waterville City Clerk.
Julie Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State, Maine Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions.

Key Topics:

What can voters expect for Election Day 2018?
Can Maine voters trust the election process?
Which aspects are under the jurisdiction of the State of Maine? Which are under local control?
How well-prepared is Maine for election disruption and foreign or political interference?
What can citizens do if they suspect something is going wrong?
What can citizens do to build confidence in local elections?

To learn more, follow these links to related content:

July 2018 -- Distrust in Government: A Necessary Evil or a Weapon of Destruction?

I think you all know that I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. -- President Ronald Reagan, The President's News Conference, August 12, 1986

We'll talk about the waxing and waning of Americans' trust in government, why a little skepticism may be a good thing, how partisanship plays into the equation, and how too much distrust may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Amy Fried, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine.
Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and Resident Scholar, Institute of Governmental Studies, University of California, Berkeley.

Key Topics:

Has there been a steady decline of trust in government, particularly in the 21st century?
Do we need a little distrust to make democracy work and keep it relatively free of corruption?
Is the current distrust in government out of the ordinary ebb and flow? Has it gone too far? How can we tell?
Have our attitudes about government been "played" for partisan advantage? How so and to what end?
Is this equally true at the state level as it is at the federal level?
What can we do to realign our attitudes?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

Public Trust in Government: 1958-2017, Pew Research Center, December, 2017.
The Strategic Promotion of Distrust in Government in the Tea Party Age, Amy Fried, 2015.
Finding the Common Good in an Era of Dysfunctional Governance Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Daedelus, Spring 2013.
A More Perfect Union, New York Times book review of Garry Willis's book, A Necessary Evil: A History of American Distrust of Government, 1999.

June 2018 - State Preemption: From Guns to Garbage, Who's Got the Power?

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. -- 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

We'll talk about how federalism protects and constrains states' rights and how states can both protect and commandeer local control. From guns and garbage to water quality and pesticides, how much control do states and towns have to protect their assets or advance their values? We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Garrett Corbin, Legislative Advocate for the Maine Municipal Association.
Lauren Phillips, J.D. Columbia Law School 2018, not yet admitted to practice law.

Key Topics:

How do states and towns derive the power to govern under our constitution, under federalism?
How can the states "preempt" or commandeer powers that might be assigned to the towns? Can the federal government do this to states, too?
What is "home rule?" How can states rights and home rule be used to challenge unpopular state or federal policies?
What can states and the federal government do to reign in these challenges?
What are some examples from other states?
How has this worked in Maine?
What are some opportunities for states and towns to advance an agenda?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

Impeding Innovation: State Preemption of Progressive Local Regulations, Lauren Phillips in the Columbia Law Review, Volume 117, No. 8, December 2017.
Commentary: Weighing the cost of `home rule' in Maine, Colin Woodard in the Portland Press Herald, June 8, 2015.
Blue Cities Want to Make Their Own Rules. Red States Won't Let Them. more from TheUpshot at the New York Times, July, 2017.
From Fracking Bans To Paid Sick Leave: How States Are Overruling Local Laws, PR Watch's Lisa Graves on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April, 2016.
Soda And Fast Food Lobbyists Push State Preemption Laws To Prevent Local Regulation, Robb Waters in Forbes Magazine, June, 21, 2017.
Municipal Approaches in Maine to Reduce Single-use Consumer Products, Travis Wagner in the Maine Policy Review, 2016.
Preemption Watch Newsletter,
Preemption Doctrine,by Ellerbe P. Cole, Maine Municipal Association in Maine Townsman,"Legal Notes," June 1991.

May 2018: Immigration: Can We Live Without It?

Immigration is not just a link to America's past; it's also a bridge to America's future. -- George W. Bush

We'll talk about immigration and jobs, federal policy, and its effect on economic development and workforce in Maine. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Dany Bahar, David M. Rubenstein Fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution
Carla Dickstein, Senior Vice President for Research and Policy Development at the Coastal Enterprise Institute
Martha Searchfield, Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Key Topics:

What are the dimensions of legal and illegal immigration?
What has been the net effect of immigration on the U.S. economy?
What are the recent changes in federal policy, and what are the likely impacts of these changes?
What has been the net effect of immigration on Maine? How are the recent trends affecting Maine?
What do we expect for the months ahead?
What would be a "strong" immigration policy from Maine's perspective?
What do voters need to know?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

Immigrants' Contribution to Maine's Workforce and C Economy, from the Coastal Enterprise Institute
Building Maine's Economy: How Maine Can Embrace Immigrants and Strengthen the Workforce, more from CEI, 2016.
100 Years Ago, Maine's Economy Was Powered by Immigrants reporting in the Bangor Daily News, September, 2017.
The Trump administration failed to study immigration vetting. So I did. David Bier from the Cato Institute in the Washington Post
Migrants and refugees: The unlikely key for economic development, Dany Bahar for Brookings.

April 2018: Ranked Choice Voting: How Will It Work in Maine?

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves--and the only way they could do that is by not voting at all. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

We'll talk about how ranked choice voting is moving forward for the June primary, what the Secretary of State is planning, and what voters need to know as they head for the polls. We'll take listener calls during the second half of the show.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

John Brautigam, a public interest attorney, senior adviser and strategist to Democracy Partnership's project, Maine Uses Ranked Choice Voting..
Grace Ramsey, deputy outreach director for FairVote, a national electoral reform advocacy group.

John Brautigam and some of the Democracy Forum team post-broadcast

Key Topics:

Is ranked choice voting definitely on for the June primary?
What happened in court last week?
How is RCV going to work locally?
How is the RCV count going to be done by the State?
What does RCV mean for the candidates?
What do voters need to know as they cast their ranked ballots?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

March 2018 -- Gerrymandering: What's the Big Deal?

I could have been running against a saltshaker and I would have lost. --David Kessler, former Pennsylvania Congressman on the effects of gerrymandering.

We'll talk about how redistricting has changed over the last 50 years, the emergence of extreme partisan gerrymandering, court cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, and why it matters in Maine. We'll take listener calls in the second half hour.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Matt Dube, Assistant Professor in Computer Information Systems at the University of Maine-Augusta.
Elaine Kamarck, Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies program and Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution, and Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Key Topics:

How has redistricting changed over the last 50 years?
How can we tell if a state has engaged in extreme partisan gerrymandering?
How can we tell if districts have been fairly drawn?
What are the essential arguments in the court cases being argued at the Supreme Court?
What are the remedies to counter extreme gerrymandering?
Why should we care about gerrymandering here in Maine?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

Gerrymandering and how to fix it, from Elaine Kamarck at Brookings.
The new front in the gerrymandering wars, from the New York Times Magazine, August, 2017.
We Drew 2,568 Congressional Districts By Hand. Here's How., from the 538 Gerrymandering Project, January 25, 2018.
Mathematical Characteristics of District Boundary Lines as Indicators of Partisan Gerrymandering in U.S. House Elections, Richard J. Powell, Matthew P. Dube, and Jesse T. Clark, April, 2017.
Assessing the Causes of District Homogeneity in U.S. House Elections, Richard J. Powell, Matthew P. Dube, and Jesse T. Clark, August, 2017

February 2018 -- Primary Elections: What Are They Good For?

We'll talk about how primaries have changed over the last 50 years, whether they're still working for the parties and the voters, what changes are on the horizon in Maine. We'll take listener calls in the second half hour.

In case you missed it live, you can listen to this show from the archive at weru.org.

Special Guests:

Jill Goldthwait, former Maine State Senator and award-winning political columnist for the Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander.
Kevin Raye, former President of the Maine State Senate, former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe, currently owner/operator of Raye's Mustard.
Dan Shea, Professor of Government at Colby College.

Key Topics:

How have primaries changed over the last 50 years?
Are primaries working for the parties? For the voters?
Are primaries a good way to choose the best-qualified candidates?
What are the advantages and limitations of caucus vs. primary?
What are the advantages and drawbacks of open vs. closed primaries?
What other models are there to consider?
What changes are on the horizon in Maine?

To learn more, follow these links to related articles and essays:

Everything You Need to Know About Maine's Caucus System, League blog post from February 2016.
Maine considers switching from caucuses to primaries, from the AP, March, 2016.
How activists choose our politicians, long before we vote, Jonathan Rauch for the Brookings Institution, December, 2017.

2024

March 15 — Unions and Democracy Take Two

2023

June 16 — Public Opinion Polling: Is It Good for Democracy

April 21 — Ballot Questions: Whose Initiatives Are They?

March 17 — If Small States Rule, Why Are They So Angry?

February 17 — Small-state Bias in the Federal Government: Is This Democracy?

January 20 — Comprehensive Planning: Why Bother?

2022

November 18 — Election Reflections: What Just Happened Here?

October 21 — What's at Stake in Moore v Harper? -- Gerrymandering and More

September 16 — Checks and Balances: What Are They? Are They Working?

July 15: Taxation without Representation: Should DC be a State?

June 17: The Supreme Court and Democracy

May 20: The Demise of Local News: What Are We Losing?

April 15. Libraries: Defenders of Democracy

March 18 — Communities on Edge: Threats and Intimidation in the Public Sphere

February 18 — Facebook and Democracy: Can They Live Together?

January 21 — Educating for Democracy: How’s it Working?

Talk radio with LWVME

2021

November 19 — Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Religion: Politics and Religion in America

October 15, 2021 — In Government We Trust — Or Do We?

September 17, 2021 — The Two-party System and the Future of Our Democracy

June 18, 2021 — Protest: Good Citizenship at Work?

May 21, 2021 — Democracy and Unions: Do They Need Each Other?

April 16, 2021 — Divided We Stand: Can diversity be our strength?

March 19, 2021 — Is that for real? Conspiracy Theories in American Politics

February 19, 2021 — Can Democracy Survive the Internet?

January 15, 2021 — Searching for Common Ground across the Political Divide

Talk radio with LWVME

2020

November 20 -- Election Reflections 2020

October 16 -- Who's Showing Up to Vote in November?

September 18 -- Who Votes, Who Can't, and Who Won't

July 17 -- Election Reflections: July 14, 2020

June 19 -- One Person, One Vote: The Electoral College and the NPV

May 15 -- Ranked Choice Voting: How's It Working in 2020

April 17 -- Voting in a Pandemic: The Upcoming Primary Election in Maine

February 21 -- Super Tuesday Comes to Maine March 3

January 17-- Census 2020: Everyone Counts

2019

November 15 - Is Government Doing Good: Policy Feedback Effects and the Civic Divide

October 18 - Hate and Fear in Politics: How Fear and Anger Endanger Democracy

September 20 - Black, White, and Blue Lies: Lies that Divide, Lies that Unite

July 19 - Town Government: Take 2. Listeners have spoken!

June 2019 - Town Meeting: "Doing Democracy" in Your Town

May 2019 - Democracy vs. Republic: Why Should We Care?

April 2019 - Citizen Initiatives: The Devil's in the Details

March 2019 - The Electoral College: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

February 2019 -- The Free Press and a Functioning Democracy

January 2019 -- Cyber Attacks on Democracy: Social Media, Fake News, and Voter Responsibility

2018

November 2018 -- Election 2018: What Happened and What Does It Mean?

October 2018 -- Political Polls: Can We Ever Trust Them Again?

September 2018 -- Elections in Maine: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

July 2018 -- Distrust in Government: A Necessary Evil or a Weapon of Destruction?

June 2018 - State Preemption: From Guns to Garbage, Who's Got the Power?

May 2018: Immigration: Can We Live Without It?

April 2018: Ranked Choice Voting: How Will It Work in Maine?

March 2018 -- Gerrymandering: What's the Big Deal?

February 2018 -- Primary Elections: What Are They Good For?

**October 21 — What's at Stake in Moore v Harper? -- Gerrymandering and More**