Of all the threats democracy faces, I think the greatest is the risk that we’ll lose faith in it. There have seldom been more reasons to do that. But there are also reasons to keep believing, and I thought this would be a good time to offer one: an inside look at what it’s like to be an elected official actually trying to do the right thing — and often succeeding. My guest … [Read more...] about Sam Farr: How Democracy Can Work
Public Policy
“America and hope in the time of fentanyl and meth”
In many ways, addiction has become a defining feature of life in America. More and more of us have become addicted to drugs like alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and opioids, and to other things increasingly recognized as addictive, like sugar, junk food, and social media. The problem has been growing for decades, but in recent years it has exploded. A record for deaths by … [Read more...] about “America and hope in the time of fentanyl and meth”
Lincoln Project Co-Founder Mike Madrid: Latino Voters Have an Urgent Warning for Democrats
How could it be that the Democratic Party is losing Latino voters to the Trumpist Republican Party? How could it be that Democrats are losing support from blue collar workers? Both things are happening — and they’re related, according to our guest this time Mike Madrid is a co-founder of the Lincoln Project of Never-Trump Republicans. He’s a longtime political consultant … [Read more...] about Lincoln Project Co-Founder Mike Madrid: Latino Voters Have an Urgent Warning for Democrats
Treating People as People, Not Machines: Dr. Rose Kumar on How to Heal Healthcare
We have more money, technology, and knowledge at our command than any other nation in the world ever has. And yet one way of seeing the society we’ve built is as a perpetual illness machine: It sells us stuff that makes us sick, and then sells us stuff that treats the sickness. Spencer's guest Dr. Rose Kumar believes there's a better way: Treat people as people, and look at … [Read more...] about Treating People as People, Not Machines: Dr. Rose Kumar on How to Heal Healthcare
Michele Gelfand: What Tight & Loose Cultures Teach Us About the World & Ourselves
In Singapore, you can face a heavy fine or even jail for offenses like spitting on the sidewalk or importing chewing gum. Meanwhile in New Zealand, a man who hatched himself from a giant egg was appointed the country’s “official wizard.” These are examples of tight and loose cultures. Tightness and looseness explain a lot about what we think is right and wrong when there’s more … [Read more...] about Michele Gelfand: What Tight & Loose Cultures Teach Us About the World & Ourselves