Ever since I published my book Patriots of Two Nations in 2020, I’ve been working on another one — a much bigger one, as it’s turned out. And I’m still working on that big book. But with American democracy facing its greatest crisis since the Civil War as a corrupt autocrat returns to the presidency, I want to do my part, however small, to help right now. So I’m going to … [Read more...] about The Liberal Backbone
democracy
Slowly and then all at once
Ernest Hemingway is famous for the terse economy of his writing. And in one of the most resonant examples of that quality, he captured the essence of catastrophic failure in just a few words, in his novel The Sun Also Rises. The alcoholic veteran Mike Campbell is asked how he went bankrupt. “Two ways,” he says. “Gradually and then quickly.” As it is with one … [Read more...] about Slowly and then all at once
Mike Madrid on The Latino Century
Listen to this episode with Apple Podcasts or any podcast app, at YouTube, or here: According to my guest this time, the United States is entering a Latino century, and that might be what saves our democracy. Mike Madrid is a top expert on Latino voting, and in recent years he’s become a national leader in the bipartisan fight to save democracy. He’s been … [Read more...] about Mike Madrid on The Latino Century
Sam Farr: How Democracy Can Work
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
Why are so many of us abandoning democracy for some form of tyranny? Joan Esposito interviews Spencer Critchley
Spencer often talks with Joan Esposito, who interviews him about politics for her show on Chicago's WCPT-AM. This episode of Dastardly Cleverness replays one of those conversations that's especially relevant now. Joan and Spencer focus on why democracy, after all its successes, is now in so much danger from authoritarianism. They talk about: You can hear more … [Read more...] about Why are so many of us abandoning democracy for some form of tyranny? Joan Esposito interviews Spencer Critchley