Democracy in Danger
UVA Karsh Institute
All over the world, liberal democracy is under threat. Autocrats are taking hold. They’re crushing dissent. Controlling the media. Trampling voting rights. Don’t let them. Join hosts Will Hitchcock and Siva Vaidhyanathan as they put the illiberal turn in context. Hear leading thinkers discuss serious threats to government by the people: from the dark web and media disinformation, to climate change, economic inequality and violent extremism. Help save the rule of the people — one episode at a time. And make democracy work better. Listen, subscribe to the show, leave us some stars and tweet us your thoughts @DinDpodcast. New episodes drop every other Wednesday.
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Democracy in Danger Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Democracy in Danger episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Democracy in Danger for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Democracy in Danger episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
S7 E2. A Dream in Distress
Democracy in Danger
10/04/23 • 39 min
In the 1930s, truckers in Minneapolis went on strike to protest their precarious working conditions. When things got violent, FDR stepped in — and the truckers won. New York Times writer David Leonhardt says this story demonstrates the importance of organized labor to the vitality of the American dream. Today, that dream of a “better, richer, happier life” is in doubt, as inequality grows and progress wanes. Live from the Texas Tribune Festival, Leonhardt makes a case for how to turn the tide.
S8 E7. No Good Reason
Democracy in Danger
05/08/24 • 33 min
After the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a racial panic took hold over the United States and its leadership. And President Franklin D. Roosevelt — otherwise known for the progressive policies of his New Deal — approved the mass removal and confinement of Japanese American families, on scant evidence of disloyalty. Our team discusses this shameful chapter in U.S. history, and its legacy, with a daughter of two erstwhile internees and one of the world’s foremost students of the era.
S4 E13. Broken News
Democracy in Danger
05/25/22 • -1 min
Newsrooms are shrinking, hedge funds are buying up local papers and clickbait is shaping more and more what you know about the world. What the heck is happening to the news business — and what does this spell for the future of democracy? Journalism professors Jay Rosen and Nikki Usher say the internet isn’t all to blame: Journalists, they argue, need to get more creative about who they reach, what they cover and how they fund their work.
![Democracy in Danger - Insurrection [Special Episode]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/1a694a0ab91b551a479cbb4fc0fe6c3881e7b42992907cefc5825b52dce1faf6.avif)
Insurrection [Special Episode]
Democracy in Danger
01/09/21 • -1 min
The Confederate flag flew inside the U.S. Capitol this week, a feat not even Robert E. Lee achieved. Egged on by President Trump, a violent mob laid siege to the building, bringing death and mayhem, and temporarily halting the work of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s victory. Siva and Will — together with their University of Virginia students — reflect on what happened. Much as the nation was stunned, these acts were not unprecedented or unpredictable.
![Democracy in Danger - The Poles Have Spoken [Rebroadcast]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/f75576ec5827f9a730e83f727a3258e6c825d12d9af9af4ef4d56a0cf43fa601.avif)
The Poles Have Spoken [Rebroadcast]
Democracy in Danger
06/12/24 • 27 min
With EU election results in, it looks like the forces of extreme nationalism will pull the continent’s politics rightward. But in Poland, the center has held after voters booted the far-right Law and Justice Party from power last fall. This week, we revisit our take on that election in Poland and its place on the European landscape, with the feminist scholar and activist Agnieszka Graff. She discusses that remarkable turn of events and what still lies ahead for her country.
No Good Reason – Bonus Interview with Karen Inkelas
Democracy in Danger
05/29/24 • 27 min
In this second follow-up to “No Good Reason,” we offer Siva’s full interview with Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas. She was a teenager when she first learned that her parents and their families had been incarcerated during World War II. It was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dubious policy of confining Japanese Americans on suspicion of disloyalty. Inkelas reflects on her parent’s experience and the marks it left on her own life.
![Democracy in Danger - Swift Country [Rebroadcast]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/84e3792456d17762bcaf00b383e777675a21dd5ec6b8806c0e71f7afdd233fc8.avif)
Swift Country [Rebroadcast]
Democracy in Danger
04/03/24 • 51 min
Last September, Vote.org and other advocacy groups saw a massive spike in new voter registrations on a one-day nationwide drive. The main reason: Taylor Swift, who has been urging fans to get political. But can she — and other celebrities — move the needle on core matters of social justice, and maybe even save democracy? As usual, we turn to the experts. By which we mean three teenage girls. Plus phenom sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom keeps it real on this play-it-again-worthy episode from our archives.
![Democracy in Danger - Disconnected [Rebroadcast]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/003d9fdddfb832fd8939cdd814de5e456c0c2976aac575602f013eee7efffc87.avif)
Disconnected [Rebroadcast]
Democracy in Danger
07/27/22 • 30 min
President Biden’s recent covid diagnosis is a reminder that the country is not out of the pandemic woods yet. As new variants crop up and infection numbers spike, the demand for remote working and learning will remain. But as many as 120 million Americans lack consistent, high-speed internet. This time we revisit our show with media scholar Christopher Ali. He says the broadband divide isn’t just an economic problem but a threat to democracy itself. Hear why he thinks internet access is a vital public good.
![Democracy in Danger - The Terrible War [Rebroadcast]](https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/episode_images/a0c5e6c379bcb4f673733493369860019289ea759785265acdc0b8ad3c0222fc.avif)
The Terrible War [Rebroadcast]
Democracy in Danger
03/16/22 • 33 min
The post-9/11 “forever wars” — in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere — claimed a million lives and cost the United States $8 trillion over two decades. But what about the costs you can’t count? As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rages on, we flash back to an episode we did with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Spencer Ackerman, about the fallout on the home front from the war on terror. Ackerman says the enterprise was built on lies and has disfigured America’s political culture.
Introducing Season Seven
Democracy in Danger
09/06/23 • 8 min
New season, new questions, new people! This fall, UVa historian Emily Burrill joins our team to fill in for Will while he’s away. Emily chats with Siva and Will about what’s coming up in Season Seven. We’ll be delving into the relationship between expressive culture and democratic practice, putting on a couple of live shows and — of course — serving up our bread and butter: the knowledge you need to help save the rule of the people.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Democracy in Danger have?
Democracy in Danger currently has 148 episodes available.
What topics does Democracy in Danger cover?
The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Podcasts and Politics.
What is the most popular episode on Democracy in Danger?
The episode title 'S5 E4. We the Entrenched' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Democracy in Danger?
The average episode length on Democracy in Danger is 34 minutes.
How often are episodes of Democracy in Danger released?
Episodes of Democracy in Danger are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Democracy in Danger?
The first episode of Democracy in Danger was released on Jul 21, 2020.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ