Politicians, pundits, and the media spend a lot of time talking about the problems our country faces but not enough time on how to solve them. Each week, John A...
In other democracies, when a party wins an election it wins all the power. But American democracy is different, and under the Constitution, members of Congress are supposed to engage in cross-partisan bargaining—yet they’re failing at this very basic job. What we’re left with are spending bills finalized at midnight before a government shutdown, and party line votes that are undone by other party line votes. Yuval Levin joins John to discuss some remedies: expanding the number of House members, re-empowering committees to reduce some of the leadership’s power, and using rank-choice voting to get the kind of candidates who bargain and build coalitions.
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35:13
S2 Ep4: DOGE Is Doing it Wrong (with Philip K. Howard)
Elon wants to cut government programs, but that won’t make government more efficient. But changing how the government does things—by streamlining the permitting and purchasing processes, for example—will make government more effective, efficient, and responsive to the public. Plus, instilling fear among federal employees and helping fulfill Trump’s urge to say “you’re fired.”
show notes
Philip's group, Common Good
Philip's books, "Everyday Freedom" and "Try Common Sense"
Will Marshall's piece arguing for Democrats to have their own kind of DOGE
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31:30
S2 Ep3: Keeping the Faith in the Fight to Defend Democracy (with Anne Applebaum)
As Trump retakes the Oval Office, John speaks with Anne Applebaum about how to stay in the fight of our times. In this horseshoe moment, she says the center-left and center-right have to stick together as Trump makes moves to exercise power without checks and balances. Meanwhile, we need to read and support local and regional journalism to keep the information and debate flowing—and to counter the algorithmic assault on our democracy from platforms pushing content that’s not necessarily true. Plus, expect corruption, but let’s not let them get away with it.
show notes
Anne's "Twilight of Democracy" and "Autocracy, Inc."
Anne's piece on the new Rasputins
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30:11
S2 Ep2: Avoiding Partisan Gridlock
Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi, who represents a Long Island district that Trump also won, argues that the real election mandate was for border security, reducing the cost of living, and turning down the volume on the culture wars—not one-party rule. Suozzi talks with John about where he thinks Dems can work with Republicans and which areas are non-negotiable, including on climate and the environment. Plus, what happened to Trump’s big promises on Ukraine and the hostages, and how some 80s movies help explain the challenges facing the middle class.
Rep. Tom Suozzi joins John Avlon.
show notes
Suozzi's piece in The NYT
Trailer for the movie, "Gung Ho," starring Michael Keaton
Trailer for "Wall Street"
Trailer for "Pretty Woman," starring the one and only JR
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39:16
S2 Ep1: A Civics Deficit in the Classroom
As schools have continued to emphasize STEM courses and other subjects, civics has largely fallen off the curriculum calendar in most states—and we’re now living in a country roiled by political divisions and fears of violence. Richard Haass joins John to discuss the need for teaching what it means to be an American, the challenges of implementing a national civics curriculum, and how more nonprofit foundations should step up to support a new generation of Schoolhouse Rock-like projects, especially as the 250th anniversary of the U. S. approaches. Amb. Richard Haass joins John Avlon.
show notes
The ambassador's book, "The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens"
iCivics, the education group founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The National Constitution Center
Politicians, pundits, and the media spend a lot of time talking about the problems our country faces but not enough time on how to solve them. Each week, John Avlon and his guests hash out sensible and attainable solutions for some of the most vexing issues confronting our democracy—solutions that will likely emerge from the political center.