This is Democracy – Episode 299: Southern Politics: Past and Present
This week, Jeremi and Zachary are speaking with Professor Bryan D. Jones to explore the history and evolution of southern politics. They delve into the persistent divisions and conflicts within southern politics over the last century and a half, and analyze how these dynamics shape contemporary issues of democracy, race, justice, and power.
Zachary opens with his poem titled "At Mr. Evers' Home".
Bryan D. Jones holds the J. J. "Jake" Pickle Regents Chair in Congressional Studies, and he is a professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Prof. Jones’ books include: Reconceiving Decision-Making in Democratic Politics (1994), Politics and the Architecture of Choice (2001), and most recently, The Southern Fault Line: How Race, Class, and Region Shaped One Family's History (2025).
--------
43:29
This is Democracy – Episode 298: Iran-Contra and its Legacies
In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary Suri are joined by Professor Alan McPherson, an expert on US foreign relations who introduces his new book 'The Breach: Iran-Contra and the Assault on American Democracy.' Together, they discuss how this Iran-Contra scandal altered public trust in the American government and set troubling precedents for future administrations.
Zachary sets the scene with his poem titled "Same Old Lies".
Alan McPherson is a professor of history at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is the author of numerous books on the history of U.S. foreign relations, including: The Invaded: How Latin Americans and their Allies Fought and Ended U.S. Occupations; Ghosts of Sheridan Circle: How a Washington Assassination Brought Pinochet's Terror State to Justice; and, most recently, The Breach: Iran-Contra and the Assault on American Democracy.
--------
41:23
This is Democracy – Episode 297: Free Speech and Repression in Turkey
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of political imprisonment, torture, threats of r*pe, and human rights abuses. Viewer discretion is advised.
Jeremi and Zachary speak with Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent, who spent over 2,400 days in a Turkish prison after releasing footage of state forces mistreating Kurdish workers. He was denied a fair trial, convicted on coerced testimony, and silenced for speaking truth. In confinement, he turned to poetry—smuggling out verses that have since reached global audiences. His words remain a powerful testament to resistance, memory, and humanity.
--------
58:27
This is Democracy – Episode 296: Israel-Palestine
This week, the discussion delves into the complex and deeply rooted suffering in the Middle East, focusing on the history of conflict, memory, trauma, and grief between Israelis and Palestinians. Jeremi and Zachary Suri are joined by acclaimed author Lawrence Wright, who has spent decades studying and documenting the region. Wright discusses his latest novel, 'The Human Scale,' which examines the motivations and personal stories behind the ongoing violence and suffering.
Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "In Jerusalem".
Lawrence Wright is a staff writer for The New Yorker, a playwright, a screenwriter, and the author of ten books of nonfiction, including The Looming Tower, Going Clear, and God Save Texas, and three previous novels, Mr. Texas, The End of October, and God's Favorite. His books have received many honors, including a Pulitzer Prize for The Looming Tower. His most recent book is a novel, The Human Scale.
--------
37:21
This is Democracy – Episode 295: Broadcasting Democracy
Jeremi and Zachary have a conversation with Dr. Mark Pomar on the historical impact of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty's critical role of radio communications during the Cold War, and the challenges they face today including the recent threats to their operation.
Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "Radio Liberty".
Mark Pomar is a Senior Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas. From 1975 to 1982, Dr. Pomar taught Russian studies at the University of Vermont. From 1982 to 1993, he worked as Assistant Director of the Russian Service at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Munich), Director of the USSR Division at the Voice of America, and the Executive Director of the Board for International Broadcasting, a federal agency that oversaw Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. From 1994 to 2008, Dr. Pomar was a senior executive and President of IREX, a large US international nonprofit organization. From 2008 to 2017, he was the founding CEO and President of the US – Russia Foundation (USRF), a private US foundation that supported educational programs and exchanges. Dr. Pomar is the author of two books, most recently: Cold War Radio: The Russian Broadcasts of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The future of democracy is uncertain, but we are committed to its urgent renewal today. This podcast will draw on historical knowledge to inspire a contemporary democratic renaissance. The past offers hope for the present and the future, if only we can escape the negativity of our current moment — and each show will offer a serious way to do that! This podcast will bring together thoughtful voices from different generations to help make sense of current challenges and propose positive steps forward. Our goal is to advance democratic change, one show at a time. Dr. Jeremi Suri, a renown scholar of democracy, will host the podcast and moderate discussions.
Ireland