This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with Steven Simon about the renewed tensions over Iran's nuclear program, recent military actions by Israel and the U.S., and their implications for global politics. Simon provides historical context and strategic analysis, touching on the complexities of diplomacy and regional power dynamics.
Zachary sets the scene with his poem, "The Stars".
Steven Simon is a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, D.C., and a visiting professor at Dartmouth College. He served at the State Department and National Security Council for over 20 years. His most recent book is: Grand Delusion: The Rise and Fall of U.S. Ambition in the Middle East (2023).
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This is Democracy — 300th Episode!
In the 300th episode of This Is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary look back on seven years of podcasting, reflecting on their conversations with scholars, activists, and students about democracy, human rights, and civic engagement. Zachary reads from his first poem for the podcast, "In A Quieter Time", and reflects on how his writing has evolved over the years. The episode emphasizes the need for nuanced, non-partisan discussions on democracy, the role of youth in shaping political discourse, and the importance of non-violent solutions to political challenges.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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