The Democracy Group

This panel explores three major threats to democracy: Erosion of the rule of law Loss of experienced public servants Rising hyper-partisanship Panelists share firsthand insights and respond to questions from fellowship participants about public service, media, and civic engagement. Speakers Brandon Stover – Network Manager, The Democracy Group Jenna Spinelli – Moderator, Founder of The Democracy Group Simone Leeper – Host of Democracy Decoded David Martin – Host of The Good Government Show David Beckemeyer – Host of Outrage Overload Fellowship Participants (Q&A) Key Moments 00:00 – Introduction Overview of the fellowship and panel purpose 01:08 – Simone: Threats to the Rule of Law Executive overreach Pressure on judicial independence Election system concerns 06:42 – David Martin: Public Service Crisis Loss of experienced civil servants Institutional knowledge drain Fear and silence within agencies 12:11 – David Beckemeyer: Hyper-Partisanship Polarization as a root cause Psychological blind spots Citizens becoming “combatants” 16:53 – Q&A Begins 17:00 – Staying vs. Leaving Government Ethical dilemmas for public servants Personal trade-offs 21:59 – Young People in Politics Encouragement to pursue public service Importance of new leadership 24:21 – Media’s Role in Democracy Amplifying underreported stories Creating nuanced conversations 29:09 – Fellow Reflections Inspiration and challenges Desire for deeper, more balanced dialogue Links The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship Democracy Decoded The Good Government Show Outrage Overload Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Imagine getting a call from the President to tell you he wants you to be the head of the IRS. That happened to Danny Werfel. Listen to how he explains the mission of the IRS. Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Good Government Show's episodes! 👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1572871022 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode, Jesse Nguyen of the Democracy Group speaks with Paul Oshinski, research manager at More in Common, about their extensive study titled 'Beyond MAGA.' The study, which included over 18,000 survey responses and 13 focus groups, aimed to understand the nuances within the Trump voter base. They discuss the segmentation of Trump voters into four distinct groups, their attitudes towards Trump’s policies, and their views on key issues like immigration and democracy. The episode also touches upon the surprising demographic diversity within Trump's coalition and the role of economic concerns in shaping voter preferences. Lastly, upcoming webinar details are provided for those interested in a deeper dive into the study's findings.00:00 Introduction 00:49 Research Manager's Role and Survey Details02:11 Inspiration and Process Behind the Study03:27 Segmentation of Trump Voters04:50 Reluctant Right and Immigration Views09:06 Diversity in Trump's Coalition14:37 Views on DEI and Critical Race Theory17:36 Concluding Thoughts and Webinar InformationTo learn more about each of the featured podcasts, visit the Shows page at democracygroup.org/shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Future Hindsight's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/futurehindsight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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This week we bring you a special episode from Aleena Khan, one of our 2025 Podcast Fellows.In this special episode from the Democracy Group Network, Aleena introduces her podcast 'Into the Woodland,' where she discusses the local government and events in The Woodlands, Texas. She explores the unique Woodlands Township government system, established in 2010, and details the roles of its Board of Directors and various advisory committees. Aleena also sheds light on the nine distinct villages within the Woodlands, each with their own village associations that host events and advocate for community change. Listeners are encouraged to participate in township meetings and access resources available on the township's website. 00:00 Introduction to the Democracy Group Network 00:23 Welcome to Into the Woodland 00:37 Understanding the Woodlands Township Government 01:06 The Role of Committees and Villages 01:47 Conclusion and FarewellKnow a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we bring you a special episode from Shae Himmelberger & Joseph Strassman, one of our 2025 Podcast Fellows teams. In this special episode, we dive into a candid conversation with Dr. Chris Beam, a research professor at Penn State focusing on political theory and social ethics. The episode covers Dr. Beam's academic background, his thoughts on the evolving relationship between Christian theology and democracy, and the rise of Christian nationalism in America. The discussion also delves into political dynamics, the economic focus of progressive politics, and the challenges faced by both the Democratic and Republican parties. Dr. Beam provides insights on how the U.S. political and cultural landscape has shifted over the years, the role of religion in shaping political ideologies, and the potential for progressive movements to regain their footing amidst current challenges. 00:00 Introduction to the Democracy Group Network 00:23 Guest Introduction and Background 02:20 Christian Theology and Democracy 05:02 Christian Nationalism and Its Implications 07:36 The Role of Religion in American Politics 23:04 Progressive Politics and Economic Issues 31:44 Future of Progressive Politics 41:30 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKnow a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we bring you a special episode from Tenzin Jamyang, one of our 2025 Podcast Fellows.In this special episode of 'Democracy Reflected,' we sit down with Eric Pereira, Community Affairs Fellow at the Office of Council Member Shekar Krishnan, representing New York City's 25th City Council District. Eric discusses his role in connecting with constituents, addressing local issues, and the importance of representation in diverse neighborhoods like Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. He sheds light on the daily challenges and successes of ensuring that the voices of underrepresented communities are heard and their needs met. Eric shares how his team's linguistic diversity aids in building trust, the impact of legislative efforts on community advocacy, and his journey into public service inspired by his background. This episode highlights the real-world effects of effective local governance and offers insights into how young people can get involved in public service. 00:00 Introduction to the Democracy Group Network00:23 Meet Eric Pereira: Community Affairs Fellow01:42 The Importance of Representation in Local Government04:40 Challenges and Barriers in Political Spaces07:48 Building Trust and Effective Communication09:31 Future of Representation and Civic Engagement23:06 Personal Journey and Inspiration for Public Service24:36 Encouraging Youth Participation in Public Service27:49 Final Thoughts and EncouragementKnow a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we bring you a special episode from Annalise Huang, one of our 2025 Podcast Fellows.The episode features an in-depth conversation with Kayla Pilgrim, a 19-year-old founder of Civic Success, about her journey in civic engagement, the motivations behind her work, and the innovative ways her organization is inspiring young people to participate in civic life. Kayla discusses the challenges and opportunities of modernizing civic engagement, the impact of social media, the barriers young people face, and the importance of sustained, meaningful involvement. The episode concludes with practical advice for young listeners looking to get involved in their communities. 00:00 Introduction to the Democracy Group Network 00:23 Welcome to Civically Thinking 01:19 Meet Kayla Pilgrim: A Young Civic Leader 02:40 Kayla's Journey into Civic Engagement 05:20 The Civic Success Project 10:01 Challenges and Innovations in Civic Engagement 14:44 The Role of Social Media in Civic Engagement 17:58 Personal Challenges and Staying Engaged 23:36 Advice for Young People on Getting Involved 26:13 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKnow a student interested in democracy and podcasts? Send them over to our fellowship to apply: https://www.democracygroup.org/fellowship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from The Context podcast.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of The Context's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1726934311 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the Village SquareCast podcast.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Village SquareCast episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1520059234 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the Future Hindsight podcast, hosted by Mila Atmos.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Future Hindsight's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/futurehindsight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the New Faces of Democracy podcast, hosted by Nancy Bynum.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of New Faces of Democracy episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1512070381 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the Freedom Over Fascism podcast.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Freedom Over Fascism's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1668429440 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the Let's Find Common Ground podcast, hosted by Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Ket's Find Common Ground's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1511159051 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from Politics in Question, hosted by Lee Drutman and James Wallner.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Politics in Question's episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1470607073 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from the Democracy Works podcast, hosted by Jenna Spinelle, Christopher Beem, Michael Berkman. Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Democracy Works' episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1358363335 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our Best of 2025 episodes with an episode from Democracy Decoded.Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of Democracy Decoded episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1611352390 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of An Honorable Profession episodes!👉 Subscribe here: https://pod.link/1435970632 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.