Podcasts

Liberty is a value often associated with democracy. Grassroots advocates and organizers have historically mobilized to pressure leaders and bring about change in society. But these efforts haven’t always been successful. With this in mind, what does it take for liberty to emerge?This pursuit of liberty is at the center of economist Daron Acemoglu’s new book, “The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty.” In this week’s episode, Acemoglu joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss the role of norms and mobilization as states and societies struggle in the corridor to liberty.Acemoglu is the Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of…

Ronald Reagan is often regarded as a champion of modern American conservatism, but the former president didn’t always hold these political beliefs. Reagan actually grew up in a New Deal family and voiced his support for the Democratic Party well into the 1950s. So how did he come to be such a prominent figure in the Republican Party?In this week’s episode, Robert Mann joins Julian Zelizer to discuss Ronald Reagan’s political origins and transformation from a Democrat to a Republican, the subject of Mann’s book, “Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon.” Mann discusses Reagan’s political philosophies as they changed in the face of…

Youth-led movements are sweeping the country. Over the past few years, young people have sparked movements to combat issues ranging from gun violence to climate change. These activists have organized protests, occupied state capitol buildings, and encouraged voter registration. And with youth voter turnout at a four-decade high in 2018’s midterm election according to the Census Bureau, young voices may play a critical role in this year’s presidential election.Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview some of these young political voices in this week’s episode, focusing on their projects, motivations, and hopes for 2020.ABOUT THE GUESTSNick Guthman, Blue…

College debt is a defining characteristic of middle class life in America.In this episode, Caitlin Zaloom joins Julian Zelizer to discuss the impact of debt on families and students, the historic value of education, and explanations behind the rising costs of college. These are all topics of her new book, “Indebted: How Families Make College Work at Any Cost.”Zaloom is the editor-in-chief of Public Books and an associate professor in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University. Her research focuses on urbanization, globalization, financial markets, science and technology, and social theory. She also is the author of “Out of…

After President Donald Trump was elected, two congressional staffers wrote a guide to “resisting the Trump agenda,” which immediately went viral. Known as “Indivisible,” the guide sparked a grassroots movement across the country, and invisible groups are now working across the country to advocate for progressive leaders and policies.Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, who are married, are the cofounders and executive directors of Indivisible and have published a book about the story of the movement: “We are Indivisible: A Blueprint for Democracy After Trump.” They join Sam Wang and Julian Zelizer in today’s episode to discuss.Before starting Indivisible,…

Is democracy under attack? With the rise of authoritarianism abroad and the erosion of rights and norms at home, many have started to reexamine the strengths and weaknesses of democratic institutions. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the state of American democracy in this week’s episode, looking at voting rights, truth in politics, and impeachment as the country enters the final year of President Trump’s term. ABOUT THE HOSTSWang is a professor at Princeton University, appointed in neuroscience with affiliate appointments in the Program in Law and Public Affairs and the Center for Information Technology Policy. An alumnus of Caltech, where he…

Impeachment headlines are dominating the news. Since the start of public hearings in the U.S. House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump last week, several witnesses have testified on concerns about the Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the impeachment inquiry in this week’s episode, breaking down the substance of and the Republican response to the public hearings so far.ABOUT THE HOSTSWang is a professor at Princeton University, appointed in neuroscience with affiliate appointments in the Program in Law and Public Affairs and the Center for Information Technology Policy. An…

Florida will be a key state in the 2020 presidential election, and one Mayor Andrew Gillum hopes will flip blue. In this episode, he chats with Julian Zelizer about his run for governor and his current efforts to mobilize voters in Florida. Gillum is currently chair of Forward Florida Action, a voter registration organization working to build a vibrant, inclusive democracy that works for all Florida communities. He has been involved in public affairs for more than 15 years — when he was 23 years old, he became the youngest person elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. As city commissioner, he championed restorative justice programs and…

Voters cast their ballots this week, with a few key statewide elections taking place in Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Sam Wang and Julian Zelizer discuss the results of these elections and what it means for the 2020 election in this episode.The duo also takes a look at the impeachment process, debating whether the inquiry has caused rallying among Republican voters. The short answer: It hasn’t — according to the pair.ABOUT THE HOSTSWang is a professor at Princeton University, appointed in neuroscience with affiliate appointments in the Program in Law and Public Affairs and the Center for Information Technology Policy. An alumnus of Caltech,…