Democracy! The Podcast

“If you don't give people dignity, you don't create a system that leads to better health, education, peace, security outcomes. And it's not the world that free peoples want to live in. So, democracy matters. It's hard, but it, for all its faults, in all its deficiencies, it works in all its messiness.” The Honorable Derek Mitchell, Ambassador & President, The National Democratic Institute.  Key Links https://thehill.com/opinion/international/542071-sustainable-pandemic-recovery-depends-on-building-back-democratically (More from Ambassador Mitchell: Sustainable pandemic recovery depends on building back democratically) https://www.ifes.org/publications/overcoming-challenges-democracy-and-governance-programs-post-conflict-countries (IFES: Overcoming Challenges to Democracy and Governance Programs in Post-Conflict Countries) https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/08.16.2021_-_USG_Sudan_Complex_Emergency_Fact_Sheet_4.pdf (USAID Emergency Fact Sheet on Sudan) https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/oct-25-2021-statement-administrator-power-military-takeover-sudan (USAID Statement: Administrator Samantha Power on Military Takeover in Sudan) ---- At the heart of democracy lies peace, security, and resilience, and for some countries, these qualities are the toughest to come by.  So, where does a nation start when trying to build a strong, resilient, and lasting democracy?  In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we head to the Republic of Sudan in northeast Africa to seek some answers.    Then, Ambassador Derek Mitchell, the President of the National Democratic Institute, has seen democracy's rise and fall from nearly every angle.  He talks to Adrienne about witnessing some of democracy's most remarkable moments and shares a retrospective look at what it all means.    Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“I believe that corruption affects the whole country in every way. And when state money is not used in sustained public policy to combat poverty, inequality, malnutrition, or for entrepreneurship, the citizens of a country do not find options, and leave their country for lack of opportunities.” Congressman Nineth Montenegro, former Second Vice President of the Congress of Guatemala & Human Rights Leader. Key Links https://www.usaid.gov/generating-hope-usaid-el-salvador-guatemala-and-honduras (USAID Programming in the Northern Triangle) https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/fact-sheets/apr-2021-usaid-increases-efforts-address-irregular-migration-el-salvador (USAID Increases Efforts to Address Irregular Migration) https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/migrantes-frontera-deportacion-centroamerica-crisis-migratoria-guatemala-rey-rodriguez-pkg-perspectivas-mexico/ (CNN en Español: llegan a Guatemala hambrientos y sin zapatos, aseguran autoridades) https://elperiodico.com.gt/opinion/opiniones-de-hoy/2021/10/21/la-dictadura-saca-las-garras/ (El Periodico: la dictadura saca la garras) Ojo Con Mi Pisto: Educación alimentaria: clave para optimizar el empleo de remesas Ojo Con Mi Pisto: Caquipec transforma las remesas en desarrollo para la comunidad ---- Irregular migration is a global crisis responsible for critical health, economic, security, and citizenship issues everywhere.  So, have you ever wondered about the so-called “pull-factors” that cause people to leave their homes and flee the Northern Triangle?  In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we dive head first into the issue of immigration in Guatemala as we talk to a few people who have witnessed the problem first-hand.  We'll visit with a couple of the consortium's partners who traveled to the tiny border town of El Ceibo between Mexico and Guatemala, and hear more about their work strengthening Guatemala's government to alleviate the problem on its own.   Plus, her husband was one of the 40,000 people tragically “disappeared” from the streets of Guatemala City in the 1980s.  Guatemalan Congressman Nineth Montenegro, former Second Vice President of the Congress of Guatemala, and a well-known human rights leader, gives a candid account of what she suffered during the country's conflict, and how it dramatically transformed her life into one of public service.  She shares her greatest wish for her country and even explains why some Guatemalans have come to love the infamous “coyotes”, when she sits down with Adrienne.   Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“...stability in the Central American region is at stake. We already have Nicaragua that the rest of Central America is concerned about, but we [also] have in the northern part of Central America, three governments in different areas, undermining the rule of law, transparency, and any freedom of speech, or movement by civil society and journalists.”  Deborah Ullmer, NDI, Regional Director for Latin America & the Caribbean Programs. Key Links Vota Bus: https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/guess-who%E2%80%99s-back-back-again (Guess Who's Back? Back Again) Vota Bus: https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/beep-beep-make-way-democracy (Beep! Beep! Make Way for Democracy!) ---- In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, join us as we head to Central America to navigate the nations of the Northern Triangle: Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.  Find out what's really driving immigration, economic woes, and an alarming number of headlines about unstable democracy.  Plus, hear first-hand from the consortium's teams as they prepare to stand by Hondurans in the upcoming general elections.     Then, in a very short period of time, El Salvador's democracy has gone from a beacon of hope to red alert.  We'll learn what the crisis could indicate for the future of the country and dreams of enduring stability in the region, when Adrienne sits down with Ambassador Roger Noriega to break it all down.   And then, beep beep, make way for the Vota Bus!  Democracy gets a lift when citizens gain a better understanding of their own rights and responsibilities.  Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“It's my goal to bring real clear rules [to Ukrainian politics] like in sports. If you break the rules in sports, you pay a penalty, or are disqualified...we try to give the executives exactly the same standards in Ukrainian politics.” The Honorable Mayor Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv & former world heavy weight boxing champion. Key Links https://www.ndi.org/eurasia/ukraine (NDI Ukraine Homepage) https://www.iri.org/resource/annual-municipal-survey-ukraine-reveals-satisfaction-local-governments (IRI Municipal Survey of Ukrainians) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcMWpmc2UM0&list=TLGGMMUf6ihV3XMyNDAzMjAyMQ&ab_channel=IFESUkraine (IFES Engages Youth on Democracy and Human Rights throughout Ukraine) ---- Ukraine's 30 years of statehood have been marked by a series of highs and lows, like the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity in 2014, on an unswerving path towards a more stable democracy. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we are joined by all three of the consortium's members to talk about the power of their partnerships. From the disinformation of COVID-19, to strengthening Ukraine's electoral institutions, hear how IFES, IRI, and NDI work side by side with Ukrainians to capitalize on their democratic superpowers in support of the country's continued independence.  Then, Dr. Ironfist, aka, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, and current Mayor of Kyiv, the Honorable Vitali Klitschko, sits down with Adrienne to discuss how his years in the boxing ring prepared him to take on the fight for democracy in his homeland.  Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“In any country, the work of democratic development is a process…and it's been a very hard, steep, rocky, bumpy path for the Haitians.  But it's a path where they can and will continue to make progress.”  Tony Banbury, President & CEO, The International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Key Links https://www.ifes.org/news/president-and-ceo-testifies-human-rights-haiti (IFES President Tony Banbury Testifies on Human Rights in Haiti) https://www.iri.org/resource/iri-lac-director-testifies-future-democracy-haiti (IRI LAC Director Testifies on the Future of Democracy in Haiti) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/13/fact-sheet-u-s-assistance-to-haiti/ (White House Fact Sheet: US Assistance to Haiti ) ---- From the shocking assassination of their president, to a deadly earthquake, and the crush of Covid-19, Haiti has dominated the headlines the past several months.  But on this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, find out why the media doesn't always get the story right, and why the news isn't all bad for the Caribbean's 2nd largest island.   Hear from a few of the consortium's partners working on the frontlines of Haiti's fight for democracy everyday.  Plus, two Haitian electoral experts sit down to talk with Adrienne about the future and where their hope lies in seeing their nation transformed.   Plus, Tony Banbury, the President and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, shares a life-altering experience that put him at the center of tragedy, and transformed his thoughts on Haiti's future.    Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“More than half the population of practically every country is female, and therefore, it is a waste of a resource not to have women involved in active ways to make life better in their own countries.” The Honorable Dr. Madeleine Albright, the 64th US Secretary of State. Key Links https://www.facebook.com/1303692343109384/videos/185832835977998 (IFES's Rural Women in Tunisia) (Video) "https://cepps.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Not-before-18.pdf“Not Before 18” and the 30% Gender Quota in Libya (Not Before 18” & The 30% Gender Quota in Libya) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQnm1nGJehk&feature=emb_imp_woyt (Full interview with the Honorable Dr. Madeleine Albright) (Video) ---- On this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we take an in-depth look at what happens when women win.   First, tag along to Tunisia for the scoop on a group of rural women who had overlooked their right to vote for years.  Follow their story as they grow from apathetic to empowered citizens helping to steer the future of their country at the ballot box.  In Peru, we'll take a sobering look at terrifying violence intended to derail a woman's shot at running for office.   Then we'll sit down with the 64th US Secretary of State and Chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group, the Honorable Dr. Madeleine Albright, as she speaks out on some of the most urgent issues facing women around the world today, and shares some of her best behind the scene stories as the US's first top woman diplomat.   Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“The most important part of political organizations…is to start working whatever on your street, within your house, within your building, with the small problems that you have around yourself, and maybe you will fall in love with that part of politics, that part of civic engagement, and maybe that is the way to keep on going….” Malik Sakić, President, The European Democracy Youth Network. Key Links https://www.cepps.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Boy-Scouts-in-Libya.mp4 (Boy Scouts & Girl Guides in Libya) (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=TLGGMMUf6ihV3XMyNDAzMjAyMQ&v=AcMWpmc2UM0&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=IFESUkraine (IFES Engages Youth on Democracy and Human Rights Throughout Ukraine) (Video) https://www.ifes.org/publications/strengthening-engagement-through-education-democracy (Strengthening Engagement Through Education for Democracy) http://www.facebook.com/EuropeanDemocracyYouthNetwork/ (The European Democracy Youth Network) ---- Across the planet, people under the age of 30 make up the largest youth count in history. Yet, despite the tough reality that many face significant threats to their happiness and livelihood, the next generation shimmers with some of the brightest stars on our horizon.      In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, discover why Libya's most trusted institutions, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, are also the country's top go-to groups for getting the most important messages right.    Then we head to the classroom in Ukraine to be schooled on a wildly popular civics class that's changing more than just students' schedules.  And, finally, he was born in wartime, but today Bosnia and Herzegovina's Malik Sakić is one of democracy's biggest champions as president of the European Democracy Youth Network.  Find out what he says drove him to get involved in public life, and his best advice for those looking to make a change, when he sits down to chat with Adrienne.         Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ---- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

“...what does it take to have democratic governance effectively manage something like a pandemic? [W]e have to figure out how to bring strong, effective public health responses to democratic governments.”  Dr. David Ross, ScD, President & CEO, The Task Force for Global Health. ---- Key Links https://taskforce.org/coronavirus-pandemic/ (The Task Force for Global Health) https://www.ifes.org/publications/elections-and-covid-19-response-analysis-2020-parliamentary-elections-serbia (Elections and COVID-19 Response Analysis: 2020 Parliamentary Elections in Serbia) https://www.ifes.org/ifes-covid-19-briefing-series (IFES COVID-19 Briefing Series) https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus/fact-sheets (USAID's COVID-19 Response: Fact Sheet) ----- All over the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned lives upside down, disrupted hundreds of elections, and challenged our status quo of what we typically expect democracies to deliver.  In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we'll travel to Ethiopia to hear how elections transpired this spring in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak and what might lie ahead for Africa's 2nd most populous country when they plan to complete the voting process this fall.     Then we'll check in on the situation in the Balkans.  Learn what citizens there had to say about what it would take for them to feel safe enough to vote. And finally, the head of the Task Force for Global Health, Dr. David Ross, sits down with Adrienne to get a 360-degree look at what he thinks has to happen for the Covid-19 pandemic to end.   Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ----- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

"[I]f we want to protect our own democracy and our own security we need to be alert to the fact that we are subject to these [malign influence & disinformation] campaigns, even if we can't quite see them or trace their finger prints." Dan Twining, President, The International Republican Institute. ----- Key Links https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/iri-communications-experts-provide-vital-support-during-challenging-times (IRI Communications Experts Provide Vital Support During Challenging Times) NDI Presidential Election Reports: https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/NDI%20Ukraine%20Local%20Elections%20Statement%20-%20October%202020%20-%20ENG%20final_v3.pdf (2019 first round), https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/NDI%20Ukraine%20-%20April%2021%202019%20Second%20Round%20Presidential%20Election%20-%20Election%20Observation%20Statment%20-%20Final%20ENG%20v2.pdf (2019 second round), https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/NDI%20Ukraine%20-%20July%2021%202019%20Parliamentary%20Election%20Observation%20Statment%20-%20ENG%20vf.pdf (2019 parliamentary election), https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/NDI%20Ukraine%20Local%20Elections%20Statement%20-%20October%202020%20-%20ENG%20final_v3.pdf (2020 local election ) https://counteringdisinformation.org/ (The CEPPS Countering Disinformation Guide) https://www.cepps.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ecuador-1.pdf (Countering Disinformation in Ecuador ) ----- While the explosive growth of digital and social media has skyrocketed to universal access over the past several years, nations with nefarious intent, including Russia and China, can now sow seeds of chaos and confusion more easily than ever. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we'll focus on the threat malign influence and disinformation present to stable societies and democracies everywhere.   We'll start in the ancient land of Armenia, where twin crises collided last year, ushering in never before seen levels of nefarious interference.   Then we'll take a look at Ukraine, where teams combated malign influence online during three sets of elections.    And finally, the President of the International Republican Institute shares his perspective on the crippling effect foreign nations have when their bad intentions infiltrate the public information space, and how you can protect yourself from falling prey.      Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ----- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org (Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

"[T]he media is the first line of attack in really chipping away and undermining democracy.” Rosarie Tucci, USAID Director, Democracy, Rights & Governance Center  Key Links Read NDI's https://www.ndi.org/publications/kosovos-vibrant-democracy-closing-deficit-womens-full-participation (Kosovo's Vibrant Democracy: Closing the deficit in women's full participation)  Check out https://internews.org/ (Internews)  V-Dem Democracy Report 2021: https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/74/8c/748c68ad-f224-4cd7-87f9-8794add5c60f/dr_2021_updated.pdf (Autocratization Turns Viral)  ----- As the rise of corruption, authoritarian power, and nefarious interference takes hold in many countries, the power of the press has been challenged throughout the globe.  In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we'll examine the role media plays in sustaining a free and independent society, and why the bad guys always take the first aim at the press corps.   First, we travel to Kosovo to hear what our CEPPS consortium partners, Nancy Soderberg and Pajtim Gashi from the National Democratic Institute, are doing to counter disinformation and misogyny.   Then, Jeanne Bourgault, President and CEO of Internews, a CEPPS partner who trains independent journalists and digital rights activists, shares what journalists deal with in a compromised information space.      Finally, we have a candid conversation with USAID Director of the Democracy, Rights, and Governance Center Rosarie Tucci about media sustainability and what the future holds.     Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.   ----- Follow https://twitter.com/cepps (CEPPS on Twitter).  http://cepps.org/podcast (Democracy! The Podcast) is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross.  This podcast has been produced by the http://cepps.org/ (Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening) through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the https://www.usaid.gov/ (United States Agency for International Development.) Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, or the US Government.  This show is produced by https://twitter.com/evoterra (Evo Terra) and https://simpler.media/ (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In season one, we'll take an in-depth look at some of the most perplexing challenges facing the vitality of democracy. Surely, you've seen the headlines from places like El Salvador, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, and, no doubt, you've heard the concerns from US leaders… people like USAID Administrator Samantha Power and President Biden. But what can we do about these global emergencies... these imminent threats to the health and vibrancy of democracy?  Join me on Democracy! The Podcast, as we tour the world to seek a better understanding of how a consortium…  made up of the three leading US development organizations, some with names you may already know well…  the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute, comes together to work alongside citizens… in the fight to defend democracy.  Hear how international teams offer solutions in the face of modern day threats like corruption, disinformation, rising authoritarianism, dictatorships, economic disasters, and failed governments, and learn how you, too, can fight for a more democratic society. You'll hear from the most experienced experts working in the field of democracy, rights, and governance.  They'll explain how they help citizens tackle real-life problems, and move their own countries toward a more democratic process for all.  Leading voices from the U-S government and leaders of foreign nations will weigh-in.. Plus, we'll talk to regular people like you and me who bravely stand up for their fellow citizens in the face of discrimination, punishment, persecution, or are simply excluded from their own nation's political processes every day.  You can find Democracy! The Podcast, right here, or on whatever service, or app, or semi-functioning device you might use to listen to your podcasts. We're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa, Plex... whatever. You know..  the tyranny of choice. Huh, maybe that's what we should call a future episode of the new season... Jot it down, so you won't forget: Democracy! The Podcast.   I'm Adrienne Ross, and I can't wait to share this new show with you! ----- CEPPS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cepps (https://twitter.com/cepps) Produced by https://simpler.media/ (Simpler Media). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy