Podcasts about democracy initiative

Does the outcome of the 2024 election suggest a realignment of traditional voting patterns? Early data points to continuity along some dimensions, such as an expected anti-incumbency vote against Democrats. But there were also notable shifts among certain groups. For example, young people, who had largely tilted towards Democrats in recent election cycles, swung by more than 20 points towards Republicans. This shift was even more pronounced among young men of color with lower levels of education. David Lazer joins EconoFact Chats to discuss this, and other notable shifts in voting patterns in the 2024 election, and the likelihood that these changes will persist. David is a University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. He is the director of Northeastern's Internet and Democracy Initiative, co-directs the Civic Healthy Institutions Project.

The podcast is part of the project “Building a transatlantic technology bridge: challenges and opportunities”, Managed by IAI - Istituto Affari Internazionali, in partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Centre for European Policy.The project is supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo in the framework of the call for applications "Geopolitics and Technology".The podcast discusses ongoing initiatives to strengthen and expand transatlantic dialogue and cooperation on global challenges posed by technological developments in the areas of semiconductors, from a dual European and US perspective.With:Nicola Bilotta, Associate Fellow at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and coordinator of the EU-Supervisory Digital Finance Academy and a research associate at the Florence School of Banking and Finance (European University Institute).Julia Trehu, Paris-based Program Manager and Fellow of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative, German Marshall Fund of the United States.The podcast is based on the results of two papers that were presented and discussed during the event A Digital Transatlantic Bridge - Economic Security and Cooperation, held at IAI on February 28, 2024.The papers can be accessed here:Transatlantic Cooperation on Semiconductors: A US Perspective, Julia Tréhu;Chips: EU's Ambition in a Transatlantic Technology Bridge, Nicola Bilotta.

The podcast is part of the project “Building a transatlantic technology bridge: challenges and opportunities”, Managed by IAI - Istituto Affari Internazionali, in partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Centres for European Policy. The project is supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo in the framework of the call for applications "Geopolitics and Technology".The podcast discusses ongoing initiatives to strengthen and expand transatlantic dialogue and cooperation on global challenges posed by technological developments in the areas of Digital Infrastructure, from a dual European and US perspective.  With:Anselm Küsters, Head of Digitalisation and New Technologies Department at the Centre for European Policy (CEP) in Berlin.André Wolf, Head of the Department Technological Innovation,Infrastructure and Industrial Development at CEP in BerlinJulia Trehu, Paris-based Program Manager and Fellow of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative, German Marshall Fund of the United States.The podcast is based on the results of two papers that were presented and discussed during the event A Digital Transatlantic Bridge - Economic Security and Cooperation, held at IAI on February 28, 2024. The paper can be accessed here:Challenges to Transatlantic Digital Infrastructure: An EU Perspective, Anselm Küsters, André Wolf, Eleonora Poli;Transatlantic Tech Bridge: Digital Infrastructure and Subsea Cables, a US Perspective, Julia Tréhu, Megan Roberts

Uriel Epshtein joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career and his role as CEO at the Renew Democracy Initiative, where they're building a movement to renew democracy through commentary, events and direct aid.

Electric utility monopolies have captured headlines in recent years by sparking catastrophic wildfires and fomenting public corruption scandals in several states. "There are probably other things like this going on we just haven't found out about," remarks John Farrell, director of the Energy Democracy Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. We spoke with him about his recent article in the American Prospect, How private monopolies fuel climate disaster and public corruption. Farrell speaks to how the investor-owned utility's interests in earning a return for its shareholders typically don't align with the interests of its customers or the environment. "You have concentrated ownership and power over the system in a way that's not terribly accountable to people," Farrell observes. Farrell advocates municipalization, seeing publicly owned monopolies as an improvement over for-profit utility monopolies, particularly when it comes to cost of capital. But he also advocates for greater competition in electricity, and for adopting measures such as independent distribution system management and quarantining the monopoly from competitive markets. "When you create a competitive market, it really needs to be truly competitive. And the idea of letting the monopoly continue to participate is problematic," he says.Support the show

What is the Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) about anyway?... Our very first episode of Heatwaves of Change features an in-depth interview with David Orr, a renowned scholar, environmentalist, and author who has dedicated his life to environmental education and sustainable design. He has won countless awards and honors for his environmental work.  David is a vital executive member at CDI. His contributions have made a lasting impact on environmental studies and inspired countless individuals to actively work towards a better, more sustainable future. Listen to your host, Portia Cook, and guest, David Orr, define the intersection between democracy and climate, and explore some of the hottest topics in climate media today.

In this “Transatlantic Takeaway” episode, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund dissect sweeping new EU digital laws and their impact on large tech companies, start-ups and users with guests: Constance Chucholowski, founder and managing director at Candid Public Affairs; Travis Todd, co-founder of Silicon Allee; and Julia Trehu, program manager and Fellow with the German Marshall Fund's Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative. This show was produced by Dina Elsayed.

This spring, Karen Kornbluh and Adrienne Goldstein from the German Marshall Fund's Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative published a document they call the Civic Information Handbook, which they produced in collaboration with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP). Civic information—“important information needed to participate in democracy—is too often drowned out by viral falsehoods, including conspiracy theories.” The Handbook is intended as a resource to help knowledge-producing organizations in the “amplification of fact-based information.” To learn more about the handbook and the ideas on which it is based, Justin Hendrix spoke to GMF research assistant Adrienne Goldstein, as well as Kathryn Peters, executive director of UNC CITAP.

Is democracy as a system of government and a social principle under threat? Seventy percent of the global population now lives either in non-democratic countries, or in countries that are experiencing democratic backsliding. In this final episode in Talking Policy's spring 2023 series on the future of democracy, host Lindsay Morgan talks with Sara Wallace Goodman about how ordinary people respond when their democracy is under threat. Sara, a professor of political science at UC Irvine and member of IGCC's Future of Democracy Initiative, shares findings from her book Citizenship in Hard Times: How Ordinary People Respond to Democratic Threat. This interview was recorded on May 26, 2023.

The open nature of the internet has allowed malicious actors to abuse technology. Information operations, offensive cyber, and IP theft are just some examples of this misuse. The Biden administration has pursued an industrial policy that hopes to counter the weaponization of globalized systems. This approach includes technology subsidies, export controls, and rethinking supply chains. But this approach could undermine efforts to advance global rules and values.To discuss how the United States can push back while bolstering democracy and human rights, Eugenia Lostri, Lawfare's Fellow in Technology Policy and Law, sat down with former Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, Managing Director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative and Senior Fellow with the German Marshall Fund. Ambassador Kornbluh is the lead author on the new GMF report “The New American Foreign Policy of Technology.” They discussed why there's a need to rethink American foreign policy, how to center democratic values, and the crucial role of a multistakeholder approach.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By many accounts, the global fate of democracy is in question. Half of the world's democracies are in retreat. The number of countries moving toward authoritarianism far outweighs the number moving toward democracy. And it has become common for elected leaders around the globe to use their power to weaken democratic institutions from inside the system. As part of our Democracy Talks series, Emilie Hafner-Burton, professor at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy and the co-director of the Future of Democracy Initiative at the UC Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation, talks about the global challenges to democracy with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. Series: "Democracy Talks" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38725]

By many accounts, the global fate of democracy is in question. Half of the world's democracies are in retreat. The number of countries moving toward authoritarianism far outweighs the number moving toward democracy. And it has become common for elected leaders around the globe to use their power to weaken democratic institutions from inside the system. As part of our Democracy Talks series, Emilie Hafner-Burton, professor at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy and the co-director of the Future of Democracy Initiative at the UC Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation, talks about the global challenges to democracy with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. Series: "Democracy Talks" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38725]

David Carroll is the director for Democracy Initiative an organization that wants to help bring more civility and trust to elections. 

We welcome three panelists who are on the front lines of voting access. Former State Senator Dwight Bullard, now with Florida Rising, will speak to the experiences in Florida with the limiting of voter access, especially for folks from marginalized communities, Diana Philip, Chief of Staff for Democracy Initiative, will give us all the data about where in the country needs the most help and support to ensure that all can vote in November and she will have real time ways you can get involved, and Amy Cohen, ED with the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service will speak to the youth vote and what is being done to increase access and enthusiasm within a coalition of colleges and universities across the country.

This week Uriel Epshtein, Executive Director of the Renew Democracy Initiative, joins as our first guest. RDI is a client of ours and was founded by chess legend and outspoken Putin critic, Garry Kasparov. Posting this week feels especially relevant, given the Jan. 6th hearings. RDI is doing incredible work to keep our democracy alive and thriving. Also joining is Niall Strange, who is a political columnist with The Hill and a regular contributor to NewsNation's, Morning in America. He gives some really spot on tips for us publicists looking to connect with him. Enjoy!

In this “Transatlantic Takeaway” episode, hosts Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Rachel Tausendfreund dissect sweeping new EU digital laws and their impact on large tech companies, start-ups and users with guests: Constance Chucholowski, founder and managing director at Candid Public Affairs; Travis Todd, co-founder of Silicon Allee; and Julia Trehu, program manager and Fellow with the German Marshall Fund's Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative.This show was produced by Dina Elsayed. 

Congress must fix or nix the filibuster.   Charly Carter takes us through the racist origins of the filibuster, and how we must deal with it going forward. Charly Carter Charly Carter is Executive Director of The Democracy Initiative. She tells us how the Republicans have used it as a tool for preventing progress on important issues like voting rights and caused gridlock that put our nation's credit rating in peril. She gives common-sense solutions for how the filibuster can be changed. Jim Hightower   Should Democrats be the party of small change?   We might expect that corporate billionaires and Koch-funded Republican right-wingers would be howl-at-the-moon opponents of a wealth tax, Medicare-for-All, and other big, progressive ideas to help improve the circumstances of America's workaday majority. But… Democrats?   Unfortunately, yes. Not grassroots Dems, but a gaggle of don't-rock-the-corporate-boat, Fraidy-cat Democrats. These naysayers are the Party's old-line pols, lobbyists, and other insider elites who're now screeching that Democratic candidates must back off those big proposals.   Jonathan Alter "I'm Scared. I'm Scared."    Jonathan Alter is an MSNBC Political Analyst, journalist and Presidential Historian. He's written books about FDR, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. He is very worried about the future of American Democracy. He writes on Substack at OldGoats.substack.com.    If you'd like to hear the entire episode, visit BillPressPods.com.

Sarah Jaynes joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career in politics and how Rural Democracy Initiative is working to build permanent progressive infrastructure in rural communities.

The word penultimate means “the one before the last.” But what about the one before that one? For this is the third to last Monday of 2021, and it feels there should be a better way of saying that. In any case, this is the first edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement for the third to last week of the year. That’s twice we’ve needed that word in this newsletter so far. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs, here again to bring you information about the area even if not every word is precise.Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.On today’s show:An update on the Emmet-Ivy corridor and sustainability efforts from the University of VirginiaThe new Dean of the School of Architecture and the director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy introduce themselves to a Board of Visitors panel More on the search for a corporate-appointed City Manager for CharlottesvilleA COVID update and a few more bills are before the General AssemblyIn today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out: Colder temperatures are creeping in, and now is the perfect time to think about keeping your family warm through the holidays. Make sure you are getting the most out of your home with help from your local energy nonprofit, LEAP. LEAP wants you and yours to keep comfortable all year round, and offers FREE home weatherization to income- and age-qualifying residents. If you’re age 60 or older, or have an annual household income of less than $74,950, you may qualify for a free energy assessment and home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing. Sign up today to lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce energy waste at home!COVID updateThere have now been over a million reported cases of COVID-19 in Virginia since the beginning of the pandemic, and a total of 14,957 deaths. The seven-day average for positive cases is now at 8.7 percent. That number is a little higher in the Blue Ridge Health District at 8.9 percent. For most of the pandemic, the Charlottesville area has lagged behind the statewide number. There are 58 new cases reported in the Blue Ridge Health District today, but no new fatalities. The seven-day average for new cases in the state is 2,520 a day. RFP closingThe window closes tomorrow at 4 p.m. for firms who are interested in assisting the city of Charlottesville with interim management services until a new top official is appointed. The RFP issued on December 3 requires a firm to provide someone with at least ten years of municipal management experience to run the city on an interim basis. Two addendums to the proposal were made Friday. (read the proposal)This process is not without precedent in Virginia. The Town of Amherst hired the Berkley Group in 2017 to hire a former Pulaski County administrator to serve as interim manager. Peter Huber served for five months as part of the Berkley Group’s Executive Transition Assistance program.  Huber is now serving in a similar position in Alleghany County according to his LinkedIn profile. According to Berkley’s website, they’ve provided this service in dozens of Virginia localities, from the town of Abingdon to the town of Windsor. General Assembly 2022There is less than a month until the Virginia General Assembly convenes for the 2022 session. Several bills have already been filed, and the number coming in right now is low enough to report some of what’s currently in the legislative information system.Senator Mamie J. Locke (D-Hampton) has filed a bill calling for a Constitutional amendment granting the right for people convicted of felons to be able to vote upon release. (SJ1)Delegate James Morefield (R-North Tazewell) has filed a bill establishing a Flood Relief Fund using a portion of the state’s proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions. (HB5) Senator Travis Hackworth (R-Richlands) filed a bill that would terminate power of attorney for anyone convicted of acting against their client. (SB10)Senator David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke) filed a bill increasing the standard deductions for Virginia income tax for both single and married people. (SB11)Senator David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke) has another that would allow localities to issue refunds on excess personal property taxes. (SB12)Delegate Lee Ware (R-Powhatan) has filed legislation that would compel “accomodations providers” to provide more information to localities upon request in the collection of transient lodging taxes. (HB7)Sustainability and Emmet-Ivy updatesLast week, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors met, and the December 10 edition of this show featured some information. On Friday, Bryan McKenzie reported in the Daily Progress that the Board voted to increase tuition by 4.7 percent in the 2022-23 school year and 3.7 percent for the following year. Read his story for more details. On Thursday, the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting was a shorter one than usual, but members were briefed on several items of note. One related to UVA’s sustainability efforts. Colette Sheehy is the Senior Vice President for Operations and State Government at UVA.“You’ll recall that the big audacious goal for sustainability is to be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil-fuel free by 2050,” Sheehy said. “Overall our emissions are down by 44 percent over the last decade which is equivalent to about 160,000 tons of carbon.” However, that doesn’t include the carbon footprint of new buildings built at UVA during the period, though they are built to LEED certification according to Green Building Standards. Sheehy said UVA has to do more to meet its goals.“In order to reach our carbon neutrality goal by 2030, we need to reduce our current emissions by another 160,000 tons and probably another 36,000 related to new construction,” Sheehy said. Sheehy also briefed the Buildings and Grounds Committee on efforts to reduce single-use plastics in order to comply with an executive order from Governor Ralph Northam. She said it’s a University-wide effort. “The biggest challenge is actual single-use plastic water bottles which is why you now see aluminum water bottles used to the extent that we can get them,” Sheehy said. “One of the issues is supply-chain and quantity, particularly if you are at a football and tens of thousands of water bottles that are sold.” Sheehy concluded her presentation with an update on construction of the new Emmet-Ivy precinct, which will house the School of Data Science, the Karsh Democracy Institute, and a hotel and convention center. Utility work has been underway on the site of the former Cavalier Inn, which was demolished to make way for the future. “We expect to be complete with all the utility and road work that sits outside the construction fencing by the end of the first quarter of 2022,” Sheehy said. The south side of Ivy Road will also be altered with new retaining walls and a monumental staircase leading up to the International Residential College. “The foundation work for Data Science should start in early January with completion of that building in the fall of 2023,” Sheehy said. “The plan is the hotel should begin construction in the spring with completion in the fall of 2024.” Design work has begun for the Karsh Institute of Democracy. Höweler+Yoon is the architect. Emmett Streetscape newsThere was also news about the Emmet Street Streetscape, one of the first projects funded through the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Smart Scale process. A design public hearing of the $12 million project was held in December 2019 and is being overseen by the City of Charlottesville. Alice Raucher is the UVa Architect. “They submitted their complete documents to VDOT which is one of the required steps in order to begin the negotiations for the right of way,” Raucher said. Appraisals are underway for the easements or property acquisitions needed for the project. Raucher had no timetable for when that might happen. The Emmet Streetscape runs from Ivy Road to Arlington Boulevard and includes a 10-foot wide multiuse path on the western side of the road. (read the brochure)In today’s second Patreon-fueled shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign  an initiative that wants you to grow native plants in yards, farms, public spaces and gardens in the northern Piedmont. Winter is here, but spring isn’t too far away. This is a great time to begin planning for the spring. Native plants provide habitat, food sources for wildlife, ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate change, and clean water.  Start at the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page and tell them Lonnie Murray sent you!*Architecture and Democracy at UVAAfter the Buildings and Grounds Committee concluded on Thursday, the Academic and Student Life Committee met and heard from the new dean of the School of Architecture and the director of the Karsh Institute for Democracy.  First up: Malo Hutson took over as Dean of the School of Architecture at the beginning of the academic year. He previously was at Columbia University where he directed the Urban Communities and Health Equity Lab. Hutson said the study of architecture is focused on the public realm. “We’re focused on addressing some of the biggest issues of the world, ranging from climate change all the way to the importance of cultural landscape and heritage, to thinking about do you build with healthy materials and so forth and transportation,” Hutson said. Hutson said the School of Architecture has several priorities and values shared with the rest of the UVA Community. He said the four departments in the school are all focused on climate resilience and climate justice, as well as equity and inclusion. Hutson said faculty and staff have an eye on Virginia’s needs as they craft the Climate Justice Initiative. “We know that we are susceptible to storms and flooding all kinds of things that are going on and so how do we engage in a way from whether we’re talking about Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads to all the way in Southwest Virginia?”The Karsh Institute of Democracy exists to reflect on the same basic question. Melody Barnes is the first executive director of the new entity which was founded in 2018. She said democracy is in trouble in the United States and around the world, citing a CBS News poll from January.“Seventy-one percent of Americans believe that democracy in the United States is threatened,” Barnes said. “A more recent poll from just about a month ago, the Pew Research Center indicates that there are about 19 percent of Americans who believe that American democracy is still a role model for democracy in the world.”Barnes said the University of Virginia is well-positioned to take up the cause and the Democracy Initiative has built on the work. “We also believe that this is a moment that we have to do more and that we are well-situated to do more,” Barnes said. Barnes said the Institute will be public-facing and will seek to engage with the community around UVA. “We want to use this moment, we want to leverage the assets and resources that we have to develop solutions, best practices, and new ideas to address the very challenges I just mentioned,” Barnes said. This Institute’s mission is to “generate new ideas and share them with policymakers and citizens” but Barnes said the work doesn’t stop there.“But then we translate them and use diverse communications channels to push them into the public bloodstream,” Barnes said. “To engage policymakers, journalists, the private sector, the public and beyond so people can take those ideas up, they can be debated. They can become policy. They can become practice. They can start to shape the way that we think, talk about, and do democracy. Hopefully the best ideas get taken to scale.” Barnes said one idea may be to offer a prize related to a specific solution. For instance, the Aspen Institute offers $1 million for community college excellence. “We are thinking that a X Prize for Democracy in partnership with others and leveraging the assets of the University and all the knowledge that’s here could be a wonderful way to bringing greater attention to some specific challenges that are facing democracy,” Barnes said. Barnes said a democratic society will always face existential challenges. She said the Institute will be set up to take a long-term view towards curating conversations.“This will be the journey and an issue for the country I think for the life of the country,” Barnes said. “We will always be engaged in these battles and these debates.”  Stay tuned. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Laurent Dubois, John L. Nau III Bicentennial Professor of History & Principles of Democracy, Corcoran Department of History, and Co-Director for Academic Affairs, Democracy Initiative, University of Virginia Haiti is facing political uncertainty due to the assassination of the country's president and the difficult recovery from a powerful earthquake. On this UVA Speaks podcast, Laurent Dubois, the John L. Nau III Bicentennial Professor and co-director of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia, explains the long history of Haiti and how that relates to the current political and humanitarian crises in the country. Learn about the slave revolt that led to the country's founding and the “counter-plantation system” that some see as the foundation of Haitian culture. Professor Dubois explains many twists and turns of history that have led to challenges to the structure of democracy in Haiti that continue today. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here. https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/ElqcoPAmseFf_fqcDK3MgSdJXXdPnYJ2JEEQPvjmqQ2ofxtMoJ0EIn7aDjkbZEiJBKDvjuS-FqhhhNbIzxxC3jq1sV0?loadFrom=SharedLink Laurent Dubois is the John L. Nau III Bicentennial Professor in the History & Principles of Democracy in the Corcoran Department of History and the Co-Director for Academic Affairs in the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia. A specialist on the history and culture of the Atlantic world who studies the Caribbean (particularly Haiti), North America, and France.

Jepson School of Leadership Studies associate professors Thad Williamson and Julian Hayter; Melody C. Barnes, Co-Director for Policy and Public Affairs, Democracy Initiative, Dorothy Danforth Compton Professor and a Professor of Practice, Miller Center of Public Affairs, and Distinguished Fellow, School of Law, University of Virginia; and Corey D. B. Walker, Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, Wake Forest University sit down for a virtual book launch and discussion about community wealth-building practices and democracy. Oct. 20, 2020

This episode features Professors Melody Barnes and Laurent Dubois, co-directors of the https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu/ (Democracy Initiative) at the University of Virginia. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, practitioners and students to study the urgent challenges facing democracy today and advancing its prospects for the future. Nancy, Melody and Laurent discuss the threats to democracy from both Melody's public policy and government background and Laurent's historical perspective; the inherent conflict within democracies between disempowered groups voting for change and entrenched interests that seek to restrict access to the ballot; and while we have a lot of work to do, reasons to be optimistic. https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu (https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu)

In today’s Substack-fueled shout-out, Code for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Charlottesville Office of Human Rights. Visit the Code for Charlottesville website to learn more, including details on three projects that are underway. On today’s show:A brief update on the pandemic Charlottesville is seeking feedback on how to prepare for economic recoveryUVa Board of Visitors committee endorses plans for new hotel, conference center, and athletic complexA challenger emerges in the 57th House of Delegates race This upcoming Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the state of emergency declared by Governor Ralph Northam to deal with the COVID pandemic. After a surge related to the winter holidays, Virginia now has a seven-day average of 1,460 new cases reported each day, or around what that metric was the week before Thanksgiving. The seven-day average on February 5 was 3,365. During a press briefing yesterday, Dr. Costi Sifri of the University of Virginia said community members should still be vigilant. “We have had a pretty steep and steady decline over the last four to six weeks, but that’s stopped now,” Dr. Sifri said. Dr. Sifri said one possibility may be the new COVID variants that are out there. He said declines in new case loads are likely not linked to vaccinations. Nearly 2.2 million doses have been administered in Virginia, and over 782,000 are fully vaccinated. The seven-day average for number of doses is at 53,183 a day as of this morning. This week, the Blue Ridge Health District received 2,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson version of the vaccine, which only requires one shot. “It’s just going to offer so much more flexibility,” Dr. Sifri said. “It’s the vaccine that hopefully once we have large amounts that we’ll be able to see is easily used in places like doctors’ offices, things that would not be as easily done with a deep-frozen messenger RNA, MRNA vaccine.” Still, Dr. Sifri said caution is still required to avoid a fourth surge of COVID. “We don’t have a substantial amount of immunity,” Dr. Sifri said. “We’re not near herd immunity yet but we are making progress and we really do have to continue to practice the things that we know prevent the transmission of COVID.” Social distancing. Masks. Washing hands. Continuing to watch the numbers. “The spring, and into the summer looks a little bit different,” Sifri said. “Probably a lot different than it looks right now.” This past Wednesday, UVA President Jim Ryan announced in an email that the university’s Final Exercises graduation ceremony would not occur as usual. However, the administration is exploring the possibility of smaller events for graduates without guests, or postponing until later this year. *On Monday, Charlottesville City Schools will open up the doors for at least some students to return to class for the first time in a year. Children in kindergarten through 6th grade whose parents have agreed to proceed with in-person instruction. Certain students in 7th grade through 12th grade who have been identified for being at risk have also been invited back. The Charlottesville School Board voted Thursday to offer in-person instruction to students at Buford and Charlottesville High School beginning on April 12. For more information, visit the city schools’ website. Source: City Schools Return to Learn websiteHow can the local economy begin to rebound? The Charlottesville Office of Economic Development will hold two facilitated stakeholder meetings later this month to plan for recovery.“The City Council has indicated that economic recovery of local businesses from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is a top near-term priority,” reads an email from the office. “OED is now seeking broad participation from City business owners that will help inform a series of immediate action items that the City can pursue to assist with recovery.”If you own a business in Charlottesville and want to participate on either March 17 or March 18, visit the office’s website.*Delegate Sally Hudson has a challenger in the 57th House race in this year’s General Assembly election. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Republican Philip Hamilton is running. According to his website, he’s a 33-year-old resident of Charlottesville who graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor of science and from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s in Administration of Justice and Security. The Buildings and Grounds Committee of the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors met yesterday and approved the schematic design for a new hotel and conference center, as well as an athletics complex. The $130.5 million hotel project will be located near the new School of Data Science within the emerging Ivy Corridor. (meeting packet)“A mixed-use hospitality, convening, and social destination in this central location will provide a catalyst to achieve these strategic goals set by the President’s Emmet Ivy Task Force,” reads the staff report. Those goals include supporting the Democracy Initiative, an initiative of the College of Arts and Sciences and other institutions. The University and its real estate foundation have been purchasing land along Ivy Road for many years to assemble enough space, including the Cavalier Inn. That structure was demolished in the summer of 2018 and the place where it stood will remain undeveloped according to a 2020 site plan. The hotel will have 215 rooms and 28,000 square feet of space for conferences. It will wrap around the existing parking garage. The $95 million athletic complex will include a new Football Operations Center and an Olympic Sports Center intended to support more than two dozen varsity sports. “Given the proximity to Central Grounds, North Grounds, the Ivy Corridor, and various athletic event venues, the Athletics Complex provides a unique opportunity to bring student athletes, other UVA students, coaches, staff, faculty, and the broader community together,” reads that staff report. The Buildings and Grounds Committee also discussed amendments to the UVA major capital plan including about a $1 billion reduction in projects from the 2020 plan due to various deferrals. Projects currently under construction include renovations at Alderman Library, a Student and Wellness Center, and the Inn at Darden. Other funded projects in the planning stages include a second upper-class residence hall on Brandon Avenue, the Contemplative Sciences Center, and the renovation of the Physics building. Construction projects currently on hold include a parking garage to serve an expanded Fontaine Research Center, an academic building for the Batten School, and renovations at Old Cabell Hall. Source: Presentation to UVA Board of Visitors Building and Grounds Committee The Buildings and Grounds Committee also got an update on sustainability highlights at UVA. This includes work toward a project called “Climate Justice Mapping” by the UVA Equity Center and UVA Sustainability. “The primary goal of the Climate Justice Mapping project is to build platforms for the collaborative identification, collection, and dissemination of information about the disproportionate harm of adverse environmental impacts on communities of color through a series of accessible  interactive climate justice maps and graphics,” reads that staff report. Other community programs include the UVA Sustainable Food Collaborative. Check the whole packet for details. *Thanks for reading! I neglected to say in the podcast today that music in the program is provided thanks to a grant from the Valley Research Center, an institution so secretive, it doesn’t even exist! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Our second season's first episode –– hosted by Greenpeace’s own Democracy Campaigner Jonathan (they/them) and Actions Team Member Rico (he/him) –– kicks off answering questions of not only what we need now, but what we expect now. The show features special guest Brittny Baxter (she/her), Movement Building Coordinator and Trainer with the Democracy Initiative.

President Trump's defense team will make their argument Friday in his impeachment trial. Elizabeth Chryst, the Republican Senate secretary during President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, and Melody Barnes, of the University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative, helped broker that trial's rules as chief counsel to Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. They join Judy Woodruff to discuss Trump's trial. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump's defense team will make their argument Friday in his impeachment trial. Elizabeth Chryst, the Republican Senate secretary during President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, and Melody Barnes, of the University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative, helped broker that trial's rules as chief counsel to Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. They join Judy Woodruff to discuss Trump's trial. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

No matter how effective organizations are, it's no secret that many struggle when it comes to raising funds. Lack of effective funding strategies hinders organizations from implementing their goals. In this episode, you're going to learn the best way to fund effective activism with power couple, Gregg and Sarah! Sarah Jaynes is the Director of the Rural Democracy Initiative. She serves as a Senior Advisor to the Committee on States, coaching emerging donor alliances in states from Alaska to New Hampshire to Alabama. While Gregg Small is an experienced Executive Director who has directed many nonprofits and is currently serving as the Executive Director for Climate Solutions, a leading climate and clean energy nonprofit. Join us in this conversation as we talk about how to give your money away effectively to organizations that need it, what it's like to support political organizations, and how to support them! Episode Highlights: • How to be an effective donor? • What is (c)(3) and (c)(4)? • How to give your money away effectively to organizations that are in need of it. • Supporting political organizations • Stories about Sarah and Greg's philanthropic works. • What got Sarah and Greg into the work they are now in. • What inspires and motivates Sarah and Greg to continue doing their work. • A day in the life of an executive director. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://www.doyourgood.com/blog/10-sarah-jaynes-gregg-small

No matter how effective organizations are, it's no secret that many struggle when it comes to raising funds. Lack of effective funding strategies hinders organizations from implementing their goals. In this episode, you're going to learn the best way to fund effective activism with power couple, Gregg and Sarah! Sarah Jaynes is the Director of the Rural Democracy Initiative. She serves as a Senior Advisor to the Committee on States, coaching emerging donor alliances in states from Alaska to New Hampshire to Alabama. While Gregg Small is an experienced Executive Director who has directed many nonprofits and is currently serving as the Executive Director for Climate Solutions, a leading climate and clean energy nonprofit.  Join us in this conversation as we talk about how to give your money away effectively to organizations that need it, what it's like to support political organizations, and how to support them!   Episode Highlights: How to be an effective donor? What is (c)(3) and (c)(4)? How to give your money away effectively to organizations that are in need of it Supporting political organizations Stories about Sarah and Greg's philanthropic works What got Sarah and Greg into the work they are now in What inspires and motivate Sarah and Greg to continue doing their work A day in the life of an executive director   Our Guest: Sarah Jaynes - Rural Democracy Initiative Gregg Small - Climate Solutions   If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these episodes as well #9 Sybil Speaks: Make a Difference No Matter How Busy You Are #8 Sybil Speaks: Tips on How to Make Your Money Matter #7 How to Give with Empathy and Trust with Mary Fifield, Principal, Kaleidoscope Consulting, and Abby Sarmac, Senior Advisor, The Giving Practice   Connect with Do Your Good Facebook @doyourgood Instagram @do_your_good Don't forget to check out the #DoYourGoodChallenge and get a chance to win prizes as you give with a purpose!   Would you like to talk with Sybil directly? Well you are in luck! She has free monthly Webinars the second Wednesday of each month at 5PM Pacific Time - register in advance through her website www.doyourgood.com

In this episode, Melody Barnes discusses the developments in the Black Lives Matter movement, technology and misinformation, vaccine distribution and the 2020 US election. Melody Barnes is co-director for Policy and Public Affairs for the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia. She is the Dorothy Danforth Compton Professor of Practice at the Miller Center of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Fellow at the School of Law. From 2009 until January 2012, Melody was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. She also served as chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The Rethinking Democracy Podcast is produced by the Trinity Long Room Hub in partnership with the Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia University. Find out more about the Rethinking Democracy Podcast here: https://www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub/rethinking-democracy-podcast.php

On today's episode, Andrew talks with Talia Stroud, co-director of Civic Signals, about rebuilding and re-stimulating public digital spaces -- and whether it's possible to make digital spaces feel like community or civic initiatives. Talia Stroud is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the School of Journalism, as well as the founding and current Director of the Center for Media Engagement in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin. The Center for Media Engagement examines commercially viable and democratically beneficial ways of improving media. Stroud’s research has received numerous national and international awards, including the International Communication Association (ICA)'s prestigious Outstanding Book Award in 2012 for her book Niche News: The Politics of News Choice, the inaugural Public Engagement Award from the Journalism Studies Division of the ICA in 2019, and the 2016 Bill Eadie Distinguished Award for a Scholarly Article and 2011 Michael Pfau Outstanding Article Award from the National Communication Association. Stroud serves on the editorial boards of seven academic journals and the advisory boards of SciLine, a part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Social Science Research Council’s Media & Democracy Initiative. Her research has appeared in Journal of Communication, Journalism, Political Communication, Public Opinion Quarterly, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, and New Media & Society. Stroud twice received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Communication Studies Graduate Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melody Barnes has had a distinguished political career. She has worked in various roles on Capitol Hill, held senior positions with the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign and transition teams, and led the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2009-2012. Currently, she is the co-director for policy and public affairs at the University of Virginia’s Democracy Initiative. In this episode of Transition Lab, Barnes joined host David Marchick to discuss post-election transition planning, how new administrations plan and implement policy and why we need a smooth transfer of power today.

Hurricane Delta brought strong winds and heavy rains to parts of Mississippi. We assess the impact with MEMA.Then, the state's top health officials express concerns over trends in coronavirus transmission data.Plus, a new report reveals how Mississippi compares to other states in voting accessibility.Segment 1:Hurricane Delta swept through parts of Mississippi over the weekend, bringing with it damaging winds and heavy rains. Delta was the third Category 2 or stronger storm to hit the Gulf region since August. While the state dodged direct hits in each instance, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says Delta delivered significant impacts to the state. MEMA Director Greg Michel shares more with our Michael Guidry.Segment 2:Mississippi is one of the top 20 states with the most new cases of the coronavirus per capita in the U.S., and health officials say a "big upswing" of COVID-19 cases could be on the horizon. During a Mississippi State Medical Association round table, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers cautioned residents not to focus too much on any single day report. But he also says the curve in cases is changing.The recent trends represent a reverse in course compared to the previous two months. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says that is reason enough for health care providers to prepare for a surge.Segment 3:A newly released report by the Democracy Initiative shows Mississippi is the only state in the country that hasn't provided people with more voting options due to the coronavirus pandemic. The coalition of 75 national organizations is working to help states make voting easier and safer. Oure Desare Frazier speaks with Wendy Fields of the Democracy Initiative and Corey Wiggins of the MS NAACP. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At this point, consumers, tech employees, even the CEOs of some big tech companies say there should be more regulation around online privacy, advertising and even disinformation. But what might that regulation look like? The German Marshall Fund think tank is pushing for an initiative called the Digital New Deal. It contains a bunch of policy proposals and would ideally create more transparency into how tech companies operate and question the incentives that push disinformation. Molly Wood discusses it with Karen Kornbluh, director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund.

At this point, consumers, tech employees, even the CEOs of some big tech companies say there should be more regulation around online privacy, advertising and even disinformation. But what might that regulation look like? The German Marshall Fund think tank is pushing for an initiative called the Digital New Deal. It contains a bunch of policy proposals and would ideally create more transparency into how tech companies operate and question the incentives that push disinformation. Molly Wood discusses it with Karen Kornbluh, director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund.

At this point, consumers, tech employees, even the CEOs of some big tech companies say there should be more regulation around online privacy, advertising and even disinformation. But what might that regulation look like? The German Marshall Fund think tank is pushing for an initiative called the Digital New Deal. It contains a bunch of policy proposals and would ideally create more transparency into how tech companies operate and question the incentives that push disinformation. Molly Wood discusses it with Karen Kornbluh, director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund.

At this point, consumers, tech employees, even the CEOs of some big tech companies say there should be more regulation around online privacy, advertising and even disinformation. But what might that regulation look like? The German Marshall Fund think tank is pushing for an initiative called the Digital New Deal. It contains a bunch of policy proposals and would ideally create more transparency into how tech companies operate and question the incentives that push disinformation. Molly Wood discusses it with Karen Kornbluh, director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund.

Melody Barnes served as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Barack Obama, and is the host of the recent podcast "LBJ and the Great Society." Currently, she's a professor at the University of Virginia's Miller Center and co-director of the university's Democracy Initiative.In this conversation, Barnes reflects on this moment in our nation's history as the promise of systemic reform toward racial equity looms; the striking comparisons between 2020 and 1968, when Martin Luther King Jr. and others used the power of protest toward the power of the pen in bringing about transformational change; and the legacies of both Lyndon Johnson and Barack Obama.

We've spoken with a lot of people on this show about their efforts to get money out of politics as part of their work to preserve and protect our democracy. While Noah Maier shares this same ultimate goal, he takes a completely different approach. Noah is a professional political fundraiser who wants to get more money behind progressive political candidates and causes. To that end, he currently works as a fundraiser for the One for Democracy Initiative, which seeks to get people to pledge at least 1% of their wealth to empower community organizers and to defeat Donald Trump. Noah joins the Money in Politics podcast to address skepticism about big money in politics and to share how political giving can be a high-impact way to bring about change.

‘People need agency and voice in a crisis. This is a time when, more than ever, governments need to be open and transparent, responsive and accountable to the people they are seeking to protect ….' – Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, António Guterres As large gatherings of people are prohibited under the measures introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19, for many the established means of debate and protest have been constrained. At the same time, decision-making processes are increasingly opaque. For those historically marginalised, civic engagement is becoming even more difficult. The pandemic is creating new difficulties for democracies while exposing chronic, long-term challenges. While Covid-19 has fuelled demands for 24-hour coverage and demonstrated the need for experts and reliable content, the media industry is likewise struggling. The loss of vital advertising revenue is placing unsustainable economic pressure on already-stretched traditional news outlets. Control of information and censorship is threatening the freedom of the press in some regions. The pandemic has also been accompanied by a fake news ‘infodemic', spread primarily through social media platforms and promoted by a few prominent leaders. With normal civic life disrupted and journalism facing a potential crisis, this final instalment in the five-part workshop series will ask if democracy can function without the public sphere. Panelists Melody Barnes is Co-Director for Policy and Public Affairs for the Democracy Initiative at the University of Virginia, Dorothy Danforth Compton Professor of Practice at the Miller Center of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Fellow at the School of Law. From 2009 until January 2012, she was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. She also served as chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Bill Emmott is a writer and consultant best known for his 13 years as editor-in-chief of The Economist. He is the author of 14 books variously on Japan, Asia, the twentieth century and Italy, and narrated and co-writer of a documentary film about Italy, Girlfriend in a Coma. He is currently chair of the Trinity Long Room Hub board. Fintan O'Toole is an Irish Times columnist and writer. He was the winner of the 2017 European Press Prize and Orwell Prize. His most recent works include Heroic Failure: Brexit and Politics of Pain (2018) and The Politics of Pain: Postwar England and the Rise of Nationalism (2019).

Stand Up is a daily show booked, hosted by, edited and promoted entirely by Pete Dominick. Please consider a paid subscription to support this daily podcast Dr. Christina Greer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University. Her research and teaching focus on American politics, black ethnic politics, urban politics, quantitative methods, Congress, New York City and New York State politics, campaigns and elections, and public opinion. Prof. Greer's book Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream  investigates the increasingly ethnically diverse black populations in the US from Africa and the Caribbean. She is the host and producer of The Aftermath with Christina Greer on Ozy.com http://www.ozy.com/topic/the-aftermath. Prof. Greer received her BA from Tufts University and her MA, MPhil, and PhD in Political Science from Columbia University. Dr Christina Greer Twitter  Jonathan Katz is a senior fellow and directs the Frontlines of Democracy Initiative with The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) based in the Washington, DC, office. Prior to joining GMF from 2014-17, Katz was the deputy assistant administrator in the Europe and Eurasia bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to joining USAID, from 2010-14, Katz served as a senior advisor to the assistant secretary in the International Organization Affairs Bureau at the U.S. Department of State.  Prior to joining the State Department in 2010, Katz had several leadership roles in the U.S. Congress. . Earlier in his career, Katz helped to lead several congressional campaigns. He received a bachelor's in speech communications from Syracuse University in 1994.   Jon Katz Twitter  Bill Boyle is a long time listener who lives and works in DC. Real smart cat. Follow him on twitter 

I opened the show with my parents on zoom to rant about my disdain for conspiracy theories and anti vaxxers and get their take. I love my parents.  Next I welcomed Jon Katz and Bill Boyle for a chat I'm calling "Backyard Politics"  Bill is a long time listener and regular contributor to the show. A few years back he introduced me to his friend Jon Katz and we drank beer on Bill's Washington DC patio. I was happy to be in this threesome  Jonathan Katz is a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund and directs the Frontlines of Democracy Initiative with The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) based in the Washington, DC, office. Prior to joining GMF from 2014-17, Katz was the deputy assistant administrator in the Europe and Eurasia bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) After our talk I welcomed Barry Ritholtz to discuss his major piece at Bloomberg Business Week  It’s Time to Go Big:The U.S Needs Way More Than a Bailout to Recover From Covid-19 Follow Barry on Twitter  

The recent World Press Freedom Day was a reminder of the growing threats faced by journalists around the world. The coronavirus pandemic only exacerbates things, especially for media navigating places where corruption and democratic backsliding are on the rise as some leaders seek to take advantage of the moment for political or financial gain. On the second episode of Out of Order, produced with GMF’s Frontlines of Democracy Initiative, GMF’s Jonathan Katz talks with Drew Sullivan, publisher and founder of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), about how the pandemic has affected an already difficult media landscape in countries like Russia, Serbia, and Hungary; and the potential impact on corruption and investigative journalism in the region.

Fighting the Coronavirus, Preserving Democracy:  A Conversation with USAID’s Brock Bierman  While the headlines focus on the world’s larger nations, the pandemic is also hitting Europe’s far corners where resources and international attention are in shorter supply. On this episode of Out of Order, produced with GMF’s Frontlines of Democracy Initiative, GMF’s senior fellow Jonathan Katz sits down with Brock Bierman, USAID’s assistant administrator for Europe and Eurasia, to discuss how the United States via USAID is working around the clock to support the response to the pandemic in regions and countries, from Italy to Ukraine to Georgia. On top of the response to the immediate public health concerns, there are second-order challenges, included external disinformation campaigns and efforts by some governments to roll back democracy and rule of law under the fog of the coronavirus. Bierman discusses these alarming trends and the important steps that are being taken by USAID to bolster good governance, civil society, and independent media amidst an increasingly difficult environment. Links to Relevant Articles USAID Coronavirus Homepage: https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus USAID Assistance to Italy: https://www.state.gov/u-s-assistance-to-italy/ USAID Assistance to Ukraine: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3007677-us-increases-assistance-to-ukraine-to-fight-covid19.html USAID Assistance to Georgia: https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1272

Dr Angela Butler, Research Fellow and Dr Elspeth Payne, Beate Schuler Research Fellow give a brief outline of their work on this project.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith digests the weeks historic news with insightful callers. Huffington Post reporter Paul Blumenthal joins Jefferson Smith to discuss how a radical new theory, that no president can be removed for abuse of power, has broken our checks and balances and let Donald Trump off. Reading from "The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America" by Thom Hartmann.Jeff goes into s deep discussion on voter manipulation with Karen Kornbluh, Senior Fellow and Director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a think tank dedicated to promoting transatlantic cooperation.For the Book Club Thom reads from "In Putin's Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia's Eleven Time Zones" by Nina L. Khrushcheva.

"It's really hard to vilify the other when you know them on a personal level." Uriel Epshtein is the executive director of the Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI), an organization that seeks to revitalize the political center by educating the American public about liberal democracy. Raised by Soviet Union refugees who lived in Israel before immigrating to the United States, Uriel’s family instilled in him a lifelong passion for reconciling people's (mis)perceptions of “the other." In this episode, we speak with Uriel about RDI and it’s spirited efforts to increase civic awareness and education and about the Peace and Dialogue Leadership initiative at Yale, an effort Uriel founded as a student to help bridge the civil-military divide. Connecting West Point cadets with college students at Yale, PDLI’s programming includes an annual eye-opening trip to both Israel and the Palestinian territories.

"It's really hard to vilify the other when you know them on a personal level." Uriel Epshtein is the executive director of the Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI), an organization that seeks to revitalize the political center by educating the American public about liberal democracy. Raised by Soviet Union refugees who lived in Israel before immigrating to the United States, Uriel’s family instilled in him a lifelong passion for reconciling people's (mis)perceptions of “the other." In this episode, we speak with Uriel about RDI and it’s spirited efforts to increase civic awareness and education and about the Peace and Dialogue Leadership initiative at Yale, an effort Uriel founded as a student to help bridge the civil-military divide. Connecting West Point cadets with college students at Yale, PDLI’s programming includes an annual eye-opening trip to both Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Academical's Executive Producer Joshua Margulies and VPR's Editor-in-Chief Jack DiMatteo sit down with Professor Melody Barnes (@MelodyCBarnes), Co-Director of the University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative (@UVADemocracy). Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn Editing: Joshua Margulies Music: Blue Dot Sessions Although this organization has members who are University of Virginia students and may have University employees associated or engaged in its activities and affairs, the organization is not a part of or an agency of the University. It is a separate and independent organization which is responsible for and manages its own activities and affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control the organization and is not responsible for the organization’s contracts, acts or omissions.

From AI to 5G, the innovations that pose unprecedented opportunities also pose a risk to democracy—and there is no consensus yet on how to solve this puzzle. This week on Out of Order, Karen Kornbluh, director of GMF’s new Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative, and Michel Servoz, special adviser to European Commission President Juncker for robotics, AI, and the future of labor, discuss the frontier technologies changing society, differences in the U.S. and European tech policy debates, and why bridging the Silicon Valley-Washington-Brussels gap is essential.

Seven year old Jakelin Caal's death was brought about from dehydration after being denied water in ICE custody. Her death brings a human face to Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's inhuman border policies. How Neoliberal Economics are Creating a Financial Freeze. 2018 ends with the first month since November 2008 where not a single company has borrowed money from the United States high yield corporate bond market. ----------------------------- The Curious Case of Jerome Corsi. Thom interviews Jerome Corsi, author of Silent No More: How I Became a Political Prisoner of Muellers Witch Hunt, and asks what may be the significance of his testimony to the special prosecutor. Jerome Corsi fashions himself a political prisoner under attack by the Mueller investigation for what he says are partisan reasons. ------------------------------------- VICE : How Bad a Criminal was Dick Cheney? Adam McKay, the writer & director of the new movie, VICE, exploring the vices of former vice president Dick Cheney, joins the program to answer the question.--------------------------------------- Larry Cohen of "Our Revolution" brings an update of the Democracy Initiative. ----------------------------------- Luke Vargas with Talk Media News gives his report.

    Rebekah Tromble: How to Combat Misinformation (Ep. 154) Leiden University's Rebekah Tromble joined Joe Miller to chat about ways to combat misinformation on social media.   Bio Rebekah Tromble (@RebekahKTromble) is an assistant professor in the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where she teaches and conducts research on media and politics, digital research methods and ethics, and computational social science. Dr. Tromble is deeply committed to understanding and promoting responsible and ethical uses of data and technology and has founded the Data in Democracy Initiative at Leiden University to pursue that commitment through teaching, research, and public outreach. Previously, she conducted extensive fieldwork in former Soviet Central Asia, where she focused on political discourses about Muslims and Islam. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Bloomington, and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Knox College.   Resources Rebekah Tromble Leiden University, Institute of Political Science Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity by Lilliana Mason   News Roundup U.S. sanctions Russian and Chinese firms over North Korea The U.S. has sanctioned tech firms in Russia and China for funneling money to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions, by using fake social media profiles to solicit work from North Koreans. The sanctions target Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Company, whose CEO is North Korean, and a Russian subsidiary called Volasys Silverstar. Arizona is investigating Google’s location data practices Arizona’s Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich has initiated an investigation into Google’s location data practices, according to The Washington Post. Google was accused recently of recording the location data of Android users even when the location setting was turned off. The company denies the allegation saying that it is transparent with users by giving them the option to toggle what gets collected and delete their location history. FCC stops review clock on T-Mobile/Sprint merger review The FCC has stopped the clock on its review of the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. Traditionally the FCC sets the clock at 180 days. But, citing the transaction’s complexity, the FCC paused the T-Mobile/Sprint review 60 days in. Trump has signed off on election interference sanctions President Trump has signed off on a set of sanctions against foreign actors who engage in election interference. The executive order gives federal law enforcement officials 90 days to review instances of potential interference and act on them if they determine that doing so would be necessary. Google under scrutiny for China plans Reuters reports that Google and its parent company Alphabet are under scrutiny by 16 lawmakers regarding its plans to expand into China. China has banned the company since 2010. In a letter, both liberal and conservative members of Congress asked Google how they would protect its users in light of China’s censorship laws. Google said that its ambitions in China are merely exploratory and not close to launching. Some 1,000 Google employees wrote a letter questioning Google about its ambitions in China. At least one research scientist has resigned in protest. European Union adopts draft copyright bill The European Union has adopted a draft copyright bill that would require tech companies to pay higher royalties to media companies for the right to host their content. Under the new law, publishers would have the right to negotiate payment for content posted on sites like YouTube. Tech giants would also have to pay “proportionate remuneration” to large media companies for hosting their content. Big tech is pushing back saying that keeping track of every piece of content would be unwieldy. CBS sets aside $120 million in severance for Les Moonves Finally, CBS wrote in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it is setting aside $120 million in severance for their departing CEO Les Moonves—but the company has a year to decide whether to let him go for cause. If they do, he’ll get nothing. This $120 million is down from an original severance amount of $238 million. Twelve women have accused Moonves of sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or sexual harassment. CBS will also be contributing $20 million to causes that support the #MeToo movement.

Thom asks "Is This the End of the 3000 Year Run of Patriarchy?" Also guest Larry Cohen, Board Chair of Our Revolution and the Democracy Initiative. Plus - WCPT Radio personality and staff writer of the Chicago Reader, Ben Joravsky on Chicago politics.

It is widely accepted that our political system is highly dysfunctional. Most political programs focus on discussing issues and assigning blame. "None of the Above" is an attempt to dissect the problem with an eye toward process, not substance. And, most importantly, to discuss solutions. In this episode host Steven Nemerovski talks with Angie Wells of The Democracy Initiative about their upcoming voting mobilization effort "Democracy Awakening 2016."

In her most recent book, Paradise Beneath Her Feet (2010), Isobel Coleman tells the stories of the women and men who, in the face of rising fundamentalism, are working from within Islam to create economic, political, and educational opportunities for women and a growing movement of Islamic feminism. The author of three books on US foreign policy and the Middle East, Coleman argues that change is happening, and more often than not, it is being led by women. Isobel Coleman is Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, where she focuses on the Middle East and South Asia. She is the director of CFR’s Civil Society, Markets and Democracy Initiative. She is also the director of the Council’s Women and Foreign Policy Program. Her areas of expertise include democratization, civil society and economic development, regional gender issues, educational reform, and microfinance. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications, including Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women are Transforming the Middle East (Random House, 2010), Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President (Brookings Institution Press, 2008) and Strategic Foreign Assistance: Civil Society in International Security(Hoover Press, 2006). Her writings have also appeared in publications such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, and online venues such as the Huffington Post. She is a frequent speaker at academic, business, and policy conferences. In 2010, she served as a track leader for the Clinton Global Initiative. Prior to joining the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Coleman was CEO of a healthcare services company and a partner with McKinsey & Co. in New York. A Marshall Scholar, she holds a DPhil and MPhil in international relations from Oxford University and a BA in public policy and East Asian studies from Princeton University. She serves on several non-profit boards, including Plan USA and Student Sponsor Partners.