Democracy Deciphered

As AI accelerates into the labor market, many Americans are wondering what the future of work will hold, and whether history offers any guidance. In this episode of Democracy Deciphered, host Shannon Lynch is joined by New America’s Amanda Ballantyne to explore how past technological transitions reshaped work, why some communities were left behind, and what it would mean to build a truly worker-centered approach to innovation today.

When President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education, he saw it as a path toward stronger public schools and greater opportunity. Decades later, the Trump administration’s push to dismantle it raises new questions about the federal role in education. Zahava Stadler and Jeremy Bauer-Wolf of New America join the show to explore how the agency came to be and what it might mean if it disappears.

How did government shutdowns become such a recurring feature of American politics? Why do they happen, and what can history teach us about the latest one? New America's Mark Schmitt shares his insight.

Data can expose injustice, but it can also be turned into a tool of control. How do we know when data collection is helpful and when it becomes surveillance? In this episode, Sydney Saubestre of New America discusses the risks and benefits of data, lessons from history, and their implications for democracy today.

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are on the table. To understand what’s at stake, we need to look not just at today’s negotiations but also at the long and tangled history behind these two countries. New America’s Candace Rondeaux and Ben Dalton explain how we got here and what it means for the talks unfolding now.

How do ordinary citizens get legislative measures on the ballot? What threats are being made to the process? Maresa Strano of New America and Chris Melody Fields Figueredo from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center share a breakdown.

Learn more by reading New America's report Expanding Citizen-Led Policymaking in the Twenty-First Century.

Where is AI already shaping government decisions, and how might it be used in the future? Lilian Coral of New America and Amen Ra Mashariki of the Bezos Earth Fund explore the past, present, and future of how governments use AI.

How have our shared visions of American ideals influenced the meaning of patriotism? How has this definition evolved over time? Ted Johnson from New America delves into the complexities of American patriotism.

The archival audio at the top of the episode is from the National Archives catalog.

Juneteenth is a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the US. What's the origin story behind the holiday? And how has the media shaped Americans' understanding of Juneteenth? New America's Maika Moulite and Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber from the University of the District of Columbia share their expertise.

Do you have student loan debt? Do you or someone you love plan to go to college in the future? If so, you may want to pay attention to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which could fundamentally change how Americans afford college. New America's Antoinette Flores breaks it all down.

Flores is the Director of Higher Education Accountability and Quality in the Higher Education initiative at New America, where she works to advance federal policies to increase accountability, quality, and equity in higher education.