Democracy Nerd

In 1980, after a military coup, Chile adopted a constitution that prioritized private property and right-wing capitalist ideology. Forty years later, Chile voters approved a measure to rewrite a new constitution to allow for a representative democracy and more equal society. "Democracy Nerd' is joined by Jennifer Piscopo from Occidental College and Peter Siavelis from Wake Forest University who help provide context in a rare occasion of a Western democracy rewriting its constitution.

In 1980, after a military coup, Chile adopted a constitution that prioritized private property and right-wing capitalist ideology. Forty years later, Chile voters approved a measure to rewrite a new constitution to allow for a representative democracy and more equal society. "Democracy Nerd' is joined by Jennifer Piscopo from Occidental College and Peter Siavelis from Wake Forest University who help provide context in a rare occasion of a Western democracy rewriting its constitution.

Yochai Benlkler, the Berkman Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School, joins 'Democracy Nerd' to discuss his research looking back on the 50-year strategy of relying on negative propaganda loops to increase outrage from supporters while also increasing voter suppression efforts in the face of changing demographics to win elections.

Yochai Benlkler, the Berkman Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School, joins 'Democracy Nerd' to discuss his research looking back on the 50-year strategy of relying on negative propaganda loops to increase outrage from supporters while also increasing voter suppression efforts in the face of changing demographics to win elections.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution came out of the bloodiest and divisive periods in American history. Michael Bellesiles, author of "Inventing Equality: Reconstructing the Constitution in the Aftermath of the Civil War" joins 'Democracy Nerd' to discuss how the Reconstruction Amendments promised to expand democracy throughout the United States--and how they ultimately failed to deliver on this promise.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution came out of the bloodiest and divisive periods in American history. Michael Bellesiles, author of "Inventing Equality: Reconstructing the Constitution in the Aftermath of the Civil War" joins 'Democracy Nerd' to discuss how the Reconstruction Amendments promised to expand democracy throughout the United States--and how they ultimately failed to deliver on this promise.

Matthew C. MacWilliams, author of "On Fascism: 12 Lessons From American History," joins Democracy Nerd to explain how Trump's brand of authoritarianism has "hollowed out" American democracy, and also provides examples of how defining characteristics of fascism have been present throughout U.S. history.

Matthew C. MacWilliams, author of "On Fascism: 12 Lessons From American History," joins Democracy Nerd to explain how Trump's brand of authoritarianism has "hollowed out" American democracy, and also provides examples of how defining characteristics of fascism have been present throughout U.S. history.

In this excerpt from XRAY in the Morning, Jefferson speaks with Majorie Connelly from the National Opinion Research Center about recent poll results showing nearly half of Americans believe democracy "isn't working."

In this excerpt from XRAY in the Morning, Jefferson speaks with Majorie Connelly from the National Opinion Research Center about recent poll results showing nearly half of Americans believe democracy "isn't working."