Can Republicans and Democrats will engage in civil, respectful conversations about the issues?(Shutterstock / Shutterstock)

This week on Eastern Standard:

Episode 21 of our series, Democracy Optimist, with constitutional, election law, and voting rights scholar Joshua Douglas. Our guests:

• Jennifer Mercieca, a historian of American political rhetoric and a Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Texas A&M University. She writes about American political discourse, especially as it relates to citizenship, democracy, and the presidency.
  
• Corey Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown University teaching law and political theory. Corey co-hosts the podcast, The Oath and the Office.