Nearly every major decision governing the country bears the stamp of the U.S. Senate. Yet, the current makeup of the Senate — which is predominantly white, conservative males — does not necessarily represent the majority of Americans. Some even argue that the U.S. Senate has become one of the greatest threats to democracy.   Senate insider Adam Jentleson joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode of Politics & Polls, which originally aired as a live virtual event Feb. 22 and was hosted by Labyrinth Books. Jentleson, public affairs director at Democracy Forward and former deputy chief of staff to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), is author of "Kill Switch," which shows how the Senate has been transformed over the decades by a minority of white conservatives.

#221: Is the Senate a Threat to Democracy? (Adam Jentleson)

Politics & Polls is a podcast produced by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

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The GOP is often seen as "the party of the rich," enacting policies that benefit the wealthy and leave the poor behind. However, a new book by historian Lily Geismer reveals that Democrats also played a significant role in deepening American inequality. In this episode, she and Julian Zelizer discuss the Clinton-era policy decisions that led to skyrocketed inequality and poverty in the U.S. today. Her book, "Left Behind: The Democrats' Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality," was published in March 2022 by PublicAffairs. Geismer is an associate professor of history at Claremont McKenna College. Her research and teaching focuses on 20th century political and urban history in the United States, especially liberalism and the Democratic Party. * We apologize for any sound-quality issues in this episode. (Headphone microphones can be unkind.)

#260: How the Democrats Failed to Solve Inequality (Lily Geismer)

Big questions are coming up as the midterm elections inch closer. Where does the GOP stand in the post-Trump era? How severe is political polarization? And how will President Biden and his team tackle some of the country’s biggest challenges from responding to the war in Ukraine to getting a handle on inflation?  Former Congressman Will Hurd — and self-described “idealist” — proposes a blueprint for getting things done in Washington, all of which is explained in his new book, “American Reboot: An idealist Guide to Getting Things Done,” published this week by  Simon & Schuster. He discusses this and more in a lively conversation with Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week’s episode. Hurd represented Texas’s 23rd Congressional District from 2015 to 2021. He previously worked for the CIA stationed primarily in Washington, D.C., including a tour of duty as an operations officer in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.  

#259: Does America Need a Reboot? (Will Hurd)

Russia's attacks on Ukraine are getting closer to NATO countries and striking civilians trying to flee. Negotiations for a resolution have been attempted, but all have failed so far. Nuclear weapons seem as though they loom large, as the world watches how the conflict continues to unfold.  Julian and Sam discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, how the media is responding, and what might lie ahead in this week's episode.

#258: The War In Ukraine and U.S. Politics

Following Russia's invasion into Ukraine, the world finds itself again in a moment of war. As gunfire and bombings continue, it's unclear whether Putin will give up this fight, leading to questions about how to achieve an end to the conflict. Moving into a successful post-war peace will require thoughtful and deliberate leadership — characteristics that President Abraham Lincoln displayed during and after the Civil War.   A new book by author John Avlon provides a groundbreaking, revelatory account of Lincoln's approach to peace — one that's inspired many famous leaders including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avlon joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week’s show to talk about the book, “Abraham Lincoln: Fight for Peace,” published by Simon & Schuster in February 2022.   Avlon is a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN. He is an award-winning columnist and the author of Independent Nation, Wingnuts, and Washington’s Farewell. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast and served as chief speechwriter for the Mayor of New York during the attacks of 9/11.

#257: Fighting for Peace: From Lincoln to Modern Europe

COVID-19 restrictions are being dropped around the country as the U.S. enters what feels like a state of normalcy, at least to some. Oncologist and health expert Ezekiel J. Emanuel joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss how the nation will continue to live with the virus. As Sam described on his Twitter feed: “What’s out: surface transmission. What’s in: air quality, HEPA filters.” Tune in to learn more.   Emanuel is the vice provost for global initiatives, the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, and co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. From January 2009 to January 2011, Dr. Emanuel served as a special advisor on health policy to the director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. He is the most widely cited bioethicist in history. Emanuel visited the Princeton campus on Feb. 7-8 as part of the SPIA Leadership through Mentorship Program.  

#221: Is the Senate a Threat to Democracy? (Adam Jentleson)

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