This episode marks the first time that all five of our hosts (Michael Berkman, Chris Beem, Cyanne Loyle, Candis Watts Smith, and Jenna Spinelle) are together on one episode. It's also the first time we've all been together since the election. We take some time to reflect on changes in America's political party, the decline of liberal democracy in the U.S., and how to harness the good from social media amid growing extremism and misinformation.

Along the way, you'll hear from some of the guests who've appeared on the show this year:

• Joe Wright: How personalist parties destabilize democracy
• Cassidy Hutchinson: Is there room for Republicans in the Democratic party?
• Alex Lefebvre: Can democracy exist without liberalism?
• Matthew Rhodes-Purdy: How populism spreads
• Cynthia Miller-Idriss: The rise of online extremism
• V Spehar: Social media as tool for community building

From the entire Democracy Works team, best wishes for a happy holiday season! We'll see you in 2025.