As we welcome in a new year, what is this moment about? What have we been leading up to? And what will the coming months and years be about? 

In this episode, Corey reflects on the importance of democracy and decency in today's polarized climate. Emphasizing respectful dialogue and the significance of national and local political involvement, we explore the impact of the election and the ongoing challenges posed by political divisiveness. We delve into insights from notable essays and personal experiences, advocating for voting, recognizing the humanity in others, and knowing when to step away from unproductive conversations. Join us in the commitment to have more basic decency and to respect our democratic institutions.

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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(Given that yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, an attempted violent disruption of the peaceful transfer of power, one of our nation's most cherished traditions, we thought it would be a good time to refresh our conversation with Prof. Danielle Allen who has been ensconced in the work of renovating our democratic institutions.)

Our democracy is brittle. Many would say our Constitutional Republic is in trouble. So what kind of work can we do on "actually renovating our institutions"?

We were fortunate to be joined by Dr. Danielle Allen, a democracy advocate, Harvard professor and nonprofit leader who's doing something about it. We talked about how to maintain a loving spirit when faced with "a lot of bleeps"; Danielle's fascinating family legacy and her "obsession" with democracy; what the heck a eudaemonist democratic pragmatist is; the ways the 5 freedoms articulated in the 1st Amendment are under threat; the merits of ranked choice voting, expanding the House of Representatives and other democratic renovations; the imperative of developing a civic portfolio; and how to "not let our differences take our humanity hostage."

Prof. Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy and director of the Democratic Knowledge Project and of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation. Outside the University, she is a co-chair for the Our Common Purpose Commission and Founder and President for Partners In Democracy, where she advocates for democracy reform to create greater voice and access in our democracy, and to drive progress towards a new social contract that serves and includes us all.

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

Be sure to read Danielle's series in the Washington Post on How to Renovate American Democracy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/31/danielle-allen-american-democracy-renovation-series/

(Getting to speak with Anne Applebaum was such an honor. She's not only one of the world's most prominent historians and writers, Anne's focus on the fragility of democracy and emerging autocracies couldn't be more timely.)

In the 20th Century, we had Cold War adversaries. In the early 2000s, George W. Bush talked about the Axis of Evil. But are those frameworks the most accurate way to understand the forces attempting to undermine not just democratic nations but democratic ideas? And to what degree have these antagonists - those that are fundamentally opposed to our core principles such as the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and basic human rights - pervaded U.S. politics?

In this episode we welcome Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian, staff writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. After discussing her motivations, experiences, and insights into the autocratic regimes and their impacts on global democracy, we dive into Anne’s new book Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. We explore how autocracies collaborate, ways the rest of the world is complicit in autocratic behaviors, and strategies to combat these influences. The conversation also touches on Anne's personal history and initial fascination with the history, literature, culture and politics of the “Borderlands,” a region that includes Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and beyond.

01:53 Anne's Early Career and Inspirations

16:29 The Concept of Autocracy, Inc.

29:44 Global Complicity in Autocracy

34:39 Hamas and Global Destabilization

37:05 Trump's Influence and Dictator Admiration

39:17 Russian Propaganda and Dark Money in US Politics

42:37 Autocracy, Inc. and Democratic Values

52:43 Engaging in Local Politics and Understanding the Big Picture

anneapplebaum.substack.com

www.anneapplebaum.com/book/autocracy

AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast - www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/08/introducing-autocracy-in-america/679474/

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

(Speaking with Nancy was such a highlight of this year. In addition to all we discussed in this raw, beautiful, candid, downright funny conversation, I'm glad to report that subsequent to when we spoke, Nancy was able to "ring the bell" as a cancer survivor!)

We’re joined by author, essayist, investigative journalist and the gloriously feral Nancy French. We discuss Nancy's new memoir, GHOSTED: AN AMERICAN STORY, which involves deeply personal topics such as her experiences with sexual abuse, faith struggles, being a ghostwriter for politicians, and increasing political turmoil. Nancy also talks about navigating her long-standing personal and professional relationships amid the Trumpification of the Republican party; how the party has drifted away from folks like her even though Nancy’s positions and philosophy haven’t changed; and how her Christian faith has played a significant role in the journey. We also candidly explore the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, the complexities in religious institutions, and being resilient in troubled times.

Nancy French is a five-time New York Times bestselling author, essayist, investigative journalist, and storyteller at the Moth. She’s published op-eds and articles in the Washington Post, USA Today, Time and many other publications. Her investigative journalism into abuse at Kanakuk Kamps appeared on the front page of USA Today. Nancy is also the co-author of The After Party with friend of the pod Curtis Chang and she’s the author of the new memoir GHOSTED: AN AMERICAN STORY.

01:20 Nancy French: A Brief Introduction; 

05:14 The Art of Ghostwriting; 

09:53 The Journey of Discovery and Art; 

13:45 The Struggles of Writing Your Own Story; 

19:38 The Challenges of Confronting Past Abuse; 

31:10 The Power of Love and Relationships; 

37:47 The Struggle with Faith and the Church; 

40:25 Reflections on Christian Faith and History; 

41:16 Experiences of Divine Intervention; 

42:07 Discussing Faith with Non-Believers; 

46:19 Political Writing and Its Consequences; 

50:12 The Shift in Political Identity (Despite Not Having Changed); 

52:11 The Impact of Political Polarization; 

55:34 The Power of Human Connection Across Differences

We're on YouTube! 

https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

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www.nancyfrench.com

GHOSTED on Amazon - https://amzn.to/49tSNzO

www.threads.net/@nancyjanefrench

Yeah, this ages well. Seriously... This conversation with Bill Kristol was from April of this year. Some of the discussion applied to that moment in time (eg. bemoaning the Mets tepid start to the 2024 season); but much of it still applies even given the outcome of the latest election. With that, here are the notes from one of our "Best of 2024" conversations...

Are REPUBLICAN VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP our greatest BULWARK against authoritarianism and the most significant constituency in DEFENDING DEMOCRACY TOGETHER? (Dad jokes about the future of our Constitutional Republic aside...) Bill Kristol shares his thoughts on the state of our democracy and how this year's consequential election is shaping up.

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So glad to be joined again by Bill Kristol, Editor at Large of The Bulwark; Director of Defending Democracy Together; and Host of Conversations with Bill Kristol. We took time to reflect on Bill’s early political experiences, including his roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, his academic career, and his work with the Project for the Republican Future. We also touch on our shared passion for baseball, particularly for the New York Mets! We then delve into Bill’s critical views on the Trump presidency, the rise of authoritarianism, and the importance of defending liberal democracy. He shares insights into his efforts with the Republican Voters Against Trump initiative and the importance of bipartisan engagement in preserving democratic norms. We then discuss the impact of social and political polarization, the significance of grassroots activism, and the need for open, exploratory dialogue across ideological divides. We wind down with Bill emphasizing the resilience of the American political system and the potential for positive change through collective action and constructive discourse.

00:52 Meet Bill Kristol: A Storied Career in Politics; 

01:58 Baseball and Politics: A Personal Connection; 

04:09 Navigating Political Ideologies: From Youth to Present; 

05:41 The Evolution of Political Beliefs and the Impact of External Changes; 

10:18 The Threat of Illiberalism and the Defense of Liberal Democracy; 

15:21 Exploring the Dangers of Trumpism and Authoritarian Tendencies; 

26:56 The Role of Intellectuals and Voters in Shaping Political Futures; 

33:59 The Impact of Testimonials from Former Trump Voters; 

34:53 The Strategy Behind Targeting Swing Voters; 

35:54 Challenges and Strategies in Political Advertising; 

36:55 Building a Broad Coalition Against Trump; 

42:09 The Role of Money in Politics and Campaign Strategies; 

44:34 Fostering Careers and Nurturing Talent in Politics; 

50:43 The Evolution of Political Discourse and Outreach; 

54:36 Final Thoughts on Political Engagement and Hope

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

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www.thebulwark.com

www.defendingdemocracytogether.org

bsky.app/profile/billkristolbulwark.bsky.social

Are science and belief in God incompatible? Dr. Francis S. Collins, renowned for having led the Human Genome Project and the former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), says science and faith are two different ways of understanding God's creation.

We dove right in and had so much to explore!

Dr. Francis Collins is the former director of the National Institutes of Health. And was the longest serving director of NIH — spanning 12 years and three (very different) presidencies. Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. Dr. Collins' research laboratory has discovered a number of important genes, including those responsible for cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, a familial endocrine cancer syndrome and, most recently, genes for type 2 diabetes among others. Dr. Collins was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007 and the National Medal of Science in 2009.

We're on YouTube! 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics 

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

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biologos.org/

(This was one of my favorite conversations of 2024 partly because Tom and I both did our best Robert DeNiro impressions toward the end.)

Let's talk candidly about why Gov. Josh Shapiro of PA wasn't chosen as Kamala Harris's running mate. Let's also assess the merits and potential drawbacks of Gov. Tim Walz of MN as the Democratic VP candidate. Oh, and while we're at it, how's that J.D. Vance pick working out for the Trump campaign?

We're on YouTube! 

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We're joined by Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, to discuss all of this and more! We get into Tom's background in a working-class family, his educational journey, and his career in academia. Tom also discusses his views on democracy, international security, and challenges in contemporary politics. We get to reflect on Tom's Greek Orthodox faith and how it shapes his beliefs, while contrasting his temperamentally and philosophically conservative outlook with the current stance of the Republican Party. Additionally, Tom offers insights on the importance of a balanced media diet in today's political landscape. And since Tom is a 5x Jeopardy champion, we do a little Robert DeNiro-inspired Jeopardy at the end!

03:30 Tom Nichols' Background and Upbringing

07:49 Influence of Church and Community

10:49 Orthodox Christianity and Politics

19:51 Political Philosophy and Conservatism

25:49 Discussion on Israel and U.S. Politics

32:56 Debating the Choice Between Shapiro and Walz

33:49 Tim Walz: The Normal Guy in Politics

36:24 Tim Walz's Background and Achievements

40:09 JD Vance: A Controversial Figure

46:40 Kamala Harris's Electability and Political Evolution

53:29 Media Consumption and Political Discourse

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

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www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/daily

www.threads.net/@radiofreetom

“All who entered the Temple Mount entered by the right, circled to the right and exited by the left, except for one to whom something had happened, who entered and circled to the left...” (Mishnah Middot)

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Rabbi Sharon Brous, the founding rabbi of IKAR and author of THE AMEN EFFECT, delves into ancient Jewish rituals, the role of pain in human connections, and the transformative power of compassion and curiosity. Through heartfelt stories and profound insights, she explores the importance of staying engaged with those who challenge us and how communities can support each other in moments of deep sorrow and joy. The discussion also touches upon inclusivity in Jewish worship, dealing with vicarious trauma, navigating hard conversations such as differences over what's happening in Israel and the results of the U.S. election, and the significance of asking and truly listening to Malakh: "tell me about your heart."

00:52 Introducing Rabbi Sharon Brous

01:21 Exploring the Mishnah Middot

04:05 The Power of Ritual and Compassion

06:53 Personal Reflections on Sin and Mental Health

11:49 The Role of Community and Vulnerability

17:41 Balancing Leadership and Personal Burdens

24:22 Innovative Practices at IKAR

36:53 Challenges and Changes in Jewish Leadership

38:47 Navigating Differences in a Diverse Congregation

39:53 The Power of Curiosity and Compassion

47:05 The Importance of Staying at the Table

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

bsky.app/profile/coreysnathan.bsky.social

ikar.org

ikar.org/the-amen-effect/the-big-idea

How should we respond to the election? Fight? Surrender? Or is there another way? Let's "Meet the Majority" and see if we can figure it out!

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As part of our "Meet the Majority" series, this is a candid conversation on ideological differences, election surprises, and friendship. In this episode, Corey sits down with his long-time friend Brandon to explore their differing political views and the implications of recent elections. Corey explains the importance of maintaining relationships and having open dialogue despite political differences. Brandon, a staunch Republican, shares his life story, professional background, and family history. He discusses his views on national security, the shortcomings of the far left, and the influence of Trumpism on American politics and the church. Both Corey and Brandon delve into the complexities of being in the political middle today, their concerns about the future, and the need for more constructive discourse. The conversation highlights the importance of listening and understanding different perspectives to foster better relationships and navigate the current political landscape.

00:49 Meet the Majority Series: Background and Purpose

03:42 Brandon's Background and Political Views

07:19 Discussion on Liberalism and Conservatism

11:34 The Middle Ground in Politics

17:11 Concerns About Trump and the Future of the Republican Party

26:28 Impact of Trumpism on the American Church

28:24 Debating Presidential Impact and Religious Influence

30:26 Supreme Court and the Conservative Legal Movement

33:10 Navigating Political Differences and Building Relationships

37:25 Reflecting on Political Identity and Middle Ground

50:08 Concluding Thoughts and Future Conversations

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

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Is there any coherence to Trumpism from a policy standpoint? Public policy expert, Lanhee Chen, says coherence is overrated... at least at this moment. 

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In this conversation with Lanhee Chen, we explore some hard questions in today's fraught political moment. As a key policy advisor to both Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio on their respective presidential campaigns, how can candidates and elected officials balance political considerations and policy priorities? Is there a place for a "compassionate conservative" in today's Republican Party? Is there a place for conservatives in today's California? We also discuss key moments that influenced Lanhee’s career, his conservative philosophy shaped by early experiences, and significant milestones like running for statewide office in California as a Republican. Lanhee shares insights into political coherence, the impact of electoral processes, and his stance on contemporary issues such as regulatory policies and international relations.

Lanhee Chen is a widely respected public policy expert who has advised numerous high-profile Republican candidates and served as a presidential appointee in both Republican and Democratic administrations. He is currently the David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution, as well as the Director of Domestic Policy Studies and Lecturer in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University.

00:53 Guest Introduction: Lanhee Chen

01:36 Lanhee Chen's Early Interest in Politics

03:56 Formulating a Conservative Philosophy

09:06 Working with Mitt Romney

14:27 Challenges in Modern Politics

17:42 The State of California Politics

21:50 Advice for New Politicians

24:23 Impact of Electoral Processes

28:45 Electoral Reforms and Future Outlook

32:01 The Rise of Neopopulism in American Politics

34:43 Assessing Trumpism and Policy Coherence

37:34 Hope and Concerns for the Upcoming Administration

39:45 Reflecting on Biden's Legislative Accomplishments

46:49 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

bsky.app/profile/coreysnathan.bsky.social

www.hoover.org/profiles/lanhee-j-chen