The Cable

The internet has changed how democracy functions. With digital platforms fueling divisiveness and enabling manipulation by individual bad actors and states alike, liberal democracies are struggling to keep up. Marietje Schaake and Tomicah Tilleman join Susan and Greg to discuss how to ensure the right architecture to guarantee the free exchange of ideas, fair voting and other key conditions for democracy.

Europeans have looked on in disbelief and dismay as America's alliances with its most important transatlantic allies have come under attack by an isolationist president who sees personal political gain in undermining common liberal democratic values. But after the Black Lives Matters protests and with hopes for transformation in US politics after November's presidential election, Reinhard Bütikofer and Ben Haddad join Susan and Greg to discuss what Europeans think of the United States now and how they see America's future role in a changing world.

Vladimir Putin has done virtually everything to ensure he'll be able to remain Russian president for life after a referendum last week, when officials said a majority of voters approved a series of changes to the constitution. The veteran human rights activist Tanya Lokshina joins Susan and Greg to discuss what process revealed about politics under Putin, what's changed in the constitution, and what it means for the country's future.

With the coronavirus pandemic raising serious challenges for voting and other vital democratic functions, the threat from disinformation is becoming especially acute—not least in the United States ahead of the November election. Leading experts Karen Kornbluh and Spencer Boyer join Susan and Greg to describe the problem and what transatlantic alliance countries must do to ensure the functioning of democracy. (This episode was recorded as webinar on May 20.)

Poland is wrestling with a political crisis after its ruling Law and Justice party agreed to postpone Europe's first presidential election since the outbreak of the coronavirus. The 11th-hour decision stopped the party's chaotic drive to hold a ballot by mail—denounced as a power grab by critics—but the matter is far from resolved. Wojciech Przybylski in Warsaw and Emily Schultheis in Berlin join Susan and Greg to discuss what happened, what may lie ahead and what other countries can learn.

The spread of Covid-19 is confronting Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan with unprecedented challenges to their autocratic rule. David Kramer and Soner Cagaptay join Susan and Greg to discuss how the outbreak is hitting two countries that pose the transatlantic alliance some of its biggest challenges, how each government is handling the crisis and how the two historical rivals are cooperating as well as competing in Syria and on other fronts.

Democracy has been in global decline for the past 14 years. Now it's confronted with a crisis not seen in the modern era. Autocrats are seeking to exploit the Covid-19 pandemic as democracies grapple with their own various responses. But could this be a pivotal moment, when liberal democratic leaders and transnational institutions such as the EU begin to restore trust after a decade of rising global mass protests over lack of faith in politicians and institutions? Mike Abramowitz and Sam Brennan join Susan and Greg to discuss the effects of the coronavirus crisis and potential future scenarios.

If a new administration takes office next January, the monumental task of restoring America's democratic reputation and tattered alliances will become a major priority. Greg and Susan talk to Democratic campaign advisers Anthony Robinson and Max Bergmann about the immediate future for a new foreign policy what the candidates should be doing to prepare.

Judges in Poland have been taking to the streets to protest the ruling Law and Justice Party's crackdown on judicial independence. Susan moderates a Transatlantic Democracy Working Group roundtable discussion at the German Marshall Fund in Washington to discuss the latest target in the government's systematic dismantlement of democratic checks and balances.