The Future of Democracy

Emerging from a fractious election, the crises are mounting, both short term and long term. On Episode 36 of “The Future of Democracy,” we’ll be talking to Robert Doar, president of the American Enterprise Institute, about how to emerge from COVID-19, the future of an opportunity society in a time of distrust, skepticism and racial reckoning, and the status of ideas like free enterprise in a turbulent present.

In the wake of the election, what is the role of information technology in our democracy and in the structure of our economy? How do we manage the spread of information – and misinformation – on social media? On Episode 35 of “The Future of Democracy,” we speak with Mary Snapp, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Microsoft’s Corporate External and Legal Affairs, whose experience of over 30 years at Microsoft gives her unique insight into the role a tech giant like Microsoft plays in our democracy.

How are government policies affecting American farms and rural communities and what can we do to support them? We talk with Sarah Frey, author of “The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life--and Saved an American Farm” throughout this special series episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” about American farms and how they’re affected by today’s policies. Sarah shares her personal experience of how she transformed her childhood farm of 80 acres into Frey Farms, an expansive business that spans across the United States, and works hard to bring opportunities to those in rural areas. The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

How can Black Americans ensure their safety traveling through places in America that still have sundown towns? How has this issue evolved since the age of Jim Crow? On this special series episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we talked with Candacy Taylor, author of “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.” She shares her historical expertise on the Green Book and how it applies to modern day life and leisure for Black Americans.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

How does racism and inequality impact the American economy? Does the presence of discrimination negatively influence the economic output of a country? On this special series episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we sit with Eduardo Porter, author of “American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise.” He dives deep into how exactly America’s economic system is influenced by racial tensions and inequality and why citizens should be concerned.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

In times of extreme political unrest, it is important to understand exactly what is happening presently in Washington D.C and what has gone on in the past. On this special series episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we talk with journalism power couple and co-authors of “The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III,” Susan Glasser and Peter Baker. They’ll share their expertise about the legacy of James A. Baker III and his time as former White House Chief of Staff.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

How did creativity and artistry influence the Black American cultural landscape in the mid to late 1900s? How has that artistic demand changed over the course of the years? On this special series episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we sit with the author of “Love Child’s Hotbed of Occasional Poetry: Poems and Artifacts,” Nikky Finney. She’ll share her insights on how she used love and positivity to grow up through the hardships faced by Black Americans and how her artistry has led to her view of the world.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

How did the 19th Amendment fundamentally change the trajectory of politics to this day? On this special episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment’s 100th anniversary by speaking with Doris Weatherford, an acclaimed historian, about her newest book, “Victory for the Vote: The Fight for Women's Suffrage and the Century that Followed.” She’ll give us a history lesson on how the 19th Amendment gave some, but not all women the right to vote and the effect that has had in politics and society since.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

In an increasingly divided political landscape, where is the voice from the middle? On this special episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” we’re talking with P.J. O’Rourke, a journalist and New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land,” features his observations about the growing fissure in US politics in a darkly humorous way.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.

How can poetry and art speak to the reality of race and racial injustice in the US? What is the role of the artist in the battle for our democracy? In this special episode of “The Future of Democracy x Miami Book Fair,” host Sam Gill talks with celebrated poet John Murillo about his newest book, “Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry” (forthcoming from Four Way Books 2020), and the ways it reflects on the legacy of racism against Black and Latino people in America.

The 37th annual Miami Book Fair takes place this year from November 15-22. To learn more, visit miamibookfaironline.com.