PBS
Carla Hayden on her time as a pioneering librarian of Congress and getting fired by Trump
New ReviewDr. Carla Hayden, a trailblazing librarian of Congress, was fired by President Trump in May. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with her about being blindsided by the decision, the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape key institutions...
TED Talks
Why you should be able to vote on your phone | Bradley Tusk
New ReviewThe US political system is broken — and the solution might be in the palm of your hands, says political strategist Bradley Tusk. Drawing on his deep experience with government and technology, he makes the case for allowing Americans to...
Be Smart
The Paradox of Voting
New ReviewPolitical scientist Don Green joins Joe to figure out the complex psychological and social factors that motivate us to vote - or not to. They discuss how and why this decision making process may be in conflict with certain scientific...
TED Talks
Can big tech and privacy coexist? | Carole Cadwalladr and Chris Anderson
If you can't respect the basic fundamental underlying principles with which we order society — which is 'Do not steal' — then what are you left with? asks investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. Following her TED2025 talk, Cadwalladr...
TED Talks
Let's get real about free speech | Greg Lukianoff
Too many people believe in something closer to freedom from speech rather than freedom of speech, says attorney Greg Lukianoff. In a timely talk, he warns against the rise of "mob censorship" — and reminds us why free speech is the best...
PBS
How San Bernardino is fighting for a comeback after decades of decline
Political scientist Robert Putnam told Judy Woodruff that strengthening the country’s democracy would begin with grassroots efforts by people stepping up in their own communities. Those efforts will be her focus this year and she begins...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Is safety worth the loss of privacy? | Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez
Your government has introduced a plan to address record-breaking rates of traffic tickets and deadly hovercar accidents. They propose assigning “driver credit scores” to every citizen, but would need to install cameras and microphones in...
TED Talks
TED: Democracy is being tested. Citizen assemblies can help | Ketakandriana Rafitoson
How can everyday people help foster and protect democracy? Detailing her work fighting for people power as an activist in Madagascar, Ketakandriana Rafitoson discusses how citizen assemblies — meetings where ordinary citizens get...
TED Talks
TED: How to defend democracy — and fight autocracy | Leopoldo Lopez
Seventy-two percent of the world's population lives under some sort of autocratic rule, says freedom fighter Leopoldo Lopez. In a rousing call to defend democracy worldwide, he shares the story of his imprisonment and exile for leading...
Crash Course
Post-World War II Recovery: Crash Course European History
At the end of World War II, the nations of Europe were a shambles. Today we'll learn about how the various countries and blocs approached the problem of rebuilding their infrastructure and helping their residents recover. You'll learn...
TED Talks
The Future of American Democracy After a Trump Assassination Attempt
Following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a campaign rally, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media Ian Bremmer joins TED’s Helen Walters to discuss the broader implications for American politics. They explore...
TED Talks
TED: 3 ideas for communicating across the political divide | Isaac Saul
How does language shape our politics? Journalist Isaac Saul explores how subtle word choices can inhibit productive dialogue about significant issues — and shows how small (but important) changes can help us all have better conversations...
TED Talks
TED: Can math help repair democracy? | Sam Wang
Could math help make American democracy more responsive to the people? From detecting gerrymandered districts to predicting the impact of alternative election methods like ranked-choice voting, neuroscientist Sam Wang outlines how...
TED Talks
TED: How to disagree with respect — not hate | Spencer J. Cox
Spencer J. Cox, Republican governor of the state of Utah in the United States, says that even in these deeply polarized times, it's still possible to disagree without hate or contempt. He shows how this idea sparked a viral campaign ad...
TED Talks
TED: Democracy requires disagreement. Here's how to do it better | Bret Stephens and Yordanos Eyoel
As authoritarian leaders challenge democratic institutions around the world, some people are questioning whether democracy is even the best political system. In a wide-ranging conversation, writer Bret Stephens and social entrepreneur...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How could so many people support Hitler? | Joseph Lacey
Philosopher Hannah Arendt was a German Jew who dedicated herself to understanding how the Nazi regime came to power, and more specifically, how it inspired so many atrocities. She believed the true conditions behind the unprecedented...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What happened when these 6 dictators took over | Stephanie Honchell Smith
Under certain conditions, the idea of a dictator can sound appealing, like when a democracy isn’t functioning as it should due to corruption or political polarization. People may believe the solution is a "benevolent dictator"— a leader...
TED Talks
TED: Leadership lessons from the prime minister of Canada | Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015. There's a lot to dig into from his years in office — and from his life before, as well. He sits down with organizational psychologist Adam Grant to discuss lessons...
TED Talks
TED: How to imagine a better future for democracy | Adrienne Maree Brown and Baratunde Thurston
US democracy needs repair — and care is the answer, says author adrienne maree brown in conversation with writer and activist Baratunde Thurston. In a sweeping discussion on what it means to be an active citizen, they unpack how to...
TED Talks
TED: Why US politics is broken — and how to fix it | Andrew Yang
The electoral system in the United States needs a redesign, says political reformer Andrew Yang. Exposing the flaws of a system built on poor incentives, he proposes a cost-effective overhaul inspired by primary elections already working...
TED Talks
TED: The workers rebuilding communities after natural disasters | Saket Soni
As climate change leads to more and more natural disasters, a group of workers is showing up at one site after another to rebuild and repair. Labor organizer Saket Soni tells the stories of Resilience Force — the group of mostly...
TED Talks
TED: How to be an active citizen and spark change | Gabriel Marmentini
What does it mean to be an active citizen? It's about more than just voting and paying taxes, says social entrepreneur Gabriel Marmentini. He explains why we can't rely on the state alone to solve all our problems — and presents the four...
TED Talks
TED: How to spot authoritarianism — and choose democracy | Ian Bassin
Democracy is about having choices — and authoritarianism is about not having them, says lawyer and writer Ian Bassin. Detailing the seven steps of the authoritarian playbook, he invites us all to put aside our differences and rethink our...
TED Talks
TED: How to fight for democracy in the shadow of autocracy | Fatma Karume
Democracy may be an abstract concept, but it holds the very essence of our autonomy and humanity, says lawyer and human rights advocate Fatma Karume. Sharing her journey navigating a tumultuous political transition in Tanzania that put...