Nov 15, 2024

Interviewer: MATTHEW ROTH. In theory, the US Constitution established a system by which the three branches of government keep each other in check. Political scientist and constitutional scholar COREY BRETTSCHNEIDER argues that, in fact, it has more often been citizen pressure – not the courts or the legislature –...

Oct 28, 2024

Interviewer: RAFAEL KHACHATURIAN. In this episode, Professors MARC MEREDITH and MICHAEL MORSE from the University of Pennsylvania unpack Pennsylvania's pivotal role in the upcoming U.S. election. They explore Pennsylvania’s unique political geography, its electoral laws, and the critical implications of mail-in...

Oct 14, 2024

Interviewer: MATTHEW BERKMAN. Penn Professor (emeritus) IAN LUSTICK, who has been teaching on the Israel-Palestine conflict at Penn since 1991, returns to the podcast to share his thoughts on the ongoing crisis.

Oct 7, 2024

In this episode, MIRANDA SKLAROFF is in conversation with PETER FRASE, editorial board member of Jacobin magazine and author of Four Futures: Life After Capitalism. Frase presents a case for socialism as a superior alternative to liberal democracy, delving into the critical differences between socialists and social...

Aug 30, 2024

Interviewer: JOSHUA ROSE. In her book, Hailing the State: Indian Democracy Between Elections, Professor LISA MITCHELL explores the various methods of collective action used by people in India to hold elected officials and government administrators accountable. Moving beyond an exclusive focus on electoral processes,...