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Showing episodes and shows of
And Lee Drutman
Shows
Politics in Question
How Do We Stop the Rise of Autocracy? Feat. Stacey Abrams
In this week's episode of Politics in Question, host Lee Drutman talks with Leader Stacey Abrams about the current state of democracy. Leader Abrams is a strategist, novelist, and host of the podcast Assembly Required.How do we create a sustainable democracy? What’s the difference between autocracy and authoritarianism? What role does civil resistance play in sustaining democracy? These are some of the questions Lee asks in this week's episode of Politics in Question. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da...
2025-11-06
29 min
The Civic Forum
Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop with Lee Drutman | The Civic Forum E12
New America's Lee Drutman joins Rory Truex to explain how the U.S. two-party system fuels polarization, gridlock, and democratic decline—and how reforms like proportional representation and fusion voting could help fix it.
2025-10-28
1h 12
We Made This Political Podcast
Ep. 23 WMTP: Lee Drutman on Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop with Lee DrutmanIn this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall are joined by political scientist Lee Drutman to discuss his insights on breaking the two-party doom loop in American politics. Drutman shares his journey into political science, the influence of business lobbying on Congress, and the centralization of power that contributes to hyperpartisan polarization. The conversation delves into how primary reforms and rank-choice voting fall short, advocating instead for proportional representation and fusion voting. They also touch on the importance of rebuilding community and social infr...
2025-10-14
1h 12
Crashing The Political Party
Political Reform Expert Dr. Lee Drutman
In this episode, AJ is joined by Dr. Lee Drutman, an expert on electoral reform and American politics. They talk about the "two party doom loop", why it's bad, how American voters actually more resemble a six party system, why we have a two party system, and how changing our electoral system to one with multimember districts and proportional representation may transform America into a multiparty system. If you ever wanted to hear AJ really nerd out with someone, this episode is for you.
2025-08-22
39 min
Politics in Question
What's the Future of Casework?
In this week's episode of Politics in Question, Lee Drutman discusses with Anne Meeker how case work and constituent services would work under proportional representation. Meeker is Deputy Director of POPVox and co-author of a white paper titled How Would Constituent Services in American Multi-Member Districts Work? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2025-07-23
47 min
Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Why Can’t We Have More Parties? with Lee Drutman
How did we get these two political parties? And, when most Americans don’t like either of them is the answer … to have more? Will Elon’s Musk recently announced “America Party” work? Or do we need an “Animal Lovers Party” instead? Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she can think of to the nerdiest expert she could find: Lee Drutman. He’s a fellow at New America and author of the book Breaking The Two Party Doom Loop. They discuss the beef between Jefferson and Washington (um, I mean, Jefferson and Hamilton), Venn diagrams, and whether the US is really the...
2025-07-18
1h 14
Politics in Question
How Do We Fix Political Dysfunction?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, James, Julia, and Lee discuss political dysfunction and how our perceptions of politics influence our views. They discuss Lee’s Substack piece We Need More (and Better) Parties and Julia’s Substack piece The Odds vs. The Stakes: In 2024, They Don't Seem to Be Related.How should media cover elections? In what ways is power being used to shape policy? Should we build political parties through existing social networks? These are some of the questions James, Julia, and Lee explore in this week’s episode.Note: This episod...
2024-12-25
30 min
Politics in Question
Can multiparty presidentialism revitalize U.S. democracy?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia talks with Scott Mainwaring about multipartism and presidentialism. Mainwaring is the Eugene and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. He is the co-author, alongside Lee Drutman, of The Case for Multiparty Presidentialism in the U.S. (Protect Democracy, 2023).How do institutions impact coalition fluidity? What is the role of actors within formal institutions? What can we learn about multipartism from Latin America? These are some of the questions Lee and Julia explore in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simp...
2024-11-27
46 min
Weekend One on One
INTERVIEW: US Analyst Lee Drutman on early voting in the Presidential Election
With campaigning for the US election entering its final stages, record numbers of voters have submitted their ballots early, across a number of crucial battleground states. Early voting was a key sticking point for the Trump campaign in 2020, which made unproven claims of vote rigging. For more about the final sprint to the White House, reporter Tys Occhiuzzi spoke with Lee Drutman, a senior fellow at the New America think tank.
2024-10-24
08 min
Future Hindsight
Break Up the Two-Party System: Lee Drutman
We discuss how two parties alone cannot represent the diversity of views in American society, how fusion voting could solve for better representation, and who exactly should get engaged in our civic lives. His civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1. Support political parties and reforms that create more choices. 2. Be a good neighbor and participate in a local meeting. Lee Drutman is Senior Fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, co-host of the Politics in Question podcast (a fellow Democracy Group podcast!), and author of Breaking the...
2024-09-05
41 min
Future Hindsight
Break Up the Two-Party System: Lee Drutman
We discuss how two parties alone cannot represent the diversity of views in American society, how fusion voting could solve for better representation, and who exactly should get engaged in our civic lives. His civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1. Support political parties and reforms that create more choices. 2. Be a good neighbor and participate in a local meeting. Lee Drutman is Senior Fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, co-host of the Politics in Question podcast (a fellow Democracy Group podcast!), and author of Breaking the...
2024-09-05
41 min
Transition Lab
Two parties, too many problems? With Lee Drutman
Red versus blue, Republican versus Democrat, liberal versus conservative. Today’s politics are driven by intense partisan conflict, but things haven’t always been this way. In this episode of “Transition Lab,” we talk to Lee Drutman about how our two-party system and winner-take-all elections have inflamed our political divisions. Not to worry, though: He also tells us how we can reform our government to reorganize our political conversations and create a healthier, more productive democracy. Lee Drutman is a political scientist and prolific writer who covers a range of topics, from political history to voting reform to politic...
2024-08-06
42 min
NewAmerica
More Parties, Better Parties by Lee Drutman
Audiobook of Lee Drutman's "More Parties, Better Parties" https://www.newamerica.org/political-reform/reports/more-parties-better-parties/
2023-11-21
3h 50
How Do We Fix It?
Polarization: Is America Too Fragmented? Rick Pildes and Lee Drutman
Why is American politics so dysfunctional? Is it because we are too polarized or too fragmented? Throughout this fall we will be exploring different aspects of polarization— arguably the most important threat to both effective governance and a stable democracy. This episode includes an edited recording of a lively conversation from the podcast, "Politics In Question", between Rick Pildes, Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law, and political scientist Lee Drutman, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation.Lee has been a guest on several previous episodes of "How Do We Fix...
2023-09-08
30 min
kembang jenglot
Read [Epub] The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate by Lee Drutman
Read [Epub] The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate by Lee Drutman Read Online The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate by Lee Drutman is a great book to read and that's why I recommend reading or downloading ebook The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate for free in any format with visit the link button below. **Read Book Here ==> https://kabehmangan.blogspot.com/23880337-the-business-of-america-is-lobbying **Download Book Here ==> https://kabehmangan...
2023-09-01
10 min
You Might Be Right
Are Term Limits a Good Idea? - with Lindsay Chervinsky, Lee Drutman and Jerry Seib
Presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky, New America Foundation senior fellow Lee Drutman, and fmr. WSJ Washington Editor Jerry Seib join Governors Bredesen and Haslam live at George Washington's Mount Vernon to explore the merits and drawbacks of term limits for public officials.
2023-06-20
46 min
Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions
Fixing the House with Proportional Representation with Lee Drutman
With Lee Drutman I discuss how proportional representation can break the two-party doom-loop that is spiraling in the U.S. Lee co-founded the organization “Fix Our House” with Charlotte Hill and Eli Zupnick, that specifically campaigns for proportional representation for the U.S. House of Representatives. We spend less time talking about the problems of the outdated first-past-the-post system, yet more time on possible solutions. Lee’s favored electoral system is open-list proportional representation, that is also used in Switzerland, for instance. He explains why he changed his mind on ranked choice voting, that he previously vouched for. We agree...
2023-03-30
44 min
Politics in Question
What does the House Speaker election say about the Republican Party?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia and Lee kick off a new year by considering what the House Speaker election says about the Republican Party. What is going on with the GOP? Is the Speaker's race an example of healthy factional fighting? Or is it a sign of Republican disarray? How does the Republican infighting differ from recent debates within the Democratic Party? And what is Lee’s terrible pun? These are some of the questions Julia and Lee ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ad...
2023-01-14
35 min
Politics in Question
Why are Americans so upset about politics?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James consider why Americans are so upset about politics. Why are Americans so angry when it comes to politics? What is upsetting them? And what can Americans do to change politics when the political system doesn’t work as they want it to work? These are some of the questions Lee and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2022-07-30
31 min
Politics in Question
Is it a good idea to require Americans to vote in federal elections?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport join Lee to discuss their new book, 100% Voting: The Case for Universal Voting. Dionne writes about politics for The Washington Post. He is also a government professor at Georgetown University, a visiting professor at Harvard University, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio and MSNBC. Rapoport is Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to his appointment to...
2022-07-06
31 min
Politics in Question
Is the Supreme Court's legitimacy at risk?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss the Supreme Court and democratic legitimacy in front of a live audience at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. How does public opinion influence the Supreme Court? What role does the Court play in the federal government? Is it the ultimate arbiter of controversial policy questions? And should it be reformed? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...
2022-06-22
42 min
Democracy Nerd
How Democracies Revive w/ Lee Drutman
If a country backslides from democracy, is there no future hope for democracy. Lee Drutman from New America believes it's possible for democracy to revive itself in countries that otherwise preferred authoritarianism. Drutman describes what a potential revival of American democracy would look like, and also offers his policy proposal to save American democracy.
2022-06-06
55 min
Politics in Question
What if things happened differently?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider what could have been if things happened differently at key moments in American political history. What would politics look like today if Richard Nixon defeated John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election? Would Barack Obama’s defeat in the 2012 presidential election alter the trajectory of American politics over the last ten years? What impact do individuals have on politics? Do events matter? Or is politics determined by forces beyond our control? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week...
2022-04-11
39 min
Politics in Question
Is Trumpism in decline?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James ask about Donald Trump’s ongoing influence on the Republican Party. Will the former president be the GOP nominee in 2024? Can anyone defeat Trump if he seeks the nomination? What is the present state of Trumpism in the Republican Party? Is Trumpism changing? Is it in decline? And what do we mean by “Trumpism” in the first place? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode.Julia Azari, “How Republicans Are Thinking About Trumpism Without Trump,” FiveThirtyEigh...
2022-04-03
27 min
Politics in Question
What do Americans think about immigration policy?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Sophia Jordán Wallace joins Lee and James to discuss public opinion on immigration policy. Wallace is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. She specializes in Latino Politics, representation, and immigration politics and policy. Wallace is the author of Walls, Cages, and Family Separation: Race and Immigration Policy in the Trump Era (Cambridge University Press 2020). And she has published articles in the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, International Migration Review, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Political Research Quarterly, Poli...
2022-03-24
38 min
Politics in Question
What's stopping the United States from changing its energy policy?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Leah Stokes joins Lee and James to discuss energy policy in the United States. Stokes is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She is the author of Short Circuiting Policy (Oxford University Press, 2020). Her articles have appeared in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Nature Energy, Energy Policy, and Environmental Science & Technology, The New York Ti...
2022-03-11
45 min
Politics in Question
Where is the Republican Party headed?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James talk Republican Party politics. What’s happening inside the GOP? Has the party become more authoritarian in recent years? Are there any Republicans who will push back against former President Trump and his allies? Can they succeed? Or is this the wrong way to think about Republican Party politics altogether? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...
2022-03-04
22 min
Politics in Question
Did conservatives transform the Supreme Court?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Amanda Hollis-Brusky joins Julia and Lee to discuss the conservative legal movement’s effort to transform the Supreme Court. Hollis-Brusky is associate professor and chair of the Department of Politics at Ponoma College. She is the author of two books on the conservative legal movement and the Supreme Court’s transformation. Has Chief Justice John Roberts lost control of the court? How have the recent appointments of Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh transformed the Court? What’s up with President Biden’s effort to fill the seat vacated by Stephen Br...
2022-02-25
34 min
Politics in Question
Why is everyone talking about the Supreme Court?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss the impending debate over President Biden’s pick to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Stephen Breyer’s retirement. Whom will Biden nominate to fill Breyer’s seat? Will the president pick a black woman as promised during the 2020 presidential campaign? How will the nominee’s confirmation process unfold in the Senate? Will all Democrats support the nominee? Is there anything Republicans can do to block - or at least slowdown - the process in this instance? And why do we even have a Supreme Co...
2022-02-11
34 min
Politics in Question
Why can't the Senate pass voting rights legislation?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider Senate Democrats’ failure to pass voting rights legislation. Why did Democrats bring up a bill when they didn’t have the votes to pass it? Did Democrats really think that they could pass the voting-rights bill by blowing up the Senate rules? And what is the filibuster’s future? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of persona...
2022-01-31
36 min
Politics in Question
What will American politics look like in 2022?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider what American politics will look like in 2022. Is American democracy in decline? What do we mean by democracy? Do Americans focus too much on elections and not enough on what happens in-between elections? What will come out of Congress over the coming year? Do Americans want major policy change to happen? And what will happen in the 2022 midterm elections? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...
2022-01-14
40 min
Politics in Question
Is America's constitutional order on the brink of collapse?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider claims that America’s constitutional order is on the brink of collapse. Are supporters of former President Donald Trump actively plotting to overthrow the government if their candidate does not win the presidency in 2024? Is the effort presently underway in some state legislatures to change the laws that regulate elections an extension of the January 6 attack on the Capitol? And how can Americans protect their democratic-republic from any forces that threaten it? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James ask in this...
2021-12-29
41 min
Politics in Question
Should the Senate eliminate the filibuster to pass the Freedom to Vote Act?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee, and James discuss civic participation and voting reform. What is the Freedom to Vote Act? Why can’t the Senate pass it? And why should Americans care? Are there other ways to fix the broken electoral system in some states? these are some of the questions Lee and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2021-12-22
42 min
Politics in Question
What the hell is going on with the Republican Party?
Lee and James talk Republican Party politics in this week’s episode of Politics In Question. Are Republicans becoming an illiberal and authoritarian party as their critics attest? Or is Republicans’ increasingly strident rhetoric on issues like vaccine mandates and critical race theory a distraction from their unwillingness to act to achieve their goals in institutions like the House and Senate? How does gridlock in Congress obscure divisions among Republicans over important issues like health care, immigration, and tax policy? And what will it take to change things on Capitol Hill? These are some of the questions Lee and Jame...
2021-11-08
29 min
Politics in Question
What issues should Democrats emphasize ahead of the 2022 midterm elections?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss David Shor’s recent controversy-provoking advice for Democrats. What does Shor advise Democrats to do ahead of next year’s midterm elections? Why is his advice controversial? And what does the race-versus-economics debate that Shor’s advice sparked reveal about American politics more broadly and why our political institutions are dysfunctional? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...
2021-10-20
52 min
Politics in Question
How do congressional elections fuel dysfunction in Congress?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Katherine Gehl joins Julia, Lee, and James to take a fresh look at how Americans conduct their elections and to discuss the prospects for reform. Gehl is the founder of the Institute for Political Innovation, a non-profit, cross-partisan public policy organization that aims to reform American politics by using private-sector insights to improve congressional elections and - by extension - fix Congress. She is the author of The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy and the leading proponent of Politics Industry Theory....
2021-10-12
1h 18
Politics in Question
What can Congress’s present dysfunction teach us about our politics and how to make it better?
In the season four opener of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James unpack the rampant dysfunction on Capitol Hill. Why did Congress wait until the last minute to fund the government and raise the debt limit? What is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., endgame? And will Democratic divisions prevent Congress from passing President Joe Biden’s agenda moving forward? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...
2021-10-01
36 min
The Alliance Party After Dark
Lee Drutman
We're on a bit of a break here at the Alliance Party After Dark, so we thought it would be interesting to revisit a podcast originally released on March 22 of 2020, where we talked with Lee Drutman, political scientist and author of the book "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America." Though the podcast is well over a year old, the topic of the Duopoly and how it's tearing apart America, is as relevant as ever. Note that Lee Drutman recently published an article in the New York Times, which includes a real-time...
2021-09-13
41 min
Politics in Question
How much conflict is too much conflict in politics?
In this episode of Politics In Question, Amanda Ripley joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss political conflict. Ripley is an investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book is High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out (Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2021). Ripley's writing has appeared in the Atlantic Magazine, Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, Politico, the Guardian, and The Times of London.What is high conflict? How does it impact politics? Can participating in politics in institutions like Congress help solve the problems hig...
2021-07-22
41 min
Politics in Question
What is affective polarization?
In this episode of Politics In Question, Noam Gidron joins Julia and Lee to discuss political polarization. Gidron is an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the co-author of American Affective Polarization in Comparative Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2020). His writing has appeared in the American Political Science Review, Annual Review of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and Social Forces.What is affective polarization? How does it differ from ideologically polarization? And how does American political polarization compare to politics in other nations? These are some of the...
2021-07-20
40 min
Conversation Six
Lee Drutman and Shana Gadarian
Lee Drutman and Shana Gadarian on the vaccine hesitancy of the conservatives
2021-07-12
06 min
Conversation Six
Amy Erica Smith and Lee Drutman
Amy Erica Smith and Lee Drutman on the decline of American democracy
2021-06-14
06 min
Politics in Question
Should House Republicans fire Liz Cheney?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss Liz Cheney and whether House Republicans should remove her from their leadership team. What role do party leaders play in Congress? Has that role changed over time? How does the party leader job change when a president of the same party is in the White House? And when is it ok for rank-and-file members to change leaders? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode.Show NotesDaniel P. Klinghard, “Grover Cleveland, Willia...
2021-05-07
41 min
Conversation Six
Lee Drutman and Jennifer Victor
Lee Drutman and Jennifer Victor on Liz Cheney and the interesting position she finds herself in in current american politics.
2021-05-07
06 min
Politics in Question
Is American democracy backsliding?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Jake Grumbach, joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss democratic backsliding in the United States. Grumbach is is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. He has developed a tool for measuring democracy in the states called the State Democracy Index. His research focuses broadly on the political economy of the United States. He is particularly interested in public policy, American federalism, racial capitalism, campaign finance, and statistical methods. His book project, based on his award-winning dissertation, investigates the causes and consequences of the nationalization of st...
2021-05-05
1h 10
Politics in Question
Can Biden transform American politics?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss President Joe Biden’s performance during his first 100 days in office. Is Biden a transformative president? Or will his presidency be remembered as “Not Trump?” Can presidents even transform American politics? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2021-04-30
45 min
Politics in Question
What does presidential rhetoric say about the state of American politics?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Mary Stuckey joins Julia and Lee to discuss presidential rhetoric. Stuckey is Sparks Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State University. She is the author of numerous books and articles on presidential communication and rhetoric. Her forthcoming book is Deplorable: The Worst Presidential Campaigns from Jefferson to Trump (Penn State University Press).Why should Americans care about presidential rhetoric? When is it despicable? How does the rhetoric in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections compare to past contests? And how does President Biden’s rhetoric in office compare to Presi...
2021-04-23
35 min
Politics in Question
Why can't Congress do its job?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Kevin Kosar joins Lee and James to consider why Congress can’t do its job. Kosar is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies Congress, the administrative state, American politics, election reform, and the US Postal Service. Before joining AEI, Kosar served as the R Street Institute’s vice president of policy, vice president of research partnerships, and senior fellow and director of the Governance Project. He also cofounded the long-running Legislative Branch Capacity Working Group to help strengthen the legislative branch. Prior to this, Kosar spent...
2021-04-14
38 min
Politics in Question
What are the prospects for elections reform at the federal level?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Sara Sadhwani joins Julia and Lee to discuss elections reform. Sadhwani is an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College and serves on California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission. She specializes in Asian American and Latino voting behavior, elections, interest groups, and representation. Her research has been published in Political Behavior, PS: Political Science and Politics, the California Journal of Politics and Policy, and the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. Sadhwani’s analysis of elections has appeared in the Washington Post, Vox, LA Times, and the NPR affiliate KCRW-Los Angeles.W...
2021-04-03
49 min
Politics in Question
How do independent voters impact American politics?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Yanna Krupnikov joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss independent voters and the impact they have on American politics. Krupnikov is Professor of Political Science at Stony Brook University. Her research and teaching focuses on political psychology, political communication, political persuasion, political behavior, and empirical methodology. She is the co-author (with Samara Klar) of Independent Politics: How American Disdain for Parties Has Led to Political Inaction (Cambridge University press, 2016).What causes Americans to identify as political independents? What impact do they have on politics? And what does their ri...
2021-03-29
49 min
Politics in Question
How does conspiracism impact American Politics?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Nancy Rosenblum joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss conspiracism and the Republican Party. Rosenblum is the Harvard University Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita. She is the co-author of numerous books and articles, including, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019).What causes conspiracism? How does it threaten American democracy? And what can we do about it? These are some of the questions that Nancy, Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this we...
2021-03-15
57 min
Conversation Six
Lee Drutman and Bethany Albertson
Lee Drutman and Bethany Albertson on ending America's partisan gridlock.
2021-03-05
06 min
Politics in Question
What makes American democracy work?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss what makes democracy work in the United States. What is democracy? Can democracy’s meaning change across place and time? If so, which type of democracy is best suited for the American political system at present? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2021-03-05
59 min
Politics in Question
Who disciplines bad behavior in government?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider who is responsible for disciplining bad behavior in government. Do voters, parties, or institutions decide what constitutes bad behavior in government? Where do they make that decision? How do they enforce it? And what are the consequences of not disciplining bad behavior when it occurs? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...
2021-02-19
54 min
Politics in Question
Did the filibuster break the Senate?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Adam Jentleson joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss what makes the Senate dysfunctional. Jentleson served as deputy chief of staff to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. He is a frequent contributor to MSNBC and is the author of the new book, Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy.To what extent is the filibuster responsible for the Senate’s current dysfunction? Where did it come from? Why does it persist? What role has partisanship played in exacerbating its use...
2021-02-12
59 min
Politics in Question
Will Americans pay for government if they don't trust it?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Ethan Porter joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss the relationship between Americans’ trust in government and their willingness to pay for the things that government does. Porter is assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. He is the author of The Consumer Citizen (Oxford University Press, 2021). What is a consumer citizen? How does it differ from the traditional understanding of citizenship? Does a consumer mindset alleviate the team mentality that is pervasive in American politics today? And what role has presidential rhetoric played in crea...
2021-02-08
56 min
Conversation Six
Lee Drutman and Shana Gadarian
Lee Drutman and Shana Gadarian on what unity means in a deeply polarized society.
2021-02-05
06 min
Politics in Question
Why do Americans celebrate presidential inaugurations?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss Joe Biden’s inauguration as the nation’s 46th president of the United States and Kama Harris as Vice President. Why do Americans celebrate presidential inaugurations? What did Biden’s inauguration accomplish? How will it define the Biden presidency moving forward? And was this a peaceful transfer of power? These are some of the questions that Julia, Lee, and James discuss in this week’s episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...
2021-02-03
31 min
The Realignment
Ep. 93: Lee Drutman, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop
Lee Drutman, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America and author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America, joins The Realignment to make the case that the two-party system is wrecking American democracy. Subscribe to The Realignment Substack: https://therealignment.substack.com/ Check out our Bookshop store: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignment
2021-01-26
59 min
Politics in Question
What is the future of the Republican Party?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Rachel Blum joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss the future of the Republican Party. Blum is an Assistant Professor in the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center and the Department of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma. Her research examines how political parties interact with and shape U.S. political institutions. She is the author of How the Tea Party Captured the GOP: Insurgent Factions in American Politics (University of Chicago Press, 2020). What is the TEA Party? How did it come to dominate the Republican Party? Is it a...
2021-01-17
1h 02
The Independent Riot
Breaking America's Doom Loop (Political Scientest Lee Drutman, Phd Interview)
Today's conversation is with highly-regarded New America political scientist Lee Drutman about his recent book, "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multi-Party Democracy." Jim and Lee's discussion covers why Lee believes American democracy is at a breaking point, as well as specific ideas to save it. Whether you're on the right, the left, or politically homeless, this a deep dive into fixing the system for all.Interview begins at 6:38Show Notes:(Support the Show)If you want to give us a few dollars as a...
2021-01-10
1h 03
How Do We Fix It?
Chaos at the Capitol: What Next? Lee Drutman
The storming of the U.S. Capitol building by an angry mob of Trump supporters was a dark day in American history and a shock to people around the world. Images of looting and anarchy in the proud place where Congress has met for over 200 years, provoked profound despair and led many to question the stability of American democracy. The insurrection brought shame to President Trump, who incited a crowd to march on the legislative branch of government.In this special episode recorded the day after the chaos at The Capitol, we speak w...
2021-01-08
25 min
Politics in Question
Will Congress change how it operates in 2021?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Ruth Bloch Rubin joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider how Congress may work in the new year. Bloch Rubin is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. She studies American politics, with a substantive focus on legislative institutions, political parties, and American political development. Bloch Rubin is the author of Building the Bloc: Intraparty Organization in the U.S. Congress (Cambridge University Press, 2017). She earned her PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.How will the 117th Co...
2021-01-01
1h 01
Democracy Paradox
Lee Drutman Makes the Case for Multiparty Democracy in America
Madison’s Federalist 10 makes an unusual case. He argued the size and diversity of the United States is a critical safeguard against the dominance of any single faction. Of course, it is well-known that the Founding Fathers were wary of all factions, political parties and, most of all, the tyranny of the majority. The American constitution is even described as counter majoritarian, because multiple avenues exist for entrenched minorities to prevail in the legislative process. But Madison was different. While he is credited as the father of the constitution, he was among the most majoritarian of all the founding fa...
2020-12-29
47 min
Politics in Question
What is the best way to pick United States senators?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Wendy Schiller joins Julia, Lee, and James to talk about how we elect senators in the United States. Schiller is Professor of Political Science, Professor of International and Public Affairs, and Chair of Political Science at Brown University. She has also experienced politics as a practitioner, having served on the staffs of Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the Senate and Governor Mario Cuomo in New York. Schiller is the author of several books, including Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment (Princeton University Press) and Partners and Rivals: Representation in...
2020-12-24
1h 13
Politics in Question
How did losing to Trump in 2016 help Democrats win the presidency in 2020?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Seth Masket joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss the future of the Democratic Party. Masket is professor of political science and director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. He is the author of numerous books and articles about political parties, elections, state politics, and, on occasion, Star Wars. He is also the founder of the political science blog, Mischiefs of Faction. His most recent book, Learning From Loss: The Democrats, 2016-2020, examines how Democrats’ perceptions of why they lost in 2016 shaped their behavior in the...
2020-12-17
59 min
The Braver Angels Podcast
Could a Multiparty System Depolarize American Politics? | Lee Drutman, Ciaran O'Connor, & Luke Nathan Phillips
Lee Drutman, senior fellow in governance studies at New America, is a careful analyst of American political institutions. In his latest book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America, he arrives at the startling conclusion that America's two-party system is problematic not because it constrains voters' choices but because it creates incentives that drive Americans apart, polarizing them beyond reason. On this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Ciaran O'Connor and Luke Nathan Phillips interview Drutman about his book and the current state of the American political parties in the aftermath of...
2020-12-15
55 min
Politics in Question
Does it really matter which party controls Congress next year?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Philip Wallach joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider how the 2020 elections will impact Congress. Wallach is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute where he studies and writes about the administrative state, Congress, and the separation of powers. He is the author of To the Edge: Legality, Legitimacy, and the Responses to the 2008 Financial Crisis (Brookings Institution Press) and has published articles in numerous publications, including in the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets, Studies in American Political Development, Fortune, National Affairs, National Review, Law & Liberty, The Los An...
2020-12-10
43 min
Politics in Question
Can a new agency improve national elections in America?
n this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Charlotte Hill joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider how Americans conduct national elections. Charlotte is a Ph.D. candidate at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. She studies how election and voting laws impact political engagement. Her current research examines how voting barriers reduce youth turnout and how electoral reforms can increase voter participation. Outside of academia, Charlotte previously served as Vice President of the San Francisco Elections Commission and currently sits on the boards of nonpartisan advocacy organizations FairVote and RepresentUs. She recently co-authored a New A...
2020-12-03
1h 02
Politics in Question
How should Americans interpret the results of the 2020 election?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss what happened in this year’s election and what it means for American democracy. How should Americans interpret the results of the election? Should they be worried about Republicans’ ongoing efforts to change the outcome? And what do the election results reveal about the future of the Democratic and Republican parties? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode. Julia Azari, “For 4 years I’ve written that Trump was a disjunctive leader. Now I’m not so sur...
2020-11-20
1h 04
Politics in Question
Did American democracy win on Election Day?
Ezra Klein joins Lee and James to discuss what the 2020 election reveals about the present state of American democracy. Klein is the editor-at-large and founder of Vox. He is the host of The Ezra Klein Show and the author of Why We’re Polarized. Klein has also written for the New Yorker and the New York Review of Books. He has appeared on Face the Nation, Real Time with Bill Maher, The McLaughlin Report, the Daily Show, and many more.How well did democracy do on Election Day? Will Donald Trump’s post-election behavior have long-term consequences for...
2020-11-11
1h 13
Politics in Question
Do presidential debates help Americans make better choices when they vote?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James debate presidential debates. What role do they play in campaigns? In their current form, do they really help people to evaluate candidates? If not, how should debates be administered? And how should people evaluate presidential candidates? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode.Show NotesLee Drutman, “There is a better way to run presidential debates. Actually, there are several.” Vox (November 5, 2015). Lee Drutman, “Want to be president? Show us how you’d handle...
2020-10-30
45 min
Building Tomorrow
Can We Fix U.S. Politics? (with Lee Drutman & Dan Bowen)
If voting leaves you feeling tired and vaguely dissatisfied, you're not alone. Over 60% of voters aren't happy with the two party duopoly that dominates US politics; others hate the flood of negative campaign ads or feel that politics is too big or too distant to be able to effect via the voting process.But there is hope! This week, Paul talks to two political scientists, Lee Drutman and Daniel Bowen to talk about how ranked choice voting, multi-member legislative districts, and packing the House of Representatives could save our democracy from its dire situation....
2020-10-29
49 min
Politics in Question
Should the Democrats play hardball in 2021?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Matt Green joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider whether Democrats should play constitutional hardball if they control Congress and the presidency in 2021. Matt is a professor (and chair) of the Department of Politics at the Catholic University of America. His research focuses on political institutions (especially Congress), state and local politics, and federalism. Matt is the author of numerous books and articles on Congress and is currently working on a research project examining cases of legislative hardball at the state and federal levels. He is also a staff writer at M...
2020-10-23
55 min
Politics in Question
How should the United States select its judges?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Questions, Judith Resnik joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider how a democracy should select its judges. Judith is the Arthur Liman Professor of Law at Yale Law School and the Founding Director of the Arthurs Liman Center for Public Interest Law. Her scholarship focuses on the relationship of democratic values to government services; the roles of collective redress, class actions, and arbitration; contemporary conflicts over privatization; the relationships of states to citizens and non-citizens; the forms and norms of federalism; and equality and gender. Judith has written numerous books and artic...
2020-10-14
52 min
Politics in Question
How well do our political parties represent us in government?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Ted Johnson joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider the role that political parties play in perpetuating popular dissatisfaction with politics. Ted is a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. His work explores the role that race plays in electoral politics, issue framing, and disparities in policy outcomes. Previously, Ted was a national fellow at New America and a research manager at Deloitte. He is also a retired commander in the U.S. Navy following a two-decade career that included service as a White House fellow, military professor at...
2020-10-09
55 min
Politics in Question
What can we learn from other nations about pernicious polarization in the United States?
In this week's episode of Politics In Question, Jennifer McCoy joins Julia, Lee, and James to discuss political polarization in the United States and worldwide. McCoy is a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Her research examines democratization, polarization, mediation and conflict prevention, election processes and election observation, and Latin American politics. McCoy is the author of several articles and books, and recently co-edited a volume of The Annals with Murat Somer exploring pernicious polarization in eleven countries (Polarizing Polities: A Global Threat to Democracy). Her current research project on Polarized Democracies seeks to determine the causes, conseq...
2020-10-02
1h 04
You Don't Have to Yell
Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop | Lee Drutman
Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow of the New America Foundation and host of the podcast "Politics in Question", discusses his new book, 'Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America'. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youdonthavetoyell.substack.com
2020-10-01
50 min
You Don't Have to Yell
Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop | Lee Drutman
Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow of the New America Foundation and host of the podcast "Politics in Question", discusses his new book, 'Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America'.
2020-10-01
50 min
Conversation Six
Lee Drutman and Julia Azari
Lee Drutman and Julia Azari on the collapse of the two party political system in the U.S.
2020-09-29
06 min
Politics in Question
How will the debate to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg end?
On this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James consider the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the fight to replace her on the Supreme Court. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the debate over whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden should get to pick who will replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court has injected new controversy into an already controversial campaign. How will Ginsburg’s death impact the 2020 election? How much time does the Senate really need to consider a Supreme Court nomination? And what does this controversy say about the role that the...
2020-09-24
51 min
Politics in Question
What did the political conventions tell us about the state of the 2020 presidential campaign?
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns. Why do party conventions matter? Do they still have a place in our politics? What did the recent conventions tell us about the state of the Democratic and Republican parties? And what is this election really about? These are some of the questions Julia, Lee, and James ask in this week’s episode.Julia Azari, “The GOP Convention Violated Plenty of Norms, But Did It Undermine Democratic Values?” FiveThirtyEight (September 1, 2020). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...
2020-09-18
58 min
Politics in Question
How important is expertise and experience in Congress?
On this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Alexander C. Furnas joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider the importance of expertise and experience in making Congress work. Alexander is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center of Science and Innovation at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He studies the use of information, science, and expertise in policymaking, interest groups, and elite political behavior using survey, text analysis and network methods. Alexander has published articles in the American Political Science Review, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Legislative Studies Quarterly. Most recently, he coauthored “Congressional Brai...
2020-09-14
49 min
Politics in Question
What Are the Pillars of Democracy?
On this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Suzanne Mettler and Robert Lieberman join Julia and Lee to discuss the state of democracy in the United States. Suzanne is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions in the Government Department at Cornell University. Her research and teaching interests include American political development, inequality, public policy, political behavior, and democracy. Robert is Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. He studies American political development, race and American politics, and public policy. Robert also writes about the development of democracy in the United States. Suzanne and Robert ar...
2020-08-28
1h 07
Politics in Question
When should Americans remove statues of historical figures from the nation's public square?
On this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Greg Weiner joins Julia, Lee, and James to consider the controversy surrounding recent efforts to remove monuments and memorials from the public square that commemorate the Confederacy and other prominent historical figures. Greg is the Provost and Academic Vice President at Assumption University, where he is also an Associate Professor of Political Science. He specializes in the study of American politics and history, political theory, the Founding, Congress, and constitutional law. Greg is the author of several books including, most recently, The Political Constitution: The Case Against Judicial Supremacy (University Press of...
2020-08-12
1h 02
Indulge In This Soul-Stirring Full Audiobook And Feel The Difference.
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America by Lee Drutman
Please visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/428375to listen full audiobooks. Title: Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America Author: Lee Drutman Narrator: Christopher Grove Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 49 minutes Release date: June 23, 2020 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3 of Total 1 Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics Publisher's Summary: American democracy is at an impasse. After years of zero-sum partisan trench warfare, our political institutions are deteriorating. Our norms are collapsing. Democrats and Republicans no longer merely argue; they cut off contact with each other. In short, the two-party system is breaking our democracy, and driving us all...
2020-06-23
10h 49
Best Full-Length Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Current Affairs, Law, & Politics
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America by Lee Drutman
Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/428375 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America Author: Lee Drutman Narrator: Christopher Grove Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 49 minutes Release date: June 23, 2020 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3 of Total 1 Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics Publisher's Summary: American democracy is at an impasse. After years of zero-sum partisan trench warfare, our political institutions are deteriorating. Our norms are collapsing. Democrats and Republicans no longer merely argue; they cut off contact with each other. In short, the two-party system is breaking our democracy, and driving us...
2020-06-23
30 min
Download Best Full-Length Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Current Affairs, Law, & Politics
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America by Lee Drutman
Please visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/428375to listen full audiobooks. Title: Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America Author: Lee Drutman Narrator: Christopher Grove Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 49 minutes Release date: June 23, 2020 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3 of Total 1 Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics Publisher's Summary: American democracy is at an impasse. After years of zero-sum partisan trench warfare, our political institutions are deteriorating. Our norms are collapsing. Democrats and Republicans no longer merely argue; they cut off contact with each other. In short, the two-party system is breaking our democracy, and driving us all...
2020-06-23
10h 49
Politics in Question
Filibuster or Filibusted?
Julia argues that we need to pay greater attention to the informal norms surrounding the filibuster and cites a 2012 article she authored with Jennifer K. Smith (“Unwritten Rules: Informal Institutions in Established Democracies”). She also references a 2016 book by Matt Grossman and Dave Hopkins, Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats.James references work by Gregory J. Wawro and Eric Schickler (Filibuster: Obstruction and Lawmaking in the U.S. Senate) to highlight the fact that the Senate was able to legislate before its members adopted the current cloture rule to end debate in 1917. He also cites Fran...
2020-03-25
36 min
The Alliance Party After Dark
Lee Drutman on the Case for Multiparty Democracy in America
Lee Drutman, a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, drops by to talk about the increasing bipolar nature of politics in America, and what we can do about it. Lee is the author of the newly published book “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America.” And, back in 2015, he published the book “The Business of America is Lobbying.” He is also the winner of the 2016 American Political Science Association's Robert A. Dahl Award, given for "Scholarship of the highest quality on the subject of democracy." Lee also co-hosts a podcast called P...
2020-03-23
40 min
After Words
Lee Drutman, Author of "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop"
Lee Drutman argued that the two-party system is damaging America’s democracy. He’s interviewed by George Washington University professor and author Matthew Dallek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-03-08
1h 00
Politics in Question
Should the House have more members?
Lee reminds Julia and James that the original First Amendment to the Constitution proposed by James Madison in 1789 concerned apportionment and traces the present issue to the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929. He also mentions the cube root law to highlight the extent to which the United States is a global outlier when it comes to the size of Congress’s lower chamber.James cites Federalist 58 when suggesting that increasing the size of the House is unlikely to empower its rank-and-file members and argues that the reform will further centralize power in the party leadership. He references Thomas Je...
2020-03-04
34 min
New Books in Big Ideas
Lee Drutman, "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America" (Oxford UP, 2020)
There are quite a few authors writing about the problems facing American democracy and how best to solve those problems. Many of the problematic issues devolve to the question of representation – and how to shift or change the American political system so that it better represents the voters themselves and the plurality of perspectives and opinions across the country. Lee Drutman’s new book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America (Oxford UP, 2020) dives into both the problems with the current political dynamic and the possible solutions. As the title indicates, Drutman’s analysis investi...
2020-02-17
39 min
The Long Game
What If You Had More Than Just Two Choices For President? Lee Drutman's Argument for Ranked Choice Voting and More than Two Parties
Lee Drutman is author of "Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multi-party Democracy in America." He says introducing ranked choice voting would make it more likely that other political parties would emerge beyond just the two we have now. Drutman's book argued for abolishing party primaries as well, and for using ranked choice voting to elect members of Congress as well. Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America. Outro music: "Awaiting Resurrection" by Drive-By Truckers Support this show...
2020-01-31
1h 04
The Long Game
What If You Had More Than Just Two Choices For President? Lee Drutman's Argument for Ranked Choice Voting and More than Two Parties
Lee Drutman is author of “Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multi-party Democracy in America.” He says introducing ranked choice voting would make it more likely that other political parties would emerge beyond just the two we have now. Drutman's book argued for abolishing party primaries as well, and for using ranked choice voting to elect members of Congress as well. Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America. Outro music: "Awaiting Resurrection" by Drive-By Truckers
2020-01-31
46 min
Make It Plain MIP with Rev. Mark Thompson
Breaking Up the Two-Party System with Lee Drutman
How did our democracy get whittled down into two extreme parties? Lee Drutman says it’s complicated, but he’s able to break it down for us in this week’s podcast episode as he digs into the chapters and research from his book, "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America." He thinks there’s no going back to what used to be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t plan for a different future with multiple, diverse parties. Listen to this week’s episode to gain an understanding of how the parties divided, how it helped...
2020-01-31
33 min
How Do We Fix It?
The Two-Party Doom Loop - Lee Drutman
The Iowa caucuses and forthcoming Presidential primary season are another reminder that the two big parties have a stranglehold on American politics.But it doesn’t have to be this way. More voters identify as independents than as Republicans or Democrats. Our guest, Lee Drutman, senior fellow at New America and author of “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop”, makes the case for a multiparty system, which, he says, would boost compromise, problem-solving, voter turnout and confidence in the political process.“To try to shoehorn a country this diverse and sprawling into just two parties to me...
2020-01-30
23 min
The Long Game
Lee Drutman on Ranked Choice Voting & Multi-Member Congressional Districts
I’m beginning to think that ranked-choice voting might be a way for voters to exercise quality control in a party primary in a way that party bosses used to. The way it works, if no one gets 50 percent then the candidate with the least support gets eliminated, and the votes they got go to the candidates who their supporters ranked second. In 2016, Donald Trump won most GOP primaries with 30 to 35 percent, meaning that 2/3 of Republican primary voters wanted another candidate. How many of those voters do you think would have ranked Trump second? And there is a fight ov...
2018-06-11
1h 06
The Long Game
Lee Drutman on Ranked Choice Voting & Multi-Member Congressional Districts
I'm beginning to think that ranked-choice voting might be a way for voters to exercise quality control in a party primary in a way that party bosses used to. The way it works, if no one gets 50 percent then the candidate with the least support gets eliminated, and the votes they got go to the candidates who their supporters ranked second. In 2016, Donald Trump won most GOP primaries with 30 to 35 percent, meaning that 2/3 of Republican primary voters wanted another candidate. How many of those voters do you think would have ranked Trump second? And there is a fight over...
2018-06-11
1h 04
New Books in Business, Management, and Marketing
Lee Drutman, “The Business of America is Lobbying” (Oxford UP, 2015)
Lee Drutman is the author of The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate (Oxford UP 2015). Drutman is a senior fellow at New America.How do corporations seek influence in Washington? And should we be worried? Drutman’s book moves beyond simple notions of how money and politics intertwine with nuanced writing and a bundle of new data analysis. He finds that corporate interest in politics has grown enormously since the 1970s, and now represents the vast majority of lobbying in Washington. But rather than simply placing money into a po...
2015-05-12
20 min