EPISODE NOTES

Support for Donald Trump is slipping lately, at least in part because of the President’s violations of democratic rules and norms. In a New York Times/ Sienna College poll, a majority of respondents disapproved of Trump’s recent actions, including moves to eliminate government programs enacted by Congress, deport legal immigrants who have protested Israel, and ignore Supreme Court rulings. 

And yet, Democrats’ alarm-sounding about the Trump threat to democracy clearly wasn’t enough to get Kamala Harris elected. 

This episode we’re joined by Suzette Brooks Masters, a thought leader, political strategist and Senior Fellow at the Democracy Funders Network. She says that for American democracy to thrive, it's not enough to defend the existing system against attack, because the system doesn’t work well for most people. 

She’s been researching ways to invigorate democratic practice, including citizen’s assemblies and participatory budgeting – frameworks that give ordinary people a bigger say in government. And she advocates for storytelling that envisions positive, possible futures. 

00:00 Introduction and Current Political Climate

00:40 First 100 Days of the New Administration

01:35 Guest Introduction: Suzette Brooks Masters

02:08 Imagining Better Futures for American Democracy

03:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Democracy

05:57 Why the Right Sees Democracy as Under Attack 

11:31 Bridge Building and Civic Engagement

16:44 Innovations in Democratic Processes

22:59 Telling a Different Story About the Future

30:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

LEARN MORE

Suzette Brooks Masters’ articles for The Fulcrum

Imagining Better Futures for American Democracy report

Becoming Futures Ready: How Philanthropy Can Leverage Strategic Foresight For Democracy report