Here’s How an Open Democratic Convention Would Work

A Promised Land is Barack Obama’s memoir of his early political career and the first two years of his presidency. Obama takes us on his journey from relative obscurity as a biracial kid from Hawaii to becoming a transformative figure as the nation’s first African-American president. At every step of his career, Obama was guided by a deep faith in the fundamental unity of Americans; the potential and promise of America; the necessity of compromise and seeking common ground; and above all, the power of the democratic system to heal our divisions and effect real change for ordinary people.

The election of Donald Trump has sparked a great deal of discussion about the fate of American democracy. How Democracies Die explores some key questions that have become paramount in the Trump era. Does the election of a figure like Trump—an inexperienced outsider with obvious authoritarian instincts—suggest that democracy in the US is backsliding? Are we doomed to suffer the fate of other 21st-century democracies, like Hungary, Venezuela, and Turkey, where true democracy ceased to exist? By what processes was democracy killed in those and other countries—and how might we prevent it here?

Dive into a riveting analysis of geopolitical tensions and domestic policy critique on "The Ben Shapiro Show." Ben Shapiro, with his characteristic sharp wit, throws a spotlight on the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign relations, particularly scrutinizing President Joe Biden's role in international diplomacy. From the nuances of the U.S.-China relationship and the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Shapiro deciphers the global power shifts that could shape our future. He brings in perspectives from stakeholders like trucker Mike Kucharski to dissect the potential impact of domestic regulations on the American economy and quality of life.

Shapiro's examination extends beyond the realm of international politics, delving into domestic controversies and cultural conversations. He provides a hard-hitting critique of the Biden administration's economic strategies, discusses the alarming signs of a downturn, and highlights media narratives surrounding the Hunter Biden allegations. Cultural discourses also find a place in this episode, with Shapiro’s endorsement of Lionel Shriver's literary works and his commendations for tennis star Novak Djokovic. Engaging with his listeners at an even deeper level, Shapiro offers exclusive content through special membership opportunities, promising to expand the conversation with more in-depth material.

Dive into a riveting analysis of geopolitical tensions and domestic policy critique on "The Ben Shapiro Show." Ben Shapiro, with his characteristic sharp wit, throws a spotlight on the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign relations, particularly scrutinizing President Joe Biden's role in international diplomacy. From the nuances of the U.S.-China relationship and the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Shapiro deciphers the global power shifts that could shape our future. He brings in perspectives from stakeholders like trucker Mike Kucharski to dissect the potential impact of domestic regulations on the American economy and quality of life.

Shapiro's examination extends beyond the realm of international politics, delving into domestic controversies and cultural conversations. He provides a hard-hitting critique of the Biden administration's economic strategies, discusses the alarming signs of a downturn, and highlights media narratives surrounding the Hunter Biden allegations. Cultural discourses also find a place in this episode, with Shapiro’s endorsement of Lionel Shriver's literary works and his commendations for tennis star Novak Djokovic. Engaging with his listeners at an even deeper level, Shapiro offers exclusive content through special membership opportunities, promising to expand the conversation with more in-depth material.

A Promised Land is Barack Obama’s memoir of his early political career and the first two years of his presidency. Obama takes us on his journey from relative obscurity as a biracial kid from Hawaii to becoming a transformative figure as the nation’s first African-American president. At every step of his career, Obama was guided by a deep faith in the fundamental unity of Americans; the potential and promise of America; the necessity of compromise and seeking common ground; and above all, the power of the democratic system to heal our divisions and effect real change for ordinary people.

In "The Ben Shapiro Show," political commentator Ben Shapiro engages in a deep dive into the burgeoning political scene as the 2024 Presidential Election looms on the horizon. He scrutinizes the latest polls revealing Trump's edge over Biden, exploring the Democratic Party's internal disarray and conjecturing about potential rivals vying for the nomination. Shapiro advises Trump to strategically redraw his image, focusing on success stories from his tenure and navigating the sensitive terrain of contemporary legal and media landscapes. He also muses on the impact of evolving cultural norms on political scandals, pointing out the persistence of political figures amid allegations.

Shapiro doesn't shy away from hot-button issues. He fiercely critiques the Biden administration's immigration policies and foresees the challenges posed by the expiration of Title 42. Tackling the complexities of the U.S. economy, demographics, and foreign policy, he offers a slate of solutions and critiques, including a reform of immigration policies and a pragmatic approach to the conflict in Ukraine. Shapiro extends the conversation to cultural observations, lambasting shows like "Naked Attraction" for reflecting a decline in societal values and offering personal reflections on the importance of religion and tradition during Yom Kippur. In true Shapiro fashion, the podcaster blends his political and cultural discussions with endorsements of brands that align with the ethos he champions.

In Why We’re Polarized, American progressive journalist, political commentator, and podcaster Ezra Klein argues that Americans are divided into two sharply contrasting groups rooted in partisan identities.

He writes that the clustering of nearly the entire electorate into the Democratic and Republican camps is a story about identity. Specifically, our partisan political identities have become overarching super-identities that encompass and activate our most deeply felt personal, religious, linguistic, socioeconomic, and ethnic/racial identities. In today’s America, these underlying lines of division all come together in one main division—between Democrats and Republicans—that makes bipartisan cooperation increasingly difficult.

In this guide, we explore the origins of modern political polarization and its differing impact on the two major political parties, how polarization has made American politics a winner-take-all struggle, and ideas for how we might depolarize our politics. We also supplement Klein’s ideas and analysis with commentary from other political scholars and analysts and explore additional perspectives that both support and challenge Klein.

The election of Donald Trump has sparked a great deal of discussion about the fate of American democracy. How Democracies Die explores some key questions that have become paramount in the Trump era. Does the election of a figure like Trump—an inexperienced outsider with obvious authoritarian instincts—suggest that democracy in the US is backsliding? Are we doomed to suffer the fate of other 21st-century democracies, like Hungary, Venezuela, and Turkey, where true democracy ceased to exist? By what processes was democracy killed in those and other countries—and how might we prevent it here?

What are the greatest threats to democracy today? How do healthy democratic states descend into illiberalism and authoritarian rule—and how can defenders and proponents of democracy prevent this from happening?

In Shortform’s Master Guide to Threats to Democracy, we’ve synthesized the ideas and recommendations of some of the world’s leading political scientists from across the ideological spectrum to bring insight to this important—and timely—question. We’ll explore forces like polarization, the decline of democratic norms, and extreme wealth inequality that combine to weaken and undermine democratic institutions.

We’ll also examine some of the ways proponents of democracy can promote stronger and healthier democratic institutions through specific institutional reforms, new economic policies to combat inequality, and actions at the individual and grassroots levels to overcome the social divisions that corrode democracy.