Democracy Fix
There’s a critical mass of evidence pointing to the ways in which our politics and political system are broken. So the real question is: What can we do about it? Democracy Fix is a podcast from Issue One, a crosspartisan organization working to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Join us for thoughtful conversations with innovative leaders from across the political spectrum to get your fix of news, insightful analysis, and ideas that will inspire you to join the broader movement to fix democracy.
Episodes
On Election Day, we watched election officials across the country spring their contingency plans into action - responding to bomb threats, machine malfunctions and power outages, as well as other predictable disruptions. In this episode, Michelle Hawley, Director of the Milwaukee County Election Commission, joins Claire Woodall and Angelina Clapp to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the planning and partnerships that officia...
In this episode of Democracy Fix, Mia Minkin, Angelina Clapp and Carah Ong Whaley sit down with former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a seasoned election official and advocate for safe and secure elections. We unpack the complexities of election administration in the modern era and reflect on how elections were safe and secure in 2024, even in spite of a wide range of challenges, including foreign malign influence and doz...
Election officials have always played a critical role in ensuring that our votes are cast and counted fairly. But in recent years, the landscape of election work has dramatically changed. No longer seen as a quiet, behind-the-scenes service, election officials are now on the front lines of an increasingly toxic environment, facing harassment, threats, and a flood of misinformation.
In this episode of Democracy Fix, Tina Barton, senior election expert at The Elections Group, and former Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) join hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Jeanne Broome to discuss the biggest threats facing U.S. elections and what is being done to address them. Both guests emphasize that the greatest danger is the potential non-acceptance of election results. Congressman Wamp warns that "The biggest problem is the pe...
In this episode, hosts Carah Ong Whaley, Angelina Clapp, and Mia Minkin sit down with King County, WA Director of Elections Julie Wise for a deep dive into the county’s award-winning initiatives to ensure all voices are heard in elections. Known for her passionate advocacy for voter accessibility and election transparency, Wise discusses the critical role of trained, nonpartisan election administrators in preserving democracy.
She ...
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joins Issue One’s Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Liz Cassin to discuss the challenges posed by the spread of false election information and the importance of directing voters to credible sources. Recently, Grok, an AI chatbot operated by X (formerly known as Twitter), disseminated false information regarding ballot laws in nine states. In response, Sec. Simon and four other secretaries of state wr...
With such a closely watched vote count in 2024, election process transparency is critical for voter confidence. Former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan and former State Representative Geraldine Custer join Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Risa Dorf to share their new nonpartisan initiative to provide voters in Montana with trusted and independent oversight of state elections. The effort aims to address misinformation...
In this episode of Democracy Fix, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver joins hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Mia Minkin to discuss innovative strategies that election officials in her state are pursuing to increase election integrity. As Secretary Toulouse Oliver aptly states, "We build so many checks and balances into our processes it takes time…It's the mundane paint drying processes that ensure that our elections ...
What and whose speech does the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protect in the digital age? Misinformation about the First Amendment and notions of censorship are being used to distort policy debates and legislative interventions aimed at addressing the rampant spread of false information and online harms. The confusion arises when people believe they have the right to be heard without opposition. “People think that they ha...
Despite a toxic information environment, election officials are stepping up to meet the moment and make elections more safe and secure in 2024. One of the leaders is Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a member of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign, who just won a Clearinghouse Award for Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology.
In this episode, Secretary Fontes talks about how election officials ...
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