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A weekly show that takes big ideas about civic life and democracy and turns them into action items for you.
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The Edifice of Trust is a podcast that provides discussion and analysis of today’s current events from the perspective of America’s Founding Principles. Based on Enlightenment philosophy as espoused by John Locke and economic freedom as described by Adam Smith, the host, Victor Bolles, provides listeners a path toward understanding current events from these timeless principles. Many Americans believe that the country is moving in the wrong direction, the podcast tries to point out a new cour ...
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We discuss the long history of vigilante democracy in the US and its return in our current politics. The playing field is currently tilted in favor of these vigilante policies, but blue states can level the playing field by playing constitutional hardball. David reminds us that the American people have beat back movements to use vigilante power to …
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Democrats across the country are outraged that Texas Governor Abbott wants to redraw the Congressional district map in order to favor Republicans a concept called gerrymandering (although many Democratic states are more gerrymandered than Texas). Both Republicans and Democrats gerrymander even though they also denounce the process. In this commenta…
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Build Functional Immigration: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
47:55
47:55
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We discuss how out of date immigration laws are and why the only cure is comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. In the face of rising arrests and deportations by ICE, this is the perfect episode to remind us that we still need immigration reform. Aaron’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Be welcoming and model inclusion in your …
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A Living Document is the Death of Democracy. The viability and credibility of America’s public institutions are threatened by executive overreach, underperformance by Congress, a Federal Reserve tasked beyond its capabilities, political parties controlled by extremists and a Supreme Court in disrepute. Most of these institutions suffer from mission…
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Radical Justice is the Way: Jocelyn Simonson
46:54
46:54
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We discuss how certain radical acts of justice by everyday people challenge the legitimacy of the criminal system and form the underpinning of a new collective legal thought, demosprudence. Collective understanding of justice and safety is changing away from the concept that justice equals cages. Jocelyn’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: …
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The dueling ideologies of the left and right are, in reality, the expression of two aspects of our human nature, an independent individual within a larger society where the needs of the group are in conflict with the needs of the individual. How can we create a good society if our conflicts are buried deep in our human nature? In this commentary, w…
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Deliberating for Democracy: James Fishkin
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42:04
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We discuss deliberative polling as a way to assess the will of the people and then to make it consequential. This is what democracy is all about. James’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Question your own beliefs and assumptions 2) Learn to listen to people whom you would not normally talk to James Fishkin is the Director of the Deliber…
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We discuss the main goals of copaganda: narrowing our conception of safety and threat, constantly warning us that those harms are increasing, and telling us that the solution to our fears is more investment in the punishment bureaucracy. Alec’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Educate yourself on how copaganda works 2) Read the Copagand…
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Rumors are flying around Washington about the imminent (and perhaps untimely) departure of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell along with speculation about possible replacements for this critical role. In this commentary we look at some of the implications of this change in leadership at this institution forced to take on outsized responsibilities for the U…
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Multisolving Our Democracy: Elizabeth Sawin
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38:48
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We discuss how multisolving is a way to address the multiple issues that are currently facing our democracy at the same time, ranging from pollution and sustainable energy to civil rights and collective governance. Elizabeth’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Learn about multisolving 2) Learn together in a group Elizabeth Sawin is the D…
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Our Kidnapped Constitution: Madiba Dennie
40:20
40:20
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We discuss Inclusive Constitutionalism, a fresh way to interpret the Constitution that makes inclusive democracy real. By contrast, originalism interprets the meaning of the Constitution as fixed in time in the 1800s and ignores the constitutional amendments during reconstruction that were designed to foster a multiracial democracy. Madiba’s civic …
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The Difference between Capitalism and Socialism
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10:26
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The difference between capitalism and socialism is easy to explain, capitalism creates wealth and socialism distributes wealth. The important thing to keep in mind is the difference between creators and distributors. In this commentary we will look at some of those differences.By Victor C. Bolles
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It’s Time to Change the Constitution: Erwin Chemerinsky
36:46
36:46
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We discuss why the Constitution—the document we've been taught to revere as the very foundation of American democracy—might actually be responsible for the current crisis in government. It might be leading us away from a more perfect union and toward destruction or even secession. Erwin’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Be informed Get in…
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As president Trump flies off to join other world leaders at the NATO meeting in the Netherlands, it is a good time to analyze the nature of that alliance and the necessity of other alliances as well. In this commentary we will address the question of whether we need allies or not and, if we do needs allies, how do we rebuild our network of alliance…
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We discuss how the Supreme Court’s lawlessness is fueled by the conservative grievance mindset where Republicans believe they are victims of laws they don’t agree with. The Supreme Court has played an important role in enabling the current administration’s actions. Leah’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Get educated on the Supreme Court! …
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Amidst all the chaos swirling around us, all is calm in the eye of the storm. President Trump is at the center of this storm of activity announcing new policies and issuing executive orders while he remains calm and confident. In this commentary we discuss why maybe you shouldn’t be so calm and confident.…
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Democracy for the Unhoused: Maria Foscarinis
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41:06
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We discuss why housing insecurity undermines our democracy. We cover the evolution from Reagan, when homelessness was blamed on the individual, to the increasing recognition that housing is a human right. Maria’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Be an advocate against criminalization and call your representatives Join the https://housingno…
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What kind of Post-Trump world do we want to live in? The MAGA-Republicans and progressive left Democrats are in a bitter fight for the vote of American citizens, one side offering tax cuts galore for wealthy citizens and favored industries (funded by massive and unsustainable increases in the public debt), the other side offering an avalanche of be…
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We discuss "calling in" as a practice rooted in a human rights framework that can transform how we engage across our divide and potentially be the bridge that helps our democracy survive. Loretta’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Do an integrity audit: pause and self assess before responding Always focus on the good part of people Loretta…
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There are many barriers to our goal of rejuvenating America in a post-Trump world. The first step in this rejuvenation effort is getting a government that works so that we have a solid foundation which can support our efforts. The US congress can’t pass a budget, can’t manage our finances and can’t get important policies approved with a bipartisan …
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We discuss what it takes to build worker power from scratch and how these efforts can reshape not only our workplaces, but democracy itself. Jaz’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Organize a union in your workplace Train at Inside Organizer School Jaz Brisack is a union organizer and cofounder of the Inside Organizer School, as well as the…
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Last week President Trump travelled to the M idle East with 60 CEOs in tow to be feted with parades and receptions galore and gifted a 747 airplane to replace his aging Air Force one. But amongst all the hoopla President Trump made a major foreign policy speech denouncing “interventionalists” who tried to impose Western values on Middle Eastern pot…
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We discuss reclaiming the narrative of democracy. Democracy is a tool to deliver on our values in the realm of justice, dignity, fairness, and freedom. Stacey’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Refuse to pre-capitulate Take action on one issue you care about once a week, every week Stacey Abrams is an author, political leader, and host of …
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If we believe that the second Trump administration is the culmination of a vicious downward spiral that has afflicted the United States throughout the 21st century and we want to do something to break out of this malaise then we cannot replicate the same old politics of the past. We must do something different to change the slope of this spiral. In…
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