How did American democracy reach such a precarious moment — and what can we do to fix things? Host Simone Leeper examines the fundamental threats to our democracy today, from gerrymandering and corruption to abuses of executive power and the outsized role of money in politics.
How did American democracy reach such a precarious moment — and what can we do to fix things? Host Simone Leeper examines the fundamental threats to our democracy today, from gerrymandering and corruption to abuses of executive power and the outsized role of money in politics.
Through real stories from everyday Americans and insights from the experts at Campaign Legal Center and other distinguished guests, this season of Democracy Decoded explores how we can use the tools we still have to repair the cracks in the system — and how, together, we can change things for the better.
Learn what’s at stake — and what can be done to solve the challenges facing American democracy. Follow Democracy Decoded on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
About CLC:
Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. Campaign Legal Center fights for every American’s freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. Learn more about us.
Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Simone Leeper: Let’s face it: We’re living in a time when our democracy is facing fundamental threats to its very existence. Many of our government’s checks and balances are being dismantled, challenged or outright ignored.
And we’re watching some of the structures put in place that have made this country what it is, disintegrate before our very eyes.
Jodi Vittori: Everything on the good governance, anti-corruption side, all of those institutions are under strain.
Simone Leeper: We didn’t arrive here because of one person or one policy. We are here because numerous safeguards have eroded gradually. And over time, powerful people have figured out how to exploit some persistent issues with our democracy.
Mark Greenblatt: A key consideration, for the American public is what are the constraints on the executive in terms of running the executive branch?
Simone Leeper: Hello. I'm Simone Leeper, host of Democracy Decoded, an award-winning podcast from Campaign Legal Center. I’m here to introduce you to our fifth season. This time we're focusing on specific weak points in our system of government and how those have contributed to a situation where it now seems that the very foundations of American democracy are in danger. Those include decisions by the Supreme Court, gerrymandering, corruption, restrictions on the freedom to vote, unchecked executive power and the outsized role of money in politics.
Leah Litman: The 2024 election, the richest man in the world pours several hundred million dollars into the election and thereby purchases himself access to the presidency
Simone Leeper: Each week, we will bring you top experts to discuss how we got here.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: I think we've gotta do a lot of self-reflection. We've gotta fight our way back so that we are the democracy we aspire to.
Simone Leeper: And we will offer innovative solutions that can help us move forward. To use the tools we still have to begin to repair the cracks in the system. To advocate for better campaign finance regulations, call for more robust ethics enforcement, bolster our government’s checks and balances, and foster the creation of new laws and entities that will help ensure that all voters have the opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy.
Look for Season Five of Democracy Decoded on Apple, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts.