Air Date: 11-2-2025

A lot of people on the left aren't feeling the love for their country right now and that's understandable but we have some thoughts on more productive ways to channel those conflicting feelings toward a country that is currently falling far short of living up to its founding ideals.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Democracy's Morticians Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt on 'How Democracies Die' Part 1 - Lawfare Archive - Air Date 5-1-18

KP 2: How Trump Changed the World with Anne Applebaum Part 1 - PoliticsJOE Podcast - Air Date 6-14-25

KP 3: Giving Up Is Unforgivable with Joyce Vance Part 1 - Stay Tuned with Preet - Air Date 10-23-25

KP 4: How to FIGHT Mob Boss Politics in America with Senator Andy Kim Part 1 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 10-19-25

KP 5: Unitary Executive Meets Textualism Part 1 - #SistersInLaw - Air Date 10-11-23

KP 6: How Underdogs Build Power Stephanie Luce Part 1 - Future Hindsight - Air Date 10-23-25

KP 7: Reclaiming Patriotism From Trumps America with Ted Johnson Part 1 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 4-27-25

(00:59:59) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how the Left embraces the contradictions of the US

DEEPER DIVES

(01:10:45) SECTION A: SOCIETAL DRIVERS

A1: Tom Carothers Says We Misunderstand Democratic Backsliding Part 1 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 10-15-25

A2: Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders Part 1 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 9-17-25

A3: Democracy's Morticians Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt on 'How Democracies Die' Part 2 - Lawfare Archive - Air Date 5-1-18

A4: Oregon US Sen Jeff Merkley Denounces Authoritarianism on Senate Floor - KOIN 6 - Air Date 10-21-25

(01:47:04) SECTION B: INSTITUTIONAL EROSION

B1: Modern Democracy with Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky Part 1 - The Preamble - Air Date 6-30-25

B2: Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders Part 2 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 9-17-25

B3: Tom Carothers Says We Misunderstand Democratic Backsliding Part 2 - Democracy Paradox - Air Date 10-15-25

B4: Modern Democracy with Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky Part 2 - The Preamble - Air Date 6-30-25

(02:18:26) SECTION C: MILITARIZED LAWFARE

C1: Unitary Executive Meets Textualism Part 2 - #SistersInLaw - Air Date 10-11-23

C2: Rubio's Ideological Project What's Driving Trump's Campaign Against Venezuela - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-27-25

C3: SCOTUS May Give Trump Unlimited Military Power to Use Against YOU - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 10-23-25

C4: How Trump Changed the World with Anne Applebaum Part 2 - PoliticsJOE Podcast - Air Date 6-14-25

(02:41:12) SECTION D: PATRIOTISM AND NARRATIVE

D1: Reclaiming Patriotism From Trumps America with Ted Johnson Part 2 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 4-27-25

D2: Giving Up Is Unforgivable with Joyce Vance Part 2 - Stay Tuned with Preet - Air Date 10-23-25

D3: No Kings! - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 10-23-25

D4: 'Time for a General Strike!' Union President Sara Nelson Calls for Action at DC No Kings Protest - The Real News Network - Air Date 10-19-25

D5: How Underdogs Build Power Stephanie Luce Part 2 - Future Hindsight - Air Date 10-23-25

D6: How to FIGHT Mob Boss Politics in America with Senator Andy Kim Part 2 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 10-19-25

D7: The Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party - Americast - Air Date 10-15-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of the Declaration of Independence with three question marks on top filled with the image of the American flag.

Credit: Internal composite design. Images via Pixabay. | Pixabay License 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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