How Do We Improve Youth Voter Turnout? w/ Stephanie Houghton | Politics with Paul #78

While voter turnout overall is notoriously low in most American elections, youth voter turnout especially lags noticeably behind older voters, even when there is an uptick in participation. Sometimes, that has led to criticisms of youth citizens as "lazy," "uninformed," "unengaged," or "selfish." But is it really that simple? And do we have to just accept low voter turnout as an unchangeable fact? In today's episode of the Politics with Paul Podcast, election reformer and seasoned political campaigner Stephanie Houghton sits down to discuss the issues facing youth voter turnout and how we can go about solving them. She shares many of her insights including why youth voters seem so disengaged, how we can go about fixing those problems, how youth voters can also help themselves, and the simple yet powerful act of genuine engagement with them.

How to Encourage and Incentivize People to Depolarize w/ Phelosha Collaros (DepolarWise) | Politics with Paul #77

In the discussions about how to depolarize American politics, one critical element often gets lost: How do we convince people that they need to depolarize and to become part of the political bridge-building movement? The need for these things may seem self-evident to those of us working to depolarize the nation, but we have to truly WANT to come together. And that requires not only showing polarized people why they should depolarize but also some self-awareness from bridge-builders in their approach. Today's guest, Phelosha Collaros shares a wealth of insights into how to encourage more effective depolarization efforts, drawing on plenty of research towards more effective depolarization techniques and her own heritage. Her mother and grandparents experienced the Colombian Civil War, "La Violencia," and the conflict holds many valuable lessons for how to address the increasing toxicity in America. If you're trying to level up your game on healing divisions in this country, you don't want to miss this episode.

Can This App Revolutionize Civic Engagement? w/ Claire Shorall (Sway) | Politics with Paul #76

Civic engagement is a difficult endeavor that takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Yet an app called Sway seeks to make it much more accessible, giving any voting group the power to organize and engage constituents on a wide variety of elections and political issues. Could Sway change the game for citizen outreach? One of Sway's co-founders, Claire Shoreall, joined the Politics with Paul Podcast this episode to discuss the ambitious goals for the app. Listen in as Claire discusses the current impacts Sway has had, its plans for the future, and her insights on how to improve civic engagement. If you've been looking for ways to improve your outreach as a candidate, campaigner, consultant, activist, pundit, or concerned citizen, Sway may be one of the solutions you're looking for.

The Problem of Uncontested Elections…and What You Can Do About it | Politics with Paul #75

Uncontested elections - races that only have one candidate - are a considerable problem in American politics. These elections aren't just uncompetitive; there's no competition at all. The choice has already been made before voting. Despite the threats uncontested elections pose to democracy and civic health, however, this issue doesn't get nearly as much attention as it should. But the first step to solving a problem is knowing it exists. Today's episode of Politics with Paul showcases how often we see these uncontested elections, many of the factors that can lead to an uncontested election, reasons why they are a problem for democracy and civic health…and perhaps most importantly, what YOU can do practically to help push back against the frequency of uncontested elections.

Most Common Mistakes and Misunderstandings about Campaigns w/ Alex Patton | Politics with Paul #74

Elections are complicated and difficult, which makes for plenty of mistakes made on the campaign trail from newbies and veterans alike. But it's not just the actual campaigns where mistakes and misunderstandings happen - it occurs with how elections are analyzed and covered, too. Campaigners, candidates, pollsters, media, academics, and citizens all have different perspectives and interests, leading to shortcomings and exacerbating the missteps about campaigning. In today's episode, Alex Patton sits down with me to discuss these mistakes that are made by campaigns and by those seeking to understand campaigns. Alex draws on his long career in political consulting and survey research to spotlight these common errors, including some that he made early on in his career. Whether you're new to the political game, seeking to enter it, or seasoned with experience, his insights will benefit anyone.

Are Campaigns About Mobilization or Persuasion? Why it Matters | Politics with Paul #73

One of the most fundamental questions a political campaign must ask themselves is this: How much are you trying to persuade voters and how much are you trying to mobilize them? Some voters are never going to vote for your side, some voters are always going to vote for your side, some are up for grabs, and some are rarely (or never) going to participate at all. Knowing who is who, and how to appeal to them, is one of the keys to winning elections. There is no clear checklist that tells you how much your campaign must mobilize and how much it must mobilize. You can also have multiple people look at the same exact campaign and give you different answers about how to mobilize and/or persuade. However, today's episode covers many of the electoral factors to consider, how they impact your mobilization and persuasion strategies, and why it's important for you to know - even if you are not involved in politics for a living.

How Federal and State Laws and Legislation are Interpreted: A Crash Course | Politics with Paul #72

Have you ever wondered how to make sense of the text of legislation and laws but you didn't know where to begin, or you felt the task too intimidating or daunting? Then this episode is for you! It's a crash course to introduce you to how legislation is interpreted at the federal and state levels so that is more accessible and understandable. Understanding how laws are interpreted is incredibly important for civic knowledge and the ability of citizens to hold government and political commentators accountable. Today's episode shows how the debates about interpretation have evolved from the very beginnings of US Constitutional debates to the tools used to interpret federal and state statutes - including information pulled from my own webinar I give to civics and public affairs organizations on how to understand legislation for themselves and their clients.

"Voter Dollars": the Solution to Our Campaign Finance Woes? w/ Dan McMillan | Politics with Paul #71

Could a plan called "Voter Dollars" be the key to solving the issues with campaign finance laws in American politics? The exorbitant levels of spending in political campaigns have dismayed Americans across parties and ideologies, contributing to the disenchantment many voters (and would-be voters) feel about politics. Despite concern about politicians being bought by special interests, campaign finance reform has been particularly difficult to implement in America. However, today's guest, Dan McMillan of Make Voters the Donors, makes his case for why "Voter Dollars" is the answer we've all been looking for and how his organization plans to implement it.

How to Promote Pluralism in American Politics w/ Liz Vogel (New Pluralists) | Politics with Paul #70

Pluralism is a core part of American politics--or at least, it's supposed to be. Our civic life is meant to be a blend of varied backgrounds and viewpoints coming together to improve our political system. Yet far too often, we are siloed into echo chambers and see divisiveness and polarization reign in our discourse. So how do we get back to upholding pluralism in America? That's what Liz Vogel, co-executive director of New Pluralists, discusses on today's episode, including what pluralism looks like today, what challenges to pluralism we must overcome, and how we individually can promote pluralism.

What is Democracy—And How is it Working in America? | Politics with Paul #69

Democracy in America is fragile, yet a lot of the rhetoric surrounding it is fraught with biases and appeals that are about winning elections and political battles rather than truly preserving democracy. There are also a lot of misunderstandings and debate about what democracy is and should be. To truly uphold and preserve democracy in this country, we must truly understand what it means and the challenges that face it. Today's episode of Politics with Paul explores what the core of American democracy is about, including whether we truly are a democracy, public perceptions of American democracy, and threats that we must wary of and address.

Does the Supreme Court Need to Rein in Presidential Power? w/ Peter Cohen | Politics with Paul #68

The power of the US presidency has expanded considerably over 235 years. But has it gone too far and broken our system of separation of powers? If so, how do we (and especially the US Supreme Court) rein it back in? Retired attorney Peter Cohen looks at these questions in his new book, "In the Supreme Court's Own Words: First Principles for Checking Presidential Power and Preserving the Republic." Our conversation includes discussion about how to make legal rulings more understandable, constitutional restraints that presidents of both parties have tested, whether the "activist judge" argument has caused problems in our political discourse, and how we change our opinion on expanded presidential power based on whether we support the president.

Empowering Citizens Across Political Beliefs to Overcome Divisions | Politics with Paul #67

Imagine a one-stop shop for political research where every candidate is seen, every citizen is heard, and every journalist is free to speak. Is such a thing possible? Can we create a level playing field for candidates, citizens, and journalists all through one central hub? That is what today's guest, Travis Misurell, is building through the Future is Now Coalition (FiNC). Included in our discussion are the difference between power-first and people-first candidates, how FiNC seeks to fix the ballot information problem without overwhelming voters, and incentivizing a more unified sense of purpose and action.

How Polling Can Move Political Conversations Forward w/ Doug Kaplan | Politics with Paul #66

How do various organizations benefit from polling? How can targeted communication and unbiased polling move conversations forward? Seasoned pollster Doug Kaplan discusses these questions and more, including whether political betting markets are a threat to pollsters, public misconceptions about polling, and what polling and market research in other countries can tell us about engaging American communities in civil political dialogue.

Connecting Historical Thinkers to the Present w/ Crom Carmichael | Politics with Paul #65

Although it sounds cliché, it is true that those who do not know history are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. But it is also important to look at the positive contributions to history, especially from classic political thinkers. Here to talk about those historical contributions is Crom Carmichael, co-founder of the Giants of Political Thought audio program series. Included in our discussion are the positive historical lessons and thinkers we can look to for guidance in the face of political challenges, why those lessons are still relevant today, and how to apply those lessons.

How Do We Make Civics Education More Accessible? w/ Roneka Matheny | Politics with Paul #64

What are the biggest challenges for civics accessibility both for students in the classroom and adults that are past their school years? Where have previous civics initiatives gone wrong? What are some improvements in civics education that can be built upon? Civics4All founder (and former colleague of mine) Roneka Matheny discusses these questions and more with me on today's episode. We also talk about her new book "Civics for All: A Crash Course in US Government and Politics" and its goals, some lesser-known facts about the history of civics education, and ways that you can help civics organizations (including hers) in their work.

Are a Majority of Americans Politically in the Middle? w/ Shannon Watson | Politics with Paul #63

How big is the political middle of America? What traits make somebody part of this political middle? How can this political middle overcome the toxic political division of today? Shannon Watson, executive director of Majority in the Middle, gives her insights into these questions and more. She also discusses the biggest roadblocks to overcoming division, recent encouraging signs in building bridges across division, and practical ways anybody can overcome political division in their lives.

How We All Can Reevaluate and Refine Our Political Beliefs w/ Lisa Ekman | Politics with Paul #62

Being willing to reexamine, let alone change, our political beliefs can be a monumental task, but there is immense value in introspection. My guest today, Lisa Ekman, went through such a journey of questioning her beliefs. Listen in as Lisa shares insights as to why some people find it difficult to reevaluate their views, how that introspection impacted her relationships, critical thinking tips that anybody can use regardless of their political beliefs, and more.

How to Find Common Ground in Politics w/ Nathan Smolensky | Politics with Paul #61

Common ground in politics seems more and more like a fleeting dream, a relic of the past. But it is attainable--and there are actionable ways for all of us to get there. This week's Politics with Paul guest, Nathan C. Smolensky, discusses what these practical tips are. Nathan also talks about how to make constructive dialogue more conducive to winning elections, whether you can have a civil conversation with anyone, and why hostile reactions to political views (even if justified) don't help solve anything.

Politics with Paul #60: Would More US House Representatives Fix Congress' Problems?

The US House of Representatives has remained at 435 members for over a century, despite significant population growth. Could adding more members fix Congress' issues with responsiveness and representativeness of the American people? In today's episode, we explore that question. Included is the vision of the Framers of the Constitution for the US House, a brief history of the size of the chamber, the biggest arguments made for and against increasing its membership, why it's tricky to expand it, and the ultimate goals of advocates for expanding the US House.

Politics with Paul #59: How Far Does the Freedom of Speech Go?

The freedom of speech is at the core of American civic life, but it has also been constantly tested and refined over the course of the nation's history. Today, we delve into what is and isn't free speech, how the government has tested its boundaries, how the US Supreme Court has ruled on certain free speech cases, why it is so important we promote free speech in our daily lives (not just in relation to the government), and more.