Politics with Paul

Approachable, nonpartisan, and nonideological analysis of various political topics by nonpartisan political analyst, writer, researcher, and speaker Paul Rader.

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

E71 • Dec 9, 2025 • 57 mins

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.

Key Points

Promoting pluralism requires upholding the inherent dignity of all individuals and fostering a sense of belonging in every community interaction.
Mutual aid efforts during disasters, such as those seen in Los Angeles during the 2025 wildfires, exemplify how communities can come together across differences to address immediate and practical needs.
Dehumanization, disconnection, and distrust are the primary threats to pluralism, making it crucial to cultivate social trust and cooperative relationships to overcome these challenges.

Liz's links:

New Pluralist website: https://newpluralists.org/
Resources on pluralism: https://newpluralists.org/resources

My links:

Download my FREE 5-day educational email course on how to fight polarization: https://detoxifyamericanpolitics.com/
Buy my book on Amazon (ebook and paperback): https://www.amazon.com/Why-Independents-Rarely-Win-Elections-ebook/dp/B09K8PYM5J/
My website: https://paulrader.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulRaderWrites
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrader352/
Medium: https://paulrader-42650.medium.com/
Email: [email protected]

Speakers

Paul Rader

Host • 41%

Liz Vogel

Guest • 59%

Chapters

0:00	Intro: Pluralism, Liz Vogel of New Pluralists
1:47	Why Liz is Invested in Pluralism, Joined New Pluralists
4:38	The Goals and Work of New Pluralists
8:48	What Exactly is Pluralism About?
12:07	What are the Keys to a Pluralistic System?
18:38	Places We See Pluralism at Work
24:26	How to Show Skeptics that Pluralism is Needed in American Politics
30:30	Can There Be Too Much Pluralism (Hyperpluralism)?
36:27	Largest Threats to Pluralism, Political Bridge-Building Today
42:07	Do We Need to Incentivize Pluralism to Get More People to Buy in?
45:49	Ways We Can Individually Uphold, Promote Pluralistic Values
51:14	The Importance of Daily Practicing Pluralism
53:00	Random Question: Should Pluto Be Restored to Planet Status?

Transcript

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