We begin with the unavoidable observation that Donald Trump appears to have the Republican presidential nomination wrapped up and that the growing number of indictments and criminal trials he will be facing only seem to strengthen the MAGA movement and boost his chances to be elected the next president of the United States. Joining us to discuss the best chance of beating Trump by forming a coalition of Democrats and traditional Republicans is Miles Taylor, a national security expert who works in Washington, DC. He served as chief of staff for Kirstjen Nielsen, the former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration, where he published an “Anonymous” essay in The New York Times, blowing the whistle on presidential misconduct. He later published the #1 national bestseller A Warning, revealed himself to be the author, and launched a campaign of ex-officials, the Renew America Movement, to oppose Donald Trump’s reelection and his new book, just out, is Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump.
Then we look into how to solve the two most vexing problems undermining American democracy, the Electoral College and gerrymandering, and speak with Danielle Allen, the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. A professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy, she is also a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, and mom. We discuss her article at The Washington Post, “Our democracy is menaced by two dragons. Here’s how to slay them.”