#369 - March 4, 2018

America's Democrats

The disruptive power of social protest. And Bill Press talks with Carolyn Fiddler about the political power of democrats in 2018.

Author and Harvard political scientist Danielle Allen tells a tragic story of how the “war on drugs” has abandoned the people it’s supposed to protect. Kenneth Andrews of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill answers this question about social protest in the era of Trump. Can it lead to long term change? And Bill Press interviews Carolyn Fiddler of Daily Kos about all the wins that Democrats are racking up around the country.

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Danielle Allen

Danielle Allen is the director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. She was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” in 2001.

In her most recent book, “Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A.,” she tells the story of her cousin, a young man who was tried as an adult at age 15 for attempted carjacking. After 13 years in prison, he was released and died violently at the age of 29. It is a story she says, about the deep and destructive “war on drugs” that has corrupted a criminal justice system that has abandoned our nation’s youth.

Kenneth Andrews

Half a million protesters are expected to show up in Washington, DC later this month. Even more will join them in sister marches across the country. Led by students from Parkland, Florida, their goal is to change the nation’s gun laws. Protest historian Kenneth Andrews says it takes more than hitting the streets to create long term change.

Carolyn Fiddler

Bill Press talks “Blue Wave” with Carolyn Fiddler of Daily Kos.

Jim Hightower

Why not the Doug Jones Average.