The Context

By Alex Lovit, Charles F. Kettering Foundation

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Category: Politics

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Episodes: 67

Description

Do you ever watch the news and wonder, “How did we get here?” Or think to yourself, “Things are bad . . . What can I do?” The Context is here to help. Our show breaks down the ideas, history, and trends that are shaping democracy. And you don’t need to be an expert to follow along. Every other Tuesday, host Alex Lovit talks about timely topics with big-picture thinkers and hands-on practitioners, like activists, writers, historians, and community leaders. The topics are heavy, but we try to have fun along the way. To build the future we want, we’ll need knowledge—but also camaraderie and joy. We hope you’ll join us.

Episode Date
Want to Save Democracy? Focus on What Voters Care About.
Jun 16, 2026
What Does Conservatism Mean in a Changing World?
Jun 02, 2026
Building Peace, One Story at a Time
May 19, 2026
The Country We Have, the Country We Want
May 05, 2026
The Unfinished Fight for Transgender Freedom
Apr 21, 2026
The 14th Amendment Redefined America
Apr 07, 2026
Changing Minds Is Hard—Especially Your Own
Mar 24, 2026
Can the Courts Protect the Ballot?
Mar 10, 2026
Saying No to Authority When Yes Is Easier
Feb 24, 2026
How Christian Nationalism Undermines Democracy
Feb 10, 2026
In a Polarized Country, Latinos Are Still Making Up Their Minds
Jan 27, 2026
What’s Required for a Free and Fair Election in 2026?
Jan 13, 2026
You Should Care about the National Archives. Here’s Why.
Dec 30, 2025
Seven Ways Anyone Can Fight Authoritarianism
Dec 16, 2025
We Are Under Cultural Stress. Art Can Help.
Dec 02, 2025
American Identity Is Under Attack
Nov 18, 2025
AI Is Coming for Democracy
Nov 04, 2025
Maybe Don’t Get All Your News from Podcasts, America
Oct 21, 2025
Nonviolent Resistance Works. Here’s Why.
Oct 07, 2025
Bonus: Gen Z is Taking Their First Steps onto the Political Stage (from Disrupting Peace podcast)
Sep 30, 2025
What Makes Social Movements Win
Sep 23, 2025
Practical Advice for Reclaiming Democracy
Sep 09, 2025
Why Democracies Unravel Under Leaders Like Trump
Aug 26, 2025
Authoritarianism Isn’t Coming. It’s Here.
Aug 12, 2025
From Barber to Banker: The Man Fighting for Financial Justice in Little Rock
Jul 29, 2025
Only Bad People Have Bad Politics. Right?
Jul 15, 2025
The US Doesn’t Have Fair Elections. What Can We Do?
Jul 01, 2025
Learning US History Is about Hope, Not Shame
Jun 17, 2025
Trans Kids Are Under Attack. That Hurts Everyone.
Jun 03, 2025
Sarah Longwell: To Defend Democracy, Stop Talking about “Democracy”
May 27, 2025
Sarah Longwell: The Republican Party Has Abandoned Its Principles
May 20, 2025
Diane Ravitch: What’s Democratic about Giving Tax Dollars to Private Schools?
May 06, 2025
Sharon L. Davies: Someone Has to Be Willing to Say “That’s Not Right”
Apr 22, 2025
Ece Temelkuran: There Is No Hope. There Is Us. That’s It.
Apr 08, 2025
Gábor Scheiring: Saving Democracy Is about Saving People
Mar 25, 2025
Adam Goodman: Why Are Politicians Obsessed with Mass Deportations?
Mar 11, 2025
Madiba Dennie: The Constitutional Crisis You’re Not Hearing About
Feb 25, 2025
William J. Barber II: How an Anti-Poverty Movement Makes Extremists Tremble
Feb 11, 2025
Jeffrey Winters: How to Beat Oligarchs at Their Own Game
Jan 28, 2025
Anthea Butler: What’s Gone Wrong with Evangelical Christianity?
Jan 14, 2025
Special Episode: How Novels Defend Democracy
Dec 31, 2024
Donald Moynihan: Friction, Frustrations, and Fear in Government Bureaucracies
Dec 17, 2024
Hahrie Han: Belonging Comes Before Belief
Dec 03, 2024
Chris Matthews: The Election’s Over. Now What?
Nov 19, 2024
Roberto Saba & Steven Levitsky: Elections Have Consequences—Just Ask Argentina
Nov 05, 2024
Donald Moynihan: Project 2025’s Threat to Democracy | SPECIAL EPISODE
Oct 29, 2024
Melissa Murray: For the Supreme Court, Dobbs Was Just the Beginning
Oct 22, 2024
María Teresa Kumar: Latinos and America’s Promise
Oct 08, 2024
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg & Ruby Belle Booth: Will Gen Z Vote?
Sep 24, 2024
Rachel Kleinfeld: US Systems Amplify Polarization—But They Don’t Have To
Sep 10, 2024
Christine Todd Whitman: One-Party Governance is Not Healthy Democracy
Aug 27, 2024
Stacey Abrams: DEI Is In America's DNA
Aug 13, 2024
Alexander Vindman: Stop Giving Demagogues Permission Slips
Jul 30, 2024
Neal Katyal: SCOTUS Is Delegitimizing Itself
Jul 16, 2024
Alan Jenkins & Gan Golan: Reimagining Democracy Through Art
Jul 02, 2024
Kelley Robinson: Defending LGBTQ+ Rights Is Defending Democracy
Jun 18, 2024
Katherine Gehl: Elections Are Broken. How Do We Fix Them?
Jun 04, 2024
Matthew Delmont: Brown v. Board—What It Achieved and Where It Fell Short
May 21, 2024
Martha S. Jones: History Tells Us Who We Have Been and Who We Aspire to Be
May 07, 2024
Justin Gest: America is Hopelessly Diverse—In the Best Way Possible
Apr 23, 2024
David Pepper: The Heart of the Attack on Democracy Happens in States
Apr 09, 2024
Maureen O'Connor: Citizens Can End Gerrymandering
Mar 26, 2024
Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Critical Race Theory, Anyway?
Mar 12, 2024
J. Michael Luttig: We Haven’t Learned Anything from January 6th—Yet.
Feb 27, 2024
James Comey: Maintaining Faith in Democracy Amidst a Fog of Lies
Feb 13, 2024
Steven Levitsky: Institutional Reform Won’t Save Democracy in 2024. What Will?
Jan 30, 2024
Trailer: Welcome to The Context
Jan 22, 2024