Civic Forum

Getting Workers on the Ballot | Nick Carnes (Duke) and Noam Lupu (Vanderbilt)

Across many democracies, workers comprise a majority of the labor force but only a small fraction of elected office-holders. Why does democracy consistently fail the working class? And what can be done to get more workers on the ballot? Rory interviews political scientists Noam Lupu and Nick Carnes about their new book on working class representation.

Will AI Create a Permanent Underclass? | Jasmine Sun

On Civic Forum, Rory Truex interviews writer and journalist Jasmine Sun about how Silicon Valley is “bracing for a permanent underclass,” the belief among many AI insiders that AI will increase inequality, reduce economic mobility, and cause short-term mass job disruption that concentrates power and wealth. The conversation features insights from Jasmine's time in San Francisco, DC and China. Topics discussed include AI automation, nihilism and coping among Gen Z, the rise of AI populism in DC, and the parallel debate emerging in China. The session closes with advice from Jasmine about how to create and write in a time when words are cheap.

Will AI Create Permanent Dictatorships? | Margaret Roberts (UCSD) and Jennifer Pan (Stanford)

Will AI empower dictatorships to exert Orwellian level control over their citizens? In this session of Civic Forum, Rory is joined by two leading experts on China's censorship, propaganda, and surveillance practices, Margaret Roberts from UCSD, and Stanford's Jennifer Pan. The conversation focuses on whether and AI is shifting the balance of power in favor of authoritarian governments, how China's own practices have changed, and how AI may empower normal citizens in repressive contexts.

Can the FBI Be Saved? | Asha Rangappa, Yale University

Rory is joined by ex-FBI special agent and Yale lecturer Asha Rangappa to talk about how the FBI has lost its way. Asha discusses her own experience as an agent, and how the values of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity are instilled in young agents. The conversation focuses on the guardrails that were put in place to preserve the independence of the FBI and DOJ, and how those guardrails have eroded in the last ten years. Topics covered include the Russia investigation, the balance between first amendment rights and national security, the legacy of Robert Mueller, the nature of Trump's FBI, and whether and how public confidence in the FBI can be restored.

Bonus Episode: The Prospects for Democracy in Iran | Daniel Tavana, Penn State University

What the prospects for democracy in Iran? What will happen to the regime after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei? What is the level of support for regime? In this "emergency" episode, Rory is joined by Daniel Tavana, a professor at Penn State University and expert on Iranian politics and society. Dan provides a primer on all things Iran and assesses the likely outcomes of this war.