Bedeviled: A Podcast about American Democracy from Duke University

The Erosion of Democracy: "Much Quicker Than Expected"

Before Donald Trump became president the first time, Daniel Ziblatt warned about the possibility that he might pull the United States toward an authoritarian-style government. Ziblatt, a Harvard professor, described the dangers in his book, "How Democracies Die", co-authored with Steven Levitsky. Three months into Trump's second administration, their warnings appear prescient.

Marty Baron On the Press Under Siege

During the first Trump presidency, Marty Baron and the newspaper he ran, the Washington Post, was a journalistic model for holding the administration to account. They enjoyed the backing of the Post's billionaire owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. They embraced their role with the slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness". Things are different now. I spoke with Baron about Trump 2.o, the media's coverage of it, and America's path ahead.

"Don't Allow Yourself to Get Bulldozed": A Nobel Laureate on Resisting Authoritarianism

Maria Ressa is one of the handful of journalists that have won the illustrious Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the prize for her work safeguarding freedom of expression by holding an authoritarian government of the Phillipines for its brutality and attacks on the independent press. Born in Manila and educated in Princeton, she straddles the two countries with her work as the co-founder and CEO of online Filipino news site Rappler and as a Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Her memoir, "How to Stand Up to a Dictator", warns that the United States stands just a hop, skip and a jump from the sort of oppression that has beset her native country.

The House Democratic Leader on Why "We Fell Short" in the 2024 Election

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries wrote a new illustrated book, "The ABCs of Democracy," simply framing for young audiences his preferred choices for our country. American values over autocracy, benevolence over victory. In the new episode of Bedeviled, I talk to Jeffries about why American voters did not embrace his party's message in 2024, including warnings that Trump poses a danger to democracy itself. He discussed his worries about the incoming Trump administration, where Democrats can work with Republicans, and how Democrats can win back power in 2026 and beyond.

Election 2024: Through Duke Students' Eyes

In this episode, something different: the views of Duke students on next week's presidential election. Young voters represent a key target for both Vice President Kalama Harris and former President Donald Trump. Those under 30 lean Democrat, so Harris is working to maximize her advantage on college campuses and elsewhere. Trump seeks to narrow his deficit among young voters, especially young men, as part of his broader strategy for a winning coalition. Meet Sherman Criner, Evan Brown, and Annika Aristimuno. On this episode of Bedeviled, they give us a window into how young voters see America's choice.