Going up against big money in politics can feel impossible, but Rene LeBeau, manager at the Democracy Voucher Program with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, says big money can’t go to the polls and vote—only you can. Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Ray La Raja, professor at UMass Amherst Department of Political Science, says that ideological purists tend to push party politics to one side or the other. He says the solution is easy—more political participation on the local level. Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Since 2015, voters in Seattle have received around $100 in vouchers they can contribute to any city political campaign. Sightline Institute CEO Alan Durning, who worked to get the program started, says the results have been better than he could have hoped. Learn more with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
If money-focused political campaigns bother you, you’re not alone—David Jolly, former Florida congressman, says most of his colleagues in Washington dread fundraising. How can we fund campaigns in a way that works for everyone? Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.
Americans are not happy about the influence of big money in politics. What can we do about it? Find out with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Valerie Hans, Cornell Law School professor, mentions many benefits of jury service—like boosted voter turnout and experience with self-governance. One we may not expect, however, is the relationship jurors built between the courts and the community. Learn more with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Lawyer and California State University professor James Binnall, who rebuilt his life after being convicted of a felony, believes that permanent consequences based on one's criminal record hurt a felon’s ability to rehabilitate. Learn more with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Trial by a jury of your peers is a wonderful idea, but can it be a reality? Herman Lindsey, executive director of Witness to Innocence, says that socioeconomic class differences often get in the way. Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Serving on a jury and handing down a guilty verdict taught Kristen Cambell, CEO of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, that the process is much more difficult and nuanced than we often think. Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at the link in our bio.
Law professor James Binnall of California State University says that the idea of a wholly unbiased juror is a myth—instead, we should focus on creating a jury with as many diverse experiences and perspectives as possible. Join the conversation this week with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
A trial by jury is an important American right, enshrined in the 6th and 7th amendments of the constitution. But do jury trials work the way we want them to? Find out this week with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get podcasts.
Humor in the workplace isn’t necessarily a distraction, says Mike Cundall, founder of Mirth Management consulting and professor at North Carolina A&T State University. In fact, he says, we’d all be better off enjoying our workplace a little more. Learn more with Top of Mind anywhere you get podcasts.
Should offensive humor categorically be avoided? Luvell Anderson, professor of philosophy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, says it’s not quite that simple. Join the conversation with Top of Mind on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.
Isak Allen of Dry Bar Comedy has a lot of jokes about race, including a bit where he demonstrates how he “talks Black” around his Black friends. He hasn’t gotten any flak for the bit—because, he says, it comes from genuine experience. Join the conversation anywhere you get podcasts.
Isak Allen of Dry Bar Comedy has a lot of jokes about race, including a bit where he demonstrates how he “talks Black” around his Black friends. He hasn’t gotten any flak for the bit—because, he says, it comes from genuine experience. Join the conversation anywhere you get podcasts.
