We talk a lot on this show about the problems with American political institutions. But what if all those problems are actually just one problem: the two-party system.
Lee Drutman is a political scientist, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, co-host of the podcast Politics in Question, and most recently the author of Breaking the T ... Show More
Oct 30
Is America a gerontocracy?
What does the country lose when one generation refuses to yield power? In this episode, Vox host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Idrees Kahloon, staff writer at the Atlantic, about why he believes America has become a gerontocracy – a government whose rulers are older than the rest of ... Show More
47m 7s
Oct 26
Inside the secret race to build artificial intelligence
What is happening behind the scenes of America’s largest AI companies? How could the squabbles, ideologies, and goals of their CEOs and engineers shape our future? In today’s episode, guest host Christine Emba sits down with technology journalist Kevin Roose to discuss his new bo ... Show More
44m 14s
Oct 23
What makes a life good enough?
What does it mean to have a good life when so much feels wrong? In this episode of The Gray Area, guest host Jonquilyn Hill speaks with Vox journalist Rachel Wilkerson Miller about her forthcoming book, The Nice Life. Rachel argues that even when we feel anxious or unsettled, we ... Show More
44m 4s
Oct 2024
How Algorithms, Money, & Bureaucracy Distance us from Democracy
With the election just over a month away, Americans are caught between a flood of political promises and the reality that we live in a time of political dysfunction. Joining us this week to explore the root causes are Ezra Klein, opinion columnist at The New York Times, host of " ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2021
#262 — The Future of American Democracy
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Harris speaks with Andrew Yang about the state of American democracy. They discuss Andrew's run for the Presidency, the humiliations of campaigning, the manipulation of politics by the media, Andrew's run for the mayor's office in NYC, the p ... Show More
33m 4s
Sep 2025
The Roots of Political Violence and How We Prevent It
What's causing the rise in political violence in America? Can we overcome it? And if not, what’s in store for our democracy? Dr. Lilly Mason, a professor of political science at John Hopkins and expert on political violence, joins the show to give context to this moment — and off ... Show More
1h 1m