Democracy Fix

There’s a critical mass of evidence pointing to the ways in which our politics and political system are broken. So the real question is: What can we do about it?In a new podcast, “Democracy Fix,” Issue One’s Director of Election Protection Dr. Carah Ong Whaley will be unpacking this question through conversations with innovative leaders from across the political spectrum. Listeners will get their fix of news, insightful analysis, and maybe even ideas that will inspire them to join the broader movement to fix democracy.

Subscribe and listen to “Democracy Fix” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

“Democracy Fix”is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Episode 10: Who You Gonna Call: How Preparation Powers Election Resilience ft. Michelle Hawley

In this episode, Michelle Hawley, director of the Milwaukee County Election Commission, joins Issue One’s Claire Woodall and Angelina Clapp to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the planning and partnerships that officials have spent years developing in order to ensure democracy isn’t disrupted. Hawley shares her expert insights on the meticulous planning and crisis management necessary to ensure smooth elections, especially in high-pressure environments. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 9: Love it or Leave It: A Conversation About Elections Resilience and Resolve with Kim Wyman

In this episode, former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman – a member of our National Council on Election Integrity – joins Issue One’s Mia Minkin, Angelina Clapp, and Dr. Carah Ong Whaley to unpack the complexities of election administration in the modern era and reflect on how elections were safe and secure in 2024, even in spite of a wide range of challenges. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 8: The Officials: Beyond the Ballot  ft. Wesley Wilcox and Tonya Wichman

In this episode, Tonya Wichman, director of elections in Defiance County, OH, and Wesley Wilcox, supervisor of elections in Marion County, FL – both Faces of Democracy members – join Issue One’s Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Angelina Clapp to discuss the evolving role of election administration, and how they’re standing up against the tide of misinformation and political interference to ensure the integrity of our elections. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 7: What We Can Do When The House Is On Fire ft. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Tina Barton

In this episode, Tina Barton, senior election expert at The Elections Group, and National Council on Election Integrity Co-chair former Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) join hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Jeanne Broome to discuss the biggest threats facing U.S. elections and what is being done to address them. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 6: Building Radically Transparent and Inclusive Elections ft. Julie Wise

In this episode, hosts Carah Ong Whaley, Angelina Clapp, and Mia Minkin sit down with King County, WA Director of Elections Julie Wise for a deep dive into the county’s award-winning initiatives to ensure all voices are heard in elections. Wise also highlights the challenges faced by election officials across the country, including the need for consistent and reliable federal funding, the impact of the spread of false election information, and the rise in threats against election workers. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 5: High Turnout, Low Drama ft. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joins Issue One’s Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Liz Cassin to discuss the challenges posed by the spread of false election information and the importance of directing voters to credible sources. They also chatted about the challenges posed by the spread of false information on social media, the alarming rise in threats, harassment, and intimidation election workers face, and more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 4: Seeing Is Believing: Can Observing Increase Confidence in Elections? ft. Jeff Mangan and Geraldine Custer

With such a closely watched vote count in 2024, election process transparency is critical for voter confidence. Former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan and former State Representative Geraldine Custer join Issue One’s Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Risa Dorf to share their new nonpartisan initiative to provide voters in Montana with trusted and independent oversight of state elections. The effort aims to address misinformation about elections and to build public confidence in how they are run and in who runs them. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 3: Securing the Vote: Inside Election Integrity with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver

Despite a toxic information environment, election officials are stepping up to meet the moment and make elections more safe and secure in 2024. One of the leaders is New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a member of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign. In the episode, Sec. Toulouse Oliver demystifies the complexities of how elections work and underscores the crucial role each citizen plays in maintaining the integrity of our democracy. She shares how her office is recruiting and training poll workers, the critical need for consistent federal funding to safeguard our elections, and the threats posed by false information and the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 2: The High Costs of ‘Free Speech’ in the Digital Age ft. Dr. Mary Anne Franks

What and whose speech does the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protect in the digital age? Misinformation about the First Amendment and notions of censorship are being used to distort policy debates and legislative interventions aimed at addressing the rampant spread of false information and online harms. The confusion arises when people believe they have the right to be heard without opposition. “People think that they have freedom of reach as opposed to freedom of speech,” says Dr. Mary Anne Franks, who joins Liana Keesing and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court’s opinions in Murthy v. Missouri and Moody v. Netchoice. Dr. Franks, a member of Issue One’s Council on Responsible Social Media, also explains how provisions under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 impact social media platform liability debates and the urgent need for policy change to strengthen democratic discourse and create a safer and more responsible online world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Episode 1: Going on the Offensive Defense: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on AI, Security, and Public Trust

Despite a toxic information environment, election officials are stepping up to meet the moment and make elections more safe and secure in 2024. One of the leaders is Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a member of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign, who just won a Clearinghouse Award for Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology. In this episode, Secretary Fontes talks about how election officials are preparing for the challenges posed by the spread of false information, generative artificial intelligence technologies, the need for reliable federal funding for elections, and why ordinary Americans should step up and serve as poll workers this election year. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!