The Context examines the intersection of history and democracy

The Democracy Group is growing! We’re excited to welcome the newest addition to The Democracy Group: The Context — a podcast by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation about how history, trends and ideas shape American democracy.‍

We caught up with host Alex Lovit, a senior program officer and historian at the Kettering Foundation, about how democratic ideas translate to civic actions and what’s in store for the show this year!

What sets The Context apart from other podcasts in the democracy sphere?

Alex: We’re trying to be inclusive in telling American stories in a way that everyone can identify with and find access to. We try to talk to the democracy community about why inclusive democracy is a principle they should hold to, and that civil rights and inclusion should be central to any consideration of genuine democracy. Through American history, we call ourselves a democracy — most of the time, we haven’t been because we’re excluding a lot of people.

Our goal is to engage people about democratic issues and specifically, inclusive democracy, making sure that that’s what people are fighting for and giving people the tools to fight for it. We’re hoping for the podcast to make people think a little differently, act a little differently and hopefully build a more inclusive world.

Since The Context’s creation in January 2024, what new things are you eager to try? What’s in store for the show this year?

Alex: One aspect that we want to have more of on the show is conversations about civic action and the citizen level of what it looks like on the ground to build a democratic movement, to make that movement democratic in itself, and also have an impact on our democratic society.

So, for instance, inspirational stories of people who have built successful movements who didn’t start well-resourced. We’re trying to feature some of those stories that often get overlooked in our news cycle when all the focus is on the White House. It’s sometimes easy to lose track of the real impact that people are having on the ground.

The Context: Justin Gest: America is Hopelessly Diverse—In the Best Way Possible

A discussion about nationalism and demographic change, and one of Alex's most memorable conversations on the show! This episode is a timely reminder that immigration has historically been a crucial issue in American politics, fueling the U.S. economy and culture.

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This is Jessie Nguyen, The Democracy Group's Community Manager. Here are some of my favorite podcasts this week, check them out!

TPNR: Kamy Akhavan on What's Actually Happening in Los Angeles, the Root Causes, and Bridging Our Divides

We love a good network crossover!!
Our host Kamy Akhavan joined our (other) host Corey Nathan to talk about the recent developments in Los Angeles. Kamy also shared his personal and extraordinary journey — from war-torn Iran to becoming a leading voice in political bridge-building in the U.S.

Village SquareCast: Invisible Rulers with Renee DiResta

Georgetown University professor and researcher Renee DiResta joined this episode to talk about disinformation, online abuse and what can be done about it. DiResta also discussed her book Invisible Rulers and the idea that our lives are largely influenced by people we never even meet. Give this a listen!

Politics in Question: What happened to our political parties?

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This episode examines the origin of American political parties and the anti-party sentiment that's gaining traction today.

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