Jenna Spinelle loves a good story and has spent the past 15 years telling them as a writer, podcaster, and marketing professional.
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Jenna Spinelle is the Founder of The Democracy Group and Communications Specialist for the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. She is responsible for shaping all of the institute’s external communication, including website content, social media, multimedia, and media outreach. She holds a B.A. in journalism from Penn State and is an instructor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Prior to joining the McCourtney Institute, Spinelle helped market Penn State to prospective students and families in the University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office.
What does it mean to live in a democracy? The Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week.
A podcast about ballot initiatives, the people who organize them, and how they’ve shaped democracy.
In this episode of Democracy Works, Jenna Spinelle interviews Rachel Myrick, a political scientist from Duke University, about her book on how political polarization affects international politics. They delve into reasons behind the growing partisan divide in foreign policy, the increasing presidential authority in international relations, and the impact of polarization on the stability, credibility, and reliability advantages of democracies. The discussion also touches on the US intervention in Venezuela, domestic responses to foreign policy actions, and the broader implications for global governance. Additionally, Anne and Tim offer insights on non-traditional security threats and the changing dynamics in global power structures.
Democracy Works hosts Michael Berkman, Chris Beem, and Candis Watts Smith reflect on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and what it says about the condition of American democracy. They also discuss whether it's possible to learn from this moment and what guideposts they'll be looking for to determine whether all the talk about protecting and restoring democracy we've heard since the attack will translate into action.
This episode was recorded on Friday, January 8, 2021.
Additional Information
Statement from Michael Berkman and Chris Beem on January 6, 2021 attack
Related Episodes
Andrew Sullivan on democracy's double-edged sword
What really motivates Trump supporters
Daniel Ziblatt on "How Democracies Die"
Learn about what the ballot initiative is through a modern story and a bit of history.
A campaign in Michigan to end partisan gerrymandering in 2018, is part of a legacy of ballot initiatives dating back to the 1800s. In this episode, Jenna lays out the basics of the initiative, how it caught on in the United States, and the pros and cons that she will explore throughout the series.
Available for viewing from Culture Factor
Available for viewing from OPF Virtual Summit
The Democracy Group Founder Jenna Spinelle talks about the podcasts Democracy Works and When The People Decide, the story behind The Democracy Group podcast network and instilling hope in uncertain times.
Our creators are open to speaking engagements, cross collaboration of content, and guest apperances on other shows or publications.
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