Is This Democracy - Podcast Rankings and reviews

If you follow politics and culture for a living like I do, you’d appreciate how this podcast aims to always see current events through an historical lens. With a combined expertise in politics, research, social science, and American history, Lily and Thomas provide fascinating, reasoned explanations and novel observations for all the unfolding, puzzling, predictable and/or maddening political news and trends. When there’s a viral social commentary around gender, culture, religion, or politics that I feel twitchy about, find problematic, and want to fully understand - I come here for another perspective. Their hot takes are sometimes altogether different, always better researched, and much more illuminating as compared to what you’ll get from the usual sources and media outlets. For example: I’ll read Ezra Klein or some other pundit du jour and know that his take is either missing a critical angle or larger point. But then I hear Lily or Thomas say or interview someone who explains what’s really at the heart of the issue and finally I see the bigger idea beyond the headlines. I also come to hear interviews and inevitably find additional folks who also present new thinking and perspectives that I do not find anywhere else. At a time where expanding one’s views and widening perspectives is an endeavor less celebrated and frequently underrated, I come here to find wisdom and seize the opportunity to learn about the larger issues impacting our democracy and society for better or worse.

The analysis of "Biden too old" was excellent! That wa well-done thoughtful treatment of a critical topic that in other places is disappointingly reduced to simplistic narratives or lazy conclusions that do not have supporting data. More broadly, this podcast addresses the nuance and reality of what has and is happening in America relative to the goal of a multipluralistic society. I wish that the clear analysis presented here was more common and happening at levels where appropriate action can be taken to advance the cause of justice and freedom for all.

Since the hosts recorded the “Biden too old” episode more than four months ago, things have dramatically changed — not just the Atlanta debate performance but the fact that in a matter of months Biden HAS declined. (He has been hidden to a degree.) Until then, I have felt the media has ignorantly and disingenuously pushed the too-old narrative — feeding off polls, etc. But all that is not even the point. For better or worse, the ground has shifted — lawmakers, political leaders, big donors, Democrats, etc. are calling on Biden to leave the race. I also firmly believe, at this point, Biden cannot beat Trump. Given the drastic change in circumstances, I hope the hosts take their own advice into account: “Stuff has happened, the context has changed, the environment has changed.” Of course an open convention carries risks. But when you find yourself in a difficult situation — brought on by Biden himself (for picking Harris, i.e., one reason he didn’t back out after one term, etc.) — no course of action will be easy or pain-free.

They are smart and well-informed, but humble and soft-spoken in a way you rarely find these days in political conversation.

A clear-eyed appraisal of growing authoritarianism in the U.S. is exactly what we all need heading towards November 2024. And then calm, focused action to stop it.

I used to be a huge fan of this podcast, and even told one of the hosts how much I enjoyed it when I met them when they came to visit my campus for a talk. But in this last episode on "Biden too old discourse" you've slammed the door in our faces, and proven to be insufficient to this moment after all. And the end--my God--hearing a list of the "accomplishments" of the Biden administration, full of half truth or outright lies (support for abortion rights?) was just too much. It was almost physically painful to listen to how two incredibly smart people were making such a huge and concerted effort to ignore the fact that people's consciences are at stake in 2024. That our basic human sense of moral right and wrong is what is at stake. And trying to pit those who cannot bear to vote for Biden against other marginalized people by saying "can you look your trans friends in the face" is manipulative and gross. It also ignores the fact that most marginalized people are also dissatisfied with Biden and standing against him. You keep saying "but Trump is worse, at least Biden can be influenced." And we have been screaming "Nothing is worse than killing children who look just like our children and telling us we have to support it. And no, Biden cannot be influenced, he has shown that--he is ignoring us. He ignores us on Covid (a word not even mentioned once, here), he ignores us on foreign policy. At least against Trump the enemy isn't gaslighting me, the way you the Biden admin does and the way you two tried to in this last episode. I am not stupid and I am not blind to the menace that is Trump--but for God's sake there are ways to talk a out pragmatism and politics that don't require enthusiastically defending and carrying water for someone willing to sacrifice civilians - his own to Covid and others to US bombs and starvation. I will never listen to this podcast again. Shame on both of you.