Stay ConnectedPolitical power: Who wants it? Who wields it? And why? Through compelling conversations with power players, newsmakers, and experts, The X-Ray answers these questions, providing listeners with insightful analysis of the biggest issues facing our democracy at home and abroad.
The X-Ray is brought to you by Issue One, producers of the Swamp Stories podcast.
Copyright: © 2021 Issue One 349910
We joined some of our fellow Democracy Group members for a special bonus episode about COVID-19's impact on politics at the local, state, national, and international levels.
On this episode:
One of the biggest challenges COVID-19 poses to our democracy? Holding safe, secure, and fair elections this year. Our democracy is at risk if states don’t adequately prepare for the various threats that this viral outbreak presents to the smooth running of our elections. In this episode, we talk with leading voices at the state and national level about how coronavirus affects voting, the task ahead for states and election administrators, and how our elections can be held safely this year.
Guests:
Additional Resources:
Recent news reports have exposed that some members of Congress dumped stock after receiving classified congressional briefings on COVID-19. We're going to talk about how lawmakers are able to use their positions of power for personal financial gain through insider trading — and what Congress can do to stop it.
Episode Guests:
Resources:
In 2016 and 2018, foreign actors including Russia, China, and Iran interfered in our elections and tried to disrupt our political system. Here’s how we can stop them from succeeding in 2020.
Guests:
Learn more about Issue One's "Don't Mess With US" project and solutions to help prevent foreign interference in our political system at https://www.dontmesswithus.org.
You can find all episodes of Swamp Stories at https://www.swampstories.org.
Conventional wisdom says the candidate who has the most money wins on election night. But that’s not always true, and we’ll talk about how David has beaten Goliath in recent years as candidates turn to small-dollar fundraising, digital-first campaigns, and grassroots armies to beat the system.
This is a guest episode from the "Democracy Works" podcast. Swamp Stories will return on March 16 with a new episode. Full notes at www.swampstories.org.
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In 2010, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to record amounts of secret cash flowing into our elections. Here’s how it works - and why we have to stop it.
Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.
“Politicians should not choose their voters.” That simple statement is at the heart of why no reform issue has gained more crosspartisan momentum in recent years than getting rid of so-called gerrymandering. But both parties have years of work and millions of dollars invested in drawing districts that benefit one team more than the other.
Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.
Billionaires, political consultants, and the super PACs have more control in our political system than ever. And both parties are playing the game to win. Here’s how to begin fixing it.
Guests
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.
Little-known slush funds let elected leaders vacation at five-star resorts, spend tens of thousands of dollars at steakhouses steps from the Capitol, and upgrade their wardrobe one pair of shoes at a time — all under the guise of “fundraising.” But learn about why living lavishly leads to one member of Congress being thrown in jail, and others treating it as business as usual.
Guests
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.
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