It’s slow, inefficient and sclerotic. Here’s a progressive blueprint to fix it.
President Donald Trump’s unrelenting assault on the federalworkforce has prompted many progressives to leap reflexively to government’s defense.
Some progressives, however, are acknowledging the need for reform. “The truth is, Trump and Elon Musk alone didn’t break our governing institutions,” write Hannah Garden-Monheit and Tresa Joseph in a new report for the Roosevelt Institute. “Unfortunately, for most Americans, the federal government is distant, abstract, labyrinthine."
Garden-Monheit and Joseph interviewed 45 former officials from President Joe Biden’s administration, many of whom conveyed the frustration of ambitions thwarted by risk aversion, red tape and a cumbersome civil service system. Based on these conversations, they offer more than 160 fixes to make government more efficient and responsive.
Rebuilding public trust, Garden-Monheit and Joseph argue, demands bold action that delivers visible benefits to Americans’ lives.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Hannah Garden-Monheit, former director of the Office of Policy Planning, Federal Trade Commission
Democrats are riding high after this year’s special elections,but that still doesn’t mean they’re popular with voters. Strategist Simon Bazelon has advice on what to fix.
Less than a year into his second term, President DonaldTrump is already hobbling toward lame duck status. His approval rating has plummeted to 36 percent, according to Gallup’s latest survey, including just a 25 percent thumbs-up among independents. He’s squandered his gains with Latino voters, with nearly 80 percent now telling Pew that his policies are more harmful than helpful.
Democrats, meanwhile, are enjoying an uptick in theirelectoral fortunes. Democratic gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill cruised to victory in Virginia and New Jersey, while generic Congressional ballots have begun to show commanding leads for Democrats hopeful of capturing the House.
But don’t mistake Trump’s unpopularity with newfoundaffection for Democrats, warns strategist Simon Bazelon, a Research Fellow at the Democratically-aligned organization Welcome. Democrats have increasingly shifted leftward in recent years, Bazelon argues, and are perceived as too liberal and out of touch.
Bazelon is the lead author of Deciding to Win, an exhaustive,data-driven autopsy of the Democratic Party recently published by Welcome. He advocates a new brand of “moderation” among Democratic candidates, defined not by old models of compromise and “triangulation” but by the dictates of popular opinion. Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Simon Bazelon, Research Fellow, Welcome
We go behind the scenes with Angela Kuefler, the pollsterwho helped engineer the historic victories of governors-elect Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill.
Earlier this month, Democratic gubernatorial candidates AbigailSpanberger and Mikie Sherrill notched blockbuster victories in Virginia and New Jersey.
Spanberger trounced her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by a 15-point margin, while Sherrilldefeated businessman Jack Ciattarrelli by 13-points.
The Virginia and New Jersey campaigns relied on similar tactics:A core message on affordability; an emphasis on the national security backgrounds of both candidates; and a willingness to stand up against Trump. One of the chief strategists who devised this approach is pollster Angela Kuefler, a partner at Global Strategy Group who worked with both candidates. Kuefler also brought to both races her perspective as the rare female pollster in a male-dominated field.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Matt Cooper
Guest: Angela Kuefler, Partner, Global Strategy Group
The Trump administration’s policies have damaged the economies of both countries, says former U.S. Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard.
A month after President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada over an anti-tariff ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan, the two countries have yet to resume negotiations.
The rift between America and its ally to the north is in fact “the worst in modern history,” says former US Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard. And it’s no wonder. Trump has threatened to annex Canada as the “51st state,” and mocked former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as its “governor.” He’s blamed the country for flooding America with fentanyl and illegal immigrants, though neither charge bears resemblance to reality. And he’s levied punitive tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, among other exports, all the while accusing Canada of “cheating” on trade.
Even after Trump’s eventual departure from office, these wounds will be hard to heal, says Blanchard, who served as Ambassador to Canada under President Bill Clinton. Blanchard also served two terms as governor of Michigan and four terms in Congress.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett Epps
Guest: The Hon. James Blanchard
Chapters
00:50 Current US-Canada Relations
02:43 Elbows Up?
05:12 Tariff Impacts on Canadian Economy
06:54 Trump unifies Canadians against him
11:42 Carney's performance
14:04 Tariffs benefit no one
17:16 The future of US-Canada relations
The erosion—and deliberate erasure—of government data bythe Trump Administration threaten both public safety and the US economy, says former US chief data scientist Denice Ross.
Federal data are more than jobs numbers and the Census Bureau's tallies of Americans. Government data undergird everyday essentials like the weather forecasts Americans rely on, including tornado and hurricane warnings. Federal data keep track of crime and public safety, give us early warning of epidemics and help farmers plan their crops.
But all of that is under threat.
Denice W. Ross, former Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officerand U.S. Chief Data Scientist under President Joe Biden, is sounding the alarm on the degradation of America’s federal data infrastructure and the myriad risks that presents. She’s also spearheading an effort, EssentialData.us, to track and preserve disappearing data.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Denice Ross, former US Chief Data Scientist
Chapters:
A pending decision could gut the Voting Rights Act andencourage states to disenfranchise minority voters.
Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais—a case that could spell the end of Section2 of the Voting Rights Act, the bedrock federal law that bars racial discrimination in voting.
As voting rights expert Joshua Douglas explains, the Courtis unlikely to strike down Section 2 outright. That’s a headline this Court doesn’t want. But the Court could still gut Section 2—by allowing the disenfranchisement of minority voters as partisan gerrymandering, not racial discrimination.
Host: Garrett Epps
Guest: Prof. Joshua A. Douglas, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
Photo credit: Library of Congress
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Democracy and Voting Rights
02:29 The Louisiana vs. Calais Case Explained
06:38 Understanding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
08:57 Opportunity Districts and Candidate Choice
11:07 Oral Arguments and Court Dynamics
14:57 Partisan Gerrymandering and Its Implications
21:23 The Interplay of Race and Partisanship
25:31 Chief Justice Roberts and the Voting Rights Act
28:15 Reflections on Progress and Future Challenges
Reckless tax and budget policies have stifled upwardmobility for young and working class Americans, says budget expert Eugene Steuerle. Bipartisan dysfunction is to blame.
The federal government spends the equivalent of about $90,000 per U.S. household per year—yet many Americans don’t see the benefits. Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security and tax subsidies (primarily for wealthy households) swallow up the lion’s share of the federal budget every year, alongwith interest on the national debt.
All of this automatic spending means no room in the federalbudget for investments in America’s future, argues budget expert Eugene Steuerle, while many Americans are losing out. In 2023, for instance, just nine percent of the federal budget went toward programs for children—while 11 percent wasspent on interest on the debt. In 2024, the federal government spent $880 billion for interest on the debt, compared to $80billion for the Department of Education.
In his new book, Abandoned: How Republicans and Democrats Deserted the Working Class, the Young and theAmerican Dream, Steuerle blames a broken budget process that rewards short-term fixes and a Congress too polarized to tackle entitlement reform. He also argues that Republicans’ fixation on tax cuts has vastly contributed to inequality, while Democrats’ focus on consumption over investment has meant insufficient attention to helping working class Americans build wealth. The net result, Steuerle says, is a collapse in “fiscal democracy.” Increasingly, Americans are losing their stake in the federal spending as entitlements and debt consume the entirety—and then some—of the nation’s future budget.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Eugene Steuerle, Richard B. Fisher chair at the Urban Institute
Chapters:
YouTuber Natalie Wynn (aka "ContraPoints") spent a year immersing herself in the conspiracy theories wreckingour politics. Now, she’s sharing what she’s learned.
Wynn's latest video, “CONSPIRACY,” has racked up more than 4 million views with a deep dive into the history anddynamics of conspiracist thinking in America, and how conspiracism undermines democracy. The success of her approach could hold important lessons for how toloosen conspiracists’ grip on American politics.
Guest: Natalie Wynn
Hosts: Anne Kim and Gillen Martin
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to ContraPoints and Conspiracy Thinking
03:54 The Evolution of Conspiracy Theories
06:53 Understanding Conspiracist Thinking Patterns
09:40 Historical Context of Conspiracy Theories
13:33 Trump and the Rise of Conspiracism
16:24 The Role of QAnon in January 6th
19:22 Psychological Vulnerabilities to Conspiracist Thinking
22:18 Conspiracism's Threat to Democracy
Nearly 1 in 6 Americans lives in a “distressed” community. Where these Americans live and what they experience could explain alot about the rise of Trump.
As the architect of the Economic Innovation Group’s DistressedCommunities Index, Senior Fellow Kenan Fikri has spent the better part of the last decade discovering who is prospering in America—and where. The maldistribution of American opportunity, he warns, has led to stark divides, economically, socially and politically. On the other hand, he argues, understanding the geography of opportunity could help to heal these rifts.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation Group
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Distressed Communities Index
01:48 Understanding Economic Distress
04:10 Geographic Distribution of Distress
05:58 Demographics of Distressed Communities
09:33 Gender Disparities in Economic Opportunity
09:51 Impact of Education on Community Well-Being
14:25 Health Outcomes in Distressed Communities
16:58 Political Polarization and Economic Distress
20:58 Solutions for Regional Inequality
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Johnson discusses thelife of Liu Xiaobo, China’s sole laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Though Liu is hardly a household name in America, he is a pivotal figure for understanding modern China, Johnson argues. Johnson's recent review of I Have No Enemies, by Perry Link and Wu Dazhi (Columbia University Press), won the Washington Monthly’s 2025 Kukula Award for Excellencein Nonfiction Book Reviewing for large publications.Host: Anne KimGuest: Journalist Ian JohnsonChapters:00:00 Introduction to Liu Xiaobo and His Significance03:47 The Life and Legacy of Liu Xiaobo06:44 Understanding Chinese History Through Liu Xiaobo09:42 Grassroots Activism and the Role of the Internet12:55 The Decline of Civil Society in China15:21 Future of Chinese Dissidents and Liu Xiaobo's Impact18:28 Engagement vs. Containment: American Perspectives on China21:20 China's Approach to Global Challenges and Future TechnologiesSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's podcast:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5hYFpElBTi8uC8HT5bSqpFQ&si=VMM10M3WJpqDN3RqRead the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.comSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's PolicyFix playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5j_rTTHx-0Vv_T_AyQqoRaO&si=AANgMFJ6G2_cOUM4Subscribe to the Washington Monthly's Democracy 101 playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5hW58ZQq-q8JVvn5eHWL5PL
The pending sale of an historic federal building by Trump could mean the wrecking ball for the “Sistine Chapel of New Deal Art.”
Journalist Timothy Noah discusses the masterpieces of New Deal Art housed at the Wilbur Cohen Building in Washington, D.C. that Americans should fight to save.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett Epps
Guest: Timothy Noah
Chapters
00:00 The Hidden Treasures of American Art
03:48 The Legacy of Public Art Programs
06:10 The Life and Work of Ben Shahn
11:50 The Significance of the Cohen Building's Murals
16:27 The Threat to Cultural Heritage
21:59 The Call to Action for Preservation
2025 Kukula Award winner Christoph Irmscher discusses hisreview of Arlie Russell Hochschild’s book, Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right, and the vital role of criticism in civil society.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Christoph Irmscher, Distinguished Professor of English, Indiana University
Chapters
04:56 Insights from 'Stolen Pride' and Empathy Bridge
09:43 The Concept of Stolen Pride and Polarization
14:51 The Role of Book Reviews in Today's Society
18:46 The Art of Book Reviewing
23:39 The Importance of Professional Critics
Virginia’s upcoming gubernatorial election will be a trialrun for next year’s midterms and an early referendum on Trump. Pollster Pete Brodnitz, founder of Expeditioin Strategies, critiques the strategies emerging from these campaigns.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Pete Brodnitz, Founder, Expedition Strategies
Chapters:
00:00 Virginia's Upcoming Elections: A Bellwether for the Nation?
06:08 Candidate Profiles: A New Era in Virginia Politics
11:26 Campaign Strategies: Culture Wars vs. Kitchen Table Issues
16:39 Turnout Dynamics: Northern Virginia's Influence
22:29 Down-Ballot Races: The GOP's Split Ticket Strategy
In what’s become increasingly common practice in recentmonths, the Supreme Court recently used its “emergency docket” to lift a lower court injunction barring the use of racial profiling by federal immigration officials. The Court’s order allows ICE officers in Los Angeles to continue aggressive “roving patrols” and detention practices based on a person’sappearance.
While the Court’s order was unsigned, it was accompanied by a rare concurring opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who argued on both procedural and substantive grounds that the raids are legal.
In this episode, Washington Monthly Legal Affairs Editor Garrett Epps speaks with contributing writer Peter Shane about theflaws in Kavanaugh’s reasoning. Chapters
00:00 Supreme Court's Decision on Racial Profiling
06:55 Justice Kavanaugh's Opinion and Its Implications
14:02 The Concept of Standing in Legal Cases
20:18 The Broader Impact of ICE's Targeting Practices
24:52 Concluding Thoughts on Civil Liberties and the Court's Role
In comparison to its glitzy neighbor in Princeton, NewJersey’s Montclair State University cuts a relatively low profile. But its impact on the region is just as profound.Montclair is New Jersey’s second largest public university, with 21,000 students – the majority of whom are racial minorities and half of whom are the first in their families to go to college.
Montclair is also among the top-ranked colleges inWashington Monthly’s 2025 College Guide and Rankings as a “Best Bang for the Buck” institution in the Northeast. In this sponsored episode, Montclair’s president, Jonathan Koppell, describes his institution as both public and public serving.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Montclair State University
03:23 Affordability and Financial Aid Programs
06:13 Work-Based Learning Experiences
09:28 Student Success and Retention Programs
12:04 Community Engagement and Public Service
15:29 Advice for Prospective Students
Donald Trump recently declared on TruthSocial that he plans to “lead a movement to get rid of mail-in ballots.” He claimed that “ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS.”
In truth, vote-by-mail is a bulwark of American democracy.
Trump’s efforts to end vote-by-mail are an extension of hisefforts to control the nation’s elections apparatus in advance of the 2026 midterms and to tilt the system in his favor. And if he succeeds, he could disenfranchise the millions of Americans – including seniors and people with disabilities – who depend on vote by mail to participate in elections.
In this episode of the Washington Monthly podcast, Anne Kim and Garrett Epps spoke with Phil Keisling, the former Oregon Secretary of State who pioneered modern systems of vote by mail and the founder of the National Vote at Home Institute.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Vote by Mail
08:42 Debunking Myths: Fraud and Partisan Advantage
16:28 The Impact of Mail-in Voting on Turnout
24:47 Addressing Voter Suppression and Access
30:50 Empowering Citizens: Actions to Preserve Voting Access
President Donald Trump has condemned the District ofColumbia as a crime-ridden hellhole. He’s warned that “caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets,” and that the district’s murder rate is higher than “theworst places on Earth.”
More than 2,200 National Guard troops now rove the streets of the nation’s capital, at a cost of more than $1 million per day.
In truth, violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low, and Trump's real goal with his occupation of DC is to suppress resistance, not combat crime.
Washington Monthly Legal Affairs Editor spoke with Contributing Editor James Fallows about what life is really like in an occupied DC: Empty streets and an atmosphere. of fear. Chapters
00:00 The Current Mood in Washington, D.C.
11:42 Home Rule and Its Limits in D.C.
21:39 The Future of D.C. and Its Challenges
Higher education finance expert Sandy Baum explains what the“One Big Beautiful Act” means for student borrowers. Medical student and many middle-class parents could be in for a shock.
Guest: Sandy Baum, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington Monthly
Unlike other college rankings that rate institutions for their “prestige” and selectivity, the Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings scrutinizes schools for what really counts – their commitments to public service, research and social mobility for their students.
Founded by an abolitionist minister as the first inter-racial, coeducational college in the South, tiny Berea College in Kentucky – with about 1,550 students – is an exemplar of this ideal. That’s why it’s ranked number one in the Monthly’s 2025 College Guide. Fully 99 percent of its students are low- and moderate-income students eligible for Pell Grants. They pay no tuition and graduate nearly debt-free. The vast majority ofgraduates remain in the region, contributing to its economy and growth.
Monthly Editor in Chief Paul Glastris spoke with Berea President Cheryl Nixon about the college’s philosophy, approach and formula for student success.
Chapters
00:00 Celebrating Berea's Ranking
02:50 Understanding Berea College's Unique Model
06:17 Student Employment and Work College Model
08:32 Demographics and Community Impact
10:50 Academic Rigor and Career Preparation
13:20 Financial Accessibility and Student Debt
19:28 Berea's Endowment and Funding Model
22:09 Campus Life and Community Engagement
24:52 Admissions Process and Student Criteria
26:26 Dr. Nixon's Journey and Educational Philosophy
29:24 Berea's Lessons for Higher Education Today
The past president of Oregon Public Broadcasting says cuts to federal funding for public media could be catastrophic for rural communities in his state. Our guest is Steven Bass, who stepped down as president of Oregon Public Broadcasting in 2024 after 19 years. He calls public radio a “lifeline” for rural communities in his state.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett Epps