Social policy is where democracy meets daily life. It shapes how we care for one another through healthcare, education, housing, welfare, and public safety — determining whether people experience government as a lifeline or as an obstacle. By deciding who has access to opportunity and support, social policy defines the moral character of a nation and reveals whose voices are truly valued in a democracy. When these systems fail, inequality deepens and civic trust erodes; when they work, they build belonging, stability, and shared prosperity.
In this collection of podcasts, scholars, policymakers, and advocates explore how social policy both reflects and reshapes our democratic values. You’ll hear about Medicaid expansion and the politics of poverty, the ongoing fight to protect public education, and the debate over wealth redistribution in an age of inequality. Other conversations tackle housing as a human right, the role of government in ensuring equality, and how pragmatic progressives are seeking common ground on today’s most divisive issues — from immigration to gun safety.
Together, these episodes remind us that democracy isn’t only about elections or laws — it’s about how we treat one another through the systems we build, and whether those systems reflect justice, compassion, and inclusion for all.
At the end of March, millions of Americans lost access to Medicaid as pandemic-era expansions to the program were rolled back. At the same time, North Carolina's legislature voted to expand Medicaid, marking a demonstration of bipartisan agreement in these polarizing times. This backdrop makes it a very interesting time to talk with Jamila Michener, who studies both the specific politics of Medicaid and how the political fights over Medicaid illustrate larger issues in federalism and democracy.
In this episode, we discuss how receiving government benefits like Medicaid impacts political agency, whether it's possible to square federalism and equality, and more.
Michener is associate professor of government at Cornell University and author of Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics. In the book, Michener examines American democracy from the vantage point(s) of those who are living in or near poverty, (disproportionately) Black or Latino, and reliant on a federated government for vital resources.
Listen to the full episode on Democracy Works: Living in a fragmented democracy
As our beloved Tallahassee/Leon County community joins others around the nation in the important unfinished work to make the promise of equality a reality, constructive conversation helps to illuminate the path to progress and meaningful change. In that spirit, a group of community leaders shares diverse perspectives about critical and relevant issues in a special series of Town Hall presentations — presented by The Village Square in partnership with Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, and Sachs Media Group.
The final program in our series “Equality in Life: The Role of Government,” is facilitated by Lila Jaber, President of the Jaber Group and Founder of the Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum.
Listen to the full episode on Village Squarecast: The Role Government
Julia Roig joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career working to advance social change and democracies all over the world and founding The Horizons Project, where they work at the intersection of movement building, narrative strategy and bridge building to support a more pluralistic democracy in the U.S.
Listen to the full episode on The Great Battlefield: Advancing Social Change and Democracy with Julia Roig of The Horizons Project
In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia and Lee discuss income inequality and wealth redistribution with Charlotte Cavaille. Cavaille is an assistant professor of public policy at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Previously, she was a visiting fellow at Princeton University’s Center for the Study of Democratic Politics and an assistant professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Through her research, which has appeared in the Journal of Politics and the American Political Science Review, Cavaillé examines the dynamics of popular attitudes towards redistributive social policies at a time of rising inequality, high fiscal stress, and high levels of immigration. Building on that work, she also studies the relationship between immigration, the welfare state, and the rise of populism. Cavaillé received her PhD in government and social policy from Harvard University in 2014.
What is wealth redistribution? What roles does the government play in making it happen? The market? How do popular attitudes vary on redistribution? And why is it so difficult to build support for redistributive policies amidst rising income inequality? These are some of the questions that Charlotte, Julia, and Lee ask in this week’s episode.
Listen to the full episode on Politics in Question: Why is it so hard to redistribute wealth amidst rising income inequality?
Trey talks with Tyler Evans, an experienced infectious diseases and public health expert who has worked around the word, including as Chief Medical Officer for New York City, but also with Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health. He is the author of , which is the topic of the episode.
Listen to the full episode on The Politics Guys: Pandemics, Poverty and Politics
Public schools are essential for democracy—and they’re under attack. But the very policies that are being championed as their salvation may have a catastrophic impact on American education for generations. Public education advocate and historian Diane Ravitch unpacks how school choice policies like vouchers and charter schools are dangerous for democracy.Diane Ravitch is a former assistant secretary in the United States Department of Education. She is the author of several books on the history and policy of American public schools. Her memoir, about her life as a leading public education reformer, will be published this fall. It’s called An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Almost Everything.
Listen to the full episode on The Context: Diane Ravitch: What’s Democratic about Giving Tax Dollars to Private Schools?
We discuss why housing insecurity undermines our democracy. We cover the evolution from Reagan, when homelessness was blamed on the individual, to the increasing recognition that housing is a human right.
Listen to the full episode on Future Hindsight: Democracy for the Unhoused: Maria Foscarinis
Our guest on this episode is , SVP at , a national think tank that champions modern center-left ideas. What does it mean to be a pragmatic progressive? How can our country make pragmatic progress on important issues that's actually sustainable: Whether it's immigration, clean energy, the economy, higher education, gun safety or other social issues? Why do so many elected officials and activists treat issues most often as an all or nothing proposition? Has the Biden Administration achieved any major accomplishments? (Spoiler alert: Uh, yeah. And not so coincidentally, most of those legislative accomplishments were negotiated with bipartisan participation.) Is all compromise good? How did certain Democrats lose in Congressional districts Biden won (Eg. CA27, a Biden +12 district)? What does the current makeup of the Democratic Party look like? What about the Republican Party? Which Party is beholden to its extremist wings and which Party is led by a more pragmatic approach?
As Senior Vice President for Social Policy & Politics at Third Way, Lanae tackles hot-button issues like immigration, abortion, religious liberty, education and guns. Previously, Lanae served as a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She was also Legislative Counsel at Alliance for Justice and before that, at the Legal Rights Center and the Center for Victims of Torture. Lanae’s commentary has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Politico and PBS NewsHour among other outlets. She has also appeared on NPR, Fox News, CSPAN’s Washington Journal, CNN, Bloomberg Television and is a regular contributor to one of our favorite podcasts Politicology! Lanae is also the principal second violinist in DC’s Capital City Symphony.
In this conversation, Massachusetts State Representative Michelle Ciccolo discusses what Massachusetts, a Blue state, is doing to protect its residents, the catastrophic effect of the regime's attack on higher education, and the myriad ways tariffs impact small businesses, like plumbers.
We discuss her experiences in the legislature, focusing on community engagement, environmental issues, and the impact of federal policies on state initiatives. She highlights the challenges posed by recent federal actions, particularly regarding immigration and public health, and emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism and collaboration between state and federal representatives to address these issues effectively. We discuss the importance of historical context in shaping American identity, the need for local engagement in governance, the complexities of immigration policy, the intersection of food systems and public health, and the resilience of society in the face of rapid change. They emphasize the significance of collective decision-making, the challenges posed by misinformation, and the necessity of fostering community connections to address pressing issues.
Listen to the full episode on Freedom Over Fascism: MA State Rep Michelle Ciccolo
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