How to Save America's Vanishing Political Middle

Symbols of both political parties standing in the middle with an American flag backdrop.
Photo by Unsplash+ Community. Unsplash+ license obtained by editor.
Published: 09 Dec, 2024
1 min read

Photo by Unsplash+ Community on Unsplash

After leading the city's turnaround, Detroit's Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan has opted to launch a bid for governor as an independent rather than enter into a primary race with his fellow Democrats. This is part of a larger trend in America where centrist politicians capable of building coalitions across the aisle often find their biggest opponents are members of their own party.

In this episode, Dan and Shawn explore how America's electoral system has hollowed out the political middle, and how Ireland's recent election shows different rules can help the center hold in the face of rising left and right-wing populism.

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