https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/democracy-forum--5708465enPoliticsCopyright WMPGhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/5dfd4072b143965ec9422e994eff1f14.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/democracy-forum--5708465Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:17:10 +0000WMPGWMPGfeeds@spreaker.comDemocracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politicsfalsea6d7c951-9ef2-5647-b8fc-eaa5b95df45bepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pillars-of-democracy-nonpartisan-civil-service--72779308Pillars of Democracy: Nonpartisan Civil ServiceWe talk about the value of a nonpartisan, professional civil service in sustaining a functioning democracy. We covered the struggle to depoliticize the civil service going back to the end of the nineteenth century and bringing it up to date. We're now seeing the ranks of civil servants slashed, with some positions converted into political appointments. Where is this heading? What are the risks? If the "deep state" consists of well educated professionals, are they the natural enemy of autocrats? How is it playing out in this moment? And how is it playing out in Maine? Moderator: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters MaineGuests: 
Ryan LaRochelle, Senior Lecturer at the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine 
Rob Shriver, Managing Director of the Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives at Democracy Forward]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72779308Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:14:23 +0000WMPGPillars of Democracy: Nonpartisan Civil ServiceWe talk about the value of a nonpartisan, professional civil service in sustaining a functioning democracy. We covered the struggle to depoliticize the civil service going back to the end of the...Pillars of Democracy: Nonpartisan Civil ServiceWe talk about the value of a nonpartisan, professional civil service in sustaining a functioning democracy. We covered the struggle to depoliticize the civil service going back to the end of the nineteenth century and bringing it up to date. We're now seeing the ranks of civil servants slashed, with some positions converted into political appointments. Where is this heading? What are the risks? If the "deep state" consists of well educated professionals, are they the natural enemy of autocrats? How is it playing out in this moment? And how is it playing out in Maine? Moderator: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters MaineGuests: 
Ryan LaRochelle, Senior Lecturer at the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine 
Rob Shriver, Managing Director of the Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives at Democracy Forward]]>3566falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/they-are-watching-us--71913337https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71913337Thu, 07 May 2026 21:54:47 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests  talk about how commercial and government surveillance is ever growing, encompassing license plate readers, location tracking, facial recognition and other biometric data. How do these...3320falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/constitutional-crisis-what-does-civic-courage-look-like--70354302

• Oliver Kaplan, Associate Professor, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver, Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
• Amy DeBeck, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Castine
• Julia Edwards, SoPo Helps Mutual Aid Network

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70354302Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:21:24 +0000WMPGWe'll talk about how civic courage and neighborliness create solidarity under stress. How are communities under pressure holding it together? -- in Minneapolis, in Maine, and in other communities around the country. What do we have in common with...

• Oliver Kaplan, Associate Professor, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver, Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
• Amy DeBeck, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Castine
• Julia Edwards, SoPo Helps Mutual Aid Network

]]>3460falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/constitutional-crisis-can-democracy-survive-billionaire-economics--69537341Constitutional Crisis: Can Democracy Survive Billionaire Economics?
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69537341Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:10:59 +0000WMPGJanuary 16, 2026  Democracy Forum Constitutional Crisis: Can Democracy Survive Billionaire Economics?Constitutional Crisis: Can Democracy Survive Billionaire Economics?
]]>3516falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/will-we-still-have-free-and-fair-elections--67074877https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67074877Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:05:16 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and Guests  Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State and Joyce Vance, from the University of Alabama School of Law discuss federal and local actions on election security, voter access, and...3552falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/are-civil-liberties-becoming-a-thing-of-the-past--66712240
While ordinary life goes on for most of us, some Mainers are living in fear.     

Host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests will discuss civil liberties, habeas corpus, due process, immigrant detentions and deportations.

Guests:                                         
                                            
Molly Curren Rowles, Executive Director, ACLU MaineBarbara McQuade, Professor from Practice at Michigan Law, author of the book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. She is also a host of the podcast, SistersInLaw.

Sue Roche, Executive Director, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66712240Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0000WMPGThis will be the fourth program in our series on the constitutional crisis. While ordinary life goes on for most of us, some Mainers are living in fear.      Host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests will discuss civil...
While ordinary life goes on for most of us, some Mainers are living in fear.     

Host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests will discuss civil liberties, habeas corpus, due process, immigrant detentions and deportations.

Guests:                                         
                                            
Molly Curren Rowles, Executive Director, ACLU MaineBarbara McQuade, Professor from Practice at Michigan Law, author of the book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. She is also a host of the podcast, SistersInLaw.

Sue Roche, Executive Director, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project]]>3566falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/constitutional-crisis-is-our-government-making-us-sick--66173447
Guests:

Art Blank, Former CEO, MDI Hospital

Amy Fried, Professor emerita of political science at the University of Maine 

Dr. Nirav Shah, Former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention and former principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66173447Tue, 20 May 2025 16:31:13 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests discuss the repercussions of the federal administration's policies on funding health and science research and delivery, nationally and here in Maine. Guests: Art Blank, Former CEO,...
Guests:

Art Blank, Former CEO, MDI Hospital

Amy Fried, Professor emerita of political science at the University of Maine 

Dr. Nirav Shah, Former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention and former principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.]]>3456falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/you-can-call-these-times-a-constitutional-crisis-but-call-it-what-you-will-these-are-not-normal-times--65666826Guests:
Samuel R. Bagenstos, Frank G. Millard Professor of Law at the University of Michigan.
Ryan Dennett, Program Director, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners AssociationLauren McCauley, Editor, Maine Morning StarAmy Wisehart, President, Maine Library Association


]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65666826Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:37:39 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests discuss who is being affected even now, right here in Maine. In what ways is this moment outside the norm? Will we adapt to the heat of rapidly changing federal policies or resist?...Guests:
Samuel R. Bagenstos, Frank G. Millard Professor of Law at the University of Michigan.
Ryan Dennett, Program Director, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners AssociationLauren McCauley, Editor, Maine Morning StarAmy Wisehart, President, Maine Library Association


]]>3531falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/private-equity-and-you--65198639

• Brendan Ballou, former federal prosecutor and Special Counsel for Private Equity at the U.S. Department of Justice, author of the book, Plunder: Private Equity's  Plan to Pillage America.
• Hon. Traci Gere, Maine State Representative, (D-Kennebunkport), Housing and Economic Development Committee (Chair).
• Chris Noble, Policy Director, Private Equity Stakeholder Project,
• Pat Schwebler is Co-Director of the Cooperative Development Institute's New England Resident-Owned Communities (NEROC) Program. Her background is in real estate, finance, nonprofits, and business management. 

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65198639Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:06:29 +0000WMPGWe talk about private equity, what is it? Does private equity contribute to wealth and income inequality, erode confidence in shared services and institutions, and undermine faith in capitalism and democracy? Does private equity always work that way?...

• Brendan Ballou, former federal prosecutor and Special Counsel for Private Equity at the U.S. Department of Justice, author of the book, Plunder: Private Equity's  Plan to Pillage America.
• Hon. Traci Gere, Maine State Representative, (D-Kennebunkport), Housing and Economic Development Committee (Chair).
• Chris Noble, Policy Director, Private Equity Stakeholder Project,
• Pat Schwebler is Co-Director of the Cooperative Development Institute's New England Resident-Owned Communities (NEROC) Program. Her background is in real estate, finance, nonprofits, and business management. 

]]>3497falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-stand-up-speak-up-push-back--65163083

We talk about civil resistance and how civil disobedience has succeeded or failed historically, seeking context for our current moment. What worked in the past, and what do we need now: protests, boycotts, tax resistance?  And what does the moment demand? What strategies and tactics work?




Guests:
Graham Platner, lead organizer for Acadia Action, Hancock County branch of 16 Counties for Courage

Alex Newell Taylor, Co-founder, Sweet Fern MDI; Distributed Organizer for National Nurses United; former Deputy Director of Voter Engagement at Second Chances Florida

Vanessa Williamson, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65163083Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:16:09 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests will discuss civil disobedience . We talk about civil resistance and how civil disobedience has succeeded or failed historically, seeking context for our current moment. What worked...

We talk about civil resistance and how civil disobedience has succeeded or failed historically, seeking context for our current moment. What worked in the past, and what do we need now: protests, boycotts, tax resistance?  And what does the moment demand? What strategies and tactics work?




Guests:
Graham Platner, lead organizer for Acadia Action, Hancock County branch of 16 Counties for Courage

Alex Newell Taylor, Co-founder, Sweet Fern MDI; Distributed Organizer for National Nurses United; former Deputy Director of Voter Engagement at Second Chances Florida

Vanessa Williamson, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings]]>3551falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/states-rights-then-and-now--64424216States’ Rights,Then and Now.

Guests:Jessica Bulman-Pozen, Betts Professor of Law and faculty co-director of the Center for Constitutional Governance at Columbia Law SchoolMolly Curren Rowles, Executive Director ACLU of Maine
Lucy Hochschartner, Climate & Clean Energy Director, Maine Conservation Voters.

States’ Rights, Then and Now aired on WERU January 17, 4-5pm.


















]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64424216Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:35:10 +0000WMPGHost Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters Maine and guests discuss States’ Rights,Then and Now. Guests:Jessica Bulman-Pozen, Betts Professor of Law and faculty co-director of the Center for Constitutional Governance at Columbia Law SchoolMolly...States’ Rights,Then and Now.

Guests:Jessica Bulman-Pozen, Betts Professor of Law and faculty co-director of the Center for Constitutional Governance at Columbia Law SchoolMolly Curren Rowles, Executive Director ACLU of Maine
Lucy Hochschartner, Climate & Clean Energy Director, Maine Conservation Voters.

States’ Rights, Then and Now aired on WERU January 17, 4-5pm.


















]]>3490falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/election-reflections-2024--62818368

Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government, Colby College

Anna Kellar, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Maine

Abby Kiesa, Deputy Director, CIRCLE (Non-partisan, independent research organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States.)

Steve Mistler, Chief Political Correspondent and State House Bureau Chief, Maine Public

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62818368Tue, 19 Nov 2024 19:59:59 +0000WMPGGuests: - https://www.colby.edu/people/people-directory/nicholas-jacobs/, Assistant Professor of Government, Colby College - https://www.lwvme.org/lwvme-staffExecutive Director, League of Women Voters of Maine -...

Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government, Colby College

Anna Kellar, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Maine

Abby Kiesa, Deputy Director, CIRCLE (Non-partisan, independent research organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States.)

Steve Mistler, Chief Political Correspondent and State House Bureau Chief, Maine Public

]]>3806falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/2024-election-preview--62464579A preview of the upcoming November 5th elections with host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests Randy Billings, political reporter for the Portland Press Herald and Anna Kellar, Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of Maine.

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62464579Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:15:20 +0000WMPGA preview of the upcoming November 5th elections with host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests Randy Billings, political reporter for the Portland Press Herald and Anna Kellar, Executive Director for the League of Women Voters...A preview of the upcoming November 5th elections with host Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and guests Randy Billings, political reporter for the Portland Press Herald and Anna Kellar, Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of Maine.

]]>3532falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-is-propaganda--62118726

Michael Franz, Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College, and  co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project.

• Jason Stanley, the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy, Yale University, and author of the new book, Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future.

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62118726Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:02:47 +0000WMPG- https://democracymaine.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c0ed71ebb226aa00ec5540a0b&id=9b71f0e3bf&e=1c307e8673, Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College, and  co-director of...

Michael Franz, Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College, and  co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project.

• Jason Stanley, the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy, Yale University, and author of the new book, Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future.

]]>3442falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/protests-good-citizenship-at-work--60769999
As protesting and demonstrations continue this year, July’s show is a rebroadcast of a conversation from June 2021 about whether protests are a legitimate, if not necessary, form of civic participation. We added a brief intro to explain our choice of this rebroadcast.Special Guests: 

• Doug Allen, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Maine, author of the book, Gandhi after 9/11: Creative Nonviolence and Sustainability (Oxford 2019)
• Erica Chenoweth, Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School and a Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, author of the new book, Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know(Oxford, 2021)

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60769999Mon, 22 Jul 2024 20:18:16 +0000WMPGProtests: Good Citizenship at Work? As protesting and demonstrations continue this year, July’s show is a rebroadcast of a conversation from June 2021 about whether protests are a legitimate, if not necessary, form of civic participation. We added a...
As protesting and demonstrations continue this year, July’s show is a rebroadcast of a conversation from June 2021 about whether protests are a legitimate, if not necessary, form of civic participation. We added a brief intro to explain our choice of this rebroadcast.Special Guests: 

• Doug Allen, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Maine, author of the book, Gandhi after 9/11: Creative Nonviolence and Sustainability (Oxford 2019)
• Erica Chenoweth, Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School and a Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, author of the new book, Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know(Oxford, 2021)

]]>3442falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/maine-judiciary--60490641

• Dmitry Bam, Vice Dean/Provost, Professor of Law, at the University of Maine School of Law
• David Sachar, Director of Judicial Ethics at the National Center for State Courts
• Leigh Saufley, President and Dean of the University of Maine School of Law, former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60490641Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:32:47 +0000WMPGWe talk about the Maine judiciary:How are judges chosen in Maine? Compare Maine's judicial selection process to the federal system and to other states. What standards of judicial ethics apply? Are judges in Maine subject to undue influence by narrow...

• Dmitry Bam, Vice Dean/Provost, Professor of Law, at the University of Maine School of Law
• David Sachar, Director of Judicial Ethics at the National Center for State Courts
• Leigh Saufley, President and Dean of the University of Maine School of Law, former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

]]>3490falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/does-the-constitution-guarantee-our-right-to-vote-do-we-need-a-constitutional-amendment-to-protect-that-right--60154395https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60154395Thu, 23 May 2024 19:52:06 +0000WMPG3479falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/clean-elections--59638995https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59638995Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:09:13 +0000WMPG3408falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/democracy-and-unions-take-two--59210521https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59210521Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:42:08 +0000WMPG3531falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/national-popular-vote-background-and-progress--58767114https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58767114Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:37:51 +0000WMPG3535falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/change-is-coming-who-gets-to-vote-in-maine-primaries--58448263Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State.Jill Goldthwait, Journalist and columnist, former Maine State Senator (unenrolled)Lisa Harbridge-Yong, Professor of Political Science; Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research; Northwestern University]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58448263Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:30:21 +0000WMPGConversation: Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters of Maine and Guests: Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State.Jill Goldthwait, Journalist and columnist, former Maine State Senator (unenrolled)https://campuspress.yale.edu/jasonstanley/,...Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State.Jill Goldthwait, Journalist and columnist, former Maine State Senator (unenrolled)Lisa Harbridge-Yong, Professor of Political Science; Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research; Northwestern University]]>3489falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/october-the-8-ballot-questions--57356816 the 8!! state Ballot Questions we will be voting on November 7.
Some of the questions are citizen initiatives; some of them are constitutional amendments. What do they mean, what will they do, where did they come from, who supports and who opposes, and whose money is being spent….]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57356816Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:19:07 +0000WMPGWill Hayward, Advocacy Program Director for the League of Women Voters of Maine and Steve Mistler, Maine Public’s chief politics and government correspondent join Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters Maine to discuss the 8!! state Ballot... the 8!! state Ballot Questions we will be voting on November 7.
Some of the questions are citizen initiatives; some of them are constitutional amendments. What do they mean, what will they do, where did they come from, who supports and who opposes, and whose money is being spent….]]>3493falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/september-book-banning-the-tip-of-an-iceberg--56846230https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56846230Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:32:52 +0000WMPG3544falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/june-is-public-opinion-polling-good-for-democracy--54526735https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54526735Mon, 19 Jun 2023 21:46:27 +0000WMPG3514falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/may-young-change-makers-owning-the-future--54009578https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54009578Fri, 26 May 2023 17:45:49 +0000WMPG3520falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/april-ballot-questions-whose-initiatives-are-they--53645357https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53645357Tue, 25 Apr 2023 19:56:14 +0000WMPG3494falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/march-if-small-states-rule-why-are-they-so-angry--53248946https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53248946Sat, 18 Mar 2023 19:18:17 +0000WMPGIf Small States Rule, Why Are They So Angry?3441falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/february-small-state-bias-in-the-federal-government-is-this-democracy--52850490https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52850490Sat, 25 Feb 2023 20:05:17 +0000WMPGSmall-state Bias in the Federal Government: Is This Democracy?3536falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/january-2023-comprehensive-planning-why-bother--52532108https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52532108Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:39:27 +0000WMPG3488falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/december-2022-democracy-forum--52195527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52195527Thu, 15 Dec 2022 15:48:29 +0000WMPGElection Reflections: What Just Happened? It’s about how the election process went; not about any particular race.3478falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/november-2022-democracy-forum--51798278https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51798278Sat, 05 Nov 2022 19:03:54 +0000WMPG3543falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/october-2022-democracy-forum--51798264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51798264Sat, 05 Nov 2022 19:01:36 +0000WMPG3556falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/september-2022-democracy-forum--51798252https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51798252Sat, 05 Nov 2022 18:59:42 +0000WMPG3501falsefull