American Democracy Lab

Episode 5: Influencing Democracy


How do we build trust among Americans who have turned their back on the truth? How can we heal the deep divisions in our country? Host Alan Lambert welcomes author, lecturer, and journalist Anne Nelson to discuss the eroding trust in our democracy through a conversation about influence and information, an exploration of the Council for National Policy, and more.

Our Guest

Anne Nelson is an author and lecturer in the fields of international affairs, media, and human rights. Since 2003 Nelson has been teaching at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where her classes and research explore how digital media can support the underserved populations of the world through public health, education and culture. She is most recently the author of Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right.

About American Democracy Lab

 The American Democracy Lab podcast at WashU brings together experts from different fields and backgrounds to talk about an issue or aspect of our American democracy and where different perspectives may converge.

Launched on Presidents’ Day 2021, the American Democracy Lab podcast is hosted by Associate Professor Alan Lambert and presented by the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement in partnership with WashU Engage and the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences.


Additional Episodes of American Democracy Lab

Episode 7: The Dynamics of Democracy in Higher Education

The founders of the US argued the necessity of a robust system of public education to support democracy. One of US higher education’s missions was to foster an educated populace who could engage in debate and dialogue. Over the past century, the role of higher education in the US democratic has shifted, and, recently, has become highly politicized. This episode […]

Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 2)

Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 2)
In part two of our conversation revisiting the insurrection at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, guests Richard Gephardt and Zach Wamp discuss the history of elections in the United States and identify potential reforms that could increase trust in the system. They offer their advice to current members of Congress on how to bridge the widening gap between Republicans and Democrats to restore faith in our democracy.

Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 1)

Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 1)
Our guests, the Honorable Richard ‘Dick’ Gephardt and Zach Wamp, spent much of their careers working inside the Capitol building as members of the US House of Representatives. In this conversation, they reflect on January 6th, recounting where they were when they first heard about the attack, what the legacy of January 6th represents for our democracy, and where we as a nation go from here.

Episode 5: Influencing Democracy

How do we build trust among Americans who have turned their back on the truth? How can we heal the deep divisions in our country? Host Alan Lambert welcomes author, lecturer, and journalist Anne Nelson to discuss the eroding trust in our democracy through a conversation about influence and information, an exploration of the Council […]

Episode 4: Fueling our Democracy

The fate of our democracy is increasingly entwined in the systems that govern and guide our economy, culture, environment, and more. Guest Nate Hagens and host Alan Lambert discuss big questions, including: How is energy related to climate change and what does this imply about future? Why are climate and energy issues so important to […]