Former Member
Former Member
Podcast Description
Speaking with former members of Congress, we ask whether things are really worse today or whether—because of social media, some loud and extreme members, or something else—things just feel worse. Former Democrats and former Republicans give us their thoughts, stories, and perspectives. bensamuels.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show explores themes such as political polarization, the historical evolution of party politics, and the impact of social media on public perception with episodes discussing topics like the influence of climate change debates and the financial dynamics in modern politics

Speaking with former members of Congress, we ask whether things are really worse today or whether—because of social media, some loud and extreme members, or something else—things just feel worse. Former Democrats and former Republicans give us their thoughts, stories, and perspectives.
Over the past week, Richard von Glahn’s case has been in front of the United States Supreme Court twice, in front of the Missouri Supreme Court three times, and in lower federal courts a few times just for good measure.
Why? He was the plaintiff in a case that sought to uphold Missourians’ right to initiate a veto referendum—which, in this case, would suspend the newly gerrymandered map that the Missouri legislature passed last year pending a statewide vote.
So why all the drama? Well, there’s much more on that in our conversation.
* 0:00 – 3:00: Introduction, Richard’s background, and his involvement in democracy issues.
* 3:01 – 7:06: How Missouri’s Secretary of State tried to forcibly implement a new map—without any authority to do so.
* 7:07 – 15:39: A recap of last week’s news, when the whiplash of Missouri redistricting became national news. (Or, what happens when elected Republicans sue other elected Republicans—even when they’re all in cahoots.)
* 15:40 – 20:53: What happens when the legislature commits its energy to unpopular policies?
* 20:54 – 28:11: How do you get Republicans to vote against Proposition A?
* 28:12 – 30:44: If Proposition A fails, will the legislature try this gambit again?
* 30:45 – 37:22: Does this change the paradigm of redistricting in Missouri forever? What happens after the next census when Missouri is required to redraw its map?
* 37:23 – 41:30: Isn’t it weird to run primaries and general elections in different districts?
* 41:31 – 43:44: Besides voting no, what else can people do to defeat Proposition A?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bensamuels.substack.com

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.