Pothole Problem Podcast Dr. Jack Miller

In this episode, Jack interviews one of his colleagues at Portland State University, Dr. Melody Valdini, professor of political science and co-editor of the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy. Their conversation begins with Dr. Valdini’s experiences in graduate school that focused her thinking on the power of the patriarchy and ends with the message: don’t disengage. In between, they discuss ways to attempt to reduce inequalities in the world, the need for political zen, and some more of the experiences that formed Dr. Valdini’s thinking, teaching, and advocacy.
Dr. Valdini’s books: The Character of Democracy and The Inclusion Calculation: Why Men Appropriate Women's Representation
Length: 37:35

In this short episode, Jack editorializes on the question of voting or not voting for the candidate that’s less bad. Inspired by recent news stories about strong anti-Trump voices now saying they will vote for Trump because they think a second Biden term would be disastrous, combined with polls showing that a lack of enthusiasm among young and minority voters for President Biden is potentially going to result in many traditionally Democratic voters not voting for anyone, Jack reflects on this asymmetry in American politics: that Republicans are much more likely to vote for the lesser of two evils and Democrat more likely not to vote for anyone if they’re disappointed in their candidate.

The mid-term election of 1994, dubbed "The Republican Revolution," ushered in a new era of national politics characterized by combativeness, polarization, and a divisive style of campaigning. Thirty years later, we're still living with the consequences of that transformative election and witnessing heightened levels of the political ugliness that resulted from it.
This episode includes a recording of a lecture Jack gave on the era-defining nature of the 1994 midterm election, delivered live on the Portland State University campus on Thursday, February 29th, 2024.
To learn more about the book, read a free excerpt, or order online, go to 1994novel.com.

In this special episode, one of Jack’s students at Portland State University, Jorielle Livingston, interviews her former high school civics teacher, Amy Galloway, an educator in Fairbanks, Alaska, with over 25 years of teaching experience. They discuss, among other things, the importance of civic education, what civic education means beyond just knowing the facts of the U.S. system of government, how regular people can make a difference, and why it’s important not just to vote but to participate more broadly in the life of your community, state, nation, and world.

Jack interviews former Portland city commissioner JoAnn Hardesty. They talk about the human experience of being a city commissioner, the early experiences that led her into public service, and some of the lessons she's learned along the way and advice she has for young people looking to make the world a better place.  

This episode is sponsored by White Tiger Press, publisher of Jack's 2019 publication, 1994, a novel of politics. Click here for a sample chapter and online ordering.

Jack is giving a lecture and book talk on Thursday, February 29th at 12pm on the 7th floor of the Urban Center on Portland State Campus. Click here for the Eventbrite announcement with more details.

In the newest episode of the Pothole Problem Podcast, Jack talks with Wendy Willis, founding director of Oregon’s Kitchen Table, a statewide engagement program working to give every Oregonian an opportunity to participate in the political decisions that affect their lives and communities. They discuss a wide range of topics, from Wendy's early experiences with community, how going to law school impacted her life and her thinking, and the challenges of promoting civic engagement and participation in the public forum in a post-pandemic world where people are increasingly isolated from each other and from the communities that nourish them.
Links:
Oregon's Kitchen Table: https://www.oregonskitchentable.org/
Kitchen Table Democracy: https://www.kitchentable.org/
National Policy Consensus Center: https://www.pdx.edu/policy-consensus-center/
"Perhaps the World Ends Here" by Joy Harjo: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49622/perhaps-the-world-ends-here