The Future of Our Former Democracy 

I had never considered how malleable democracy was. The first season really brought that to light. This new season is so good. I’m only 2 eps in and hoping it stays as intriguing.

This podcast is a breath of fresh air in a subject that too often dives headfirst into the murky waters of math, parties, and punditry. George and Colin have a gift for keeping the focus on real people participating in elections to decide what they want to do together. It’s entertaining, informative, thought-provoking and so consistently refreshing that you might forget you are learning about one of the most important issues of our time.

Herr im Himmel! I was really looking forward to this podcast. I worked as a political journalist in Germany for more than 20 years. I just returned to the States in November after my last tour, which lasted ten years. I also studied German history and speak German. So I like to think that I have a reasonable understanding of the situation in Germany. This podcast is just so inferior and poor. It is one thing that it is clearly biased from a far-left perspective. Well, if you know that, you can listen to it with a certain scepticism, knowing that it is not neutral and unbiased. But above all, this podcast is really poorly made. If you only ask people who confirm your own opinion, then nothing better can come of it. In fact, only one expert, a professor, is given a chance to speak, and he is only allowed to contribute a few sentences. The other people who want to explain the world to us are either some random people at an election party (exclusively for the Green Party, of course). Or tour guides!!!! They are always praised to the skies, but they make incredible mistakes (for example, that the Verfassungsschutz, Germany's domestic intelligence service, is subordinate to the Bundesverfassungsgericht, the German Supreme Court. Of course, it is not; it is subordinate to the Home Secretary). These are not minor details, but fundamental errors that suggest complete ignorance (or deception?). And they also create a completely false picture. I will probably listen to the second episode as well, but I don't expect much. If you are interested in the topic, you are better off reading Wikipedia.

Northern Ireland presents a great case study in how proportional representation can calm down deep sectarian divisions and even political violence. Great storytelling with compelling human stories.