S1 E5: Why We Don’t Trust Government And How To Fix It

Trust in government is at historic lows, with 65% of young Americans now open to radical change amid economic anxiety and elite disconnect. Host Lisa Singer and co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo examine the deep ideological divide between parties, the long erosion of public trust, and today’s economic pressures that threaten democracy. We explore how independent voters can drive practical solutions starting locally and highlight Braver Angels as this week’s Independent Hero, working to rebuild trust. Chapters (00:00:00) - Title Sequence(00:00:44) - Clip: “All In The Family” Archie Debates Politics(00:01:32) - Intro: Churchill's Cynical Defense of Democracy(00:03:53) - The UN Defense of Democracy(00:05:55) - What Makes America a Democracy?(00:07:16) - Clip: President Obama on Public Service(00:08:15) - Democracy vs. All Other Forms of Government(00:12:28) - Threats of Polarization and Lack of Accountability(00:13:28) - Economic Stress, Delinquencies, and Bankruptcies,(00:14:03) - Clip: Everyday Americans are Struggling(00:15:16) - What Breaks a Democracy?(00:16:16) - The Great Shift: FDR's New Deal Revolution(00:17:01) - Brief Moments of High Trust (1812 to Post-WWII Peak)(00:19:21) - Clip: The Great Depression(00:21:35) - The Ideological Divide: New Deal vs. Reagan(00:25:46) - Clip: Ronald Reagan on The Tonight Show (1975)(00:27:11) - Betrayal: Lies from Vietnam to the Iraq War(00:28:35) - Clip: 60 Minutes on the 2008 Bank Bailouts Clip(00:29:59) - Independents: The Key to Fixing Gridlock(00:33:52) - Independent Hero of the Week: Braver Angels(00:35:52) - Final thoughts, next week's topic, and call to action.