ICE, DOGE, and Democracy on the Brink (with Karen Attiah)

About this episode

Emily Williams and Karen Attiah discuss the threats to democracy in the U.S. and the importance of resistance through education and empathy.

Democracy in the U.S. is under siege. From ICE raids and mass deportations, to Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” dismantling federal protections, to attacks on education and the press—our institutions are unraveling at unprecedented speed. In this episode, host Emily Williams sits down with award-winning journalist Karen Attiah (former Global Opinions Editor at The Washington Post ) to unpack how we got here and what it will take to resist. Karen shares lessons from her “Resistance Summer School,” explores the dangers of authoritarianism cloaked in efficiency, and argues that radical empathy and education are essential tools for survival—and for building the democracy we deserve. This is a sobering, urgent conversation about power, accountability, and what it will take to save ourselves. Share this episode with a friend—because democracy is more than just voting. We’d love to hear from you! Rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others find us. And, join the conversation on IG @arcuscenter . Follow Karen Attiah: https://karenattiah.substack.com/ https://www.karenattiah.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/karenattiah.bsky.social

People in this episode

Host: Emily Williams

Guest: Karen Attiah

Topics covered

• democracy
• authoritarianism
• education
• media
• resistance

Keywords

• democracy
• ICE
• Doge
• authoritarianism
• education
• media
• resistance
• Karen Attiah

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Washington Post, Department of Government Efficiency, Resistance Summer School

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