Over the past decade, the challenges to a fair and equal democracy have ballooned, including widespread, blatant voter suppression and extreme, discriminatory gerrymandering. The For the People Act is designed to pave the way toward a more equitable future for all Americans. The bill represents the best opportunity we have to fulfill the American promise of an inclusive democracy.

Scapegoated for outcomes that some politicians and voters did not like, election officials have come under unprecedented attack. A recent survey found that one in three election officials feel unsafe because of their job. The threats against them are part of a larger orchestrated attack on American democracy. Lawmakers, administrators, and internet companies can take concrete steps to protect election workers.

“Racism is an existential threat to America.” That’s the opening argument of Theodore R. Johnson’s new book, When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America. It reckons with the legacy and persistence of racism in the United States — and outlines a path toward multiracial national solidarity.

Covid-19 brought new attention to the abhorrent conditions in our country’s overcrowded jails and prisons. Though some local jails reduced their populations early on, prison populations across America saw almost no decline and jail populations began creeping upward again by November. From vaccine barriers in prisons to massive backlogs in courts, the pandemic continues to present myriad challenges for incarcerated people.

In 2021, shareholders are engaging with companies and demanding changes ranging from more transparency on political activity to more responsibility with respect to climate change. According to Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, these corporate proxy fights could have a big impact on the health of our democracy.

How the Word Is Passed: A Conversation with Clint Smith
Friday, June 18 | 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. ET
In his new book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, Clint Smith of the Atlantic reflects on how the history of slavery reverberates today. In this virtual book talk, Smith joins the Brennan Center’s Theodore R. Johnson to discuss the hopeful role that memory can play in making sense of our country. RSVP today.

This event is produced in partnership with Lit Bar and New York University's John Brademas Center.

The Engagement: A Conversation with Sasha Issenberg and Nia-Malika Henderson
Tuesday, June 29 | 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. ET
A 2015 Supreme Court ruling made same-sex unions legal across the United States — but the road to that momentous decision was much longer than many know. In his new book, The Engagement: America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage, Sasha Issenberg tells the riveting story of the conflict over same-sex marriage in the United States. In conversation with CNN’s Nia-Malika Henderson, Issenberg will discuss the most significant civil rights breakthrough of the new millennium. RSVP today.

This event is produced in partnership with New York University's John Brademas Center.