The Bleak Business of Disenfranchisement

Voting rights are things we take for granted; they encompass everything from who can vote to how people can vote to when they can drink water in line while waiting to vote. Since the 2020 election, numerous Republican-controlled states have enacted laws narrowing who can vote, how they can vote, when they can vote, and generally making the right of enfranchisement available to a narrowing body of citizens. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed two laws - the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, to protect the rights of citizens from partisan attack; these bills are stalled in the U.S. Senate, in which no party has a filibuster-proof majority.

What’s happening in the Senate, what’s happening with these bills, what’s happening with the filibuster, and why do we even have a filibuster rule? And what can be done to get the Senate working again?

Our guest, Former U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) joins us to talk about these things and more; his thoughts on filibuster reform, Senate logjam and general ineffectiveness, and the current business of politics.

Guests:

Al Franken - Host, The Al Franken Podcast

Episode Notes:

Al Franken & Norm Ornstein’s plan to reform the filibuster

The Case Against the Filibuster - Brennan Center for Justice

Show Notes:

Theme music by the mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder.

Show branding by Peg Fitzpatrick & PMG Group.

P.R. and social media by Carol Lunger, Emily Stern, and A B+C Creative.