This season of Omnia, the podcast on all things Penn Arts & Sciences, examines the state of U.S. democracy in the context of the upcoming presidential election. Between now and just after Election Day, we’ll take on topics like the myths and realities of political polarization, how media is shaping our understanding of the issues and candidates, and how state voting laws have changed.
We’ll also have some post-election analysis with folks working on NBC News Decision Desk Team, including Stephanie Perry, Executive Director of the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies (PORES) and the Fox Leadership Program, and this season’s podcast host.
Check back regularly for new episodes.
Episode One: “Truth and Democracy”
Featuring Sophia Rosenfeld, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History, in conversation with Perry about some of the big questions at the heart of American democracy like whether common sense has changed in the context of politics, how a healthy democracy works, who decides what’s true in democracy, and much more.
Episode transcript available here.
Episode Two: “The Voice of Democracy”
Featuring Diana Mutz, Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication, in conversation with Perry about a range of media-related topics, from media consumption to the institution’s influence on how the public understands government and politics.
Episode transcript available here.
Episode Three: “The Fight for Democracy”
Featuring Matthew Levendusky, Professor of Political Science and Stephen and Mary Baran Chair in the Institutions of Democracy at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, in conversation with Perry about the myths and realities of political polarization in the United States.
Episode transcript available here.
Episode Four: “The Gears of Democracy”
Featuring Marc Meredith, Professor of Political Science, in conversation with Perry about why voting laws are so complicated, what has changed since the last election, voter turnout, mail-in ballots, poll workers, and why some races take longer to call than others.
Episode transcript available here.
Episode Five: “Post-Election Analysis”
Featuring John Lapinski, Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor of Political Science, director of PORES and director of Elections at NBC News, who discusses how the polls measured up to election night results, exit polling results—which showed the economy as the most important factor for many voters—and how polling can continue to improve in future election cycles.
Episode transcript available here.
Episode Six: “The Future of Democracy”
Featuring Rogers Smith, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science, who discusses the implications of Trump’s second term as president, as well as what the future of democracy may look like in the United States and so much more.
Episode transcript available here.
Fall/Winter 2024
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