Best Of: Want to Save Democracy? Run For Office.
b'This week, we\\u2019re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the year. For those who make New Year\\u2019s resolutions, today\\u2019s conversation might plant the seed for a bold one: Running for office.\\n\\nAmanda Litman is a co-founder of Run for Something, which recruits and supports young, progressive candidates who want to run for office. We spoke in February 2022, but our conversation remains relevant as ever. It\\u2019s about the mechanics of American democracy, the confusions and myths that keep so many of us from participating in them and the practical question of what it means to step off the sidelines and, well, run for something. \\n\\nWe also talk about why Democrats tend to chase \\u201cshiny objects\\u201d over real political power, what right-leaning organizations have been up to that liberals should envy, how you probably have more control over issues like abortion and climate change than you think, what it actually takes to run a local campaign, the three questions prospective candidates should be able to answer, and more.\\n\\nThis is the rare conversation about democracy that left me feeling better, rather than worse, about what\\u2019s possible. I think it\\u2019ll do the same for you.\\n\\nThis episode contains strong language.\\n\\nMentioned:\\n\\n\\u201cHeeding Steve Bannon\\u2019s Call, Election Deniers Organize to Seize Control of the GOP \\u2014 and Reshape America\\u2019s Elections\\u201d by Isaac Arnsdorf, Doug Bock Clark, Alexandra Berzon and Anjeanette Damon\\n\\nWhat It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer\\n\\nFind out what elected offices you can run for\\n\\nBook recommendations:\\n\\nThe Heart Principle by Helen Hoang\\n\\nOlga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez\\n\\nLet\\u2019s Get Physical by Danielle Friedman\\n\\nThoughts? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. Guest suggestions? Fill out this form.\\n\\nYou can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of \\u201cThe Ezra Klein Show\\u201d at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.\\n\\n\\u201cThe Ezra Klein Show\\u201d is produced by Annie Galvin, Jeff Geld and Rog\\xe9 Karma; fact-checking by Michelle Harris; original music by Isaac Jones; mixing by Jeff Geld; audience strategy by Shannon Busta. Our executive producer is Irene Noguchi. Special thanks to Kristin Lin.'