The American Democracy Optimists

One Big Thing

 

Ford Foundation President Darren Walker’s New York Times op-ed on courageous leadership has been making the rounds through our inboxes and LinkedIn feeds at the Bush Institute. Walker observes that there is a leadership crisis in our nation across all sectors due to the fear of an intolerant and coarsening culture.

He offers a crucial lesson: "Effective leadership requires managing nuance and complexity, seeing all sides of an issue from the perspective of every stakeholder, and then setting a course, and communicating with clarity, consistent with common values," This brand of leadership is essential in our society as we navigate the many pressing issues of our time.

It’s also the brand of leadership that the Presidential Leadership Scholars put into action. Kelley Jiou, Director of Leadership and Programming at the Bush Institute, recently shared how participants in PLS exemplify visionary, values-based leadership every day. She spotlights four Scholars who are bravely working to create positive change by bringing people together across the political spectrum.

 

Bush Institute Insights

• In an article for The Dallas Morning News, Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh calls on Americans to practice responsible citizenship. He reminds us that “we all need to reject cynicism and choose community over chaos. That is how we as individuals can continue to strengthen our political system and our nation.”

• Bill McKenzie, Senior Editorial Advisor at the Bush Institute, advises readers to stay vigilant with disinformation campaigns post-Election Day. He provides tips on how to verify information, including by paying particular attention to videos that might be generated by AI.

• Margot Habiby, Deputy Director of Communications at the Bush Institute, argues the importance of down-ballot measures, where voters are most likely to make their voices heard. It's critical to understand the local candidates and issues on your ballot, and Margot gives practical steps to prepare ahead of Tuesday.

• In The Oklahoman, Bill McKenzie and Chris Walsh, Director of Global Policy at the Bush Institute, outline steps to broaden your media intake and check the reliability of news sources. For example, does your news source run corrections? Does it cover more than one key issue? If not, you may want to explore different publications to ensure you aren’t living a news echo chamber.

• Back in 2022, the Bush Institute hosted a panel with election workers. Panelists discussed election misinformation, threats to election officials, and the need for sustained bipartisan trust in our voting systems. Their concerns, as well as their stalwart optimism, remain particularly relevant as we approach Election Day.

• In The Washington Post, Bush Institute Research Fellow Joseph Kim recounts escaping North Korea as a 15-year-old orphan and arriving in the U.S. under the North Korean Human Rights Act. Joseph’s story is an important reminder of the American democratic spirit that has provided freedom and opportunity to so many.

• Something fun (especially for parents!):
• Have you ever watched the hit children’s TV show “Paw Patrol” and thought, "Why has this mayor allowed a ten-year-old and his puppies to run the public safety administration?" Our own Chris Walsh certainly has, and he thinks it's a valuable lesson in the importance of democratic institutions and ensuring our voices are heard.

• AEI's Ruy Teixeira and Yuval Levin released a report on the failure of the current political parties to build a durable, national coalition. We believe that the key to such a coalition is practicing pluralism – having a tolerance for and working with individuals or groups who have different views or beliefs, even within our own tribes. America's diverse population requires a multifaceted approach from both parties.

• The Medill School of Journalism released its annual local news report, which revealed that over a third of U.S. newspapers have closed since 2005. A trend to replace local journalism with AI is especially worrying: Last month, a news website that uses AI mistakenly accused a California district attorney of committing murder, rather than charging a suspect with murder.

 

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To learn more about the Bush Institute's work on Strengthening Our Democracy, email Anne Wicks, the Don Evans Family Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy, or Chris Walsh, Director of Global Policy.